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Yet another Ebay rarity

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Without knowing the VIN, there's no way to be sure. However, about a year ago there was one posted on EBay, had all the proper documentation, and it was an automatic. In fact, from what I understand (read somewhere) all the TR8 preproduction coupes were automatics.
 
True enough. Mike Cook the author of a history of Triumph in America and ex-BL marketing director says that all those early coupes were automatics. Strange but apparently true. What was BL thinking ?!
 
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What was BL thinking ?!

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Probably the same thing that carmakers are thinking these days - that people don't want to shift for themselves. The Tacoma Double Cab I bought recently is only offered with automatic. The salesman said that their research tells them that someone who spends X-amount on a vehicle is not likely to want a manual transmission.

Mickey
 
I feel sure one thing he has wrong is the production year. My understanding is the prototype TR8's were 1978. Vin would verify that. jb
 
Thats basically the only thing that turned me off to getting a Dodge Magnum last year as my new family hauler (before the wife gave the OK for a Stang). If I went all the way for the hemi option, and all the other high performance goodies, I'd certainly want the stick to go with it. However I guess that Diamler Chrysler decided that not enough people would want that, so there is no manual trans option for the Magnum at all, not even in the planned SRT8 edition from what I hear. The sequential shift auto is no consolation either. Somehow I don't completely agree that thats a good marketing strategy though, look at the Acura TL. It is one of the best performing and nicest sports sedans on the road today, and the automatic is a no cost option over a 6 speed manual. You can't tell me that alot of people are buying that car in stick, yet Acura still offers it. If they can do it, other car companies can to. Granted it's not always easy to get one, a friend of mine here at work just bought a TL last week (automatic) and the sales guy told him they haven't had a stick car on the lot in weeks. He also said they weren't to worried about it, since they aren't selling to many in manual.

I thought I saw a preproduction TR8 coupe a few months back on Ebay that was a manual, a red one if I recall correctly. Could be mistaken, my memory seems to be going the same way as the transmission in my Volvo lately, slipping when it gets overused.
 
According to information from Mike Cook in the fall 2001 issue of VTR's _The Vintage Triumph_ magazine, there were "around 120 to 150 TR8 coupes...built at Liverpool late in 1977..." Mike further noted that all were coupes, some with sunroofs and the majority with automatic. VIN's ran from ACN1001-ACN1199.
 
This is a nice car. It was Woody Cooper's car and has had a 4.0L engine installed. Somebody is going to get their hands on a VERY fast TR8. I hope Woody put a Quaife in it!
 
I think he mentions that the interior was replaced, possibly they used some non-original materials. I think it looks nice though. Does that look like overspray on the top edge of the data plate? Maybe the car has been repainted also?
 
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