The IMSA GTO Championship produced some of the coolest racing machines of all time, and this incredible Triumph TR8 IMSA GTO was certainly one of them. One of just two cars ever made, it was the final production-based racer built by Bob Tullius’ Group 44 team, the official U.S. racing division of British Leyland. While Tullius and his crew would then go on to develop the Jaguar XJR5 GTP Prototype, this Triumph TR8 proved itself to be quite the competitor. Let’s take a closer look.
Finished in Group 44’s hallmark white and green livery, chassis 79-289 is packing some serious firepower within its compact frame. Under the bonnet is a 3.9-litre fuel-injected Rover V8, capable of producing an impressive 425 horsepower sent to the rear wheels via a close-ratio four-speed gearbox. While many of us associate Corvettes and Porsche RSRs most closely with the IMSA GTO series, during the 1979-1980 season this Triumph beat the lot of them thanks to its combination of lightness, torque, and exceptional balance.
Chassis 79-289’s on-track prowess was promptly put on show during its debut race at the 1979 Watkins Glen 6 Hours, where it won its class and finished 7th overall. Over the 1979–1980 IMSA GTO seasons, chassis 79-289 achieved eight class victories, with its sister car adding one more. Eventually this TR8 would finish second overall in the 1980 IMSA GTO Championship, while it would retire after another successful string of races in 1981 in remarkably original condition. After its competitive career, chassis 79-289 was retained by Group 44 until 2008 and has had just three caring private owners since.
Between 2019 and 2021, this TR8 was treated to a comprehensive restoration exceeding $250,000, including a bare-shell repaint and full overhaul of the engine and gearbox. Since then, it has taken to the track once more, performing flawlessly at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion and Velocity Invitational at Laguna Seca. Now you could experience the thrill of piloting this incredible Triumph thanks to Grand Prix Classics.
