What a GRRRR8 1980 Triumph TR8! DIY gone bad. CAR WIZARD saves owner.
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- Опубліковано 11 вер 2020
- See this minty 1980 Triumph TR8 that was brought into the CAR WIZARD's 🧙♂️ shop. The owner tried to make a repair and things went south. See what the Wizard did to save the owner.
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Bill seems like a guy with an eye for overlooked gems. The TR8 was a heck of a thing, you almost never see them here in the UK, so i'm really glad to see this one looking so well cared for. I hope it continues to give him many years of pleasure.
When the Poms took over this engine one of the big changes they made was of course to make the engine from Aluminium instead of Aluminum
BECAUSE THEY'RE DUMB!!!!!
Al yooo minium
There’s a British professor in the news lately reminding people that the Aluminum version of Aluminium was actually in use in England before America ever existed. All Webster did was drop the Aluminium version.
bahahahahahaha
XxTravdamanxX ! The British chemist Sir Humphry Davy discovered the metal in 1808, so I think we can call it what we like, bollox face!
I feel blessed to have been able to drive a rare 1980 TR8 coupé that my father bought as Triumph was going out of business. Fantastic little car with plenty of power in the early 80s. Ours was a Stromberg car and back when almost everything was slow it would do ~135 mph when the stock Corvette would top out at 125 mph!
I remember the TR7 over in the UK. Had no idea they'd exported a V8 version to the US! Knowing the rep. of the TR7 (which looks almost identical to this, but without the V8 oomph) I also cannot believe that the thing isn't just made of rust. It looks brand new! What a joy :)
The paint on that TR8 is stunning for it's age. Someone loved the hell out of that car. Makes me smile.
My Dad was a test driver for this car back in the late 70s. He was a test driver for AP experimental. He drove everything from the TR7 to the MG maestro Turbo. If you’re from the UK, you’ll know what I’m talking about.
I lived in Leamington Spa where AP made a lot of the parts for the rover group cars.
I was running an Austin Maestro up until January this year. One of the toughest most reliable cars I've owned!
An MG tuned Maestro would be a dream, those thing were insanely quick compared to their rivals! Amazing cars!
Tarlock Sagoo, M8! I’m from Leamington. My Dad was a Royal Engineer and raced for the regiment. He came out of the forces and drove as an experiential driver. I sat with him whilst he drove everything that British Leyland and Rover had to offer.
Max Owers, The Maestro was an unsung hero. Although it suffered from fuel evaporation, the 1600 E twin Webber was a beast.
Terminal Velocity small world. I lived in Sydenham from 1977 to 1998. Now in California. I used to remember all the traffic from AP at end of the day.
It's nice to see a clean classic, that only needs a good shop, no computers to fight with.
Years ago I owned a 1977 TR7 fixed head coupe. Only had 40k miles in it. It was a good car once you dealt with the head gasket issue. They were notorious for blowing the head gasket and it was near impossible to change them. The head bolts were angled and used studs instead of bolts. The 5 speed transmission was very good and the electrical system was very much improved over other British cars. I believe placing the fuse box inside the glove box instead of the engine compartment helps tremendously.
I can completely relate to the sparks flying at his manhood issue. I had the same issue with my 68 Mustang. I ended up rewiring the whole car because of 50+ years of "mechanics" messing with the wiring. Got it back on the road officially today.
Congrats!
Manhood ok?
@@nickgeorgiakakis7249 still intact, the boys just got a bit scared. 😆
I just saw a 68 mustang barn find on my neighbors house when i went passed it's just sitting there collecting dust and its quite rare here in the Philippines
Nice, high five!
14:10 Door handles designed for 1971's Morris Marina but subsequently used on everything from the Range Rover to the early Lotus Esprit.
It's nice to see a mechanic who has a soft spot for British cars, Wizard. I love my Triumphs and '05 Jaguar XKR drophead. Good, cheap fun and a total experience for all the senses.
Triumph really blew it with the TR7. It was cool and cheap, and they sold well at the start. Unfortunately the drivetrain was way too fragile, engine underpowered, had head warping and water pump issues, and by the time the car was 'fixed' with the Rover 5 speed and stronger diff for '78, the damage was done to it's reputation. The TR8 was a last gasp to find new appeal.
Labor problems, corporate problems, quality control issues and poor choices doomed it from the start.
I still have a TR7 drophead, but I gave it a fuel injected Ford turbocharged engine, Mustang 5 speed transmission and 8.8 Tracloc rearend. Not fragile anymore!
Nice looking TR8. Hopefully it has a right sized carb. Lots of people go with too much carb on these and lose driveability.
I always love the TR8. Great looking car
My parents had a TR7 exactly like that one. I got to drive it often, it was great fun. Not the most reliable car, but an absolute hoot to drive. It's main problem: Lucas, the prince of darkness. Great memories.
My dad had one and I can remember the hours he spent trying to resolve electrical issues. Particularly remember the pop up lights and how one would only half pop up giving the car a squint or a wink! Fun car and happy memories
I drove 2 different Triumph TR8s daily for 11 years. I had a 1981 injected TR8 in this color (Pharaoh Gold) and a 1980 carburetor'd one in Platinum. They forgot to put indentations in the body-stamping for the wiring-harness to lay down in so the carpeting chafed against the wiring over time. It was to be addressed in the 1983 body-stamping (styling update) but production stopped in mid-1981. There's a cheap (under $40) kit that incorporates needle-bearings into the top of the strut towers instead of the solid-rubber to solid-metal stock pieces which sometimes bind as you turn the wheel. You can get another 40 to 50 HP out of that motor by doing port-matching (and don't forget to port-match the gaskets too!!!). Those are not the stock wheels, they're Panasports.
Love my Triumph TR8. Excellent car
Wizzard: It's TURRRR-EIGHT!
Wife: (no reaction)
Wizzard: It's TR 8, yes.
All of us who are in long term relationships can relate... they're sick of our jokes.
@l was wrong about everyhting I thought it was handbrake turns...
Justin Couch 😂
The cringe was real hahaha!!!!
That goes with his use of grand marqeeze
LOVE THE INTERIOR 👍🤓🇺🇸
Love a good TR7 v8 the sports car of my youth in grey and wet England
Interesting factoid: this engine is related to the GM 3800 V6. The 215 was co-developed with the "fireball" V6. The bore centers are the same as the Buick v6. They decided to make the block iron on the V6 version...in GM fashion, the engine and tooling were sold to Willys Kaiser who used it in Jeeps for years. GM bought the tooling back from AMC (who had taken over Jeep) in 1973, after the first fuel crisis. Buick engineers figured out how to make the 90 degree V6 fire evenly (split crank pins) in 1977, and a legend was (re) born!
I remember that the tagline from the TV ads for the TR7 and TR8 was "The shape of things to come". I still think they are a pretty cool car.
I remember
Being a kid of the 70’s in England thats the car I wanted when I grew up 👌
Steve Burden I can relate to that too, i loved them back in the day but by the time i was 12 (‘86) a lot them were starting to look worse for wear...
Michael Jose 😂 I’m probably ageing the same.
I actually hated this shape, but loved the previous versions prior to the TR7, they just looked so cool and timeless, not like a wedge.
One of our neighbors had a red TR7 when I lived in the UK as a kid in the late 70s. I had a gang of friends down that road, and we thought he was the coolest guy with the coolest car in the world! Happy days :) I miss 'em.
Me to, still think they look awesome 👍👍👍
The Triumph TR7 was my very 1st car ! It was a 1976 TR7 bought in the summer of 1978 ! I was going into my junior year of college ! The TR7 was sunset orange with black racing stripes ! I worked my freshman and sophomore year of college full time , saved my $$$ until I got this car ! As a young black male kid @ a predominantly white college , everyone was excited for me ! One white girl from Chicago said : My car added class to the campus ! My brother in-law looked at it and said : A young man's dream come true ! It was the closest thing I've had so far to a Lamborghini ! This was a great time of life ! People weren't hateful and mean like they are today ! What great memories ! 🎉 ❤
Really enjoyed the TR8. I grew up in a small town and the “rich kid” had one of these when it was new. He was always nice enough to share a ride and I’ve found them interesting since. Thanks again.
when I was a kid my dad went through a few british sports cars, from what I remember he had a TR7 a lotus elan and probably half a dozen modified minis, these old british cars are really the coolest things on the road
The TR7 was one of my favourite cars growing up. Glad to see there are still some 7s and 8s on the road.
Owned a tr7. Electricals were junk. Lucas electrics.
I hardly saw a TR8 mostly 7s
Convertible definitely looks better, but the sheer wage shape is less pleasing to my eye than competitor Bertone X/19.
We had lots of TR7s and the occasional TR8. They almost all disappeared in showers of rust in 2 years due to salt on our roads. You may think I am exaggerating, but they really were that bad. To see a TR8 in such exquisite uncorroded shape is gob-smacking! This one is well worth preserving. It is a beautiful gem among what are now, a very few remaining lumps of coal.
While working on an old car, I have often had that desired to jump off a bridge feeling. That is a very good way to describe what it feels like. I am very glad that there are patient caring souls like you with the expertise and correct tools to do the work with care and pride.
I had one of these TR8’s back in 1987 in Boston UK, same car same seats, got a picture somewhere. It came from Skegness, I had the same American rubber bumpers but had been converted to RHD. It had a tubular manifold and twin electric cooling fans and multi spoke alloys but otherwise it was stock. Absolutely loved the car especially with the roof down.
Union flag is upside down which is a distress sign. Who ever made that plate it won't even work if you rotate 180. Can understand why a Leyland car would be in distress.
Wow, that's a good spot..
I had to look up the flag to see what you were talking about, red stripes on wrong sides of the white stripes... Few in the US would pick up on that.
Lucas electrics?
he owns a TR8, he is in constant distress.
yeah I noticed that as well lol
l love the tartan interior. Amazing it's held up so well.
I'm a big fan of the TR7. Thank you for not killing it like so many other hatters.
I'd love to own another TR7 or TR8.
I don't normally like big engines but I have to admit this one sounds smooth as silk.
Great car - as a kid I always wanted at TR7, had completely forgotten about the TR8., Love the plaid interior - has loads of personality.
VW uses plaid upholstery in the GOLF GTI and no one gives them any grief. BL uses plaid upholstery in the TR7-8 ? Nope, can't have that.
In 1975 I bought my first Triumph, a 1960 TR3. I sold a 1972 Spitfire, dirt cheap, to finance the purchase. I had hopes of eventually owning an example of ever TR roadster. It never happened. Just last week I broke down and bought a 2006 Mustang convertible....I wanted something smaller than my Crown Victoria. So far it's a nice car, but it's no Triumph.
Howard Kerr both the TR3 and Sptifire - iconic vehicles. I was in the UK a few years ago, at a country estate - purely on a whim. And, it just happened to be hosting the local Triumph and MG clubs - I lost count of all the gorgeous cars. It was heaven.
Mine was the Victory Edition in British Racing Green. My BIL blew the engine.
No mention of the Stag? My good friend's father used to have one of those
Very cool car. Back in the day i used to see TR6 and TR7's on the road once in a while.These days I dont think i have seen one on the road for quite some time.
My memory isn't what it used to be, but I think those are the original wheels.
Nice. Very nice even! I love these, and TR7's as well.
As a kid, I had about 20 brochures on my bedroom walls covered like posters all over the walls of the TR7, TR8, and oddly enough, the VW Bus. I was fixated on cars like I am today. We did buy a 76 VW Bus Westfalia Camper last year and we love it. However, that said, I am always looking at videos of TR's. I know that the reputation of the TR7/8 was poor. I still love looking at them and learning about them. This car you work on for your client is gorgeous , love the gold color and especially the very English plaid yellow. I LOVE IT. Thanks, wish you were in Connecticut, you seem like a really honest competent mechanic. We need more of those here.
Great to see a TR8 on your show....
That was the car I wanted so bad when I was a teenager. I remember the "wedge" commercials. I would still love to have one!!
The shape of things to come ...
The little wedge shaped garages in the commercials were funny...
I had a buddy who had 1 of these cars in the mid 1980's and it was a lot of fun to drive.
My dream car as a kid. I absolutely loved them. My mums mate had one. And l remember she took me for a drive. It was like Christmas to me. Its still absolutely the perfect sports car to me.
What a genuine treat, I love the TR8 which is my favorite English sports car of all time, totally dig the color inside & out, love the interior!
I remember the tag line for the TR8 as being The Shape of Things to Come- I've always liked this car
Real nice example or a classic 80s English car. As an Englishman nice to hear the wizard appreciating some British engineering from a time that we aren't that proud of.
The poor man's Jay Leno. I love this guy. You get a variety of cars and is always a different topic and he knows everything about them
Love the Interior it’s absolutely stunning
Nice to see in mostly good nick.
Thank you Wizard.. :-)
Bumpers, please change. Flag while you are at it. Thanks Bob.
Worst problem with a stripped bolt..? Snapped off in my Porsche 944 head. Welded to it, didn't come out. Drilled it, yay. Tapped a new thread, tap broke in the hole. Super hard, couldn't drill, soft ally block all around. Pissed off for a year. Made a spark eroder, eroded the tap out, drilled the hole, tapped it ok, finally car running again. Didn't help, reason head was off, was slight knocking noise. Turned out to be cracked piston. Engine replaced.. Sometimes I go the long way round..🙄
Over the years I owned 3 TR7s 2 fixed head coupe and one drop head coupe, the TR7 had a slant head engine (came from the Dolamite sprint but with an 8 valve head, this engine was co developed with Saab (who used the engine backwards, believe it or not) the same basic design was also made into a V8 and was used in a stag, it revved higher than the comparable lazy rover V8(it was 3 litre not 3.5 though)
I live in Coventry where this car was probably manufactured.
I first saw a TR7 in 76 and then slightly later my dad's car insurance salesman (who used to come to the house to collect payments) owned 1.
I loved this car and it was so comfortable to drive
Wow what a pretty car..! My friend had an X1-9 back in the early 80’s
My father bought one new in 1982.
Only 2 in NZ.
He let me drive it a lot.
It was cool.
I had two X1/9’s as a teenager in the 80s and yes, in my head I was Don Johnson and yes, I did get laid because of those cars (but not in them - too small, dammit!)
I wish we had a wizard like you in Connecticut - smart, honest, brawny, brainy!!!
I can assure you that every city has someone like the Wizard, if not multiple people. It's a matter of finding them. Seek and ye shall find.
and beefy!
I own a 1980, Tr7. 32K original miles. Yes even though low miles for age it acts up time to time.
The car hates warm days, vapor lock big time.
This car runs decent in cool or cold weather. Thanks Wizard.
Man - those are rare as hell even here in the UK, and that car looks to be in delightful shape. Yes - it will always have issues (it's British) and well worth all the blood, sweat, and tears. Thank you also to Buick - those engines (as you rightly point out) powered so many of our half decent cars. TR8, Rover P6, Rover SD1, Land Rover, Range Rover, Disco, TVR (RIP), and Morgan (I think). Bill has a great example there, and clearly a bloke who can sort it out when it goes wrong. Excellent - thank you!
I am so happy that someone else loves workin on the Rover v8s. I honestly thought I was the only person! Wizard your the man !
I had a friend took me 0-120 in about 12s in one of the original rovers those were made for. Pretty sure you don't get many of those over in the US though.
I'm with you Wizard, the TR8 is a lovely little sports car. However, your one and it's older brother the TR7 had an awful reputation for unreliability. They are rare over here in the UK and to find one one that hasn't rotted is hard, let alone a solid one that runs. So it's nice to see one Stateside in good condition. Great video, thanks, guys. :-)
I live near Palm Springs, in the California desert. I have owned several Triumphs (one TR6, 3 TR7’s, and now a TR8) and you’ll often see old English cars in the southwestern United States. Rust is seldom a problem because it’s easy to keep cars dry, although the sun can damage paint and leather and other trim. Much of the United States has snow in winter, some places are quite brutal, and they use salt and/or sand on the roads. If you’re looking to find a TR8 without rust (or other older cars) there are lots of them for sale in the southwest (California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico). Also keep in mind that California is the most car crazed place in the US, you’ll find almost anything here. The only place I’ve ever been where people worship cars more is Italy.
I'm amazed this V8 fits in this little car.These engines are brilliant,we used them in our London Police cars in the 60s and early 70s.Plenty of power and torque, just a great engine.
Real TR8's are rare in the UK. The TR8 was designed for the USA market, who like the V8 engine. A lot of UK market TR7's with the Triumph "slant" 4 cylinder car, have been converted to TR8 specification. This engine is the one the car always deserved, especially with a 5 speed transmission. It's nice to see a TR8 in great condition, and the Wizard, working his magic on it.
Love how we ruin any small sports cars with the hideous crash bumper. 'Murica.
Oddly enough, the TR7 was actually designed with those bumpers in mind. If you look at the UK spec ones, you'll notice the bumpers are almost (but not quite) the same size.
Not a popular opinion, but Ive always liked the TR7/TR8 shape.
@@2kcars507 Borrowed from the FIAT X-19, which had the benefit of being mid engined as well.
Actually, the black bumper looks better than add on looking chrome on these modern cars...
Glad these struts got sorted Bill! Sounded like quite a pain having to drop the whole assembly out. Definitely in good hands with the Wizard.
Always glad to see a shop that let's customers provide their own parts. I had to abandon a shop that when it changed owners no longer let me provide the hard to find parts for my cars. My current guy has no problem with me getting the parts. Saves him time and money if I do the running around and research.
My TR6 would spark whenever I used my turn signals... it had a short and changing it essentially meant standing on your head for an hour. But it was a fun car when not trying to light itself on fire.
A fantastically styled car. I always loved the TR7 (in the UK) especially the multi interior. So special :-)
I remember these cars. They were pretty neat back in the day.
Had a 76 TR7 actually it was the car I honeymooned in :) When I first seen one of these in 75 or 76 I was blown away never seen anything like it and totally fell in love with it. I remember the add for these showed a side profile and said in big letters “The shape of things to come” The one I had hmmmm well never felt like you could trust it. Kept it a few years and moved on - gotta love Lucas uk electronics. This TR8 is the last go for these over here I believe in 80 and 81. To me though visually these cars still look amazing!
Glad to hear you like our old cars in the US 😁👍
That car takes me back to when I used to navigate for a TR8 owner. That one ended up as a ball after flipping 3 times end over end!!!!!
The wheels aren't stock, the rubber bumpers where put export American
TR7/8 to meet the American safety specifications.....
They where built in my home town Coventry
Wayne Waugh you are correct. The wheels were a dealer installed option in the states.
My dream car as a young kid in 🇬🇧 back in the late 70s
Love the classic look interior. Too many black leather interiors in convertibles already. Pretty rare car now in such good condition. Collectors would love it.
TRs are definitely a leftover from that British sports car era. TR6 is my fave.
I really liked that engine in the SD1
Agreed. 215bhp brute!
@@Max-gz7ik maybe tuned, but even with the Vitesse twin plenum it made 190?
@@phil955i The twin plenum was rated at 215bhp. The standard Vitesse was 190 :)
@@Max-gz7ik yes it was, I stand corrected
still a fantastic looking car today.
I have a 4.6 rover V8 EFI with hot cams IN my TVR... it's an epic sounding engine that makes the car fly
Had that exact starter issue occur once every 20 - 30 starts on my Toyota of all things, 210k miles, old worn starter contacts and pluger, $30 ebay kit, rebuilt starter and kept the OEM Denso, works perfect.
'Tartan' interior is awesome. -Thanks for the AWESOME videos Car Wizard!
Oooo that’s a pretty clean prelude with hfp goodies
I love those little cars! Nice color too!!
I like that interior as well. That seat pattern brings out the character of the car.
There were only 35 TR8's made for the UK market, and all of those were pre-production models. The TR8 was produced specifically for the USA market. All we got in the UK was a 2-litre slant 4 TR7 which I think was around 105/110 Bhp. We did have both hard and soft tops.
There are/were a few engine swaps replacing the slant 4 with the V8, taking them from Rover SD1s and Range Rovers etc.
During its run, production was moved to 3 different factories, and it was decided on the move to the 3rd that it was the end of the line. In late 1980, the last TR7/8's rolled off the production line. A lot of what killed it was the strong £ at the time.
It is funny because I remember as a kid (I was 12 when production stopped) a 3.5 litre V8 was a huge engine with an amazing soundtrack. I then moved to Canada, and I then realized that the 3.5 was indeed a little engine. With the Corvettes, Camaros, Mustangs, Javelins, Trans Ams. GTOs, 442s etc etc etc I was now getting familiar with, the 'big-engined' TR8 being an exotic powerful car was put into perspective and they soon became a distant memory.
It is really nice to see this car in your garage. It is a rarity for us Brits to see one that is not completely rusted away. I do not remember that last time I even saw one on the road.
I particularly enjoyed this episode, as it gave me a whiff of nostalgia to my childhood.
The original dual SU carb setup looked cool and generally worked well. A shop I worked at had a TR8 racecar that ran in Trans-Am class, if I remember. it was a rocket, much like the Sunbeam Tiger when they are done up. I prefer the Tiger, or an MGB V-8, but wouldn't say no to a TR8.
You're the best, thank you for all the videos
I'll always enjoy seeing this (or any) TR8. One of the very few Triumph models I'd ever own.
Thanks so much for these terrific videos!! Your patient explanations are thorough and easy to understand! Looks like Mrs Wizard isn't the only teacher in the family. So glad I stumbled onto (and have now subscribed to) your channel--I grew up in Topeka and am delighted to see such a superb car channel coming from Kansas. I'm a long time (but no longer) TR6 owner (and racer) so really appreciated your TR8 video. Keep up the good work!
My father-in-law owned a TR8, none of the Triumph club members would talk to him, I guess it’s the black sheep of the Triumph family.
Gee I thought it was the Stag!
They are jealous, everyone wanted the V8
Snobs !!
That's because it was designed as a hard top, unlike every other TR.
was his name rudolph , was his nose red?
Still see them around inUK sometimes always liked this car
Not seen 1 for a while but they are out there
I Have seen these around the UK as well. They’re distinct
More TR7s than 8s. The V8 was catered more for the US market.
I so wanted a TR8 convertible back in The Day!
UK TR8s are very rare.
There are only a handful of them.
Probably far more converted TR7s
Hey wizard, nice vid on the TR8. Great car. I own a '77 TR7 and I do 95% of the work myself. Took me 18 months to get it sorted out from whence I acquired her - worth every hour I put into it. I enjoy driving it and that 2 liter runs great - loves to rev. But I agree with you, certain maintenance items should be brought to a mechanic that knows these cars and has a lift (of course). I am glad mine doesn't have the manhood issue that this TR8 had. TR7s and TR8s need a patient owner, or an owner that has a good mechanic. They are not for everyone who thinks they're just gonna put gas in it and drive around the world. I enjoy ur vids. Cheers!
Enjoy you videos, very informative.
Just purchased a 1980 TR8 and considering installing the TWS lower control arm braces to stiffen the unibody and changing out the Lucus starter with an aftermarket gear reduction. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge of these cars.
William
I’m just looking at the silver Honda Prelude with the factory body kit.
A grounding issue with a British car ? HOG WASH !
Yes, they have earthing issues, not grounding issues! ;)
I prefer; 'Codswallop...' !
@@andyyoung5972 To be fair, Lucas did invent the intermittent windshield wiper, though it was unintentional.
Spent yesterday afternoon cleaning up several on an XKE. Latest attempt is to apply some de-ox compound on any connectors after cleaning them which seems to be helping. Takes a special kind of masochist who just loves to tinker;)
these cars were so simple, it's amazing what they couldn't get right.
Thank you for this video! I have always liked these small British sports cars. Many can be seen in the car show of the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix each July. There is a lot of love for them out there.
Always had a soft spot for these; I haven't seen one in years (and I live in the UK).
This one looks identical to the one my uncle owned for a short period in the late eighties, only his was the TR7.
We do more LS swaps in the UK now...thanks to you guys 😎
When you say "we showed it in a previous video", it would be nice to add a link to that video in the description.
Had a 7 from 1980 till 2009. Better than some would have you believe but not the best advert for British engineering! British Leyland really knew how to eff up what were once good makes. BTW I didn't drive it in all those years, most of the time it was a garage queen.
My old tr7 in the late 80's never sounded like that lol , tr8's were a wet dream for 19 yr old me
Pop-up, up and doown heeeadliiiights!🤣🤣
As an addendum, the wheels are called Minilights. They were used on lots of British cars, and I believe that they came as an option from the factory.
Minilites
Yes, there's also a Japanese "copy" called a Watanabe which is popular for classic Japanese cars like Datsun 510s or Celicas.
Many years ago I had a 1977 TR7. The engine was pretty worn out when I got it with over 150k miles. It was really fun to drive until the engine gave up.
They used to call the Triumph Tr7 and 8's the Wonder Wedge. There was even a car commercial that had a wedge shaped garage that it disappears into. But you never wondered how the guy got out after he closed the garage door. Thanks for showing this old beast. I did gate guard duty in the Air Force and one of our F-4 Driver's wife drove one. She was as cool as the car was.
Wizard doing his Doug Demuro 'quirks and features' at the end.
Thiiiiiisssssssss is a TR8.
As a 'Limey' i'm surprised to see that it isn't just a pile of dust.I haven't seen a TR7 or 8 on the roads here for many, many years
Yeah these things rusted bad 😯
Funny though I’ve seen quite a few and they seem to be increasing in value and cool appeal.
Mr Bob so did Italian, German, Japanese, American cars of the era.
@@davidmacdonald1695 I suppose they have a cult following like a lot of quirky cars but my best friend had one in the late 80's and it was bloody awful to drive
I saw one yesterday, someone down the other end of my road has a TR7. I think it's his only car too!
I learned to drive a stick shift in my brother's Triumph TR7. He even let me drive it to school a couple of times. The electrical problems are real, and his car's transmission wasn't entirely made of metal (didn't seem like it anyway). Besides all that, it was still a very cool car.
I owned that same 1980 car. Same "Midas gold" color. Super reliable. The tartan plaid upholstery inserts were god-awful, but at least when you were sitting in the car you were mostly sitting on them and didn't see them as much. By today's standards the dashboard is just too much plastic, but everything was put together well, and even the inflated pads on the center console that acted as a knee rest cushion were well thought out and worked well. There are hooks on the underside of the hood that engage in a wreck and keep the driver from being decapitated. I know from experience. That's how my ownership of the car came to an end. :-)
Lucas also make refrigerators, thus the love of warm beer in England
Americans have their beer ice cold because it distracts from the fact that it's weak & tastes like piss ;-)
Lucas also had an aerospace division that made parts for one of the early swing-wing jetfighters, now there's a scary thought! 8-)
I love the idea but is it really true ? My first fridge was a Kelvinator btw. What a fabulous and appropriate name for a fridge. (for those not familiar, from Lord Kelvin - after whom the absolute scale of temperature is named)
Joseph Lucas, the prince of darkness.
@@pasoundman My current fridge is a Kelvinator. They are reliable, power efficient and affordable. If it ever dies, I will replace it with another Kelvinator.