Discussion
What a day, where do I start...
To my immense relief, everything went according to plan but not without a lot of stress! Cash handed over, documents in return; the car wears a private plate but it's been transferred off, so it should be D488 PHG. The Autocar magazine featured car from May '87.
The car was bought from the factory by Barry Zee; he was a race team manager/driver and subsequently raced/managed Tuscans. There's a youtube clip of Steve Cole driving (well... not actually driving!) one of his cars. Zee was a property developer and ran into cash flow problems, the guy I bought the car off basically took it as collateral for a loan so wasn't too interested in the car itself, hence the lay up. Apparently there were three wedges involved in the deal; a supercharged 350 (with the supercharger poking through the bonnet, flared body and Lamborghini rear end (don't shoot the messenger, it sounds far fetched to me too!)); and the press car 450SE (in red, 600 miles on it apparently - again don't shoot the messenger!). The supercharged car went back to Zee, not sure about the 450. The SEAC was on the road for a while, then laid up; then recommisioned when last taxed (1995); scared the owner s**tless in an incident on the A127 involving high speed and has been laid up since. It was re-MOTed in 2005 for the number plate transfer and appears to have been outside since. Two independent people have said it was running fine when it was laid up; the (now ex!) owner has insisted it will be easy to get going again...
The car was near West Horndon close to the A127 in Essex; I live in Billericay and work in Dagenham (Ford R+D); I like to drive across country rather than use the M25 and on one of my meanders along tiny roads I came across this...
It's a yard used by a car dealer and usually the car was blocked in and hidden by other cars; I was lucky one day to spot it when the rest of the yard was clear.
Finding the owner was surprisingly quite easy; persuading him to sell wasn't. He didn't need the money and knew he was sitting on a unique and very special car. Hence the stressful time for me!
Today... took two hiab drivers quite a while to extract it...
And bring it to my place...
Now I have a much better idea of what I'm up against; I have about 250 photos of the thing!! I feel lots of posting coming on...
To my immense relief, everything went according to plan but not without a lot of stress! Cash handed over, documents in return; the car wears a private plate but it's been transferred off, so it should be D488 PHG. The Autocar magazine featured car from May '87.
The car was bought from the factory by Barry Zee; he was a race team manager/driver and subsequently raced/managed Tuscans. There's a youtube clip of Steve Cole driving (well... not actually driving!) one of his cars. Zee was a property developer and ran into cash flow problems, the guy I bought the car off basically took it as collateral for a loan so wasn't too interested in the car itself, hence the lay up. Apparently there were three wedges involved in the deal; a supercharged 350 (with the supercharger poking through the bonnet, flared body and Lamborghini rear end (don't shoot the messenger, it sounds far fetched to me too!)); and the press car 450SE (in red, 600 miles on it apparently - again don't shoot the messenger!). The supercharged car went back to Zee, not sure about the 450. The SEAC was on the road for a while, then laid up; then recommisioned when last taxed (1995); scared the owner s**tless in an incident on the A127 involving high speed and has been laid up since. It was re-MOTed in 2005 for the number plate transfer and appears to have been outside since. Two independent people have said it was running fine when it was laid up; the (now ex!) owner has insisted it will be easy to get going again...
The car was near West Horndon close to the A127 in Essex; I live in Billericay and work in Dagenham (Ford R+D); I like to drive across country rather than use the M25 and on one of my meanders along tiny roads I came across this...
It's a yard used by a car dealer and usually the car was blocked in and hidden by other cars; I was lucky one day to spot it when the rest of the yard was clear.
Finding the owner was surprisingly quite easy; persuading him to sell wasn't. He didn't need the money and knew he was sitting on a unique and very special car. Hence the stressful time for me!
Today... took two hiab drivers quite a while to extract it...
And bring it to my place...
Now I have a much better idea of what I'm up against; I have about 250 photos of the thing!! I feel lots of posting coming on...
Edited by The Hatter on Sunday 20th March 20:33
Funstic!
Good to see it on its way to a brighter future too.
(Why dont you get yourself a photobucket account, they are free and you can then upload everything and let us all have a browse rather than the few choice nuggets that are making me itch for another project!)
Stu
ETA, just seen you have a thumbsnap account, D'oh
Good to see it on its way to a brighter future too.
(Why dont you get yourself a photobucket account, they are free and you can then upload everything and let us all have a browse rather than the few choice nuggets that are making me itch for another project!)
Stu
ETA, just seen you have a thumbsnap account, D'oh
Edited by hallsie on Sunday 20th March 19:57
Brilliant!
You must be excited and apprehensive in equal measure for what you have taken on! Although looks in pretty good shape!
I feel this is going to be one of the most popular threads on the TVR forums!
All the best with it and am looking forward to watching your progress!....and seeing it at Chatsworth 2012
You must be excited and apprehensive in equal measure for what you have taken on! Although looks in pretty good shape!
I feel this is going to be one of the most popular threads on the TVR forums!
All the best with it and am looking forward to watching your progress!....and seeing it at Chatsworth 2012
Saved..... Good man.
Look forward to this thread accelerating past the 'What's happening in your garage this weekend' thread.
Pat yourself on your back.
I remember my feelings after I bought my wedge, it was 'the' car I had been looking for for some time, but until you get it home........
Chris.
Look forward to this thread accelerating past the 'What's happening in your garage this weekend' thread.
Pat yourself on your back.
I remember my feelings after I bought my wedge, it was 'the' car I had been looking for for some time, but until you get it home........
Chris.
Im with Carob, you have found a great car to breath lift back into it.
Well done Hatter is securing the car.
Im sure all the stress you have gone through sofar will be worth it in the end.
As like every one else im looking forward to reading your reports on how you are getting on with it.
Cambelt
Well done Hatter is securing the car.
Im sure all the stress you have gone through sofar will be worth it in the end.
As like every one else im looking forward to reading your reports on how you are getting on with it.
Cambelt
The Hatter said:
Poly-V belt water pump/alternator drive (as the race car?)
Thats the same Poly V as on my 400se Very rare 
If you need a new belt let me know, I should have the details of where I got a replacement made up from.http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0...
Andy
Edited by AM400 on Sunday 20th March 21:32
hatter
Could this car have been built as a motor show car first, before being sold. There was a Pale Blue SEAC on the stand in 1986 (I know that dates me!), but in the 70's TVR often showed cars with chromed wishbones, etc specially for shows, so could this SS chassis have been done to create a sparkly show car. The dry sump would also fit in, as TVR often showed technology that never made it to the road cars. Just a thought?
davidy
Could this car have been built as a motor show car first, before being sold. There was a Pale Blue SEAC on the stand in 1986 (I know that dates me!), but in the 70's TVR often showed cars with chromed wishbones, etc specially for shows, so could this SS chassis have been done to create a sparkly show car. The dry sump would also fit in, as TVR often showed technology that never made it to the road cars. Just a thought?
davidy
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