EXPORT/EU LHD TR8
A number of EXPORT/EU LHD TR8’s Personal Export Derivative TR8’s (PED) were sold in Europe to USA/CAN forces and Diplomats. They left the factory without catalytic converters fitted and were running open loop ECU’s as there was no to little unleaded fuel in Europe at the time. These cars are the closest Triumph came to making a LHD EU spec TR8. An emissions kit of cats etc was either packed in the boot or a voucher was given for them to be fitted by a JRT dealer if the car ended up in the USA/CAN later on when its owner returned to the USA/CAN. Quite a few of these cars remained in Europe and the UK.
European / Home Non USA/Canada Solihull 1980/81 Year Cars RED designates TR8 chassis identifier. Chassis number doesn’t lie, owners may beware!
| Chassis | |
|---|---|
| 1: Global ID | SAT = Triumph World ID (Not used on all cars!) |
| 2: Make of car | T = Triumph |
| 3: Model range: | P = TR7/8 |
| 4. Specification | A = UK or Europe |
| K = Australia | |
| V = U.S.A., Federal (49 states) | |
| Z = U.S.A., California | |
| L = Canada | |
| J = Japan | |
| 5. Type of body: | E = Coupe |
| D = Convertible | |
| 6. Type of engine: | J = 2 litre (TR7) |
| V = 3.5 litre V8 (TR8) | |
| 7. Steering, Gear box: | 3 = RHD. Automatic |
| 4 = LHD, Automatic | |
| 7 = RHD, Manual | |
| 8 = LHD, Manual | |
| 8. Model year change: | A = 1980 Model Year |
| B = 1981 Model Year (not have been used on rest or the world cars – USA CANADA Only) | |
| C = 1982 Model Year (not have been used on rest or the world cars – CANADA Only) | |
| 9. Assembly plant: | T = Canley |
| A = Solihull | |
| 10. | Number 6 digits |
USA/Canada Solihull 1981/2 Year Cars
Solihull built American and Canadian specification TR8s and TR7s for 1981/82 carried another variation of the VIN system. These new VINs were introduced to comply with new American and Canadian chassis numbering regulations. They were in many respects similar to the European system except that a ‘Check Digit’ was now incorporated, which increased the length to 17 digits.