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Early TR7 Sprint Competition Cars
Looking at the early TR7's Sprint Competition cars prior to the ACH series of these rare cars, I have found the following
information and to date has been the main enquires on the History Front. These cars are from the KDU ???N series of registrations and most likely all have early ACG numbers and then fitted with Competition Dolomite
Sprint engines from either Don Moore Engines or Broadspeed engines. What I can find out is the Don Moore engines were more torque and the Broadspeed engines having more top end power. These early Competition TR7
Sprint Cars had 4 speed gearboxes with overdrive fitted still and not the 5 speed gearbox. These Early Cars were fitted with a internal Roadcage, which was visable in the Car.
These first two well Know Registrations are KDU 497N & KDU 498N which are both British Leyland works
cars entered in Rallying Championships which are as follows
May 1976 Welsh Rally B.Culcheth / J.Syer KDU 497N Retired Engine
May 1976 Welsh Rally T.Pond / D.Richards KDU 498N Retired Engine
June 1976 Scottish Rally B.Culcheth / J.Syer KDU 497N Retired Engine
June 1976 Scottish Rally T.Pond / D.Richards KDU 498N Retired Engine
Aug 1976 Burmah Rally B.Culcheth / J.Syer KDU 497N 15th Overall
Aug 1976 Burmah Rally T.Pond / D.Richards KDU 498N Retired Accident
Aug 1976 Manx Trophy Rally B.Culcheth / J.Syer KDU 497N 5th Overall
Aug 1976 Manx Trophy Rally T.Pond / D.Richards KDU 498N 3rd Overall
Oct 1976 Lindisfarne Rally B.Culcheth / J.Syer KDU 497N Retired Electrics
Oct 1976 Lindisfarne Rally T.Pond / D.Richards KDU 498N 9th Overall
Oct 1976 Castrol 76 Rally B.Culcheth / J.Syer KDU 497N 8th Overall
Oct 1976 Castrol 76 Rally T.Pond / D.Richards KDU 498N 3rd Overall
Feb 1977 Boucles de Spa Rally T.Pond / D.Richards KDU 498N 1st Overall
Apr 1977 Tour of Elba Rally B.Culcheth / J.Syer KDU 497N Retired throttle linkage
June 1977 Scottish Rally B.Culcheth / J.Syer KDU 497N 9th Overall
July 1977 Mille Pistes Rally B.Culcheth / J.Syer KDU 497N 4th Overall
Nov 1977 Tour de Corse Rally B.Culcheth / J.Syer KDU 497N 11th Overall
The next Rally Cars in this Registration series have been used by privateers in the British Rally
Championships and not British Leyland Rallying team but still important Cars in the early TR7 Sprint Ralling history. I know about three of these cars but would be grateful for any additonal information on these
cars, which two of them are know to the TR Drivers club and have asked for information if any available.
These cars registrations are as follow's KDU 467N, KDU 487N & KDU 488N
which I am led to believe years ago was built with a Don Moore Prepared Sprint engine so the owners could use them for British Rallying Competitions. The two know to the club are KDU 467N & KDU 487N.
Firstly KDU 367N was recently purchased at the Bonhams auction at Goodwood what it described as a Triumph
TR7 Sprint and finished in 'works' colours. It was previously owned by Arthur Carter of Lincolnshire and had been prepared by Chris Conoley. He believe it has been in storage with Arthur carter for many years. This
TR7 Sprint is in very nice, clean condition and is competition prepared. The new owner David is hoping to do some serious regularity run type competition with it next year.
Secondly KDU 487N which he believes the car was fitted with a Don Moore Sprint Engine at the Factory and
was used for a rally racce car. This car was built on 3.7.75 and the car was originally owned by Ken Wood, then by Mark Paul, and has been owned by John White since 1985.
Thirdly KDU 488N I think this car was built the same as a factory rally car with a 16 valve Don Moore engine
Just to end on positive note about these TR7 Sprint Rally cars the following was included in the sale item
of KDU 367N, at Bonhams auction at Goodwood this year.
Although never a catalogued model TR7 Sprint (why remains a mystery) the former made use of the 16-valve
Dolomite Sprint engine which in full works trim delivered around 220bhp. The TR7 ‘Sprint’ proved highly competitive on tarmac, winning the Belgian Boucles de Spa event outright in 1977 and achieving a number of
leader-board finishes before it was superseded by the TR7 V8. This TR7 ‘Sprint’ has been prepared by famous Triumph competition specialist and racing driver Chris Conoley. A Jaguar Drivers’ Club scrutineers’ pass -
Donington 1987, car number ‘24’ - is attached to the car, which presumably was its last outing as this number is still on the sides and bonnet.
James Johnson
Sprint Owner SJW 538S
Email me on james.r.johnson@btinternet.com .
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