350i with 400SE dash

[jim3000s]

I owned a 350i which was built with a 400SE dash many years ago, (it was just nine months old when I bought it). It was Ash Green with doeskin and a grey hood, originally registered F150 TWP. Anyone know if it's still around?

Jim

[Fellwalker]

Hi Jim,I bought this car in 1998 with GUI 1566 on the number plate and a brown roof and still own it. It has had several owners and been up and down the country. I bought it from a chap in Edinburgh

Edited by Fellwalker on Tuesday 29th July 20:34

[jim3000s]

Hi,
Thanks for getting back to me.
Glad to hear the car is still around. I bought it from the original owner in late '89 with only 1100 miles on it. I traded it in for a new S3C in July '91. The last time I saw the car, it had a TVR shaped vent on the bonnet.
They also built another 350i with the earlier SEAC dash (four clocks along the top, but not angled towards the driver), also in Ash green.

Best regards,
Jim

[mrzigazaga]

jim3000s said:

They also built another 350i with the earlier SEAC dash (four clocks along the top, but not angled towards the driver), also in Ash green.

Thats interesting as the guy that owns it now was wondering if it was built that way...(Hope you see this Keith)..I'm sure it will be pleasing to know...Cheers...Ziga

[KKson]

Hi, sorry for slow response but I've been away the week in Devon and just got back, and there's bugger all mobile signal there. Good to get a little more info on my Wedge which does indeed have the 4 clock early SEAC dash. I have been in touch with the TVR-CC archivist who says he'll check records to see if he can also add further info as to who ordered it with the none standard dash.

Cheers Keith

[jim3000s]

Hi Keith,
I saw a 350i in Ash Green at the factory in the summer of '92. At first I thought it was my old car, then I noticed the slightly different SEAC dash and tan interior.
I mentioned this to Dorothy Curiton who was showing us around, and she said, "Oh, I thought we just made one of those!".
My (old) car was ordered new by a Mr Vic Sutton who lived near Birmingham, he had seen a 400SE at the 1988 Motor Show and ordered his 350i with the 400 dash. From the build sheet / invoice for the car he paid £500 for this option, which doesn't seem bad considering what TVR liked to charge for options.

Best regards,
Jim

[KKson]

Hi Jim, not sure if it is the same car? It is ash green with a tan interior. The first owner of my Wedge certainly lived local to the factory and it was factory serviced until November 1991 (35,654 miles on the clock). The next two years it was still local but serviced at a private garage up the road from Blackpool at Hambleton. In 1994 it moved South to Shropshire. The engine bay bulk head is plumbed for the 400 heater (i.e. hoses are opposite side of engine bay from a standard 350i) and there does not appear to have been any botches or mods so it certainly looks as if it was that way from the start. Hopefully the archivist can shed some light on its early owner history and option cost. Cheers Keith

[Fellwalker]

Hi Jim and Keith, i have the correct car with the TVR vent in the bonnet and have the paperwork showing the original number plate. I think this was one of the last wedges made and i think you must have been able to change the spec, hence the 400 dash.

Edited by Fellwalker on Sunday 3rd August 22:14

Edited by Fellwalker on Sunday 3rd August 22:25

[Fellwalker]

[KKson]

Obviously there's a few about then. Is mine the only one with the 4 clock dash?

My chassis number and registration number (F265 DHG) have never changed from new and the SEAC style dash appears to be original. I've the full service history and a stack of receipts of all work done but no reference to a dashboard change. I think mine must also have been a customer option on purchase. If I find out any further info I'll let you know.

[jim3000s]

Thanks Fellwalker,
Good to see photos of my old 350.
I think the chances are, that these are the only two. As far as I can gather, they were both factory special orders. Maybe someone on here can tell us differently.

Cheers,
Jim

[Wedg1e]

Just to mix it up a bit, the very last 280i's also used the 400SE-style dash but with the Granada Mk3 steering column instead of the SD1 variety shown above... though I can't recall if the one that used to be local to me had the 'flat' or 'angled' style of that dash. Was the flat style not as used on the SEACs, the angled one was introduced on the 400?

[KKson]

Just a add a bit more confusion, there's a company advertising on ebay for retrim and their main advert shows a 4 clock SEAC style dash board. Any one know who's car it is? Company is L&S Veneering in Crewe.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...