Looking for first TVR

Looking for first TVR

Author
Discussion

Tv8r

Original Poster:

3 posts

125 months

Wednesday 16th April 2014
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Hi All,

Hello all, have been reading the forum from time to time and like the tone. I am looking for my first TVR and a restorable 350 would be ideal. I'm not looking for anything pretty as I intend to use the car even when it rains and attend a few track days. I would prefer something standard i.e. unmodified. I am on a limited budget too

Anything out there?

mrzigazaga

18,534 posts

164 months

Wednesday 16th April 2014
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Hi Mate...Welcome to the mad world of Wedges...Depending on your budget you can either buy something that has been sat about for years and spend most of your time banging your head against a wall or be lucky and buy something that has not been used everyday..More a weekend toy and has been fettled on a regular basis...If you plan to use it every day then expect gremlins to appear, Although these cars do need driving every day...I drive mine every day i can and some parts have failed but then they were probably the original parts..So..Hey ho...

There is a nice green 350i on the Classifieds at the moment, Its been there for a while and is up in Scotland...(A fair trot) but don't let it put you off..It has a nice write up and maybe the guy will be able to negotiate on price a little...It looks a good original car which will need sometime to fettle it..Hope this helps...Cheers...Ziga

cerberatony

417 posts

183 months

Wednesday 16th April 2014
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mine is on the bay taxed and tested and very usable plus no injection but has a carb set up so easy to work on. price can be talked about if you come and view and i will take you for a wheel spinning side ways drive.

MethylatedSpirit

1,893 posts

135 months

Wednesday 16th April 2014
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mrzigazaga said:
There is a nice green 350i on the Classifieds at the moment, Its been there for a while and is up in Scotland...(A fair trot) but don't let it put you off..It has a nice write up and maybe the guy will be able to negotiate on price a little...It looks a good original car which will need sometime to fettle it..Hope this helps...Cheers...Ziga
Been to see that one, drop a PM if you want more info.

wooly350i

2,248 posts

207 months

Thursday 17th April 2014
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A 2.8 might well be available , still ploughing through jobs on her and still driving too, can't keepthe boy out of her long enough to sorn. Another £160 just spent on bushes and uj's, got a Lurvly 5 speed box and sounds like a heard of machine guns, wonder if she could be exported to Afghanistan as a Taliban runaround.

mrzigazaga

18,534 posts

164 months

Thursday 17th April 2014
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wooly350i said:
A 2.8 might well be available , still ploughing through jobs on her and still driving too, can't keepthe boy out of her long enough to sorn. Another £160 just spent on bushes and uj's, got a Lurvly 5 speed box and sounds like a heard of machine guns, wonder if she could be exported to Afghanistan as a Taliban runaround.
Well this is fact...I was on my way to the ACE cafe one night and while i was driving through Shyteville i lay off the loud pedal and she popped and banged like an AK on full chat, There were a small group of hoodies near a bus stop..One of them hit the floor and then stood up brushing himself off and the rest of them laughing at him...Nice one Delilah....shoot..hehe....

Tv8r

Original Poster:

3 posts

125 months

Thursday 17th April 2014
quotequote all
Hi Thanks for the replies and the welcome. Being, eherrm, an older enthusiast I am looking for a standard unmodified car (could be 280) and on my budget I expect it to need some work. Half of the appeal is driving and half in keeping it roadworthy and fettled. Having owned and lost money on rubbish examples of most of Britain's finest? over the years (MGBs, Triumphs) I am up for the TVR challenge. I am lucky enough to have another car for daily driving so I dont have to rely on the TVR (which means it will never break down!)

My budget is only £2500 to leave some money for polish and a sticker of "The 'ring".

Looking forward to a few trackdays as you guys seem quite active in that


barrington

1,316 posts

230 months

Thursday 17th April 2014
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there is a really nice white coupe on the classifieds would make a nice first tvr I think its in kent

hallsie

2,184 posts

219 months

Thursday 17th April 2014
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The white FHC 2+2 in the classifieds is a must see then.

Rare and pretty, and in unmolested condition too!

Stu

Tv8r

Original Poster:

3 posts

125 months

Thursday 17th April 2014
quotequote all
hallsie said:
The white FHC 2+2 in the classifieds is a must see then.

Rare and pretty, and in unmolested condition too!

Stu
And sold ! I am trying to see a 350 with short MOT and on sorn in my price range but it's 3 hours away (I'm in the South East). Alternatively I have seen a s280 quite a bit missing but could be the answer at least strip down would be quick!,

superwedge

1,286 posts

147 months

Thursday 17th April 2014
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must be a v8earsits great,

voltage_maxx

368 posts

208 months

Thursday 17th April 2014
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If you're looking for a car to drive straight away, DO NOT buy one which has been stood a long time.
Getting one of these cars to a good state of mechanical tune can be quite a challenge, as they're much, much more complicated than something like an MGB or a Spitfire.

The restoration route (the path I chose) can be very fulfilling, and it's a cheap way into the cars.
Be prepared to wait around two years though until you have a reliable, running car.

These cars are usually laid up for a reason. As I've found out with mine, it was a cylinder head gasket!

mrzigazaga

18,534 posts

164 months

Thursday 17th April 2014
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All i can say is that if Delilah..My old 280i comes up for sale..(Wooly)..Then she is a reliable car as i used to use her everyday..The engine in there at the moment is a good strong engine that has no issues..No smoke or leaking..Apparently the suspension has gone west but she is a 31 year old car..That can be sorted for less than £500.
Not sure why she has had to have new UJ's as they were new less than a year ago and were the hardy spicer ones..She could do with a new hood and a re-trim but that will not cost a fortune if you are capable of doing the carpet yourself..The seats are Nissan NSX as the original ones were lets say.."Holy"...
And if you want more power then i still have the Sprintex supercharger kit that will bolt straight on with all the brackets..Pulley's..Pipework..She already has an upgraded alloy rad and a twin boost turbo fan..There are also new components on her that were unobtainable that i managed to obtain..She is good for 120mph without the blower..(Private runway officer, Honest)...
This is what she looked like when i had her...




(Still miss you D..frown..But don't tell Poppy)