1980 Triumph TR8 Convertible, Genuine factory built car, in lovely condition with just a few minor blemishes, and the driving experience really is top notch. For sale on behalf of a customer, who gives following details, and I agree with them, a truly good car.
The car was supplied new in 1980 to a guy in Michigan, USA, who barely used it. Apparently he put on so much weight he found it more and more difficult to get in and out of!!
It was then purchased in 2005 by an English chap who lived in France. An engineer, he had spent years building a Cobra, but the French refused to register it, claiming it was a kit car. He sadly sold it and bought this, the best original TR8 he could find, as a replacement. The previous owner kept it meticulously in his workshop amongst many old motorbikes etc and had basically made every improvement recommended in Roger Williams book “How to improve your Triumph TR8”. We drove it from Limoges to Robsport and it was flawless.
The car drives unbelievably well. Ziebarted from new with zero corrosion now.
I bought it as a birthday present for the wife to use in Portugal, but the authorities here want over €30,000 to register it ! Sad to sell it as it’s a brilliant drive.
The following enhancements have been carried out to improve handling:
- Uprated front brakes using the big brake kit which utilises Wilwood 4 pot callipers alloy
- Slightly larger diameter discs which are thicker and vented to improve the cooling of the brakes
- In the process of fitting this braking kit, the vendor replaced the flexible hoses with stainless steel braided units to improve the pedal feel which previously they found to be a little spongy
- The vendor opted for the Wilwood compensation unit which allows the setting of the front - rear brake balance to be modified by the driver
- Uprated the front springs and replacement of the suspension leg with a firmer unit imported from a recognised TR8 specialist in the USA
- To balance this up the vendor also replaced the rear suspension with Spax adjustable units and similarly uprated springs - this provided a really improved stance and much better cornering and handling
- At a later date, the vendor changed the old rubber suspension bushes which were showing their age with polyurethane units - this applies to the rear suspension legs and also the anti roll bar mountings front and back
- The bottom ball joints were replaced at the same time and an ‘anti-dive’ kit was fitted to reduce the nose dive on heavy braking (seen as one of the best mod’s you can make to the car)
A number of the original ancillaries have been replaced which include:
- Electronic ignition and high performance leads
- New Holley 390 four-barrel carburettor with performance manifold
- Extractor exhaust manifolds and stainless steel exhaust system (the sound is amazing)
- Uprated alternator
- High torque starter
- 15” Minilite-style alloy wheels.
- Roll bar
After purchasing the car I asked Robsport to make further improvements and sort anything that needed doing.
Robsport additions (approx £4000), including:
- In preparation for the Portuguese summer temperatures, Coolex made a 56mm core aluminium radiator with twin fans and a specially designed shroud.
- various hose, bushes and mounts renewed
- brakes/suspension all thoroughly checked
- Holley carb diaphragm/seals/gaskets renewed
- car MOT’d with very low emissions result
Faults found: LH seat has split on seam (maybe a trimmer could repair this?), couple of rust bubbles on front corner of RH door, bonnet has a few small dents in it (possibly dent devils could fix these), LH 1/4 light needs re painting and there is a small scratch to LH rear wing.
Car was originally air conditioned, but most of this has been removed now.
We have 50+ pictures of car we can send to you via one drive link, please email and we will send
