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LOC238X
(55k miles – new UK 140mph Speedo fitted at 52k) History This car is a very rare European spec TR8 (only 39 built in 1981) all of these cars are based on a 49 state spec TR8 (basic federal variant without AC as standard) and all were supplied to either US/CAN service personnel or Diplomats entitled to tax free cars based in Europe. All of these cars were supplied with the catalytic converters packed up in boxes in the boot ready for installation on the owners return to the USA/Canada (along with a set of LHD lights for those supplied to UK based) and the engines were setup to run on leaded fuel as no unleaded fuel was available in Europe at that time. All of these cars were exported / registered by, Rover Hire Ltd, Lillie Hall, Seagrove Road, London, SW6. All were given a LOC???X registration number as a temporary DVLC (form VX1) skeletal record prior to their departure from the UK – as you can be see from this TR8 some still carry the original number largely because current/previous owners either bought the car from a USA/Canadian service person before they went back home or the UK plates were still with the car and the owner was able to apply for a conversion of skeleton vehicle record to full record (DVLC form VX2) which was what was done in this cars case. In some cases cars have been brought back from the states without the new owner knowing the car had a previous UK registration number thus they now have different registration numbers. Because these were all personal exports, type approval wasn’t required so some of these cars have very late experimental parts (which were used up at the end of production) – this TR8 LOC238X has a 35DM (35DE is the standard) distributor with the coil fitted to inner wing as well as a much later type alternator and wiring loom setup. Both the ignition setup and alternator first came out on 1982 SD1’s so it may be assumed they would have been used on TR8’s had they remained in production. Engine The engine fitted to this car is a rare EFi engine used only on Californian spec TR8’s in 1980 and earlier with a power output of 137bhp and then on all 1981 TR8’s when it had a few modifications taking the power output up to 148bhp for the 1981 TR8’s which when you consider the amount of emissions equipment fitted is quite a feat. The engine number series for the EFi engines goes up to 14E00790 so it can reasonable be assumed providing that all the numbers were used that there were no more than 790 Efi TR8’s built. The ECU is fitted in a small grey box located inside the car under the glove box. EFi system used is a Bosch L-jetronic system adapted by Lucas for the TR8 and SD1. Engine number on this car is 14E00760 so you can see it is only 30 from the end. Trim The trim used in the car is the very rare velour trim that came in either blue or tan; approximately 814 cars were fitted with this trim roughly half tan half blue. 1980 Canadian Spec
TR7 and TR8’s (optional extra) = 250 I have been very lucky in being able to source perhaps the last complete brand new blue velour interior in the world this has taken close to 4 years to achieve. Note the strong blue colour compared to other cars fitted with this trim that have now faded in the sun to an almost grey colour. |
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