My first Theoben...

[Shed tuner]

98 is nowhere near as nice as an 88
But if you must get one, get the longer barreled variant...

[GSMN1]

I have a few early Theobens... they were fabulous. I have GP's pre HE and HE and prefer pre HE. But the carbine HE with the shorter barrel and longer slim moderator, looks slightly better IMHO. The Pre HE just seem smoother to use. I love how they both shoot and look you wobt be dissapointed if you get one. However, the daddy of all the Theoben Gas Rams for me, is the SLR88 Imperator Grand Prix HE, to give it its full title, my favourite Gas Ram / Springer. The SLR98 is not favourably comparable to the SLR88, altbough it is still a lovely rifle.

The SLR88 imperator Grand Prix HE, is a deserving title for a king to wear!!! So I’m reading my own scoring into it but if the 88 were a 10 in the Theoben scale of pleasure and performance. The. A long barrelled 98 could be a steady 7 and perhaps an 8. I believe there was a huge degree of hand finish on the 88 which was reflected in cost and build and which was latterly ‘machined’ out in the98 in pursuit of a more commercially viable model. Now, Looks like Ive got to find me one of the two aforementioned. One of you gents did contact me at the tail end of last year but I have lost all contact records in an IT cock up of meteoric proportions.

[Duggan]

Dont forget about getting a Grand Prix they are easier to come by than the SLR GP and stunning rifles in their own right. If you want to pm me your details, I'll send you some photos.

[GSMN1]

Is this the Grand Prix? (All be it an FAC version)
https://www.gunstar.co.uk/theoben-22...ir-Guns/906554

[Shed tuner]

Is this the Grand Prix? (All be it an FAC version)
https://www.gunstar.co.uk/theoben-22...ir-Guns/906554

looks like it to me

[GSMN1]

looks like it to me

was the Grand Prix always a thumbhole stock. Found these ads in a rummage through some old airgun worlds when I was trying to compile a bit of research.
https://imgur.com/gallery/KPEyE

Interestingly there seems to have been an SLR imperator Grand Prix which was a thumbhole variant too.

[JerryD]

The SLR88 imperator Grand Prix HE, is a deserving title for a king to wear!!! So I’m reading my own scoring into it but if the 88 were a 10 in the Theoben scale of pleasure and performance. The. A long barrelled 98 could be a steady 7 and perhaps an 8. I believe there was a huge degree of hand finish on the 88 which was reflected in cost and build and which was latterly ‘machined’ out in the98 in pursuit of a more commercially viable model. Now, Looks like Ive got to find me one of the two aforementioned. One of you gents did contact me at the tail end of last year but I have lost all contact records in an IT cock up of meteoric proportions.

You mean one of these?

https://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/23593925

[guy]

You mean one of these?

https://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/23593925

There was also the .22 Grand Prix version which had a Grand Prix style stock not the just FT one in the target style stock, also x2 types of the Ft exist, non H.E and H.E. Versions

[GSMN1]

You mean one of these?

https://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/23593925

very nice sir.

[GSMN1]

Thanks to all for the info. I was digging out some old threads to build my repository of info. Discovered that I need to get a hold of Airgun world February 89 for the article on the SLR88 imperator Grand Prix FT! If anyone has an image or copy they would be happy to sell, please pm me. Meantime whilst going through my older AW mags I discovered these articles in the sirocco from ‘82 and ‘83. Thought some of you might enjoy. https://imgur.com/gallery/UlB3F