Folks have often expressed surprise about some of the cars I’ve shown here in Eugene that have obviously been parked in the same spot on the street for years, if not decades. Seriously, I know of one old Ford truck that’s been in the same spot curbside since we moved here in 1993, with a ring of grass growing around it in the asphalt. But from the tell-tale orange sticker on the window of the TR7, it’s about to get towed off if the owner doesn’t move it first. Why?
It’s all about the neighbors. Eugene code says that a vehicle may not be “stored” on the street in excess of 72 hours. But enforcement, like pretty much all code violations that don’t involve direct safety or such, is purely based in response to a complaint. Which means one of the neighbors of this TR7 got tired of seeing it there. Maybe it was the seat in front of it, or?? Could be anything. Maybe they don’t like the landscaping.
This TR7 is a pretty rare sight anymore. In fact, now that I think of it, I’ve been wanting to shoot a TR7 coupe since starting CC, but have struck out so far. Ironically, it was the fact that the “Drop Head Coupe” (DHC) didn’t come along until 1979, four years after the “Fixed Head Coupe” (FHC) that pretty much sealed the failure of the TR7, which was supposed to replace the evergreen MGB. That was truly a colossal mistake.
I can’t do its whole (sob)story here now, but I’ll give you some CC links below. And I’ll also share my favorite TR7 publicity shot. But don’t let that distract you; although I suspect that was possibly the point: The wedge-shaped TR7 coupe was widely berated for its clumsy lines and proportions. Anything to take your eyes away from it could only help, even in a publicity shot.
Related reading:
Automotive History: 1976-1981 Triumph TR7 – America Gets A Wedgie
CC Triumph TR7: The Shape Of Things To Come
Storage Yard Classic: TR7 V6 Engine Swap – An Unhappy Ending
Does the Triumph have current registration? Here, as long as the license tag is up to date, you can park your car on the street for as long as you want. People a couple of houses down from me have been using an old S-10 pickup as a street storage unit for at least 2-3 years. It does have a valid license sticker, I know because my wife checked. The house was sold a few weeks ago and the people who live there have been gradually moving out; we are hoping they take the old truck with them and that it was not a part of the house deal.
PS – I had to look hard at that last Triumph photo to make sure there was a car there, turns out there is.
The shape of things about to go as far as the Eugene car. (A play off their “Shape of things to come” tag line).
Wow, the see through shirt on the gal in the ad provides ample distraction from the car’s shortcomings!
Yes, this brings to mind the scene from Christmas Vacation where Clark Griswold is trying to buy some lingerie for his wife, and makes a comment about the temperature . . .
…and when have you ever seen a publicity photo of a car with the shadow of a fence across it?
“Fight the city and you may die…..
Make it run and you will live at least awhile. And while the engine will die many times, years from now, would you be willing to trade all the days driving an Altima, for this day for that for one chance, just one chance, to come back here as young man and tell
the tow truck driver that they may take our lives but they will never take
our Triumph TR7!”
-Braveheart
I like the shape of that model in the forground
Neighbor must’ve found out they did that to the other side too.
I lost my ’82 Cavalier in this exact manner. We had moved to a quadplex in a slightly-better-than-bottom-tier neighborhood, and when my Grandmother had to move to a retirement home, the Cav had to be moved from her driveway. At this time, it was inop and partially disassembled (I had been planning to set it up for autocross).
I put it together enough to tow to the apartment, and parked it on the curb (this on a dead-end, too, so no through traffic).
Someone must have complained after a few months, and sure enough, a sticker appeared on the windshield. I called, and was told either “get it running” or find somewhere else to store it.
I had money for neither, so 30 days later, they came and took it.
I know that old cars get unsightly but I still think neighbors were created for the purpose of antagonizing those of us whose treasures are their junk.
I love being in the country where my cars are my business only.
The way my yard’s laid out, I can (and in the past, have) parked non-runners in the driveway and/or out back of the garage. They can’t be viewed from the road.
That said, my ’57 210 Handyman and soon-to-be-for-sale ’68 C-10 are in the garage, out of the weather. And the cars we actually drive sit outside. 🙂
Chas ;
If that C/10 is a short bed with a I6 engine , ping me off list , I’m in the market .
TIA ,
-Nate
Wow I did not think Eugene would be more strict than Portland when it comes to parking. In Portland vehicles can be street parked indefinitely as long as the registration and insurance are good. There are several street side vehicles around here that have been immobile for a while (years?) and in fact there has been a 3-wheeled Grand Cherokee parked on a main drag with no tickets for over a week after a wheel fell off. Same thing with that boat and broken trailer that sat for about a week.
A shame as it looks pretty decent except for the rear accident damage. I like the aftermarket rims too. The Union Jack on the hood is a little over the top but TR7s are rare these days.
It usually has to be moved occasionally to avoid ticketing .
I used to live in a ‘hood where the neighbors didn’t like my street parked clean and tagged cars so they call the Sheriff and _LIE_ , say it was abandoned for a Month , I’d get a ticket and complain , the Sheriff told me to sod off , they even impounded a few cars , I was too young and dumb to realize how easy it is to seriously light a fire under them *if* you’re on top of things , keep the vehicle windows clean as can be and NO TRASH in the gutter this this fool has…..
Maybe he’s just tired of nursing an old Trumpet along and wants rid of it .
-Nate
Wow, I miss seventies vintage pants. They just don’t do that anymore.
I actually ran across a TR7 roadster on Craigslist a few weeks ago. The ad said 82K miles and while it ran there were a few small holes visible in the bodywork….all for $2K.
I had my 280Z towed from my apartment complex. It really burned me up because it was towed LESS than 24 hours after being stickered and since I couldn’t afford a current registration.I sure as heck couldn’t afford the “storage” fees. I did eventually get it back but why I spent the $300 I’ll never know.
In our area you only have to move it, as long as it is currently registered. Tne city has a civilian enforcement officer who tags the car and chalk-marks the tires and pavement. Roll it a few feet and you have satisfied the ordinance. Yes, he can repeat the process every 72 hours but he won’t, because he is a decent fellow and you have shown that the car is not abandoned.
Unregistered, parked on the street is another matter. That becomes a police issue, much less leeway.
With that TR-7 it would take about one manpower to move it. Maybe the owner doesn’t care and actually wants it removed; but he would find it cheaper to call up a salvage yard himself and get it done for nothing, or maybe net a few bucks for it, than pay the bill the city will send him for the removal.
When these were new, the TV ads for them said that they were “the shape of things to come.” At the time, I sure hoped not, because its nose-to-the-ground, tail-in-the-air wedge shape seriously did not appeal to me.
And then the TV ads were right. Cars started lowering their noses and raising their trunklids — to the point where a regular full-sized sedan looked anachronistic.
And now thanks to safety regs, the hoods are coming back up. It reminds me of an old man who cinches his pants up around his bellybutton.
Possibly a worse car than the Triumph Herald. If I owned a TR7 I’d sign the pink slip, tuck it under the windshield wiper, and leave the keys in the ignition.
+1
They had destroyed a 1977 Triumph TR7 on a TV show called “Last car standing” but I think that the car itself was too slow and underpowered to compete. It had gotten me reading about the Coke TR7s. I searched the internet for a pic.
According to Wikipedia: “In 1978 Coca-Cola and Levi’s ran promotional competitions with the top prizes being three TR7s in special red and white Coke livery. They also featured denim upholstery and genuine jean patch pockets on the door interiors. Also included were a 12V fridge in the boot and a TV in the glove compartment. Two of the three Coca Cola cars are known to still exist.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triumph_TR7
The Shape of Things to be Towed….
Here’s one I’ve spotted recently in my neighborhood
Not well liked is the nicest thing I’ve heard anyone say about the TR7.Perhaps the owner has had enough and deliberately left it to be towed away
I have kept vehicles for over a year on the street from time to time. I just go out after a rain and towel them dry so they look nice and shiny. And keep the tags current. I did once see a chalk mark, wiped it off and moved the car a few feet. Never had a problem neighbor has been doing the same for years without issues. The cars have decent paint and no dents so they are not really an eyesore. My street is a dead end so there is always plenty of parking even with the long term parked cars. Haven’t see a TR7 in years. The bumper cover of the white car behind it appears to be the same color as the Triumph. Maybe the paint is migrating?
I very nearly bought 2 or so years ago, and then saw the light and got an MX-5.
But, you never say never, and I won’t.
There’s a reason that they’re rare…
Rare doesn’t always mean good
I guess I’m the only one who finds these attractive at this point. Can’t say why I like them, and I wasn’t thrilled with them back when they were new, but for some reason the Fixed Head Coupe calls to me now. I hope this featured car gets rescued before Tow Mater comes to haul it away.
http://eugene.craigslist.org/cto/4654296320.html
It’s my car. I’ve been out of town for a week and a half.
When these were designed, mid-engined cars were all the rage. Triumph of course could not afford to tool up for a mid-engine car, so instead they went to the wedge shape to make it *look* like a mid-engine. It was a sad, sad attempt.
The C-6 and -7 Corvettes are another example(s) of design(s) that purposely try to mimic a mid-engine car. I can’t stand ‘em for that reason. Chevy should just own that front engine, like the Wiper does.
I remember this model’s release way back in the early 70s’. They looked like junk, ran like junk and….were junk. British Leyland’s ugliest cock-up, and that’s saying something considering their other gems like the morris marina and the austin allegro.
The coffin in the nail for this car was when a story went nationwide of a 68 year old grandmother finally getting her UK driving licence after scores of previous failures. Her choice of motors in which to learn to drive was a dog-shit brown fixed head TR7. Granny and her awful car were on the front page of practically every newspaper in the country.
EEK ~
So much Triumph hate , it sounds like 1968 again =8-) .
Oddly , no matter how strange or weird it is , someone loves that Little British Car .
-Nate
(guilty)
3 of my favourite cars are the most hated,Edsels,Ford Zodiac Mk4 and 70 Dodge Coronet/Superbee.
It’s up for sale, man.
http://eugene.craigslist.org/cto/4654296320.html
For those dear readers not familiar with the Ford Zodiac Mk IV, photo provided below. It’s a H registration from 1970 and probably in better condition than when it left the factory, Yep, Gem’s right, these models were much loathed; especially considering the beauties that preceded it.
Didn’t help that the police in the UK adopted them nation-wide as motorway patrol cars, if one of these barges motored your way; no getting away from it with its’ V6. Apparently they handled like pigs (no pun intended) so Ford built three 4WD which got them around corners better…but much slower.
The model was dumped damn fast by Ford who replaced them with the Granada. Much better.
PS Nate. Sorry if my diatribe offended you. Those were dark days for the British car industry and I was appalled at the direction that car designs were going. Materials too….plastic, fibreglass and bloody rubber.
Dad hated the Mk4 Zodiac,he called it the British Edsel(another car he loathed).He bought a used Ford Falcon to replace our Mk3 Zephyr 6.I had a 68 Mk4 2.5 Zephyr 6 which was a decent car though not as good as the 2.8 Mk2 Granada I had later.
He wasn’t far wrong calling it a British Edsel as Roy Brown(not Roy”Chubby”Brown the foul mouthed comedian) was exiled to Dagenham for the Edsel Deadly Sin and was involved with the Mk4 Zodiac
“PS Nate. Sorry if my diatribe offended you. Those were dark days for the British car industry and I was appalled at the direction that car designs were going. Materials too….plastic, fibreglass and bloody rubber. ”
Not to worry ! .
As a Journeyman Mechanic who came up during the 1960’s & 1970’s I am too well aware of the horrible vehicles made by The British Motor Industry , they causes their own death .
I still loves me some tiny little fun to drive , cheap to operate and easy to fix little sh*tboxes .
Call me stupid (many do) but I love ’em to death and can usually been found driving one much faster than is prudent , sweating like a dog in a Chinese Restaurant and adding oil too often rather than going much faster and cooler in an AC equipped Japanese Sports Coupe like my Son does .
Everyone has their likes and dislikes .
-Nate
No mentions of the camel toe? I swear, she does not look comfortable
It’s my TR7. I’m out of town for a week and a half. My friend said it’s still there as of last night. I was super stressed seeing this. It runs but has some issues I don’t know how to fix, myself. The neighbors two houses down are complete assholes who do nothing but bitch about our cars and front yard garden. I come home Sunday night. Hopefully it should still be there.
Also, yes, the tags are current.
http://eugene.craigslist.org/cto/4654296320.html