1980 Triumph TR8, clean, low miles, great upgrades

Make:	Triumph
Model:	Other
Type:	Convertible
Trim:	TR8
Year:	1980
Mileage:	37,766
VIN:	TPVDV8AT205857
Color:	Persian Aqua
Transmission:	5-Speed stick
Drive type:	RWD
Interior color:	Navy Blue
Vehicle Title:	Clear
Item location:	Berkley, Michigan, United States

Extras

Air Conditioning
Convertible

Listed by

Private seller

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Description of 1980 Triumph Other

We’ve just finished a very thorough mechanical and trim recommissioning of this clean. original low mileage 1980 Triumph TR8. If you are looking for a fun. fast convertible. this may be the one. I’ve owned a lot of these cars and I can tell you this is one of the nicest all around TR8s I’ve ever driven. It’s fast. It’s smooth. It’s quiet. And. thanks to a few tasteful upgrades. this TR8 is more reliable today than when it was new. Also it accelerates. steers and stops better than it did when it was new. She’s good to go. Here are the details:FUEL SYSTEM: New Edelbrock Performer 500 four-barrel and Edelbrock Performer intake. The carburetor has been properly jetted and tuned. You get fast acceleration. no stumbles or hesitations. The fuel line has been professionally plumbed in with the best parts money can buy. The electric fuel pump is new. IGNITION SYSTEM: We removed the troublesome Lucas distributor. coil and ballast resistor system and replaced it with a simpler. more reliable Pertronix distributor w/electronic ignition. along with new 8mm sparkplug wires and Flame Thrower coil. TRANSMISSION/CLUTCH: The factory fill ATF has been replaced with GM Synchomesh oil for smoother shifts. Both clutch slave and master have been rebuilt. The shifter has been shortened two inches to give more direct shifts. It feels great. No crunching or grinding. The transmission works perfectly. SUSPENSION: All four shocks are KYB gas charged units. which stiffen the ride nicely. All four springs have been replaced with the new 1-inch lower and stiffer springs. These two improvements greatly enhance the TR8’s already good handling. But now. the car does not dive when the brakes are applied. And it doesn’t lean nearly as much in corners. Also: The tie rod ends and ball joints are new. the front wheel bearings have been repacked. the strut gaiters and bump stops are new. Finally. I installed a needle bearing kit on the front upper bushings to smooth out the steering. BRAKES: The proportioning valve has been recalibrated. It sends more pressure to the rear brakes. The front pads are new. Because the car has such low original mileage. the rear brake shoes are original and show almost no wear. New and correct rear-wheel cylinders have been installed and the brake master cylinder is new. not rebuilt. ON THE ROAD: The car is very. very tight. The front end has been aligned and the wheels and tires expertly balanced on a RoadForce balancing machine. which balances the wheel to the tire and then balances the tire and wheel. No front end shakes. just a smooth ride. It is no exaggeration to say that the TR8 feels new. Mechanically. this car is aces. It is ready to be driven anywhere at any time. Now. I don’t want to give you the impression that this is a show car. It is not. The paint job is very respectable daily driver quality — a 5-footer. It could use a good buffing. The car spent a long time in covered storage and got banged around a bit over the years. there is bondo on it. but no rust. There never has been any rust. The repaint is very decent. but not perfect. INTERIOR: The carpet has been replaced with high quality and correct new blue carpet. The upholstery is in excellent condition. no cigarette burns or rips or tears. The top is blue cloth (expensive) and it looks great. There are no electrical problems. All lights and gauges work as they should. as does the period 8-Track AM/FM radio. and the heater. WHAT DOESN’T WORK: The only part of the car that is not functioning is the air conditioning system. The a/c compressor clutch is noisy when you turn it on. I recommend a new compressor. since the system has to be opened up anyway. I have already purchased the Porsche Boxster fan upgrade and they will be included in the sale of the car ($450 value). This is a highly original TR8. It still has its original factory exhaust system and the rare radiator crossmember mounted air dam (used on A/C cars only and missing on nearly all TR8s). This is a fun car to drive. It is reliable and it needs no further mechanical work. If I were to keep the car. I would try to buff the paint and see what improvements could be made. Since the car does not need any bodywork. a higher quality paint job can be had for around $2. 00 -- assuming you remove the trim. which is easy to do. I am happy to provide additional pictures. The car is available for inspection. If you want to fly in to Detroit and drive it home. I would say come on. The TR8 car is good to go and totally trustworthy. And I would not sell a car I wouldn’t trust myself. You can tell from me feedback that my reputation on eBay means a lot to me. I have probably been a little harsh on the paint condition. but I don’t want to oversell the car’s body/cosmetic condition. Got questions? Fire away. Thanks. Rich Truett