Triumph TR8
For most of its history, Triumph produced open-roofed sports cars in the traditional English vein, with low-revving tractor-like engines, primitive handling, and boldly attractive styling that invariably featured an open grille with two round headlights. Triumphs, especially a previous Car Lust, the TR-6, were fun, if a bit stodgy.
Then came the TR7 and, subsequently, the TR8. Triumph could never be accused of being stodgy again. All sorts of other, more negative, appelations might apply, but stodgy was no longer one of them.
To start with, the TR7 and TR8 were wild expressions of wedgy angularity of the sort rarely seen in British cars of that vintage but in keeping with the styling trends of the mid-to-late 1970s. Along with the Fiat X1/9 and the Lancia Stratos, the TR7/TR8 was a charter member of the doorstop car club.
Long, low, and sultry, with exotic hidden headlights and wild side scalloping, the TR7/TR8 was an instant knockout; a miniature Ferrari Daytona for the masses. The TR7 was little more than a TR-6 under the hood, but the TR8 added an aluminum-block 3.5-liter V-8--the same evergreen engine used for ages in Buicks, Oldsmobiles and Rovers. Torquey and flexible, the V-8 was a honey of an engine even in much larger and heavier cars, so its effect on the light and agile TR8 was electric--at least by the standards of the time.
Unfortunately, "electric" was often a bad word with Triumphs (though the same was true of other English roadsters). Chronic unreliability in the electrical system and other key systems in the car (in other words, the whole car) sapped the revolutionary potential of the TR7/TR8 and left it just another funky but fun car from the 1970s to be lusted after by those without enough excitement in their life. People like me, evidently.
Both of these photos are TR8s from the cleverly named World Wide Wedge site--a terrific resource and owner site for TR8s and TR7s. The video is a pretty fascinating compliation of period TR7 print ads.
--Chris H.
mochi mochi on February 06, 2008 at 10:05 PM
I good friend of mine had a triumph he loved. It rarely ran and therefore was dubbed "The Umph"... he also owned an old Buick purchased for $100. It was dubbed "The Boo". The Boo was purchased as part of a $100 car club where all member were required to own a winter car purchased for $100 or less. The Boo allowed The Umph to remain in the garage when it failed to run due to electrical problems brought on by increased humidity in the atmosphere or light winds.
Regarding the $100 car club - there was a stipulation to the effect that no more than $400 could be put into these cars to keep them running. Once the $400 limit was reached the trusty steeds were sacrificed to the car gods. These sacrifices required theatricality and spectacle. One was used in a recreation of the Duke's of Hazard title credits which in this case ended with two 9mm rounds shot through the carb to put the beast out of its final misery.
But I digress. The TR7 was a really hot looking car. The 8 was a hot looking car that was fast. But the tarnish of all kinds of mechanical and electrical problems really tempered the excitement. None the less, I lusted after the TR7. I spent a lot of time reading about the TR7 in Road&Track. But the excitement of the wedge had already been realized for me years before the TR7 appeared on the roads. I remember driving with my family in their old Ford Falcon station wagon and demanding that they pull over so I could examine an automotive gem that I caught sight of next to a Saab dealership.
To your attention I commend the Saab Sonnet 3. I believe the wedge trend was really set in motion by this controversial little jewel. The one I saw was blazing orange, much like the one pictured in this link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Sonett3.jpg
The Sonnet has always occupied a special place in my car lust heart. It would make a great future car lust candidate since it combines among other things quirkiness, peculiarity, scarcity, and a somewhat tainted past. From what I can see the mark 1 sonnet might be even more incredibly lust worthy.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saab_Sonett
Thanks for the great video distraction Chris, it really sets a wonderful nostalgic tone !
Frank Black on February 07, 2008 at 08:40 AM
I remember when it first came out and we all ogled at it and thought it was the way coolest thing we'd ever seen. Even then I was aware of the perception that they, along with most European cars, were in the shop more than on the road. We had a little Fiat for a time that demonstrated that point to perfection (we eventually sold it to a priest, and it caught fire). I always wondered why it was American cars that got such a perpetual bad rap for reliability. Maybe the Euros were better looking and more fun so quality was seen as a secondary issue?
Anyway, I still like the look of the thing, even though I've come to appreciate the TR6 styling much more.
Frank Black on February 07, 2008 at 08:40 AM
I remember when it first came out and we all ogled at it and thought it was the way coolest thing we'd ever seen. Even then I was aware of the perception that they, along with most European cars, were in the shop more than on the road. We had a little Fiat for a time that demonstrated that point to perfection (we eventually sold it to a priest, and it caught fire). I always wondered why it was American cars that got such a perpetual bad rap for reliability. Maybe the Euros were better looking and more fun so quality was seen as a secondary issue?
Anyway, I still like the look of the thing, even though I've come to appreciate the TR6 styling much more.
Frank on February 15, 2008 at 05:05 PM
Small correction. The TR7 was actually closer to a spitfire under the skin than a TR6. It never came with a straight 6, only a 4 cyl and then of course the V8
Joseph Somsel on February 28, 2008 at 09:11 PM
Reminds why the Brits drank warm beer - they only had Lucas refrigerators.
John Broomer on April 02, 2008 at 11:46 AM
As a current TR8 owner, I can attest to the lust factor of the car. Being the consummate car guy (that is, no single minded obsession), I have a long list of wants and desires ranging from a 1965 GTO to an Aston Martin DB4/5 to a Cooper S Mini and so on. Don't even get me started on Studebakers (an affliction brought on by my eldest brother's '63 R2 Hawk, which he has owned since I was but a wee lad). I digress. The styling and power and comfort (for a British sportcar) afforded by the TR8 is, I believe, without compare. Oh yes, the earlier cars may be more definitive but but being the current babysitter of an out of country friend's TR6 has only strengthened my resolve that this wedge is the best bang for the buck that you can possibly get in British sportscars.
Hucbald on May 01, 2008 at 05:40 PM
I test drove a brand new TR7 at a dealership in... 1975, I think, and thought it a dog. Very remote steering feel.
Q: If Lucas made an airplane, would you fly in it?
Old joke. Sorry.
TRB on May 31, 2008 at 07:37 PM
I bought a brand new 1980 TR8 when I was just out of high school and to this day it remains the most magical car I have ever owned. Fast, sexy and unheard of,I got more stares and dares to race at redlights than any other car that I have owned. Panteras, Corvettes, Porsches, Ferraris, hotrods of all sorts - you name it, all would pull up to me at redlights, give me a dismissive glance (thinking it was a TR7)roll back just enough to see the TR8 emblem on the back or the 3.5 litre insignia on the side and it was on. I probably won more than I lost of the redlight drags but the opponents almost never failed to roll down the window and ask me about the car and its Buick derived aluminum V8. I customized it with a $1500 Blaupunkt cassette stereo and Altec Lansing Voice of The Highway speakers (9 speakers in that little car) Edelbrock 650 4 barrel carb, Mallory inigtion, Mallory distributor, Mallory racing fuel pump,Edelbrock high flow intake manifold, high flow air intake and adjustable Koni shocks. I wanted to install a late 60's Jag sedan rear end in it to get fully independent rear suspension (a racing modification I learned from a friend), header exhaust and Jag style chrome wire mags with spinners but I never got around to it due to recurring bouts with The Prince of Darkness. Women (and some men) would sometimes walk up to my car and just rub on it and purr. To this day I have never had a car that moved me(emotionally and spiritually) like that car. If I ever won the lottery I would buy one and restore and retromod it to an inch of its life. You'd never pull up to a redlight anywhere and glance over and see one sitting beside you, that's for sure. I still have dreams of driving it on a gorgeous sunny fall afternoon on the Blue Ridge Parkway with Elton John on the magnificent stereo, memories I'll probably revisit for the rest of my life.
Kcfens on October 12, 2008 at 08:20 PM
I have a 1980 TR7. I was with my Dad when he picked it up brand new from a car dealership in Studio City(?) LA CA. Light blue with a white top it is still a visually stunning car. I did want put out there for people interested in this car that the last ones like mine suffered none of the typical English maladies with carburetion and electrics. My car is a California car and came with Bosch fuel injection and has DELCO electrics not Lucas. Still an almost daily driver 28 years on.
Cheers
Matt
TRB I'm in S. KC so you just may see me on Blue Ridge PrkWay or Blue River Road. Say hi, and by the way, I have a 215 sitting on a stand not sure for what(not my TR), but I dream too!
glenn on October 21, 2008 at 05:46 PM
can anyone confirm if the TR7 or TR8 ever came with 14" wheels as some sort of factory option?
jclay on November 01, 2008 at 07:08 PM
No, all TR7/8 came with 13" wheels, even the factory alloy wheels were 13". The new MGF 15" wheels do fit the car with no modifications.
jclay on November 01, 2008 at 07:08 PM
No, all TR7/8 came with 13" wheels, even the factory alloy wheels were 13". The new MGF 15" wheels do fit the car with no modifications.
jclay on November 01, 2008 at 07:08 PM
No, all TR7/8 came with 13" wheels, even the factory alloy wheels were 13". The new MGF 15" wheels do fit the car with no modifications.
on January 07, 2009 at 03:16 PM
sweeeeeeeeeeeet
MARIO on March 28, 2009 at 02:18 PM
JUST PURCHASED A TR8 ADDED ALDERBROCK INTAKE W/A HOLLEY 390 CARB.CHANGED DIST.TO AMALLORY DUEL POINTS.LOVE THE CAR.PLAN ON RESTORING YHE BODY AS FUNDS BECOME AVAILABLE.
James McMath on May 30, 2009 at 10:20 AM
I have a 1980 TR8 that has undergone extensive retromodding. I also have a Porsche Boxster S and the performance is comparable although the feel is totally different. The TR8 feels much lighter and nimbler though less solid. In short the TR8 feels like a 4-wheel bike. The power to weight ratio is very favorable and the handling is quick and precise. Although the build quality of early TR7 cars was attrocious, by the time production moved to Canley from Speke in the late '70s TR7 and TR8 build quality had improved dramatically and earlier design flaws had been addressed. My car has been totally reliable letting me down only once when the (GM) alternator died. Like the Porsche 944 Turbo, this car is a true high performance bargain.
Daniel Manibal on June 15, 2009 at 11:01 PM
My first Triumph was a 1977 TR7. New from the dealer, and the dealer it saw. Always having a problem i loved that car. When i saw the TR8 my ind was set to own one someday. Last year i acquired two 1981 TR8 in quite exceptional condition. Both convertible with Lucas FI. I also own a TR6, a 76 europa, an 76 Elite. However i get the most pleasure out of the TR8 and i beleive that whitin some time they will be sought after as the Healy's, especially the original FI. The last british V8 in so few copies.