Hooniverse Weekend Edition – Three Handsome British Sportscars; Truimph, Jensen Healey, and Lotus
To close out this Hooniverse Interesting Project Car Weekend, I thought I would have a three-way shootout. All three of these cars are running, and in above average condition. So why am I putting these cars in the “Project Car” category? Because they are British, and will need constant attention to keep them running. I also selected these three knights of the round table from different eras, so without any further interruptions I bring you a 1974 Jensen Healey Roadster, a 1980 Truimph TR-7 Roadster, and a 1991 Lotus Elan (which is also a roadster). Who are you going to vote for?
Let’s start with the Jensen Healey. This is a 1974 model that looks to be in great shape, but we all know there is trouble lurking under the skin of this beast. According to the listing:
THIS IS A 1974 JENSEN HEALEY, 52000 ORIGINAL MILES, HAS THE LOTUS ENGINE DOHC 16 VALVE. I HAVE EVERY RECORD FOR THIS CAR SINCE NEW, ALL RECEIPTS, AND WORK ORDERS INCLUDING A COPY OF ORIGINAL WINDOW STICKER. THIS IS A OLDER RESTORATION STILL IN VERY NICE SHAPE. THERE A COUPLE OF SMALL BLISTERS EASY TOUCH UP. BODY 8 OUT OF TEN. MECHANICALLY THIS CAR IS A 9 OUT OF TEN. INTERIOR IS A 9 OUT OF TEN. FLOOR HAS BEEN PROFESSIONALLY REDONE. THE TOP IS NEW. THIS CAR IS NOT THE ORIGINAL COLOR WAS ORANGE.
The seller states that this car doesn’t have a title, which could pose a problem. The opening bid for this Malaise Era Sports Car is $2,500, with a Buy-it-Now price of $3,500. The Jensen Healey is a rather rare car and there are not that many left. So, is this car calling out your name, or would you rather pass? See the listing here.
Onto the Triumph TR-7, which is arguably the ugliest Triumph ever built. This is a 1980 which is the next to last year these cars were built. According to the listing:
RUST FREE 1980 Triumph TR-7 Convertible with the Original 4 Cylinder motor and 5 Spd Transmission Super Clean!!!! This is a Two owner TR-7 that has been very well maintained! This Triumph runs and goes down the road SUPER, Shifts great and EVERYTHING WORKS!!! The Body and Paint have held-up great, Interior is real Clean, Dash has No Cracks, Top is nice! 4 New tires, This Triumph has always been well Maintained!!!! Clear Title
Well with that many exclamation points (!) it’s hard not to get your attention. It may be a clean and fine running Truimph, but it will still be a project car. How many of these TR-7 are left anyway? The bidding has stalled at $3,050, with an unmet reserve, and with only two days left. Have you always wanted a Triumph TR-7? Then this is your car. See the listing here.
Our final contestant is a contradiction. This is a 1991 Lotus Elan, powered by a Turbocharged Isuzu Engine, driving the front wheels. These cars were so unloved that very few of them are left. However, if I remember right, the Elan of this vintage was one of the best handling FWD platforms ever, and could rival many of the RWD sportscars of the same vintage. According to the listing:
1991 LOTUS ELAN TURBO CHARGED 4 CYL CONVERTIBLE WITH ONLY 22K MILES! VERY FEW OF THESE IMPORTED INTO THE USA, VERY GOOD RUNNING AND DRIVING CONDITION.This is a great example of a low mileage exotic car for a FANTASTIC deal. This car isn’t perfect by any means. An interior peice or two is missing, and the SRS light is on. It does run and drive fantastic, shifts exactly like it should, and has brand new tires! An Absolute bargain. Car was originally White, but it these look a lot better black! Black on Black with a Black top.
Grammer aside, you have to wonder why the car was repainted in the first place. This is by far the most expensive “Project Car” for the weekend, with a Buy-it-Now price of $8,950. Do you think you have what it takes to bring this Lotus to a Lotus Club Event? See the listing here.
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I see one handsome sports car, one so-so car, and an ugly doorstop with cheesy tape stripes. If you want the doorstop, you can buy a TR-8 in rough condition for about the same price as the TR-7. Actually, none of these cars ring my bell – all are seriously flawed in some way. Also, I'm amused by the "Grammer aside,…" comment.
Spelling isn't grammar (so to speak).
Which Grammer?
<img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_HmhnNC23c8A/TTiGUggN3tI/AAAAAAAAAEU/yCyDYQJdXvk/s400/Grammer.jpg">
The SRS light is on AND it's been painted? Danger Will Robinson, DANGER!
2, 2, together.
The headlight buckets have also been replaced. The originals held quad round lights insted of the skinny rectangles.
<img src="http://www.motoringpicturelibrary.com/docs/pic1528c.jpg">
Of this group, the Jensen's the only way to go. Nice little car with satisfying performance, if low limits. The Lotus is an Isuzu, so it's a rather nice Isuzu. I wonder if the Lotus clubs regard this car the way Porsches consider Beetles? The TR-7 is the project car hell winner in a walk off. Which is what you'll be doing a lot of, if you buy this. I always had a perverse affection for the design, but I'll hold out for the perfect TR-8 convertible, thanks. This one's interior is just plain nasty, but not too big a job to swap seats, new carpet and cover the door panels.
I have never understood the TR7 hate. They drive as well as any MGB and can't be any less reliable. Sure the striping is cheesy, but a lot of its contemporaries were much more cheesily-striped. And to my eye they look okay in dark solid colors. I might peel the stripes and paint it. And, of course, reupholster the seats in a tartan plaid. That being said, I find it impossible to believe that this one has been bid up to $3k. The Jensen-Healey is tempting at first glance, but on closer inspection the body scares me. I would expect that there are no J-H body parts available at any price.
The 7 had several thing going for it… suspension designed in the 70's (MGB still 50's design), OHC engine (MGB was still pushrod) and it had a unique look. That look wasn't very British.
What -was- British were the unions, the quality… gave the TR7 a bad rep. The later build TR7s may be a little better off but not much. There is not anything more traditional than the British roadster. The "Look of Things to Come" was too much.
Then it took Mazda to create the near perfect British roadster.
Hard to believe, but the TR7s were actually less reliable than the MGB. While the MGB was subject to the usual English electrical and carburation problems, the engine and mechanicals were basically tough and sturdy. The TR7 engines were subject to blowing head gaskets, overheating, and warped heads. In addition, the Speke plant where most of the TR7s were built had labor problems that were terrible even by British Leyland standards and the quality of cars coming from the plant was markedly worse than the already-poor BL norm. It didn't help that it took over four years for Triumph to produce a droptop version. Considering that a Datsun 280Z cost about the same as a new TR7, it's no wonder that the TR7 was quickly seen as a loser. The MGB was already understood to be a relic by the mid-'70s, but the TR7 was a supposedly modern and brand new design. The convertible and TR8 for 1980 were improvements, but the damage was already irreparable.
I'd read a long time ago that the last batch of TR8s were pretty good- even gave the VIN spread of the cars worth bothering with.
The Japanese sports coupes pretty much the final nail in the BL coffin.
I used to autox with a guy in a TR7 in my 'B and I'd beat him every time. He had everything going his way… except that bit about driving a TR7.
Apparently the B-L Speke, Liverpool plant closed in 1978. As the convertible debuted in 1979, it seems unlikely that any production models were built there. This car certainly wasn't. It was probably built either at Canley or at the Rover plant in Solihull (which actually seems to have had a pretty good reputation).
As this is the same basic slant-4 that Triumph sold to Saab for the 99, does anyone know if Saab parts fit?
same three cars Top Gear did their Leyland special on?
You're thinking of the '5000[fancy looking L] British Classics challenge' (S10E7), which had a TVR S2 instead of the TR7. Funny how Jeremy is my least favourite host, but I usually like his car the best when they do these kinds of challenges.
The Leyland special (S15E6) had an SD1, a Dolomite, and a Princess.
I had to choose all three, because that answer is totally my favorite. If I was going to choose one it would be the Jensen. I might be drawn to the Elan if the price was down in discount range. Hopefully the title issue isn't too serious, that always makes me leery, but that would be a fun car.
Thanks for this weekend Jim, I love the theme. I haven't been able to comment much, but it's been great reading. My personal daydreaming has become more craigslist driven recently, and I keep it under $1000, because I can pretend I might be able to talk the wife into that. It tends to limit the 'exotics though. These have been priced just right to be tempting!
The styling on the TR7 is not its problem (I consider it steeped in an era/vibe that is a little off the charts at present but I think will look better in ten years– for what it is I like it): the problem is the truly dismal build quality and mechanicals. And three grand? Give me a break.
If you wanted a faster, uglier, and far less reliable Miata for twice the price, the "Lotus" is the way to go. Honestly have never understood why anyone like these cars at all, full stop.
The Jensen-Healey is like the star kid from high school who went on to become a not particularly talented dental hygienist. It's too embarrassing to draw attention to its mediocre existence by voting for it.
Wow, I guess I vote for the TR7. Never thought I'd say that sentence.
TR7. At least there's a local enthusiast support group to help out. Plus, I've always wanted to have reason to build a wedge-shaped garage…
I bought the green Jensen on Ebay
Nice car! A true classic from the 70` With great road going qualities. Some work to get it in excelent condition. I have tuned it, changed timing belt and rebuilt the carbs. The lotus 902 engine runs great and strong. No noise from the gearbox, and it shifts smooth. I have sandblasted all rust under the car. Some minor holes to be welded. A major hole in the trunk, and some old welding to be redone.
The interior is very nice after i cleaned it, and the lights and gauges all operate as it should.
I will drive the car this summer as it is, and sand it down and respray in original color when vinter comes.