mystery tr8

[uspsmech]

brand new to this forum stuff, so apologies before i start, i have a chance to buy a tr8 that has been sitting in a garage since 1984, the serial# is acn 011007 uca the owner claims it to be a 1979 but judging by the vin i think its a 1977/78 its automatic, v-8, 40,000 miles, white hard top(fixed head? but what do you call the fabric sun roof?)the interior is very nice i don't think mice like plaid! the drivers side has been side swiped a few times by the owners mother pulling in and out of the garage, but not too bad the bad part is its been sitting for 25 years un started! i offered him $3000 for it he came back at $5000 then again at $4000 i'm still holding at $3000 because thats what i feel its worth considering the work it will need after sitting for 25 years and why was it parked in the first place? so the question is just what is this car and how valuable is it? am i nuts to even consider it? or am i nuts to let it slip through my fingers? by the way i have owned a tr4a,tr250 and tr6 in the past ( many years ago) so i'm not afraid of lucas electrics and the other quirks that go with british autos and the car would be a keeper not a fix and sell type of project. any and all help or comments would be welcomed thanks for your patience, Jim

[RJS]

As a TR8 owner, I would love to say it is worth a lot, but I would not go any higher than $3000 for a car that has sat that long. One of the good things about a TR8 is that the engine was used in other cars, and for many years, so parts are not an issue (my 4bbl manifold is from a 62 buick).

The TR8 "officially" came out in 1980, but they had some pre production coups in 78. There are people on the site that can verify the VIN is for one of those cars (make sure you verify it is one of these instead of a TR7 V8 conversion).

Good luck on this. I think the TR8 is a great undiscovered sports car.

Rob

edit: I know there was just a pre production coupe on ebay, but I did not tag it to be watched, so I don't know what it went for. Maybe somebody out there has a link to it so you can see what kind of shape it was in, and how much it went for.

[PeterTR7V8]

A few V8 wedges seem to have been made pre-1980. A mate of mine has a 1977 TR7 that was sold ex-factory with a V8 installed.


Never say die. At least not while you're still breathing.

[Odd]

A few?
More like 150, or so, pre-prod coupés were distributed in NA. And ACN figures...

[Chris Turner]

The ACN chassis number means it is a factory built TR8.
The Lucas electrics arent bad on these later cars.

www.triumphtrs.co.uk
TR7 Premium
TR7 Sprint
TR7V8 rally car

[tr8]

Hi Jim
The serial number does not look right. They were either ACNOOOXX
or ACNOO1XXX.

If you can double check the number, I may have background on the car. I have been collecting information on all the TR8 coupes built for about 15 years.

Paul

[uspsmech]

thanks to all for the input, i am really leaning strongly towards getting this car, it's kind of growing on me! and paul, i will try to verify the vin # maybe i copied it down wrong, thanks again Jim

[john]

Good luck

unfortunatly i'm still hoping to find some long lost TR8 special in someones garage here in the uk [:D]



[8 whole cylinders worth of punch to ram the world through the windshield and out the rear view mirror. Car & Driver]
1981 Grinnall TR7 v8
1981 Black FHC
1979 & 1980 Black Premium FHC(laid to rest) Sorry


John

[RJS]

I you want to be talked out of this, you are in the wrong spot.

Triumphs were always a poor mans sports car, and now they are a poor mans classic. When the economy went south a year ago, TR8 prices went down quite a bit. I would say this is good time to buy, and tough time to sell.

If you look at it again, take pictures for us. With pictures of the engine bay, people on this site should be able to tell if it is a true TR8 or an aftermarket job.

If you do get it, there have been several posts about the steps to get a car going that has been dormant for years. You should be able to find them with the search function.

Rob

[tr8]

Jim

Sent you an email with a bit more information.

Paul

[uspsmech]

thanks rob, don't get the wrong idea, i really would like to have the car, i'm just trying to justify taking on another project, if the car was something really special very early or a prototype that would put it in the "must have", not "want to have" catagory.it would be easy hopefully i will get to revisit this tr8 get the right vin# and some pictures thanks again Jim

[uspsmech]

paul ,nice pictures thanks maybe someday mine can look that good! i looked at my notes again and i'm thinking maybe i misread my own hand writing, if the vin# was 01007 would that make sense? it looks like i have a stray mark next to the first zero that i read as a one. am still trying to get back to reread the vin and take pictures, thanks for the time, Jim

[Underdog]

I'll be the devils advocate.

3 grand is a VERY generous offer on your part. Granted there is the rarity factor of the pre-production coupes. However, this is offset by the fact it's a hardtop. The price goes up when the top goes down is the saying I believe. The automatic in a sports car doesn't help either. Having said that, the convertibles don't even bring a ton of money over here. A convertible in similar condition you describe would be lucky to bring 5 grand.

Just for reference purpose, the fellow I bought my conv. from also had a pre-production coupe. It was also white with the automatic. Had a little rust issues but nothing terminal. Mechanically was fine, ran & drove. Mostly needing bodywork & paint. He sold it a long while back for $1500.

So, if you really like the car and you like the hardtop, go for it. I would stay firm with the $3000 though. It's just not a high demand car and I for one don't forsee it ever being one.

And...I don't mean to offend everyone with a FHC. They certainly have advantages of thier own. It's just the way the values go over here.

Jim Underwood
72 MGB BRG
80 TR8 Persian Aqua
If women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.

[tr8]

Jim

It could be 1007. I don't have a listing for that number, but it is in the right series. That would be great as I rarely find a 'new' TR8 coupe these days. Pictures please....

Paul

[Steve-LPS-Thomas]

You should have "features" such as these.











Under hood sticker or this..



USA Brochure..



As she is now...



I'll have owned this car 20 years next August!

Regards Steve





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