TR8 - New Owner - update

[jtmco]

Greetings-

I am the pround new owner of a 1978 TR8 Pre-production Coupe. I had wanted a TR7/TR8 since they first came to market (before I could drive). I have been restoring an Austin Healey Bugeye (Frogeye) Sprite for about 5 1/2 years. I can see the end in sight and I started looking for my next project over the winter.

I found my TR8 locally on Craigslist. I've put in a battery and a fuel pump and it will now idle. I think it will need to have the carburetors rebuilt before it will run over 1000 RPM. As you can see from the photos in my album, it is white with a red check interior. The interior is rough but it came with a new interior kit (blue check and blue carpet). I need to check, but I think I need a set of blue door pulls and maybe some blue headrests. The car is virutally rust free. The headlights and clock work. The dashboard lights need some work.

I'm excited to be part of the Wedge community.

Jim
Richmond, VA
USA

[silverseven]

Welcome to the forum Jim!!


Nice,nice,nice find [8]

One of the members here (Paul aka TR8) up untill last year, had a carbon copy of your car .....I'm sure he will be around this thread in no time [;)]

Myself, I also used to have a '78 white fhc with red tartan interior (though it was however "only" with half the cylindres of your car), so naturally my vote would be to keep the interior close as possible to stock for originality's sake...., but hey, in the end its your car and that's what keeps our vehicles unique!


good luck with the resto, if your red bugeye is any indication of the quality of your work, this should not pose a problem for you!!!


Cheers



Ron.

[Underdog]

Welcome! Rustfree is a huge advantage. Has a sunroof? Never saw one of the coupes with one. What are your plans for it? Whatever you do, it has a V8!![:D] Best kept secret in the vintage sports car world IMHO. One more year & mine turns 30...that's vintage to me.[;)]

72 MGB BRG
80 TR8 Persian Aqua
If women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.

[jtmco]

Thanks Silver7 and Underdog.

I too like the original red tartan interior, but it seems that it is much more difficult to find the replacements and I have a "free" (aka, already paid for) blue one. But I won't do anything non-reversible and if I can find a nice red tartan interior, I can always put it in.

My plans are to get it running, drive it and enjoy it!

And it does have a sunroof. It needs to be recovered (couple of very small tears and shrinking at the edges). I need to see if a local upholsterer can do it or if I need order a replacement.

Other's thoughts on getting a red tartan interior or fixing the sunroof are welcome.

[tr8]

Hi Jim

Just sent you a personal email. Ron...am I that transparent ?

Hoping to hear more about this car and perhaps see some pictures.

Paul

[tr8]

Excellent....just saw your pictures Jim. You are way ahead of me.

Car looks just like my ACN1081, white/red and black, sunroof, auto, no A/C which now lives in Belgium.

Looks like your car once had A/c or maybe the heater console was replaced with one with A/C switches.

Paul

[tr8]

Looked again...you have the rad fans that go with A/C as well.

Paul

[PeterTR7V8]

Welcome aboard Jim. I hope you get as much enjoyment from the car as I do from mine but with only half the cost!

There seems to be a rash of new wedge owners lately.

************************************************************************
To do list:
Upholstery/Motor/Gearbox/Suspension/Brakes/Carb/Tyres../Gearbox/Paint/Cam+Motor
Done......./done./done....../done......../done../done/done/redone.../done/under way
Blog: http://www.forum.triumphtr7.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=8548

[tr7jim]

Jim glad you now have yourself a TR8, looks simalar to Ian Tinsley TR8.

Keep the pictures coming in and suggest if in time to keep going for original look or like you say keep the parts so the option is still available.

Jim

[john]

Hi Jim

Looking good a small bit of what looks like cosmetic work but very nice an original...


Welcome

[8 whole cylinders worth of punch to ram the world through the windshield and out the rear view mirror. Car & Driver]
1981 Grinnall TR7 v8
1981 Black FHC
1979 & 1980 Black Premium FHC(laid to rest) Sorry


John

[John Clancy]

Nice! Rimmers have the red tartan door cards (new for £35 a pair at the moment I believe). Then all you need to do is keep an eye on eBay for the seat bases and backs. Personally I have red tartan spares to keep me going for many years.

<center><b>[url="http://www.triumphtr7.com/documents/sales/codenamebullet.asp"]Buy the story of the Triumph TR7/8 on DVD here[/url]</b></center>

[John Wood]

Great car, enjoy it

1975 FHC
KDU483N

[pupinabox]

Welcome. I just acquired an 8 myself. We can stumble thru this together[:D]. You have come to the right place. The knowledge you can get thru these forums is priceless!!

[paul w]

Another auto..and its an eight! Great find Jim,enjoy it.

See ya. Paul

[john 215]

Hi Jim,
WELCOME TO THE BEST TR7 / 8 FORUM IN THE WORLD EVER [8D]
Given the choice in owning a 'real' TR8 would choose an FHC and auto even better, as for preproduction better still, all boxes ticked [:D]
Cheers John

LIVE LIFE A QUARTER OF A MILE AT A TIME!
1979 3.5 FHC(STATUS PENDING!!)

1982 2.0 DHC NOW A 4.6,ON THE ROAD NOW KICKING AR5E !!!!