When the wedge-shaped Triumph TR7 was introduced, there was a certain level of disappointment both amongst the motoring press, and the buying public. Where most had been expecting the car to appear as a convertible, the car that emerged was a coupe. The TR7 was also often criticized for its lack of horsepower. In spite of the company being constantly plagued by industrial strife, British Leyland was eventually able to answer both of these criticisms, and the TR8 Convertible is now considered to be the ultimate expression of what was originally expected of the TR7. This TR8 Convertible looks to be in good condition and is 1-of-1,000 that is believed to still exist today. It is located in Little Ferry, New Jersey, and is listed for sale here on eBay. The owner has set a BIN price of $10,000 for the Triumph, but the option is there to make an offer.
The appearance of the Triumph looks quite promising. The TR8 was available in a pretty wide array of colors, from the classy and cool, through to the loud and pretty gaudy. The Platinum Silver Metallic was definitely one of the better choices, and it gives this car an air of class. The overall condition is pretty impressive, with no sign of any major rust or rot issues. The soft-top looks like it is also in good condition. The most obvious flaw on the outside of the car is some odd coloring on the front spoiler, which could be addressed quite easily.
The vinyl and plaid interior trim on the Triumph also looks to be in good condition, although the plaid material and the carpet have both suffered from a bit of fading. The dash looks good, with no signs of cracking, or any other real problems. The radio/cassette player isn’t original, but it is period correct. It doesn’t look like the dash has been cut to fit it, so sourcing an original and fitting it should be possible.
The feature that distinguishes the TR8 from its 4-cylinder brother is the 3.5-litre all-alloy V8 engine, and the owner doesn’t provide any photos of this. Still, you will find a YouTube clip at the bottom of this story which shows the car running and driving, and the engine does sound strong. The V8 engine is backed by a 5-speed manual transmission, while the Triumph is also fitted with air conditioning. While the TR8 weighed about 200lbs more than its 4-cylinder brethren, the additional 35hp and extra torque of the V8 certainly addressed this, and the TR8 was quite a sprightly performer.
While records are quite vague, it is believed that British Leyland managed to produce around 2,750 Triumph TR8 Convertibles. With only around 1,000 now believed to exist, that means that more than 60% of the entire production has now succumbed to one malady or another. That gives this car a bit of an air of exclusivity and makes it a car worth considering if you’ve always wanted to own a British classic.
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