Discussion
Let me introduce myself since I’m new to PH, my name is Rick and I live in Upstate NY. I want a toy and I am leaning heavily to the TVR Wedge. I see 280i’s for sale in the states but I don’t see any of the big brothers like the 350-450’s. Did they make the V8’s in left hand drive?
Thanks
Thanks
Check this out, http://www.britishv8.org/other/walterchippendale.h... It is Canada but close enough.
I'm cetainly not an expert in the TVR's production history, but did TVR not make ANY LHD V8 'wedge' versions for the European market? If they did, and if you could find one, then you would have to buy one made in 1987 or earlier to import it without any restrictions.
Is it possible to buy a US spec 280i and fit a US spec Range Rover V8? Yes, it would probably be a big and expensive job.
The V8's are just becoming old enough to start to be imported from the UK if you could handle a RHD version.
Is it possible to buy a US spec 280i and fit a US spec Range Rover V8? Yes, it would probably be a big and expensive job.
The V8's are just becoming old enough to start to be imported from the UK if you could handle a RHD version.
there are all sorts LHD V8 from those types...
350i = 897
350i coupe = 52
350i + 2 coupe = 6
390SE & 420SE = 103
400SE ?
420 SEAC = 37
450SE =
450 SEAC = 18
many of those came also in LHD
here a PH list of a lot mixed up, there's also a LHD 420 SEAC
and a few months ago there was a LHD 450SE for sale in the classifieds, a ex car from some Sultan
http://www.pistonheads.com/tvr/owners.asp
350i = 897
350i coupe = 52
350i + 2 coupe = 6
390SE & 420SE = 103
400SE ?
420 SEAC = 37
450SE =
450 SEAC = 18
many of those came also in LHD
here a PH list of a lot mixed up, there's also a LHD 420 SEAC
and a few months ago there was a LHD 450SE for sale in the classifieds, a ex car from some Sultan
http://www.pistonheads.com/tvr/owners.asp
Don't write off or worry too much about a RHD car in the US. I have 3! Admittedly I emigrated to the US from the UK 8 years ago and am used to a RHD car. Driving a RHD car isn't really that bad in the US, you get used to it. Have you driven a RHD car before? Maybe see if your area has a local British car club with a member with a RHD car and see if you can try it out? I didn't have any trouble titling or insuring my RHD cars.
bridgdav said:
There was a S for sale on EBay, V6, went for $18,000......!!!!!!
I watched that auction too, and it didn't meet the reserve. It is still for sale for $21,900. Another here if you want a red one: http://m.ooyyo.com/detail/tvr-s%20series-2.9-unite...At those prices a self-imported RHD is a much better prospect. As geeman says, you get used to it. Perhaps the least natural thing to most people is shifting with your left hand. Some are under the impression that the pedals are on opposite sides, but of course they aren't.
I've got an S coming to tide me over until the Griffith turns 25.
....."Some are under the impression that the pedals are on opposite sides, but of course they aren't."
Yes! I get that question a LOT when people get in my RHD cars, that, and is the shift pattern reversed too. Probably the biggest thing to adjust to is spacial awareness on the road, because you have a tendency to place the car too far to the left to stay away from the side of the road and sometimes drift a little too far to the centre of the road. That is what I have found when I have let American friends drive my RHD car. As for the shifting, they have got used to is after a few miles.
Yes! I get that question a LOT when people get in my RHD cars, that, and is the shift pattern reversed too. Probably the biggest thing to adjust to is spacial awareness on the road, because you have a tendency to place the car too far to the left to stay away from the side of the road and sometimes drift a little too far to the centre of the road. That is what I have found when I have let American friends drive my RHD car. As for the shifting, they have got used to is after a few miles.
Just had a thought on the wedge in Canada.... It is already EPA exempt due to being more than 21 yrs old, and since Canadian anti-theft and safety standards have been similar to the USA requirements for an age, maybe the car has an FMVSS conformance declaration somewhere on it? That would make it Ok as far as customs are concerned.
geeman237
I never tried a RHD although I spent some time on several occasions in the UK and road around in them. I was offered the opportunity to try once but refused out of fear. That's fear of the narrow county roads and of turning right or left into the wrong lane.
loach1
What car in Canada? Is it the one for that didn't sell on auction? If it is, its a little rich for my blood. I don't have UK kind of money. I would buy a project though.
I never tried a RHD although I spent some time on several occasions in the UK and road around in them. I was offered the opportunity to try once but refused out of fear. That's fear of the narrow county roads and of turning right or left into the wrong lane.
loach1
What car in Canada? Is it the one for that didn't sell on auction? If it is, its a little rich for my blood. I don't have UK kind of money. I would buy a project though.
I was referring to the V8 wedge that you mentioned:
There was a really tidy 280i here in Durham NC for around $9k IIRC, advertised on Craigslist and eBay. Not sure if it eventually sold or not...
For me, the S Series is the one to have. They were imported in very small numbers to Canada, and obviously a couple have made their way to the States. I can't afford to buy either of the two that I have seen, so a good compromise was to find the best available 25 year old one and ship it over from the UK. It isn't the easiest thing to do, but with the help of a top notch seller in the UK, it all went quite well.
There is a tidy(ish) '87 here: http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C314267 . Add another $2000 to get it to your door....
David
tvr106 said:
Check this out, http://www.britishv8.org/other/walterchippendale.h... It is Canada but close enough.
It might have been made to meet FMVSS, check for a label on the driver's door shut panel. If so, it is an easy import.There was a really tidy 280i here in Durham NC for around $9k IIRC, advertised on Craigslist and eBay. Not sure if it eventually sold or not...
For me, the S Series is the one to have. They were imported in very small numbers to Canada, and obviously a couple have made their way to the States. I can't afford to buy either of the two that I have seen, so a good compromise was to find the best available 25 year old one and ship it over from the UK. It isn't the easiest thing to do, but with the help of a top notch seller in the UK, it all went quite well.
There is a tidy(ish) '87 here: http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C314267 . Add another $2000 to get it to your door....
David
Loach1 said:
Just had a thought on the wedge in Canada.... It is already EPA exempt due to being more than 21 yrs old, and since Canadian anti-theft and safety standards have been similar to the USA requirements for an age, maybe the car has an FMVSS conformance declaration somewhere on it? That would make it Ok as far as customs are concerned.
There's a very good chance that it would be admissible to the US, the only caveat that I would be worried about would be passive restrains, which I think are required on 89+ vehicles (which is why 89-92 XJ40s had those awful motorized seatbelts).LHD RHD is ok with decent mirrors.
Unfortunately Wedge mirrors aren't great (or mine aren't
)
I used to do Marble Arch in a LHD with out any problems.
Where in the NE are you, I know you want an S, if you decide to settle for a Wedge I'm in the Southern bit of NJ and I seldom drive mine. Wife would love to see it gone.
Black with 390 front, needs respray, dark red interior in fair to good condition.
I was intending to get it resprayed drive it for a while and sell it in the late Spring.
PIC to tempt you
Unfortunately Wedge mirrors aren't great (or mine aren't
)I used to do Marble Arch in a LHD with out any problems.
Where in the NE are you, I know you want an S, if you decide to settle for a Wedge I'm in the Southern bit of NJ and I seldom drive mine. Wife would love to see it gone.
Black with 390 front, needs respray, dark red interior in fair to good condition.
I was intending to get it resprayed drive it for a while and sell it in the late Spring.
PIC to tempt you
JeffM2
Lets talk I sent you an email
SoCalled
What is that? Is that a custom 280i? I've read that they made the frames for the V8 Wedges wider to handle the engine and this made it handle significantly better. In the case of a 280 with a V8 squeezed in it I wonder how it would handle.
Loach1
No price on that 450SE, care to guess?
Lets talk I sent you an email
SoCalled
What is that? Is that a custom 280i? I've read that they made the frames for the V8 Wedges wider to handle the engine and this made it handle significantly better. In the case of a 280 with a V8 squeezed in it I wonder how it would handle.
Loach1
No price on that 450SE, care to guess?
tvr106 said:
Loach1
No price on that 450SE, care to guess?
It doesn't look like its for sale, and I'm not very familiar with prices in Canada. I would guess $15K....No price on that 450SE, care to guess?
Probably not what you are after, but have you noticed the two 2500M's on eBay? The one in Atlanta has potential, but the asking price is a bit much IMO.
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