At first, I was excited as you at the prospect of this being the cheapest Triumph TR8 I had ever seen. Not only that, it was a running, driving example from California with seemingly no rust. I was sure the listing would be pulled before I had even written the post, but then I spotted something curious: the “TR8” has been listed for close to a month on the Stockton, CA craigslist site. Also curious: it’s a 30th Anniversary edition, which was limited to the TR7 model line. Although my excitement quickly ratcheted down and I glumly stopped looking for shipping quotes from California to Rhode Island, I looked back at the ad and at least saw a clean British wedge offered for a very good price of just $2,800 here on craigslist.
Now, I’m not sure what happened here in the case of the seller being pretty far off in their assessment of what kind of car they own. I suppose the fact that the original decals were either lost to a respray or succumbed to the sun has something to do with the seller misidentifying their car, which visually looks the same as a TR8 with a few exceptions. Further muddying the waters is that the 30th Anniversary Editions actually got the steering wheel from the TR8 swapped in as part of the package, so you could be forgiven for looking quickly and thinking you had a British V8 roadster on your hands.
The good news is this at least appears to be a cosmetically-sound TR7 with a crack-free dash and decent seat upholstery. These details are awfully surprising for a car that likely spent a lot of time in the sun with the top down. The steering wheel wrap is ugly but it’s not the end of the world to have a wheel re-wrapped. The 30th Anniversary plaque is still on the dash, which is even more surprising than the dash not being cracked to bits. The tartan door panel inserts are perhaps my favorite feature of the cockpit and look to be in great shape as well for an unrestored car. The top is torn at the bottom of one of the rear quarter windows, so the roof will likely need replacement at some point.
Now, I looked long and hard at the engine bay photo to make sure I had my facts straight and this is pretty clearly a stock TR7 mill. This is when it all comes together because you know as well as I do that a TR8 listed with an asking price of $2,800 would have been deleted off of craigslist within about two hours (if that). The seller, I’m sure, has been contacted more than once about the error in the listing but he doesn’t seem too concerned about confusing potential buyers. I know this happens because I get the occasional email from concerned citizens about having the model year wrong in some of my listings, so calling a TR7 a TR8 has absolutely been noted by the many British car fans that I’m sure are stumbling across this ad daily. Did the ad fool you when you first looked at it?
Based only on the pics (of course) and if the mileage is correct, 2800 doesn’t seem like a terrible ask for it if it runs
Hard to buy anything that runs for that price. Hopefully someone will get a bargain. Of course, passing California smog could be a problem!
I love the fact that TR7s are so maligned in this crazy feeding frenzy on any thing that dealers and flippers think are worth big money and more importantly people are paying for. Yes the 7s had problems but with a few tweaks they can be fun and a engaging driver. A California convertible in this condition at this level? Yes please.
My older brother purchased a used TR7 when I was in high school it broke down with in a month and got parked in the back yard until the repo people picked it up. That ended my experience with these cars
I bought an 1980 from my brother just out of college. It was pretty reliable for the 3 years I had it. Except for the 5 speed destroyed itself on I-5 in Orange county. I got it off the highway. And towed it back to San Diego with my boss’s pick up.
this is for sure a TR7,not an 8 the engine was slanted on the 7 giving it an apperance of a v8 engine at a quick glance.
It needed a slant to fit the manifold and dual Strombergs between the wheel wells.
Don’t waste their time with low ball offers, 30 days later still for sale.
It is one of the later ones and many of the issues had been worked out. The issues with aluminum head on a cast iron block now are solved with better head gaskets and knowing how to torque them after temp cycling. Ran into the same issues with aluminum and cast iron on my flat head Hudson. We learned over time what to do.
If this is not rusty and been taken relatively good care of it seems like a good price. Would not be afraid of this one as look as you were willing to do the known updates and upgrades. Are much more comfortable than my TR6, but not near as fun as my TR3, that was an all time favorite.
One look at the hood says TR7 and not a TR8.
Me, well if it runs,maybe the PRICE IS RIGHT.
The very first day I had my 80 TR7 the throttle cable fell off. It was all down hill from there.
Those who dislike the ’73 front vette’s bumper should look at the one “fitted” here!
Does the TR8 have the smallest displacement V8 ever?
Not even close. Just of the top of my head, there was the European version Dino 208 GT4. 1990cc