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TR7 Headlamp Panel - Press Release


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PRESS RELEASE

TR DRIVERS CLUB & TR SPARES DEVELOPMENT FUND

25th November 2019

Since the shocking news that British Motor Heritage had scrapped the Triumph TR7 press tools, the TR Drivers Club has been looking into the best way to reintroduce these no longer available panels.  The TR Spares Development Fund came on board in the spring of this year and together we are now able to report that instruction has just been given for the tooling up and supply of the all-important TR7 front panel (a.k.a. the headlamp panel).  The chosen supplier is Ex-Pressed Steel Panels Ltd. of Keighley near Bradford.  This company has an unrivalled reputation in the industry and when looking for a suitable supplier for Triumph’s last sports car, the TR Drivers and TRSDF felt it was important that replacement panels should be made in Britain by British workers, so Ex-Pressed Steel was the ideal choice.

It is hoped to have the first panel on display late in 2020, whereupon a decision will be made as to which panels should follow -  currently, front wings are the favoured option, but that may change dependent on the TRDC and TR Spares Development Fund sourcing alternative supply of new, old stock panels.  It is essential therefore that this first project is successful, and anyone interested in obtaining one of the first batch of ten headlamp panels - which will be to the cost of around £625 including VAT for TRDC and TR Spares Development Fund members (i.e. just about every TR7/8 owner in the UK) - is requested to make contact with John Clancy of the TR Drivers Club – john.clancy@bfcc.biz   More details of the TR7 panel project and other reintroduced TR7/8 parts can be seen on the club’s web site at www.trdrivers.club.

John Clancy & Brian Ridley-Jones (TR Drivers Club) and Ian Cornish (TR Spares Development Fund)

 

Background

Triumph dealers found out that British Motor Heritage had scrapped the TR7 press tools when a bulk order for TR7 front wings could not be fulfilled.  Although nothing had ever been reported to the Triumph clubs or dealers, it is believed that the decision to sell the press tools for scrap was taken when the BMH Blackburn site was cleared out several years ago.  Had advance warning have been given, main Triumph dealer Rimmer Bros. would have put in a mass order to guarantee supply for many years into the future and it is also possible the TR clubs would have joined forces to re-site the enormous press tools.  A whistle blower notified the TR Drivers Club that the press tools had been scrapped only a month prior to Jon Burgess of Classic Car Weekly contacting the club to ascertain if there was any truth in the story leaked to him.  The TRDC was able to confirm the story and advise that the club was already looking into alternative methods of manufacture and supply.

Edited by ianc
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Has any one ever seen the size of press tools... that might come in handy one day?

The front panel for TR7/8 probably had 3 big tool.  Blank, raise and clip/pierce and they would have weighed many tons each.

Storing is expensive, moving them is even more expensive. A crane at start and finish locations plus a flat bed truck from Allelys  https://www.allelys.co.uk/services/heavy-haulage/

Here is a view of a few stored press tools that might make one or two individual panels.

image.thumb.png.038f15bb849016119001edde2be47660.png

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23 hours ago, BlueTR3A-5EKT said:

 

Has any one ever seen the size of press tools... that might come in handy one day?

The front panel for TR7/8 probably had 3 big tool.  Blank, raise and clip/pierce and they would have weighed many tons each.

Storing is expensive, moving them is even more expensive. A crane at start and finish locations plus a flat bed truck from Allelys  https://www.allelys.co.uk/services/heavy-haulage/

Here is a view of a few stored press tools that might make one or two individual panels.

image.thumb.png.038f15bb849016119001edde2be47660.png

So how did Heritage "Lose" the tooling for the TR6 shells then, size of those tools you`d have to be pretty blind to lose them.

Stuart.

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You’d have to ask them.

it will be a quantity of factors from the company who made a sub assembly with tools Heritage did not own, going bust and the accountants selling off everything to a scrap dealer or the highest bidder, (think Fray the badge & emblem maker here), to the theft of tools by those wishing to profit from selling scrap metal (aluminium tools for plastic blow moulds)  Tools are big lumps that may not be clearly labelled so could be collected by the wrong press shop  and then not returned. Tools are not kept on site at press shops unless they are in continuous use and therefore pay their ground rent.  Old airport runways are good for storing press tools on in what look like large steel ant hills.  

Additionally tools for 1000 off production runs  do not lend themselves commercially to the 10 off the classic car industry might want to buy once a year.  Storing the other 990 panels in pristine condition for the next 90 years demand is expensive on space etc.  This is why Cox & Buckles got involved in prototype tooling using kirksite and jabroc for use in a rubber press.   Find me a big rubber press today with affordable & accessible hourly rates......  it was rubber pressed sills from C&B that were fitted to TR6 shells &  I have idea where those tools are now.

Peter W

Edited by BlueTR3A-5EKT
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