Hybrid ab initio calculations (GIAO/B3LYP/6-31G*) together with new DNMR experiments (1H and 13C) have been used to clarify the problem of the conformation of 5,6,11,12-tetrahydrodibenzo[a,e]cyclooctene. The carbon-13 chemical shifts have been assigned unambiguously to the chair C and twist-boat TB conformations. Lineshape analysis of the 1H NMR spectra has been carried out at several temperatures using an estimated set of Karplus-type vicinal coupling constants.