1981 Triumph TR7 V8

This splendid TR7 V8 comes to us courtesy of a vendor we know well.

When he’s not working for the local auto servicing, repair and body-shop to which many of us take our personal cars for care and attention, he’s building, maintaining and track-readying F3 and F4 race cars for a day’s work at Donington, Brands Hatch or Snetterton.

It’s fair to say that he knows his way around a spanner.

It’s equally fair to say that (by his own admission), he is somewhat obsessive about getting everything just right.

Hence the fastidious condition of this car.

You’ll find assiduously applied paint in places on this car where no-one would ever know it was there and where no eyes will ever pry.

Nothing has been missed, no corners have been cut, no compromises have been considered.

The car has been known to the vendor for many years and he finally bought it from the long-term owner in 2021.

The car was converted to TR8 spec by a well-known TR7 specialist in the early 1990s.

It has been properly sorted, fettled and honed to the point where the vendor tells us, and we can attest that he’s right, that it sets off like a nervous cheetah at a firework display, and has plenty of lively performance on tap whenever it’s needed.

Over the years it has had new floor pans, new wings and new sills welded in – there’s no rust that we can see anywhere.

It’s also had the braking and clutch systems replaced (with genuine parts), new dampers, steering rack, suspension bushes, tubular manifolds, SS exhausts and has had the suspension geometry optimally set-up. The battery, fuel tank, sender and fuel lines are all new and the hood was replaced a few years ago.

In summary, anything that needed restoring, refurbishing or replacing has been restored, refurbished or replaced as appropriate whenever necessary.

The odometer is showing 49,350 miles and we have no reason to doubt the veracity of that figure, which is backed-up by the mileage record on the car’s MoT trail.
 

Well, the outside of this car presents a very handsome, distinctive and immediately recognisable wedge-shaped vista.

It is free of any dinks, dents, dimples or creases of consequence.

The panel gaps and shut-lines are not exactly laser-sharp, but then they almost certainly weren’t when the car left the factory in 1981.

The grey metallic paintwork has retained plenty of shine and lustre throughout.

The refurbished wheels look, well, refurbished, and the matching tyres look to have many miles of motoring left in them.

The black vinyl roof fits snugly and goes up and down with a minimum of fuss or struggle.

There are a few scuffs along the bottom edge of the front valance and we found a patch of overspray and paint run at the top of the n/s/f wing and the ‘A’ pillar above it.

The lights, lenses and other exterior fixtures and fittings are good, as is the badging, although one or two strands of the delicate decals are starting to lift.

The black plastic fuel filler cap has faded to grey.

Basically, it’s all very good, and even standard stone chips and wispy scratches are far more notable for their absence than their presence.
 

The inside is very much of its era – but in a good way.

Sometimes, cars of this vintage come with garish faux-velour upholstery that looks as if it’s been fashioned from some of Mr. Motivator’s spare Spandex mankini material.

There are no such horrors inside this beauty.

Rather, the grey and blue check material lends the whole cabin a distinctly classy and upmarket ambience.

The fabric and vinyl are in very decent condition and the only signs of wear we could see were on the piped edges of the backrest outer bolsters.

The door cards are following the same script in terms of condition and quality.

So, too, are the carpets, mats and roof lining.

The steering wheel and notchy, short-throw gear level are in fine fettle as are the dashboard and centre console surrounds.

The controls and dashboard gauges and instruments look to be in very good order and, as far as we and the vendor are aware, everything works as intended with the exception of the fuel gauge.

The boot is also in very solid, sound condition.

The driver’s sun visor has become a tad thin and crispy. 
 

The engine and engine bay are impressively clean, dry and orderly.

Everything looks to be in its right and proper place.

We particularly like the look of the K&N air filters protruding from the sides of the Stromberg carbs.

The car’s undersides appear to be possessed of oodles of structural integrity and look as if they’ve barely been outside since the restoration was completed – largely because they haven’t.

We’ve seen nothing to make us tut, frown or otherwise question the car’s honesty or character.
 

The car comes with a file containing numerous bills, invoices and receipts for parts ordered from (mainly) Robsport International, who are the go-to people for TR parts.

There are no bills for labour because the vendor did all the work himself.

The car comes with a V5C, full sets of keys and an MoT certificate - with no advisories whatsoever - that’s valid until 21st March 2026.
 

Believe it or not, this time-warp TR7 V8 left the production line in the same year that Indiana Jones was trying to keep some Nazis away from the Ark of the Covenant, and Adam and his Ants were standing and delivering.

It has been restored, rebuilt and maintained by a man who does those things for a living and to the standard required by race teams.

Factor in that it’s also in fabulous condition and has yet to reach 50,000 miles and what you have here is really a very special car indeed.

Best of all, it has all the power and glory its makers originally intended for the TR8 and, to continue the biblical theme by quoting Job 20:5, it is in every way a “…wicked triumph.” 

We are happy to offer this car for auction with an estimate in the range of £11,000 - £14,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.