Advice on this Tuscan for sale?

[r200mgr]

Hi guys,

I've been on the hunt for a new project. I'm looking for something I can enjoy at weekends, work on to improve my mechanical skills/knowledge and unlikely to go down in value. Having recently missed out on a s1 elise I've started to look at TVR's and come across this one:-

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/used-cars/tvr/tuscan/u...

My knowledge on TVR's is very limited but I'm fairly certain that although it's cheap it has huge potential to be a money pit assuming it may well need an engine rebuild. I'd really appreciate any advice regarding common problems, things to look out for etc.

Thanks in advance

[ChazUwe]

Could be a bargain, more likely a money pit. Early Tuscan so probably want to get an engine rebuild done £5-6kish, if engine out probably make sense to also put new clutch and slave cylinder in £1k. Also have to ask why the guy is not MOT ing it for sale..... I would be checking the chassis very closely for rust as this could explain why no mot. Also not sure how much a new targa top would be or how readily available they are. Think you would want to get it very cheap and perhaps do complete rebuild from the chassis up. Or spend 5k more for a better example from the offset.

[Cats]

Looks clean enough but how do you lose a targa top? Seems suspicious. It's not an S but if you could get it for £10 k or less it has to be worth a punt.
Unusual for a Tuscan chassis to have rust unless it's been parked by the ocean.
If it hasn't got a roof it must have been stored under cover or a cover - Shirley

Edited by Cats on Thursday 3rd September 17:30

[330p4]

Just a word of caution with the roof they come up cheap on ebay but we tried my 2002 roof in a friends 2000 car not a chance it was a mile out not sure how much difference ther is car to car of a similar age ?
Ian

[mk1fan]

I was chatting to the guy who makes the Surrey Roof and the reason he doesn't do one for the Tuscan is that there are three different targas.

[nrick]

The early cars had roofs with side bits glued on 3 parts, the later ones had a single construction. The convertible is completely different again.

I would imagine that any roof would have to be painted and therefore could be made to fit?

I would imagine the car was in a covered garage, the roof taken off if the battery went flat and then got lost, could be an owner who has passed on to the great empty A roads in the sky.

[matt-man]

Ah, crystal topaz. The fast ones are that colour

I would be taking look if I was in the market. You will know quickly if its worth a punt!

At worst, engine blows and you repair it....