My dad had one while I was in high school, I got to drive it quite a bit in my small Northern New York GM town. It was a prototype coupé with soft sunroof, resprayed white with no badges, only the dual exhaust gave it away as a TR8. Needless to say in the early 80s I surprised a great deal of people at stop lights 🙂 very fun car!
my granddad owns a red convertible fuel injected tr8 he finally let me drive it over the summer and its so much fun to drive definitally my favorite car
Right out of high school I got a TR7 drop head blk with grey interior. I went straight away with fixing it up trying to improve upon a car that desperately needed improvements. New this new that, cloth top instead of the grainy vinyl, headers and duel exhaust, front side and rear air dam and valance, new blk paint job, I even found very nice condition grey seats from a Fiero with the speakers in the head rest, slight modification the mounts and they fitted right in. All in all I was very proud of my little project car and to this day I still am because it is still 30 years later sitting in my garage. I don't use it like I used to but one day soon I will get it back on the road again.
I bought one used in 1982 and it was my daily driver. It was about the only decent and affordable sports car in that era. The engine was bulletproof with a couple of exceptions. In the fuel injected car gas was delivered with a lot of small rubber tubes that were prone to cracking and leaking gas on top of the engine. I had an injector break on my once and I could not figure out why the car developed a miss. I lived in an area with no British mechanics that I could find. Finally I found "British Engineering" in Lancaster, CA and the owner found the broken injector in about 1 minute. The transmission was bulletproof as well. I never had to have work done on the engine except as above, the transmission or clutch. Even the Lucas electrics were pretty darn good with the exception of the multi-stalk on the left of the steering column (turn signals, horn and maybe wipers--I forget). The multi-stalk went belly up a few times and the headlight switch on the dash once. I had paid to have it tuned all the time I owned it except once. It took me half a day to get to the air filter and found that it was FULL of dirt, leaves, etc.. No one had EVER changed it. My biggest disappointments with the car were a whine when under load (something under the hood) and the fact that they had detuned the engine a lot. As I recall, the California car (the only one I knew of where the CA car got better mileage and power than the 49 state car) was rated at 140HP. This was way down from the same motor in the Morgan +8 which produced well over 200HP as I recall. I sold the car to my Dad sometime in the later '90s and I sold it for him in the early 2000s on Ebay to a Triumph collector in Belgium. His mechanic found that the catalytic converter had collapsed internally and, when fixed, the car breathed much better he said. I bought it for $10,000 in 1982 and sold it for my Dad for $8,000--not bad after it being in the family for 20 years.
Here in the UK we never got the TR8, although IMO it was the engine BL should have offered from the start as the 2.0 was prone to major failures. The only TR8s I saw here in the UK near me back in the 80s/90s were a pair of Grinall (not sure if the spelling) conversions that were loud and certainly seemed quick back then.
I had one of these that I bought in the early 1990's from a guy who raced them in showroom stock class. The car needed lots of work when I got it - on the test drive I noticed that one of the front wheel bearings was broken. I called the owner and he delivered the parts to my friend's house where I had stopped. We were back on the road in about an hour. The car needed other things mostly because of neglect - new stainless exhaust system, new top, new tires, new brakes, minor front fender rust repair, seat covers, etc. The car came with a lot of parts because of the racing history of the prior owner - his race car was claimed after a race and the parts had been supplied by BL, his sponsor. I did most of the work myself and found the car easy to work on especially since I had just restored a TR7. This car had Lucas/Bosch fuel injection that worked well, but did have a slight annoying surge that was fixed by disconnecting the O2 sensors. These cars came standard with power steering. I decided to fit a TR7 non-power unit that was sitting around instead of having the power rack rebuilt. This change removed some weight from the front of the car and I really didn't mind the extra steering effort. Once I got the car sorted, I really enjoyed driving it and put a fair amount of mileage on it before selling it. In 1999, my garage was occupied by two TR7's, two Fiat Spiders, a Jag E-Type, a TR8, a Pontiac Grand Prix GTP, and a Ford Explorer. I sold of all the TR's and Fiats and bought a Saab 93 convertible - my vintage car addiction was coming to an end. I did eventually finish the Jag and sold that off as well.
Take it ‘one day at a time’ mate. I’ve suffered a relapse. 2 MGB roadsters, and MGBGT, new MIG welder, high volume/ low pressure spray gun. Trawling the web on my own, in secret, looking up TR8’s….
This car looks in great condition...I had a 71 TR6 in the early 80s and when the TR8 came out it made us drool...not fast by todays standards...but a fun toy to have.
Interesting, more rare than a Delorean, which is my favorite car from the so called malaise period. I had owned a TR7 and it was a lot of fun to drive. Handled like a slot car.
Parts = from the UK. RIMMER BROS . They will have most parts available. triumph parts specialists new & used & re-con parts. I hope that helps with parts.
Many years ago, my first car was a 1962 F-85 Oldsmobile. It came with a "215" Cubic Inch 155 hp 2 barrel Aluminum block V-8 and a 3 speed auto. It was nice but "kids" didn't like 4 doors back then. It ran really great. From what came to understand, that Aluminum V-8 was sold to British Leyland after GM was done with it and it made it's way into the TR-8s. It worked well with the Rochester Carb. My point... at least engine parts may be able to be acquired from a GM supplier. Life was good in the 60s *S*
That engine first appeared in a 1951 Buick concept car... '62-'63 Olds Jetfire had a turbocharged version... I drove '62 Jetfire back in the day... California TR8's had EFI... a version also won an F1 race... another in Indy 500 race...
I know the Triumph TR7/TR8's were controversial when it first arrived, mostly due to it's styling and reliability which was typical of most British Leyland cars of the 70's and 80's. But I must admit, the TR7/TR8 is starting to grow on me now and I don't mind some of the British quirks as long as it's not rusty which is good for me because I live in Southern California where rust is hardly an issue compare to other parts of the U.S. Of course if I decide to buy one, it has to be a convertible because they're always better looking than the coupe.
I have owned the entire triumph range including the TR7. The TR7 had a built in engine miss. I spent thousands trying to work out the issue which i never did. However in say this the car had presence and character. Certainly not as bad as the critics say.
1:03 You could *option* them with rack & pinion steering? No, *not option. All TR8's came standard with (the exact same) quick-ratio R&P power steering, a GM Saginaw unit.* It's one of the changes that made a TR8 feel like a true sports car VS the slow manual steering that TR7s had. I had two TR8s BTW; an '80 and an '81. 2:01 The solution to *almost* all 'wonky' headlight issues is to buy a new headlight switch... the one you actually touch on the fascia. 3:50 A properly functioning R-12 filled TR8 A/C is a 100% General Motors unit of that era (R4 compressor) and will freeze you out of the car! 6:04 As that same engine (3.5L variant) came in 5000lb Range Rovers the engine will seem like a torque monster in this lightweight car. Also the 3.5L Rover V8 is a 'happy revver' unlike the higher displacement versions (3.9L 4.0L 4.6L) they eventually put in future Range Rovers that had an increased stroke.
The OEM Moto Lita steering wheel that was on the car is still made, but the leather cover on mine wore out at the 12:00 o'clock position, maybe about 2" wide of visible wear through. That was really just about my only issue with the car..
All parts are available. Easily obtained and plenty of specialist for engine upgrades and modifications...although the stock ones are the most expensive.
I had a 1980 TR8 convertible as a daily driver for 2 years 1984-1986. 5 speed manual, air conditioning. Put on the Offenhauser 4 barrel intake with a small Rochester carburetor instead of a Holley and it ran strong. Maybe the brakes were too small for the engine power.
Not sure if in the U.S. You've heard of the nickname for Lucas (the electrical manufacturer used by UK car and bike manufacturers way back ) Lucas 'the Prince of darkness' lol
I had a '76 TR7 and you could manually crank down the lights if they stayed up. Also the Lucas electrical parts were junk. The clutch slave cylinder would wear out on the stick models if you didn't use only Castrol brake fluid. It was very easy and cheap to re-build though.
I bought a 1 year old 1980 49 state TR8 right after I got out of grad school. Got a good deal from a guy who was getting divorced and the proceeds were going to the ex-wife. Car accelerated really fast and shrieked near redline. Easy to embarrass the Corvette's of the era in a straight line. Marvelous sounding car. Michigan turns were handled in a joyous slide. Fun to drive in the rain with the top down because not a drop came in the cabin and didn't even need to use the wipers at 35 or better. But the brakes were poorly balanced and utterly inadequate. And aerodynamics with the top down at 100 were problematic. Worst car in the least snow I've ever driven (snow is what Saab Sonetts were invented for). Awful radio. Loved the car. But it was never the same after it went to yahoos at Falvey of Troy for collision work after it was rear ended. Eventually sold it to my dad to help fund my wedding and then he enjoyed it!
This is a 1981 since it's got a badge on the hood instead of the 1980 decal. I think there were only 350 1981 cars, which was a shame, because by 1980 they had fixed their issues and my car was super reliable. I hated the tartan plaid seat and door panel inserts, and by today's standards the dash is too plastic, and the taillights design looked better with the back panel they were set in painted black like originally than when painted body color on the final couple years, but other than that, great car, and the trunk was designed to hold a set of golf clubs and was indeed roomy.
He didn't mention probably the first "wedgy" car at the end there. The Fiat x19 was produced from 1972 to 1989 making production before and after the TR7/8. I do agree with him when he says, if you're in the market for a TR7, go for a TR8 (or at least a TR7 that has had the 3.5 dropped in it. They are night and day difference to drive.
133 or 137 Horse Power = That's Very Odd ? in the UK the 3.5 V8 was: * 158 HP on Twin SU Carb's or * 190 HP on EFi. It Must Have Been ALL That Phoney ECO Crap North America Had to Have on Your Cars.
Journalism is dead. Reporters from his generation don't dig out story details and insights, they tend to just re-print what someone else wrote. Likely spills over to auto journalism. Lazy youguns!
They come up frequently. The prices have climbed significantly, though, and I would not want to pay $20K for a car that is bound to start rusting if kept outdoors. I had one, and no garage, so it started life low miles and pristine, it started rusting in a number of spots. Garage queen?
5 years later . . . . . Back in those days I worked at a British Leyland/Volvo dealership. They sold MG’s, Spitfires, TR6’s, TR7’s, TR8’s, Jaguars, Volvo’s and even Rover 3500’s. Almost all of the British cars had disappointing workmanship and quality, especially compared to the Volvos. Even so they sold every MGB and Triumph they could squeeze out of the factory. The TR7 sold more than any of the others, even the coupe. Their cornering was so much better, even comparable to the 280Z. But sadly most of the British cars we’re sold not long after they were paid for. If only the British cars had Volvo workmanship, quality and reliability . . . When British Leyland withdrew from the U.S. market that dealership folded and another dealership took over Volvo sales. But for a few years the TR7’s and 8’s were gems.
Dreadful car. I owned two Triumphs both spent considerable time on the hoist at the dealership in Great Falls, Montana. However, heater and defroster on the car was nearly useless. Yes, I was 22 and stupid but loved British sports cars
What's wrong with a carb? Powered all of the great muscle cars and race cars up till about 1980. Carbs only "suck" (well, they actually do suck.....air and fuel!) if you are trying to meet modern draconian pollution standards. Who cares when dealing with small, bespoke models like the TR8?! I had an '82 with the Bosch FI, and I would gladly switch to a Holley or Weber set-up for better performance. And i would not lose sleep over the incremental addition to climate change it would imply. F Greta!
![สาวเมืองเพชร - ธีเดช ทองอภิชาติ [Official MV]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/kEt7F9PvO3I/mqdefault.jpg)
My buddy just got a 1980 TR8 and he plans on putting it up for sale. Glad I just found this vid I’m gonna do a basic inspection for him
I once owned a 1980 TR-8 with a 3.5 litre Rover V8 a Buick derived engine from the 60's and boy was it tons of fun!
Yeah!!! 🤣🤣🤣
I thought it was a Oldsmobile engine that was in the f40 station wagon
My dad had one while I was in high school, I got to drive it quite a bit in my small Northern New York GM town. It was a prototype coupé with soft sunroof, resprayed white with no badges, only the dual exhaust gave it away as a TR8. Needless to say in the early 80s I surprised a great deal of people at stop lights 🙂 very fun car!
my granddad owns a red convertible fuel injected tr8 he finally let me drive it over the summer and its so much fun to drive definitally my favorite car
Right out of high school I got a TR7 drop head blk with grey interior. I went straight away with fixing it up trying to improve upon a car that desperately needed improvements. New this new that, cloth top instead of the grainy vinyl, headers and duel exhaust, front side and rear air dam and valance, new blk paint job, I even found very nice condition grey seats from a Fiero with the speakers in the head rest, slight modification the mounts and they fitted right in. All in all I was very proud of my little project car and to this day I still am because it is still 30 years later sitting in my garage. I don't use it like I used to but one day soon I will get it back on the road again.
I bought one used in 1982 and it was my daily driver. It was about the only decent and affordable sports car in that era. The engine was bulletproof with a couple of exceptions. In the fuel injected car gas was delivered with a lot of small rubber tubes that were prone to cracking and leaking gas on top of the engine. I had an injector break on my once and I could not figure out why the car developed a miss. I lived in an area with no British mechanics that I could find. Finally I found "British Engineering" in Lancaster, CA and the owner found the broken injector in about 1 minute. The transmission was bulletproof as well. I never had to have work done on the engine except as above, the transmission or clutch. Even the Lucas electrics were pretty darn good with the exception of the multi-stalk on the left of the steering column (turn signals, horn and maybe wipers--I forget). The multi-stalk went belly up a few times and the headlight switch on the dash once. I had paid to have it tuned all the time I owned it except once. It took me half a day to get to the air filter and found that it was FULL of dirt, leaves, etc.. No one had EVER changed it. My biggest disappointments with the car were a whine when under load (something under the hood) and the fact that they had detuned the engine a lot. As I recall, the California car (the only one I knew of where the CA car got better mileage and power than the 49 state car) was rated at 140HP. This was way down from the same motor in the Morgan +8 which produced well over 200HP as I recall. I sold the car to my Dad sometime in the later '90s and I sold it for him in the early 2000s on Ebay to a Triumph collector in Belgium. His mechanic found that the catalytic converter had collapsed internally and, when fixed, the car breathed much better he said. I bought it for $10,000 in 1982 and sold it for my Dad for $8,000--not bad after it being in the family for 20 years.
Where did u meet the engineer at and was he an older man and did he own a white tr7
I owned a TR-7 back in the day and I met some nice people while waiting on tow trucks.
I know what you’re saying. lol 🔧
😭
Well done. We've spent out life working on these. Glad they are getting some attention!
Southern California needs a Wedge Shop! Can you recommend a mechanic? Ours moved on to Texas to build the "new" Deloreans!
Here in the UK we never got the TR8, although IMO it was the engine BL should have offered from the start as the 2.0 was prone to major failures.
The only TR8s I saw here in the UK near me back in the 80s/90s were a pair of Grinall (not sure if the spelling) conversions that were loud and certainly seemed quick back then.
I had one of these that I bought in the early 1990's from a guy who raced them in showroom stock class. The car needed lots of work when I got it - on the test drive I noticed that one of the front wheel bearings was broken. I called the owner and he delivered the parts to my friend's house where I had stopped. We were back on the road in about an hour. The car needed other things mostly because of neglect - new stainless exhaust system, new top, new tires, new brakes, minor front fender rust repair, seat covers, etc. The car came with a lot of parts because of the racing history of the prior owner - his race car was claimed after a race and the parts had been supplied by BL, his sponsor. I did most of the work myself and found the car easy to work on especially since I had just restored a TR7. This car had Lucas/Bosch fuel injection that worked well, but did have a slight annoying surge that was fixed by disconnecting the O2 sensors. These cars came standard with power steering. I decided to fit a TR7 non-power unit that was sitting around instead of having the power rack rebuilt. This change removed some weight from the front of the car and I really didn't mind the extra steering effort. Once I got the car sorted, I really enjoyed driving it and put a fair amount of mileage on it before selling it. In 1999, my garage was occupied by two TR7's, two Fiat Spiders, a Jag E-Type, a TR8, a Pontiac Grand Prix GTP, and a Ford Explorer. I sold of all the TR's and Fiats and bought a Saab 93 convertible - my vintage car addiction was coming to an end. I did eventually finish the Jag and sold that off as well.
Take it ‘one day at a time’ mate. I’ve suffered a relapse. 2 MGB roadsters, and MGBGT, new MIG welder, high volume/ low pressure spray gun. Trawling the web on my own, in secret, looking up TR8’s….
One of the reasons why loved my Fiero was its shape reminded me of the TR7 and TR8s.
This car looks in great condition...I had a 71 TR6 in the early 80s and when the TR8 came out it made us drool...not fast by todays standards...but a fun toy to have.
Austin Rover did campaign the TR7/8 in rallying back in the 70s/80s I think. Tony Pond was one of their drivers
Interesting: I am a Brit, I do have a Corvette but had never heard the TR8 referred to as the 'British Corvette'.
Given the design is nearly 50 years old, I think it still looks amazing
People sat its boxy but i think its got its own great look.
Mimics a 1980 Mazda RX-7…
@@norton2757 they came out before 80'
@@finlaymcdiarmid5832 You are correct….. then the opposite will hold true for me here forward.
@@norton2757 when i said they i meant TR7 just to be clear. I dont think it looks like a 80' rx7 by the way, its skinnier and has weird jappy curves.
Interesting, more rare than a Delorean, which is my favorite car from the so called malaise period. I had owned a TR7 and it was a lot of fun to drive. Handled like a slot car.
Parts = from the UK. RIMMER BROS .
They will have most parts available.
triumph parts specialists new & used & re-con parts.
I hope that helps with parts.
I had a tr7 hardtop. Put some hi-perf totes in it - That thing handled like a dream!
Many years ago, my first car was a 1962 F-85 Oldsmobile. It came with a "215" Cubic Inch 155 hp 2 barrel Aluminum block V-8 and a 3 speed auto. It was nice but "kids" didn't like 4 doors back then. It ran really great. From what came to understand, that Aluminum V-8 was sold to British Leyland after GM was done with it and it made it's way into the TR-8s. It worked well with the Rochester Carb.
My point... at least engine parts may be able to be acquired from a GM supplier. Life was good in the 60s *S*
That engine first appeared in a 1951 Buick concept car... '62-'63 Olds Jetfire had a turbocharged version... I drove '62 Jetfire back in the day... California TR8's had EFI... a version also won an F1 race... another in Indy 500 race...
I know the Triumph TR7/TR8's were controversial when it first arrived, mostly due to it's styling and reliability which was typical of most British Leyland cars of the 70's and 80's. But I must admit, the TR7/TR8 is starting to grow on me now and I don't mind some of the British quirks as long as it's not rusty which is good for me because I live in Southern California where rust is hardly an issue compare to other parts of the U.S. Of course if I decide to buy one, it has to be a convertible because they're always better looking than the coupe.
X19 also a wedge shaped car from this era.
I have owned the entire triumph range including the TR7. The TR7 had a built in engine miss. I spent thousands trying to work out the issue which i never did. However in say this the car had presence and character. Certainly not as bad as the critics say.
I had a1980 Triumph TR8 and it was the best car I ever owned.
That’s good to hear. They never sold them in the UK sadly
Wasn't it always suppose to have a larger engine and it fell through initially?
1:03 You could *option* them with rack & pinion steering? No, *not option. All TR8's came standard with (the exact same) quick-ratio R&P power steering, a GM Saginaw unit.* It's one of the changes that made a TR8 feel like a true sports car VS the slow manual steering that TR7s had. I had two TR8s BTW; an '80 and an '81.
2:01 The solution to *almost* all 'wonky' headlight issues is to buy a new headlight switch... the one you actually touch on the fascia.
3:50 A properly functioning R-12 filled TR8 A/C is a 100% General Motors unit of that era (R4 compressor) and will freeze you out of the car!
6:04 As that same engine (3.5L variant) came in 5000lb Range Rovers the engine will seem like a torque monster in this lightweight car. Also the 3.5L Rover V8 is a 'happy revver' unlike the higher displacement versions (3.9L 4.0L 4.6L) they eventually put in future Range Rovers that had an increased stroke.
The Fiat X-19 was a popular wedge shaped car, also available at the time, but inferior to the TR8.
The X19 being a Fiat used to rust even quicker than Triumphs and MGs and were even more unreliable
1:05 :Rack and pinion steering an option ?? What was standard I wonder
worm and roller i guess
The ashtray!
Still looks good !
The OEM Moto Lita steering wheel that was on the car is still made, but the leather cover on mine wore out at the 12:00 o'clock position, maybe about 2" wide of visible wear through. That was really just about my only issue with the car..
All parts are available. Easily obtained and plenty of specialist for engine upgrades and modifications...although the stock ones are the most expensive.
Gr8 Tr8, M8
I had a 1980 TR8 convertible as a daily driver for 2 years 1984-1986. 5 speed manual, air conditioning. Put on the Offenhauser 4 barrel intake with a small Rochester carburetor instead of a Holley and it ran strong. Maybe the brakes were too small for the engine power.
Chickens live in coops. I think you mean coupé (coupay)
You both have a point. Lol
Not sure if in the U.S. You've heard of the nickname for Lucas (the electrical manufacturer used by UK car and bike manufacturers way back )
Lucas 'the Prince of darkness' lol
The Lucas refrigerator is the reason Brits drink their beer warm.
Absolutely! We had the same experiences with those cars, and the same nicknames! 😄
Quirky Wiring yeah Lucas electrical systems. It's why Sir Lucas is also known as the Prince of Darkness.
I had a '76 TR7 and you could manually crank down the lights if they stayed up. Also the Lucas electrical parts were junk. The clutch slave cylinder would wear out on the stick models if you didn't use only Castrol brake fluid. It was very easy and cheap to re-build though.
Yes, DOT 3 brake fluid will destroy the brakes and clutch rubbers in two weeks... have to use LMA fluid only...
I bought a 1 year old 1980 49 state TR8 right after I got out of grad school. Got a good deal from a guy who was getting divorced and the proceeds were going to the ex-wife. Car accelerated really fast and shrieked near redline. Easy to embarrass the Corvette's of the era in a straight line. Marvelous sounding car. Michigan turns were handled in a joyous slide. Fun to drive in the rain with the top down because not a drop came in the cabin and didn't even need to use the wipers at 35 or better. But the brakes were poorly balanced and utterly inadequate. And aerodynamics with the top down at 100 were problematic. Worst car in the least snow I've ever driven (snow is what Saab Sonetts were invented for). Awful radio. Loved the car. But it was never the same after it went to yahoos at Falvey of Troy for collision work after it was rear ended. Eventually sold it to my dad to help fund my wedding and then he enjoyed it!
Beautiful
ugly
This is a 1981 since it's got a badge on the hood instead of the 1980 decal. I think there were only 350 1981 cars, which was a shame, because by 1980 they had fixed their issues and my car was super reliable. I hated the tartan plaid seat and door panel inserts, and by today's standards the dash is too plastic, and the taillights design looked better with the back panel they were set in painted black like originally than when painted body color on the final couple years, but other than that, great car, and the trunk was designed to hold a set of golf clubs and was indeed roomy.
Funny, I remembered hearing rear-end whine on the TR7, and then you mention it...
Put dual exhaust, a 4bbl carb and a nice camshaft and you will beat every Corvette from 1980-1982.
These cars will make you into a great mechanic.
He didn't mention probably the first "wedgy" car at the end there. The Fiat x19 was produced from 1972 to 1989 making production before and after the TR7/8. I do agree with him when he says, if you're in the market for a TR7, go for a TR8 (or at least a TR7 that has had the 3.5 dropped in it. They are night and day difference to drive.
Jeff inToronto True but the X1/9 was somehow less reliable than an early TR7 and considerably slower than a TR8.
You could also add the TVR Tasmin to the wedge list.
"The shape of things to come".................:)
it looks like you can't afford it!
This guy did not do his homework..the TR8 was originally designed with a v8 in 1972
can you do a el camino buyer guide
133 or 137 Horse Power = That's Very Odd ?
in the UK the 3.5 V8 was:
* 158 HP on Twin SU Carb's or
* 190 HP on EFi.
It Must Have Been ALL That Phoney ECO Crap North America Had to Have on Your Cars.
USA switched to netHP rating in 1971...
surprised you said they originally had y stromberg carbs, being English built car, thought it would have had SU carbs?
I'd give almost anything for an original trunk rack like that. They're impossible to find
"If you're looking for the wedge shaped car from the early 80s" You forgot the Fiat X1/9, Pontiac Fiero, and even the Toyota MR2.
137 hp...
"His power is addictive"
I've been searching everywhere for that exact trunk rack and only have found the ugly tubular steel one.
I prefer the Maxi,or the TR6.
Maybe its a major generation gap..., or this guy didn't do his homework..., but 70% of everything this guy said about the TR8 was incorrect.
Journalism is dead. Reporters from his generation don't dig out story details and insights, they tend to just re-print what someone else wrote. Likely spills over to auto journalism. Lazy youguns!
Good luck finding one .
They come up frequently. The prices have climbed significantly, though, and I would not want to pay $20K for a car that is bound to start rusting if kept outdoors. I had one, and no garage, so it started life low miles and pristine, it started rusting in a number of spots. Garage queen?
It looks like the brazilian Miura Spider
At 6:20 you mention "Wedges" from that era, and neglect to include TVR's!
Buyers Guide TR8……. look……look again…….. see British Leyland badge …… scream…… run. 😎
5 years later . . . . . Back in those days I worked at a British Leyland/Volvo dealership. They sold MG’s, Spitfires, TR6’s, TR7’s, TR8’s, Jaguars, Volvo’s and even Rover 3500’s. Almost all of the British cars had disappointing workmanship and quality, especially compared to the Volvos. Even so they sold every MGB and Triumph they could squeeze out of the factory. The TR7 sold more than any of the others, even the coupe. Their cornering was so much better, even comparable to the 280Z. But sadly most of the British cars we’re sold not long after they were paid for. If only the British cars had Volvo workmanship, quality and reliability . . . When British Leyland withdrew from the U.S. market that dealership folded and another dealership took over Volvo sales. But for a few years the TR7’s and 8’s were gems.
U forgot the Subaru XT wedgie.
Or Fiat X19
Kermit?
My 1980 TR8 had fuel injection. I thought all of them did. Maybe it was just because I was in California.
TRV8
Wow, with this car I would stick in a G35 engine, six cylinders with 300+ Hp and upgrade the brakes :)) again!
Nah ... all I ever wanted for my TR was a straight SIX engine with an Autobox
Brother had one and it literally rusted away unfortunately.
Wedgie-shapes?
i guess it cant be as bad as a viper, nor as good as a charger
But the tr7 is a v8?
ThePigSay ESP TR7 is an I4
Echo Friend Great 🌚 thnx
The TR7 had a 2.0 four cylinder engine that was prone to engine failures even more so if u tried to tune it for higher power.
Dreadful car. I owned two Triumphs both spent considerable time on the hoist at the dealership in Great Falls, Montana. However, heater and defroster on the car was nearly useless. Yes, I was 22 and stupid but loved British sports cars
I can spend less money building a TR7 / V6 than what they want for a TR8 .
English electrical systems suck and so do the Carbs .
What's wrong with a carb? Powered all of the great muscle cars and race cars up till about 1980. Carbs only "suck" (well, they actually do suck.....air and fuel!) if you are trying to meet modern draconian pollution standards. Who cares when dealing with small, bespoke models like the TR8?! I had an '82 with the Bosch FI, and I would gladly switch to a Holley or Weber set-up for better performance. And i would not lose sleep over the incremental addition to climate change it would imply. F Greta!
TR8 buying guide: don't
Triumph TR8 buyer's guide is as follows:- DON'T
coops!? ffs learn how to speak