RVL 506R is a Speke built car (Registered 14/10/1976, VIN ACG3115) and came with full service history, which I have continued with, and had 64,000 miles (with a replacement engine at 30,000 miles). I purchased off the second owner in Sunderland, who had bought from the original owner via Simon Robinson in Darlington.

Jobs done since buying in 2010:

• New coolant hoses
• New clutch
• New wiper wheels and refurbished wiper motor
• Replacement carburettor mountings
• New rear springs
• New rear shock absorbers
• New rear suspension rubbers/bushes
• Replacement front struts
• New front discs
• New front bearings
• New front springs
• New front shock absorbers
• New front suspension rubbers/bushes
• New front ball joints
• New front TR7 logo (replaced the laurel leaf logo)
• New track rod ends
• Replacement brake calipers
• New front brake lines
• New window winders
• Replacement rear window seal
• Refurbished white roof lining
• Refurbished lower screen panel
• New battery
• Added original steel wheels and black plastic centres
• Cleaned and painted wheel arches and underneath
• Professionally had the engine taken out, skimmed head & block, and new head gaskets and water pump.
• New coil, points and condenser (05/2013)
• New Accuspark electronic ignition inc. coil & plugs (07/2013)
• Replaced exhaust (02/2014)

This car is being used daily so all work is done evenings & weekends and although there was little wrong I've been replacing all the parts that are 30 years old with new parts to ensure I can continue using every day ! It was working fine when purchased in 2010 but trying to get everything restored/renewed/refurbished to standard spec. whilst in use.

February 2013 Update:

End of last summer I had some overheating issues that turned out to be a head gasket problem. Considering the engine was new only 30,000 miles ago and also had the head off only 5000 miles ago and been serviced and looked after since was a surprise. Once the head was off again it became obvious the last garage had caused some damage to the faces of the block and head, which brought the earlier demise. I have since had the block and head re-skimmed with new water pump and housing, and all new gaskets. Car is back on the road with new MOT and tax and went to the local TR Register meet in it, being the first this year to turn up in a TR !

Summer 2013 Update:

Fortunately nothing major to note, although have been using the car whilst waiting for the V8 DHC to be completed (new engine). Drove to the TR Drivers Club at Billing in this car and ran faultless for 550 miles, including sat in very very hot temperatures for an hour on the way back. Not a budge from the temperature gauge!

Autumn/Winter 2013

Bought another TR7 so have been working on that for 3 months, but still using this one and still going good. Exhaust went at the back but I had a spare one so replaced the system with a good used one. Has now (February) just passed an MOT with no advisories but did need a rear wheel brake cylinder. Has now been re-taxed and because the other TR7 is on the road after a rebuild one has to go - and it is this one. Sad times but can't keep 4 TR7's and the other TR7 I've recently rebuilt is red (preferrable colour to me) and slightly earlier build.

Have driven the car today to work and can confirm that it is a great car to drive - these being the good bits:

• 12 months MOT (until March 2015) - no advisories
• 6 month TAX (until end of August)
• Very standard 1976 4-speed car (standard apart from the stealth electronic ignition - that has been wired so you can revert back to points without any wires having been cut)
• Got extensive service history from new
• Been on the road most years since 1976
• Low number of owners (I'm the third)
• Excellent engine (having had a lot of work over the years, the latest proper job of new head gasket and skimmed head/block should see this going for many years)
• Excellent gearbox & clutch (clutch was replaced and bedded in nicely)
• No noisy rear axle/diff
• Solid temperature, stays where it should and the heater works without any leaks
• Great brakes that stop you in a straight line without any deviation
• No speed wobble on the steering even up to the 75mph I've gone to (we all know how this can affect many TR7's, but not this one)
• New wheels and tyres
• Handbrake works!
• Good interior
• Hand a lot of work over the years I've owned it - see list above.
• Very reliable car - in fact I'd be comfortable driving the country end-to-end in this

Bad bits:

• Some bodywork requires attention around the wheel arches and rear deck - may require a full respray.
• Engine bay could do with some tidying around where some previous welding and plating has been done (needs grinding back and re-painting)
• Dashboard cracked and needs replacing.

Short vid of driving to work this week - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAk1kiEM33k