1979 Triumph TR8

The Triumph TR8 was a continuation of the 'wedge-shape' design of the prior Triumph TR7 sports car, created by Harris Mann and manufactured by British Leyland through its Jaguar/Rover/Triumph (JRT) division. British Leyland had planned and developed a more powerful V8-engined version of the TR7 and even built prototypes, but financial and labor problems delayed the project.

Production of the TR8 began in 1978, and both the TR7 and TR8 were made until October 1981, when production ceased. The coupes were based on the original Mann TR7 design, and the TR8 convertibles wore a design by Michelotti.

The TR8 was a 'hail marry' for the company, trying to recapture lost sales, especially in the lucrative U.S. market. Power was from Rover's all-aluminum 215 cubic-inch V8 engine, which was actually a GM product with origins in the mid-1960s when it powered Buick and Oldsmobiles. Since the TR8 was essentially a TR7 with twice the cylinders, the hood of the TR8 received a bulge to accommodate the increase in size. With two Stromberg carburetors, the overhead-valve, eight-cylinder engine offered 133 horsepower and 174 lbs-ft of torque. Both the TR7 and TR8 had a five-speed manual or three-speed automatic transmission. Both had steel unibody construction and MacPherson struts with coil springs and anti-roll bars in the front. Differences included the upgraded brakes in the TR8, a revised axle ratio, alloy wheels, leather steering wheel, and the battery moved to the trunk. Standard equipment on the TR8 included an AM/FM stereo, power rack-and-pinion steering, and tinted glass. Air conditioning was the only available option, apart from the automatic gearbox.

Motorsports
Production figures for the TR8 were low, but this did not deter several individuals from transforming them into race cars. They were homologated for Group 4 competition in April 1978, which required 400 similar cars built for normal sale. However, it appears that only about 150 examples had been built by this time, mostly due to the 17-week-long strike from November 1977.

Bob Tullius of Group 44 racing competed with a TR8 during the 1979 SCCA season with much success, eventually leading to the SCCA adding weight to the car to slow it down. Tullius left the Trans Am completion and instead competed in IMSA GT.

TR8s were also raced in the SCCA's showroom stock series.

by Daniel Vaughan | Feb 2020