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Wedge When it rains, it pours -- I got a TR8 today!

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sammyb

Luke Skywalker
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Okay, don't hate me -- not bragging or anything -- just really excited.

I wasn't planning on this, (okay, when I sold the TR7, I always envisioned getting a TR8,) but I guess when it rains it pours: I was looking through Craigslist on Friday, and I saw "TR8 $3800."

I figured: rusty pre-production coupe. Nope! Rust-free real TR8 convertible-- same owner since 1984. (He bought it from a good friend who was the second owner, and she had bought it from a good friend who was the first owner.)

It's Midas Gold with tan plaid interior. Very nice exterior, good interior, nice top. I just drove it 55 miles in the driving rain with no problem. Has a Carter four-barrel, and the engine in there is a Rover that the previous owner bought with the intake, carb for $200, and he just put the whole motor in and took the fine running original motor out. Original manifold, carbs and the original engine came with the car.

Couple things to address: A/C components were removed, so I'll have to put them back in. (Have them all.) It needs the decals. A gearshift spring is broken, so the lever likes to slip down and buzz (can't be that hard of a fix.) There's a hum from the dif, but he said he had two different mechanics look at it and they both said it was nothing bad -- no signs of anything really wrong, other than a hum. My friend Adam, a mechanic, said "not a big deal, we can always fix it later."

But needless to say, when I saw it listed and talked to the owner, I had to "buy now, justify it later." But my justification was "A TR8 convertible for $3800?!?!?!"

Pictures here: https://www.sendpix.com/albums/05093016/vsmsv36q9p/

I'm a wedgehead again!!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/driving.gif
 
Sammy, how the heck do you do it? I have never known anyone else with such a knack for being in the right place at the right time.......is your secret just keeping a sharp eye on the classifieds? I never see such bargains! Is it just that our area is awash with interesting cars? Enquiring minds need to know.
 
I like the way you think, buy now think later, welcome to my world. Good buy there SammyB.
 
AND.. Exactly how drunk was the seller when he listed and sold?

Wow Sammy...
You got the touch.

Paul
 
I only have one question.

HOW COME CARS LIKE THAT DON'T FALL INTO MY HANDS TO?!?!?! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif

Seriously, nice car Sam, looks like you've made quite a deal there. I'd love to have a TR8, but unlike most people I'd like to have a preproduction coupe, or a TR7 coupe V8 conversion. Is the Carter just an off the shelf AFB, or a 2 barrel? Kinda hard to tell from the pics. If it's an AFB thats a great carb, 620 cfm, mechanical secondaries, looks like it came with the electric choke to. Holley's are more tuneable but the AFB is a "set it and forget it" kind of carb, love 'em.

Good luck with it Sam, I'm sure you're going to enjoy it.
 
Sammy -

Looks like you and I are going to be in touch. I just bought one, too. Have to pick it up later this week, and will post pictures when it's home.

Mickey
 
Just knew you couldn't stand not being a wedgehead. Welcome back!
 
Nice car, Sam! Two comments...

You must have a VERY understanding wife... I only have the one TR3, and am reminded of it.

You must update your picture to include your new TR3!

Best, Kevin
 
To answer the questions:
- It's a Carter 4bbl carb. Set-it-forget-it with an automatic choke.

-I find the cars two different ways. This one was simply listed on craigslist.org. I suggest every collector car person check it every few days. There was no magic on this one. The guy posted it for sale, I responded and bought it.

Other cars I get because I'm a collector car columnist, and I often get cars offered to me. I've also posted sometimes on "wanted" on craigslist.org looking for project cars to buy.

It's funny, because all it takes is time and an understanding of the market value of the car. I look on different sites (collectorcartraderonline.com, local club web sites with classifieds etc...) and I just try to see the cars that are advertised at just below (or sometimes really below) value. If you start with just a little nut of money (like even $500-$1000) you can buy a car, drive it, and sell it when the whim hits for another car.

I've been doing this for four or five years, and have just had a few really lucky finds, which have funded a couple lucky finds.

My wife is very understanding, but she sees it as an extension of my job (the auto column,) and gets that these are investments, even if they are very, very fun ones. I explain that "a TR8 will come up in value, because it's one of the few V8 British roadsters -- and a fairly rare one at that, and every other V8 Brit roadster has come up in value dramatically around the 30 year mark."

And yes, I have had one loser -- this dang '89 Corvette, which started having tons of trouble right after I bought it. (It looked like a great deal at the time, but I was wrong.) But I'm going to cut my losses and move on.

But for the most part, I do it for the love of the cars, not for the money. I plan on keeping this TR8, as well as my TR3 -- the new TR3 will probably go to my dad.
 
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