Oppopinion: Running Triumph TR8 - $8500

"gergey - Wishes vette was Datsun" (gbergey)
12/29/2014 at 19:30 • Filed to: Triumph, TR8, British, WOW

I saw this and got a very strange feeling... would it be the perfect complement to a 350z? Or would I have two semi useless amazing cars? Also, nice price or CP?
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Absolutely stunning 1980 TR8. Recent paint job to refresh her ageing but rust free body. Original interior in fair to good condition ie no rips or tears easily qualify for collectors plates. Top is excellent as is the cover. There are believed to be less than 800 known survivors of this classic car. Last of the great British sports cars and seemingly the last to see significant rises in price. This model will surely see significant increase over the next few years. Car has mild cam, 4 barrel Edelbrock carb, Performance headers and stainless dual exhaust, Mallory distributor, MSD ignition, and high performance plugs and wires. Brakes are in good shape with recent Master cylinder and brake lines. Clutch is 3 years old transmission shifts nicely. Soft top while it is not new it is in good condition with clear windows. There are no issues with this car and I would not hesitate to hop in and drive it across the country. This is a Canadian car so it does not have Air conditioning. New Tires, All Fluids Changed recently Recent tune up, Car is ready for a driver. These cars are appreciating FAST Hagerty Insurance says the current value is 10 to 14 K. There are believed to be fewer than 1000 left worldwide. You will like this if you like MGB TR6 Austin Healey Jaguar Porsche TVR Rochdale TR7 Turner Morgan. With its nicely tuned V8 it will out perform all of them. Real English Hot Rod WILL CONSIDER TRADE FOR JAGUAR XJR OR XK8

DISCUSSION (11)

Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh > gergey - Wishes vette was Datsun
12/29/2014 at 19:37

I'd say a running TR8 is awesome.. but eightyfivehundred awesome? nah.. Get your hands on a non running example, throw a 350 in it and enjoy.

MysticStick > gergey - Wishes vette was Datsun
12/29/2014 at 19:41

I love this car. Owned one back in 1986 and it was a spectacular ride. Sadly, GF crashed it. This one looks to be in pretty good shape. NP (but I'm nostalgic).

gergey - Wishes vette was Datsun > Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh
12/29/2014 at 19:50

But but but but.... think of it as a Miata that had a factory V8 swap?!

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > gergey - Wishes vette was Datsun
12/29/2014 at 19:51

It was a terrible V8.

Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh > gergey - Wishes vette was Datsun
12/29/2014 at 19:56

Pretty much what I did mate :)

gergey - Wishes vette was Datsun > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
12/29/2014 at 19:56

:(

I'll concede that you're probably right. Wikipedia says it made all of 133hp out of 3.5L

Jedidiah > gergey - Wishes vette was Datsun
12/29/2014 at 19:57

I'm thinking crack pipe.

It is essentially a TR7 with a Rover V8. I've been around a fair share of the Buick/Olds variants of this motor and it has never impressed me. It has lackluster durability, reliability and power compared to other engines from the era.

Triumph had it's own SOHC V8 that they had put in the Stag, but it wasn't great either.

Personally, I'd get a TR6 or TR4 and put a good radiator in them to fix the inevitable and frequent overheating.

slippedclutch > gergey - Wishes vette was Datsun
12/29/2014 at 20:15

I had a 1980 TR7 in this same color in '85. Worst car imaginable. You'd have to turn of the A/C before accelerating at a stoplight. Things would randomly fall off. Including the exterior door handles. Things that should last two million miles would fail. One beautiful day I was driving with the top down, tunes playing, and the car just stopped and made a banging and dragging noise. The damned driveshaft broke... a huge solid piece of iron just gave way! Every light seal dried out and leaked, and the metal in every light housing rusted into a fine powder. The gas gauge failed twice. So I used the low-fuel light as my 30-mile warning. But then that failed also. In three years of ownership, the master cylinder failed twice. The fluids disposed of themselves all over the streets in a downtown Baltimore ghetto... just where you do not want to attract attention and break down. This car was unforgivable. It was a sorry replacement to the beautiful, and relatively durable, TR6.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > gergey - Wishes vette was Datsun
12/29/2014 at 20:21

It was also terribly unreliable.

gergey - Wishes vette was Datsun > slippedclutch
12/29/2014 at 21:33

Un-gray'd.
and wow. I want no part in this then. Mind you, I'm hoping that whoever's owned this has had 34 years to fix it with aftermarket (Non-British) parts.

Since it's Canadian you wouldn't need to shut off the AC, we didn't get it.

slippedclutch > gergey - Wishes vette was Datsun
12/29/2014 at 22:56

If you ever consider a TR7/8 or any Triumph or old MG, it can't be your daily car like mine was when I was a teenager. Luckily there are still tons of aftermarket parts that are relatively inexpensive. If you dare own one, these are the things you need to have on hand...

Catalogues from Moss motors, Victoria British and the Roadster Factory
A very high credit limit.
Ramps and a good hydraulic jack
Electrical tape
Duct Tape
Towels to sop up the water from the floor when it rains
Both Metric and Standard socket set
Spare Fuses
Timing light
A good british mechanic and tow truck on speed dial

The good thing about Triumph owners is that they all know one another, and provide a good support group for advice and help. Although "the wedge" never received the same street cred as the older Triumphs.