I've just got my first TVR

I've just got my first TVR

Author
Discussion

robstan

Original Poster:

118 posts

204 months

Friday 4th May 2007
quotequote all
Hi

I've recently purchased a 1600M, which is a large departure from my prevouis toy, an Austin Healey Sprite.

I must say that dispite it's problems I am loveing the car already! But the without things like haynes manuals and spare parts in every corner of every small town I can see the restoration of this car being a completly different task!

I've found websites like tvr.m-fix and davidgerald, and now this forum too, but is there any where else I should be looking? Is there any thing I should know before starting to right some of the wrongs to my car?

Any advice would be great.

Cheers
Rob

obiwonkeyblokey

5,399 posts

241 months

Friday 4th May 2007
quotequote all
HI Rob,

Welcome, you should also join the car club, there is a wealth of information there.

www.tvr-car-club.co.uk/

Owen

heightswitch

6,318 posts

251 months

Friday 4th May 2007
quotequote all
Hello Rob.
you live in the right part of the country.

Firstly. have you joined the club?

secondly have a look at

www.tvrwestlancs.co.uk

Also do a Google for Adrian venn at Exactly TVR. plus Steve Reid

Your car doesn't look like it needs much to me? Also it is nice to see an early M car looking so nice.

Most of the oily bits are ford or triumph so it is still very easy to get the bits. Some of the Specific triumph stuff you can also go to TR Bitz in warrington.

Would be nice to see your car at Tatton.

Give Paul a shout at the Manchester Branch of the TVR car Club.

Neil.

robstan

Original Poster:

118 posts

204 months

Friday 4th May 2007
quotequote all
It doesn't need loads but I don't have the room for a complete basket case.

The electrics are comical, rev counter isn't playing any kind of game, there are some minor cracks around the paint work, the interior is tatty and there is a funny noise, kind of at the back end, thought it might be the exhaust against the body but it isn't.

I'm hoping to sort the main things out over the next few weeks (like the carb and the strong smell of petrol) and than I should get some miles covered this summer, then strip the rest down over the winter.

I've not joined the club, I know I've just missed the burnley meet last night (according to the website) but the phone number published is wrong. Hopefully by next month I'll be able to catch them.

Rob

oliverb205

705 posts

227 months

Friday 4th May 2007
quotequote all
Hi Rob,

It is a great looking car, I think it used to belong to a lad from Lincolnshire 10 or so years ago. I remember seeing it at Cadwell Park a couple of times.
I don't think the Burnley meetings are still going, Stuart ended up with lots of other things to do and attendance was dropping off, but if you look up SB Metals in the local phone book you should be able to contact him. If the meetings are still going let me know and I'll give the S turbo a blast over the moors.
I worked in Burnley for several years and was trying to work out where you live from the photos. Looks like the Reedley end of town. My Dad ran the Esso site next to the hospital on Casterton Avenue, you may well remember seeing my orange Vixen S2 there. we still take my S and his Morgan +8 over to Vale Garage for MOT, Geoff is nicely sympathetic to older cars.

Oliver.

robstan

Original Poster:

118 posts

204 months

Friday 4th May 2007
quotequote all
Oliver

I've only been in Burnley about a year now, I was over in Rawtenstall prior to that. The only old TVR I can remember seeing is a Vixen in Ramsbottom last year, an s1 I think, but I that was an olive colour if memory serves. I'm at the Towneley end of town.

Anyway, thanks for the info. I'll try to get to the next set of meetings. By then I should of over come the main issues and be happily motoring.

Rob

oliverb205

705 posts

227 months

Saturday 5th May 2007
quotequote all
Rob,

There was a guy over that way who was rebuilding a Vixen S1, can't remember his name though. If you are about on Monday evening it is the Yorks and Humberside meeting at Esholt, near Shipley. It is not too far a run out via Colne and Cowling, and we usually get a good turn out of pre-Tasmins. We are hoping for our first Grantura this month.

Cheers,

Oliver.

sbr3000

2 posts

225 months

Monday 7th May 2007
quotequote all
Hi Rob,
Imagine my surprise to see my old car again. I owned the car from 1989 to 1997 and swapped it for my 3000s at Hexham horseless carriages
I removed the body, resprayed the car, rebuilt the engine, fitted new carpets and seats then sold it!!
It's good to see it again, it was my first car, fetched it 4 days after passing my test

madbadger

11,565 posts

245 months

Monday 7th May 2007
quotequote all
sbr3000 said:
Hi Rob,
Imagine my surprise to see my old car again. I owned the car from 1989 to 1997 and swapped it for my 3000s at Hexham horseless carriages
I removed the body, resprayed the car, rebuilt the engine, fitted new carpets and seats then sold it!!
It's good to see it again, it was my first car, fetched it 4 days after passing my test


Excellent choice of first car. thumbup

robstan

Original Poster:

118 posts

204 months

Tuesday 8th May 2007
quotequote all
sbr3000 said:
Hi Rob,
Imagine my surprise to see my old car again. I owned the car from 1989 to 1997 and swapped it for my 3000s at Hexham horseless carriages
I removed the body, resprayed the car, rebuilt the engine, fitted new carpets and seats then sold it!!
It's good to see it again, it was my first car, fetched it 4 days after passing my test


I guess I need to thank you for the chassis work, that does all seem to be tiptop. The interior and paint have not lasted well over the years, but these things can be fixed in time.

Rob

RobStan

Original Poster:

118 posts

204 months

Tuesday 8th May 2007
quotequote all
madbadger said:
sbr3000 said:
Hi Rob,
Imagine my surprise to see my old car again. I owned the car from 1989 to 1997 and swapped it for my 3000s at Hexham horseless carriages
I removed the body, resprayed the car, rebuilt the engine, fitted new carpets and seats then sold it!!
It's good to see it again, it was my first car, fetched it 4 days after passing my test


Excellent choice of first car. thumbup


Ah, in the paper work that came with the car is the invoice from Hexham Horseless Carriages, to the next owner!

oliverb205

705 posts

227 months

Tuesday 8th May 2007
quotequote all
SBR, good to see you have stuck with classic TVRs all this time. And 4 cylinder TVRs are great first cars, my Vixen S2 was mine.

Oliver.

alan snowling

60 posts

221 months

Sunday 13th May 2007
quotequote all
robstan said:
Hi

I've recently purchased a 1600M, which is a large departure from my prevouis toy, an Austin Healey Sprite.

I must say that dispite it's problems I am loveing the car already! But the without things like haynes manuals and spare parts in every corner of every small town I can see the restoration of this car being a completly different task!

I've found websites like tvr.m-fix and davidgerald, and now this forum too, but is there any where else I should be looking? Is there any thing I should know before starting to right some of the wrongs to my car?

Any advice would be great.

Cheers
Rob

alan snowling

60 posts

221 months

Sunday 13th May 2007
quotequote all
robstan said:
Hi

I've recently purchased a 1600M, which is a large departure from my prevouis toy, an Austin Healey Sprite.

I must say that dispite it's problems I am loveing the car already! But the without things like haynes manuals and spare parts in every corner of every small town I can see the restoration of this car being a completly different task!

I've found websites like tvr.m-fix and davidgerald, and now this forum too, but is there any where else I should be looking? Is there any thing I should know before starting to right some of the wrongs to my car?

Any advice would be great.

Cheers
Rob



Rob,

Well done for your choice of car. I bought my 1600M in November 05 and have previously built and rebuilt a few kinds of kit cars and TVRs. I found that the secret is to do a bit at a time and not look at the project as a complete job. Treat each part i.e. suspension, seats, engine etc. as a complete project and concentrate on that alone ignoring the rest. Many rebuilds and restoration projects have fallen down through the amount of work required seeming mountainous. Take pride in completing small chunks at a time and it's a doddle! There's always plenty of help and advice on here and other forums when things go wrong and before you know it the job is done. Then it's time for the next project.