Editing Triumph TR8 (section)

== Production ==
{{sources|date=October 2024}}

TR8 coupes based on the original Harris Mann TR7 design made from 1978 to 1980 are quite rare; it is estimated that only about 400 TR8 coupes ever existed—this number from records kept by members of the North America-based wedge club, the Triumph Wedge Owners Association. To the roughly 150 pre-production coupes mentioned above, another 250 or so coupes were produced, some sold in Canada as 1979 models but most ended up being held back and then finally sold in the US as 1980 models.  In 1979, a long-anticipated Michelotti-refreshed TR7 Drophead ([[convertible (car)|convertible]]) was introduced, and almost all subsequent production TR8s were convertibles.<ref>Bill Piggott, Original Triumph TR7 & TR8, MBI Publishing, 2000</ref> ''Total'' worldwide production, as best as can be determined throughout all the labour turmoil at the time, is only around 2750, give or take a "handful".  (Enthusiast Richard Connew went through the records at British Motor Heritage Industry Trust and counted 2746.)  Other estimates exist. The German version of this page claims 2722 and cites the TR Register-Austria as source; 2815 is the number quoted in an article from ''[[Classic & Sports Car]]'', March 1986 and in William Kimberley's 1981 book<ref>William Kimberley, The Complete Guide to the Triumph TR7 and TR8, Dalton Watson Ltd., London, 1981</ref> as well. The TR8 was due to be launched in the UK and a pilot production run was made consisting of four prototypes and 18 pre-production cars. However, at this point, British Leyland unexpectedly cancelled the project. The pre-production cars were subsequently sold via the dealer network to the general public and are highly collectable.{{cn|reason=UK pre-production and cancellation needs references|date=June 2024}} Both the TR7 and TR8 were made until October 1981 when production ceased.

Very few genuine TR8s exist outside of the United States and Canada.  In other countries the TR7 is often converted to a "TR7V8" with the same ubiquitous Buick/Rover 3.5 litre V8 powerplant used in original factory TR8s. In Australia a popular TR7V8 conversion is to use the 4416 cc version of this engine that had been developed for the [[Leyland P76]].

In North America, the TR8 originally sold for around $11,000. A current rough estimate of the number of these cars remaining taken from the Triumph Wedge Owners Association registry of unique [[Vehicle identification number|VINs]], current Triumph Wedge Owners Association membership records, the World Wide TR7 TR8 Owners Club, and the TR Drivers Club UK is around 1000 convertibles and 200 coupes.

As of Q1 2011 there were approximately seventeen licensed and 33 [[SORN]] TR8s registered with the [[DVLA]].  The accuracy of this data is questionable as many converted TR7s with a V8 have been registered with DVLA as TR8s. Out of these fifty cars, only two are automatic, but more are known to exist.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.howmanyleft.co.uk/?q=triumph+tr8 |title=How Many Left web site |publisher=www.howmanyleft.co.uk |access-date=2011-07-17}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/statistics/datatablespublications/vehicles/licensing/ |title=Vehicle licensing statistics |publisher=Department of Transport |access-date=2011-07-17 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110829152645/http://www2.dft.gov.uk/pgr/statistics/datatablespublications/vehicles/licensing/ |archive-date=29 August 2011 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>