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Triumph TR8 - Unregistered

Posted: 01 Jul 2021 09:50
by CamGTS
https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C13 ... dium=email

Price £60,000
Make Triumph
Model TR8
Year 1981
Mileage 124 Miles
Country United Kingdom
Region Cambridgeshire
Town St.ives
30-Jun-2021

Offered here is an original unregistered right hand drive British Leyland TR8 with just 124 miles on the clock from new. This car is 40 years old, has never been registered to the road and is quite possibly the only unregistered British Leyland Triumph TR8 to still exist today in this condition.

British Leyland decided to introduce the TR8 to the UK and European markets in November 1981 and had assembled just 14 right-hand drive cars at the Lode Lane Solihull plant some weeks before. These cars went to the press shop at the Triumph works in Canley Coventry for final preparation, detailing etc. prior to the press launch. However, chaos continued to rule at BL and the management picked this moment to cancel the whole TR range and plans to build the TR8 in any volume were scrapped. The order was subsequently given by senior British Leyland management to clear all vehicle stocks which included the fourteen un-registered and unsold TR8s languishing at Canley.

Happily, this particular car was spared from the impending disposal and was purchased by its first owner 'out of the back door' having been tipped off by a BL director friend and the sale was channelled through a British Leyland dealer and has effectively been stored since . The history file contains the original V55/ 4.

The car is finished in striking Pharaoh Gold with a Tan and plaid interior and remains in a condition commensurate with its 124 miles. This special performance TR convertible is a very evocative piece of Triumph history that has been saved for posterity.

Re: Triumph TR8 - Unregistered

Posted: 01 Jul 2021 19:34
by Beans
I'd say the price is a bit steep :shock:

Re: Triumph TR8 - Unregistered

Posted: 02 Jul 2021 09:56
by CamGTS
not really when you consider a new unregistered Sunbeam Lotus sold for circa £55k a year or so back

Re: Triumph TR8 - Unregistered

Posted: 03 Jul 2021 12:24
by seven
It would be magnificent to find something like this, always dreamed of finding any old car hidden away unused and unregistered 8)
Still a dream to find :)

Re: Triumph TR8 - Unregistered

Posted: 03 Jul 2021 19:41
by vxman1
I may be wrong, but I believe that car was sold by Lewis Hamilton's dad. It was sold for £31500 by Silverstone Auctions i July 2020 so the current price is a bit greedy.

Re: Triumph TR8 - Unregistered

Posted: 03 Jul 2021 20:57
by stevie_a
You know i think you may be correct.

Re: Triumph TR8 - Unregistered

Posted: 05 Jul 2021 21:21
by Rich K
Sure is the same car.

Re: Triumph TR8 - Unregistered

Posted: 06 Jul 2021 10:08
by CamGTS
Well spotted, I thought it looked familiar

Re: Triumph TR8 - Unregistered

Posted: 07 Jul 2021 12:24
by sonscar
If you bought it would it even be possible to register it?Would the date of manufacture exempt it from emissions etc?I will not be buying it.

Re: Triumph TR8 - Unregistered

Posted: 07 Jul 2021 14:01
by saabfast
Not sure about the registration it would be given - would be interesting with A '21' reg - but it should be able to get a 'Historic' classification and be MOT free next year with a Heritage Certificate to show the build date!