Richmac Posted December 28, 2025 Report Posted December 28, 2025 Hi could I ask people's opinion on how many miles the mechanical parts on a car of the TR7 era would be expected to last before needing to be reconditioned? I was thinking of buying one but also thinking that if a TR7, even if serviced at recommended intervals, had covered say 80k miles that would be about its design life back in the 1980s and would be about due for reconditioning. I'm thinking this would also apply to gearbox, diff ect. What do you experts think please Thanks Richard Quote
cvtrian Posted December 28, 2025 Report Posted December 28, 2025 The joy of owning any classic car is fettling any issues as they arise. The answer to your question depends on how those miles have been driven and the quality of servicing and maintenance in its lifetime. Rather than a focus on mechanical stuff, all of which can be relatively easily sorted, by far, IMHO, the worst issue on any classic is structural rust. Ian Quote
acaie Posted January 8 Report Posted January 8 In 2012 bought a TR7 with a Grinnall v8 conversion carried out in 1989 when according to MOT records the mileage was 90k. I don't know what was included in the conversion apart from the engine bakes and suspension improvements and quite a bit of body stuff. Since then I have had to do a new water pump (self help) and replacement head gaskets (expensive 2k) - both obviously part of the v8. Also the new starter motor. I've had both sills repaired since, which was expensive (2k total) which confirms that the state of the bodywork is where the big bills can be. The original item that cost a lot was replacing the heater matrix - the best part of a grand. The matrix isn't expensive, and indeed the job isn't difficult but there's lots of it to do taking out the dashboard etc to get at it. Robsport did a nice job. Also - a new track control arm - ball joint u/s - track control arm ball joint boots (self help) - refurbishing brake calipers, following a seized front brake (self help) - a new steering column bush (self help) and trivial bits and bobs So all this over 13 years and 30k miles. I'm content. Hope this helps Al Quote
acaie Posted January 8 Report Posted January 8 I don't know for sure, but I imagine the gearbox may be oriiginal so now 130k and still good. Diff was changed to 3.08 at the conversion. Quote
Richmac Posted January 9 Author Report Posted January 9 Thanks guys for your replies. Looks like my theory could be wrong. Quote
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