The Fixed Head Coupe (FHC) TR8 variants are the rarest of the TR8 models, with approximately 155 TCN-designated cars believed to have been produced during 1979–1980.
The letter reproduced below outlines what Austin Rover understood the overall production figures to be. However, it does not separate TCN production by individual years, instead grouping all such cars under 1980. Elsewhere on the ACN page, correspondence relating to the ACN cars quotes a total FHC production figure of 410 vehicles. If approximately 150 ACN cars were built, this would imply a further 260 TCN cars and or there were more ACN cars.
Contemporary documentation from the period is inconsistent and, in some cases, contradictory. As a result, it is likely that total FHC TR8 production was in the region of 400 cars, although the precise split between ACN and TCN designations may never be established with certainty.
FHC TR8 TCN
RED designates TR8 chassis identifier. Chassis number doesn’t lie, owners may beware!
TR8 FHC – prefix (TCN)
| Chassis | |
|---|---|
| 1: Assembly: | T = Canley |
| 2: Model range: | C = TR7/8 |
| 3: Specification: | N = TR8 FHC |
| 4: Number: | 012345 etc = number in series |
| 5: Suffix: | U = North American |
| 6: Suffix: | F = 5 speed gearbox |
| 7: Suffix: | A = Automatic gearbox |
| 8: Suffix | L = the other left-hand drive cars |
| 9: Suffix: | C = exhaust control is fitted |
| 10:Suffix: | M = Canadian specification |
TCN 150001 to 150198 (78 model year)
TCN 160001 to 160142 (79 model year)
Note It is likely that some or all of these numbers were not used.