LHD 3000S Survivors?

LHD 3000S Survivors?

Author
Discussion

USTVRDUDE

114 posts

276 months

Thursday 14th April 2016
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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... ? rolleyes

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... smash


SquashedCat

Original Poster:

125 posts

105 months

Thursday 14th April 2016
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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.

bluezeeland

1,965 posts

158 months

Thursday 14th April 2016
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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

SquashedCat

Original Poster:

125 posts

105 months

Thursday 14th April 2016
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Frank, thank you, its worth following up.

Hayduke

98 posts

283 months

Tuesday 19th April 2016
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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 smile

jim3000s

141 posts

207 months

Sunday 15th May 2016
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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

Hayduke

98 posts

283 months

Monday 16th May 2016
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I just today spoke to a gentleman who owns 4380FM. It's alive in Maine, waiting its turn at restoration along with a few other TVRs. The Owner prefers not to have his info plastered all over the internet smile

SquashedCat

Original Poster:

125 posts

105 months

Thursday 9th June 2016
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Hayduke, thank you, and thank your friend, the information is much appreciated. Sorry, for the slow response, have not logged on in while.

Hayduke

98 posts

283 months

Tuesday 22nd August 2017
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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'

Hayduke

98 posts

283 months

Thursday 21st September 2017
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I found another LHD 3000S, S/N 4390FM, in an online sales listing. It's white, black interior, red TVR decal on side. Looks in good condition from limited pictures. In Englewood, NJ USA. I can't tell if the listing is new or ancient, but this S/N isn't on the German site either.

Hayduke

98 posts

283 months

Thursday 11th January 2018
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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...


Hayduke

98 posts

283 months

Tuesday 23rd July 2019
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Found another LHD 3000S for sale on Hemmings today. It’s at F40 Motorsports in Connecticut- which is Wayne Carini’s business.

S/N 4586FM, advertised at $45,500
(Didn’t read whole thread again to see it it was mentioned... but didn’t see a picture)


SquashedCat

Original Poster:

125 posts

105 months

Tuesday 23rd July 2019
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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.

cmb

103 posts

174 months

Wednesday 29th March 2023
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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

GTRene

16,376 posts

223 months

Wednesday 29th March 2023
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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...