1981 Triumph TR8, 2 owner car, 39K original miles, meticulous maintained.

1981 Triumph TR8

Technical specifications of Triumph TR8 1981

Price: -
Item location: Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Make: Triumph
Model: TR8
SubModel: Spyder
Type: Convertible
Year: 1981
Mileage: 39000
VIN: SATPL4583BA405089
Color: White
Engine size: 3.5 Litre
Number of cylinders: 8
Power options: power steering, Air Conditioning
Fuel: Gasoline
Transmission: Manual
Drive type: RWD
Interior color: Blue
Drive side: Left-hand drive
Options: CD Player, Convertible
Vehicle Title: Clear
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Car description

You are bidding on a 1981 Triumph TR8 Spyder, with only 39,000 miles on the clock....originally destined for California this Triumph made its way to a Canadian dealer in downtown Toronto, Ontario...British United Sports Cars. It has always been stored indoors & has never seen a winter. A two owner car from new ...first ownership was for only 1-1/2 years & then traded in at Albert Marchal Motor-Car Ltd. (exotic car dealer) located in downtown Toronto. The second owner purchased the car for his wife as a birthday gift in June of 1983. The Triumph was used as a weekend toy & was lady driven until 2011 when she passed away leaving the car to her daughter. The original purchase agreement from Albert Marschal Motors is available & verifies the purchase of the car by the second owner at only 1-1/2 years old at a total cost of $12K!

The TR8 was built at the Solihull assembly plant in the UK, presented in its original factory color combination...”Medeorae" White over Blue interior. Optioned with; A/C, cloth interior, am/fm stereo, boot cover, fuel injection, power brakes & steering.

The Triumph is an excellent original car that has never been abused & loving cared for from new. In 2012 the daughter decided she was going to freshen-up the car & had it professionally painted in the original factory color with new body decals. At the same time, four new Panasport wheels & Goodyear tires were fitted along with a new top. Additionally, her mechanic suggested that the following mechanical work be done to make the Triumph a safe & reliable car;

Full service;

1. Fuel system clean/flush + new filter.

2. Complete new brakes; master cylinder, rotors, wheel cylinders, pads /shoes, emergency brake cables etc.

3. New 'electronic ignition system' was installed along with new sparks plugs, ignition wires, distributor cap & rotor.

4. New clutch master cylinder, clutch assembly including release bearing.

5. Exhaust system front to back with chrome tail pipe tips.

6. Holley 4BBL carburetor with Edlebrock intake was installed replacing the factory original fuel injection system (which is not available).

*The above work totaled over $5K (receipts avail.) not including the Holley Carb & intake manifolds which would cost approx. $2.5K (receipt not avail.). Grand total of $7.5K of work was done on the Triumph in the past 7 years.

All of this work was done at approx. 35K miles. In 2017 an upgraded sound system was installed...Kenwood stereo system with built-in BT, HD & CD, HD Radio, SAT Radio, Pandora Internet Radio with Blue Tooth, remote control & removable face plate, the door speakers are Pioneer. The system sounds outstanding & has most of today's modern features.

More recent repair maintenance items include:

  • New battery
  • New Fuel pump
  • All Fluids/Filter change
  • New Alternator & Belts (incl. A/C belt)
  • The interior is in excellent condition with no wear showing on the seats, dash panel & switch gear. The carpets are like new likewise the original door/kick panels. All of the gauges are in working order with the exception of the clock (which you can hear ticking but the hands don't move).Electricalsare in working order....headlamps, side markers, turn signals, reverse lamps, license plate lights, interior lights, trunk light & seat belt warning buzzer etc. The A/C does not blow cold however, the compressor does come on & the blower system works as it should.

    The Triumph is equipped with its factory 3.5 liter Rover V-8 engine which starts immediately....it pulls strong & there is no sign of black or blue smoke from the exhaust. The 5 speed transmission shifts flawlessly & can be down shifted through all the gears with ease. This TR drives beautifully, is safe, reliable & can keep up with modern day traffic on the freeway with plenty of power to over take other cars when needed. It can be driven anywhere with confidence & much more comfort than many other British Sports cars of the same era.

    The TR8 shows extremely well with this rare color combination...there are no dents, the floors are solid as the day it left the factory & the body panels are straight showing no accident damage or rust corrosion of any kind, there was a very minor paint scratch on the rear left fender that was professionally touched up (see pics) other than that the body paint is perfect. This Triumph is a 'numbers matching' car & the VIN # confirms that it is a factory built TR8. Fewer than 3000 units were built with the 'Spyder edition' being much more popular.

    Also included with this sale is the; original factory 'Drivers handbook' & 'Maintenance handbook', BL Cars Limited 'Consumer Information booklet 'regarding the 5 Speed & Automatic transmissions as well as the BL Cars Limited Fluids Check Diagram Maintenance Card, see pics for these pieces of literature (on request).

    Please feel free to ask as many questions as you like, more pictures are available beyond what is shown....they may be requested by sending me your personal email address.

    The license plates on the car (California & Union Jack) are novelty items only & do not go with the car....the current plates were removed for the photos.


    Forgot to mention above...the spare wheel is the original factor rim & tire...the spare has never been used (the 'rubber nibs' on the tire tread are still there!

    I am willing to ship WORLDWIDE & will assist with shipping arrangements.

    Note: For European Buyer's, I can have this car shipped to any European destination for approx $1.5KUSD, this would put it at the closest port to your home destination

    Given that I am located inCanada, someUSand offshore buyers maybe reluctant to purchase given the border crossing and or importation paperwork required to import the vehicle to their home destination... I can assist with providing the buyer with contact information to an international transportation company (specializing in relocating vintage & classic cars worldwide) that will safely and at a reasonable cost transport the vehicle I have personally used this company several times and have been extremely pleased with the pick-up & delivery.

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