LHD 3000S Survivors?
Discussion
Hayduke said:
I had LHD 4928FM for a few years before it left for Ontario. Last I knew it was for sale in British Columbia. It too had a DG hardtop - which never fit well and was separated from the car by its subsequent owner. I think there were more than 1 set of factory molds for the 3000S with varying degrees of Left-Right symmetry. 4928FM clearly wasn't made from the same molds as the car for which DG made the hardtops.
Sweet Looking Car Drew.. but I bet your 420 helps you with the loss... ? Mine is finally in my big garage instead of carport storage... the downside is there is no driveway to take it in and out! My hardtop is covered and still in white sitting on top of the regular top. I hope it fits when I get around to trying it! Being the one just in front of your old one has me a bit worried...
Gentleman, thank you for the additional information. I have sent information requests to all of the major TVR club organizations worldwide. So far over half have responded and very positively. What I am missing and need, is the factory build data, frame numbers, build dates of the LHD 3000s builds. I have sent a query to Richard Sails, but who actually has the old TVR factory records in which to ask for the information and make the formal requests???? I think I should have at least 40 cars from all sources, maybe a couple more. I would also like to identify the four original LHD units that were converted to RHD units and sold in the UK. But, I also need to be able to identify any RHD units that were converted to LHD units as well. Thank you and any additional information or sources are more than welcome.
John,
Regarding the LHD to RHD of the 'customs' consignment; one of the old boys at Surface & Design at Blackpool (paint-shop, still next to the former premises of TVR) has worked on/converted the cars, but not sure if he knows any c/n ? Worth a try...
One guy, luc3000S on here, has a RHD to LHD conversion...
Frank
Regarding the LHD to RHD of the 'customs' consignment; one of the old boys at Surface & Design at Blackpool (paint-shop, still next to the former premises of TVR) has worked on/converted the cars, but not sure if he knows any c/n ? Worth a try...
One guy, luc3000S on here, has a RHD to LHD conversion...
Frank
USTVRDUDE said:
My hardtop is covered and still in white sitting on top of the regular top. I hope it fits when I get around to trying it! Being the one just in front of your old one has me a bit worried...
There's another red LHD 3000S (4458FM) that was restored beautifully at Zappa Racing (www.zapparacing.com) a few years back. I recall seeing an extensive photo gallery of them cutting and re-building sections of the black hardtop in order to get a nice fit. It was relatively major surgery on the hardtop - the gap between the trailing edge of the LH side curtain and the hardtop was large. You can see the misalignment in the pic above. The later mods made it an excellent fit.Apparently it wasn't a good fit for the earlier car either.
I'm certain it was the same hardtop that had been on my car. That top had been an ebay find from another US 3000S owner, whom I don't think had mistreated it. Searching quickly today, I can't find that photo gallery online, but if you find that you have the same fit issues maybe they have some pointers...
And Yes, the SEAC takes some of the sting away from letting go of the 3000S
I also bought a new hardtop from DG. They were making a batch to go to the US about 16 - 17 years ago. Although it appeared well made, it did not fit either of two 3000s I owned at the time very well (about a 20mm gap at the B pillar). DG were very decent about it and took it back.
About a year later, I was at DG's in Inkberrow, and Doug offered me a factory hardtop which had come in. This fitted both cars really well and I still have it today.
Jim
About a year later, I was at DG's in Inkberrow, and Doug offered me a factory hardtop which had come in. This fitted both cars really well and I still have it today.
Jim
SquashedCat said:
Hi GTRene,
Thank you, for the information. Last I had checked the website, three models were for sale. I have sent requests to the car dealer with the Turbo, but have not heard back about the frame number. I did hear from the one dealer who has the gold/sand colored model and he gave me the frame number. I also contacted the person with the black model, but no reply. I will have to check out the website to see about the fourth model. Thank you.
So this one is up for sale again (August 2017) and has a photo of the tag. Chassis 4697 FM, an original Turbo converted to SE spec by David Gerald in 1984 - posting here for the 'record'Thank you, for the information. Last I had checked the website, three models were for sale. I have sent requests to the car dealer with the Turbo, but have not heard back about the frame number. I did hear from the one dealer who has the gold/sand colored model and he gave me the frame number. I also contacted the person with the black model, but no reply. I will have to check out the website to see about the fourth model. Thank you.
Another LHD 3000S for sale on Hemmings Jan 2018: 4514FM
Looks pretty original except for wheels, no pictures of side curtains.
https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/dealer/tvr/30...
Looks pretty original except for wheels, no pictures of side curtains.
https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/dealer/tvr/30...
I came across this 1978 3000S in a garage in Tennessee. It has cracked windscreen, and is not stored in the best of conditions, but in pretty good shape. This car is pretty much off the radar and has not be driven in several years. Unfortunately, the owner doesn't seem motivated to sell or restore. Shame.
From the US National Archives, I got a copy of the full case file concerning the seizure of the 28 non-compliant cars in May 1980. I've updated the M Series article on Wikipedia with the chassis number list:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TVR_M_series#Import_...
The case file is available here:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:USA_v_Pier...
According to the file, 18 of the cars were re-exported (and ultimately sold in UK / Europe, I believe). The remaining 10 cars were allowed to stay in the US -- they had already been delivered to a third party and the government made "an institutional decision" not to seize them.
My car (4964FM) is one of the ten. I found a few more of the cars listed in this registry: http://tvrpre80s.de/
Does anyone see any chassis numbers in the list that are 3000M or Taimar? My understanding was that they were all 3000S, and the court documents never mention any other model.
--Colin
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TVR_M_series#Import_...
The case file is available here:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:USA_v_Pier...
According to the file, 18 of the cars were re-exported (and ultimately sold in UK / Europe, I believe). The remaining 10 cars were allowed to stay in the US -- they had already been delivered to a third party and the government made "an institutional decision" not to seize them.
My car (4964FM) is one of the ten. I found a few more of the cars listed in this registry: http://tvrpre80s.de/
Does anyone see any chassis numbers in the list that are 3000M or Taimar? My understanding was that they were all 3000S, and the court documents never mention any other model.
--Colin
on the moment there is 1 for sale in Germany. looks in a very good state, see pictures>
https://suchen.mobile.de/fahrzeuge/details.html?id...
https://suchen.mobile.de/fahrzeuge/details.html?id...
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