TR7 & TR8 Forum

Lads:

A screaming deal (at the moment) on a TR8 project car in primer, but complete and unmolested.

eBay TR8 for $780 as of this posting.

If I was in the market, I would be following this one closely.

Vance

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1980 Platinum Metallic TR8, frame off restoration, complete.
1974 Jensen Healey, frame off restoration in progress

While it may be a good deal, I would really question "complete and unmolested"!

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Darrell Walker
66 TR4A IRS-SC CTC67956L
81 TR8 SATPZ458XBA406206
Vancouver, WA, USA

I have been exchanging emails with owner. I'm suspicious of the VINs or lack thereof and he seems to dodge some obvious questions. TR7 frame TR8 motor?

Got a lot of ??? with it. Like the flat bonnet, but with a late badge....early steering wheel.....no vin plates on the door or windshield pillar....but a California assigned number?

This was at the bottom of the original listing last week. It was listed as a "1977 TR8". Somehow he has convinced himself that it is now a TR8 because the battery is in the boot.





Update: Several Ebay members have been helpful in identifying more about the car. It’s looks as if this was originally a Triumph TR7 that has been upgraded with a TR8 motor and transmission. Apparently this is a very common upgrade and looks as if it’s been nicely completed. Also I’m including a photo of the California Vin tag. Anyone that has any information on this car as far as it’s history is concerned, please send us a message. It would be great to know more about this cars story and helpful to the new future owner.

Tr7 v8

Could be a 'real' TR8 with an earlier bonnet because of who knows why but I wonder what sort of induction system it is equipped with. Was not the additional hump needed because of twin carb clearance? - Pete

Yes, the dual hump was for the V8 with carbs. But this car has FI. Which should still have the dual hump bonnet, but the FI system fits under the single hump bonnet.

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Darrell Walker
66 TR4A IRS-SC CTC67956L
81 TR8 SATPZ458XBA406206
Vancouver, WA, USA



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2018-10-18 10:28 PM by darrellwalker.

It's at a grand now and even at twice that it's a great deal. The problem, however is when a car is sold in CA it's got to have a smog test(seller's responsibility) to go with it if you want to get it registered which is probably why he's offering a bill of sale. Whatever VIN is on the car is what they will test. If it's a TR7 they'll test TR7, if it's a TR8 they'll test it as a TR8, there are no TR7& a halfs in the CA data base. If the car isn't exactly what the VIN says it is it won't pass the visual test. An aftermarket air cleaner can cause it to fail the test, can you imagine the problem you'll have if it's got the wrong motor!

You may well be right.

I noted the following that convinced me it was authentic, but it would not be the first time I have been fooled.

1. Battery in the boot, along with a correctly placed battery warning label. I also noted it had the power antenna, which was not offered (?) on the TR7.
2. Correct EFI configuration, along with the correct ballast resistor and ignition wiring. So it is not an SD1 engine transplant.
3. Correct brake booster.
4. Correct electric cooling fans for a TR8 with A/C. Not something that is readily available as TR8s that have the A/C removed keep the fans.
5. Correct Tachometer.
6. Correct air filter housing and associated plumbing.
7 Correct muffler hanging hardware, although the original mufflers are gone.

I too noted the TR7 steering wheel, single bulge bonnet, and transplanted glove box door. It is apparent that many parts have been swapped out, which I assumed was to keep the car on the road. The original steering wheels do not fare well if not cared for, as an example, so I assumed it was done out of need. The column switch gear is consistent with the later cars, while the steering wheel is a very early TR7 wheel. If the car was/is a TR7/V8 the conversion was done with an odd mix of correct and incorrect parts.

I also noted it had the late medallion on the nose cone, which means it was one of the last TR8s to roll off the line. At that point Triumph was in very bad shape, and was literally using any parts they could find in the warehouse to complete their cars. It occurred to me that this might be one of the very last, and the single bulge bonnet was all they had left in stock.

As to being "unmolested", well it has original seats (no Miata seat swap on this car), the engine has not been tampered with in any major way, and the body is straight. I guess "unmolested" is a very squishy term and I got excited that the possibility of such a cheap TR8 project. So I will concede that unmolested was an overstatement.

Vance

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1980 Platinum Metallic TR8, frame off restoration, complete.
1974 Jensen Healey, frame off restoration in progress



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2018-10-19 03:34 PM by Darth V8R.

need the vin number to confirm this...a picture preferably...

Boy, I feel like a dummy. I did not know where you all were getting more info and photos than me until I realized there was an arrow that opened up 2 new sets . I think it is the real thing with changes throughout it's long hand-me-down career. The engine bay alone looks to have every FI detail in place for an '81 and earlier CA model. This alone makes me think it's genuine. With the rest of the questionable mods I don't think previous owners would have bothered to make the engine bay so accurate. My vote is... Real but of questionable year. - Pete

PS You need this Vance.

That's what I said. "Honey, I NEED this car".

She replied "Honey, I need a divorce attorney."

And that, as they say, was that.

Vance

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1980 Platinum Metallic TR8, frame off restoration, complete.
1974 Jensen Healey, frame off restoration in progress

Disregard. I fat fingered my message post. ARRGH!

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1980 Platinum Metallic TR8, frame off restoration, complete.
1974 Jensen Healey, frame off restoration in progress



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2018-10-19 03:32 PM by Darth V8R.

Disregard this one too. Too much caffeine.

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1980 Platinum Metallic TR8, frame off restoration, complete.
1974 Jensen Healey, frame off restoration in progress



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2018-10-19 03:33 PM by Darth V8R.