I agree, a lot of 8000 sets were looking a bit cooked with tubes past their best by the early 1980s. My mate Mick has one in his collection but I don't know what it's like though.
The 8500 was much better. I have two in my collection one of which has been family owned from new. I can't say it's never had the back off though...
At least when the 8000s were fairly new they gave reasonable pictures. Other 18" sets were not as good. Pye CT200 ? The one with the picture size control on the front labelled "Brightness"
