Good news.. Mine's a Malaysian car
Discussion
Went to see Gerbil about refurbishing some Imola wheels (he now works for WRC Wheel Repair Centre in Preston) . He and another ex TVR man were looking at my car (a 2001 Chim450) and said "Oh ... a Malaysian one ... You've got a good 'un then" .
Apparantly Malaysian bodies are considerably better than Blackpool ones, for a number of reason . Once the early problems with quality control were sorted and the Malaysians were upto full production sending 20 bodies a month , they were very good.
They were allowed three days smoothing bodies compared to the one day at Bristol Avenue. The welding on the chassis was also very good quality. They came across as a rolling chassis with doors,boot and bonnet fitted. The 8 week trip in a container at 140 degrees was perfect for curing the fibreglass.
One easy was to tell is at the front of the bonnet on the passenger side is a TVR 97 mark from the mould used in Malaysia. Also some difference on the box section for the bonnet catch and a plate on the inside of the door. The door edges are also considerably thinner on Malaysian body.
I find all this TVR information facinating, pity its never been documented.
Sorry about my spelling
Apparantly Malaysian bodies are considerably better than Blackpool ones, for a number of reason . Once the early problems with quality control were sorted and the Malaysians were upto full production sending 20 bodies a month , they were very good.
They were allowed three days smoothing bodies compared to the one day at Bristol Avenue. The welding on the chassis was also very good quality. They came across as a rolling chassis with doors,boot and bonnet fitted. The 8 week trip in a container at 140 degrees was perfect for curing the fibreglass.
One easy was to tell is at the front of the bonnet on the passenger side is a TVR 97 mark from the mould used in Malaysia. Also some difference on the box section for the bonnet catch and a plate on the inside of the door. The door edges are also considerably thinner on Malaysian body.
I find all this TVR information facinating, pity its never been documented.
Sorry about my spelling
Edited by glow worm on Saturday 8th January 09:45
They didn't mention any other specific body mark... Like you, I asked my bonnet was just an odd bonnet fitted to a UK car. We couldn't find the mark on the door sill, and a phone call revealed it was usually filled in at Blackpool before painting. There was a thought that the fuel filler cap surround is raised more and a larger cut out in the boot lid, but not too sure if this was a TVR mod to stop water going into the fuel tank.
Since doors were hung in Malaysia and boot and bonnet fitted, its very unlikely to have an odd spare Malaysian bonnet fitted to a UK car. So with the TVR 97 mark you are 90% sure ... pretty good degree of certainty for anything TVR
I'll try to get as much information as I can.
Since doors were hung in Malaysia and boot and bonnet fitted, its very unlikely to have an odd spare Malaysian bonnet fitted to a UK car. So with the TVR 97 mark you are 90% sure ... pretty good degree of certainty for anything TVR
I'll try to get as much information as I can.
Edited by glow worm on Saturday 8th January 09:59
quattrophenia said:
Just had a look at mine and I'm a TVR97 as well. Maybe we should set up a Malaysian forum!
Does that mean my car has just appreciated by £500!
Is yours a Facelift2 (with covered lights and high lift boot hinges) ? I was suprised 2001 cars were Malaysian especially with the changes unless the basic body shell is unchanged.Does that mean my car has just appreciated by £500!
glow worm said:
quattrophenia said:
Just had a look at mine and I'm a TVR97 as well. Maybe we should set up a Malaysian forum!
Does that mean my car has just appreciated by £500!
Is yours a Facelift2 (with covered lights and high lift boot hinges) ? I was suprised 2001 cars were Malaysian especially with the changes unless the basic body shell is unchanged.Does that mean my car has just appreciated by £500!
Does that add another £500 to my cars value!
RetroWheels said:
AFAIK one sure sign of a Malaysian built shell is the cut outs, which channeled cool air to an oil cooler required for hot climates.
My '98 500 has these - here's a pic (not my car - image taken from thread on this subject last year).
Mines got these - is this definitely not present on "standard" brit-built cars..?My '98 500 has these - here's a pic (not my car - image taken from thread on this subject last year).
Dom
Here are a few photos from Kuala Lumpur ...
At least two groups of TVR Bristol Avenue staff went out to Malaysia to inspect the work and have a good time
First Group.
1) John Ravenscroft
2) Dave Smith Bodyshop ... (Paul Forrests X-Works Brother-in-law)
3) Trevor Cooper now S&D
4) ???? ... Mick Stevenson ????
Second Group.
1) Keith Jones Finance Director
2) Dave Cummins Transport... Posser ... Gaffers Dad
3) Heath Briggs Service... now X-Works
4) Andrew Atkinson...Production Electrician
There may have been a third group
At least two groups of TVR Bristol Avenue staff went out to Malaysia to inspect the work and have a good time
First Group.
1) John Ravenscroft
2) Dave Smith Bodyshop ... (Paul Forrests X-Works Brother-in-law)
3) Trevor Cooper now S&D
4) ???? ... Mick Stevenson ????
Second Group.
1) Keith Jones Finance Director
2) Dave Cummins Transport... Posser ... Gaffers Dad
3) Heath Briggs Service... now X-Works
4) Andrew Atkinson...Production Electrician
There may have been a third group
Edited by glow worm on Wednesday 12th January 14:22
domV8 said:
RetroWheels said:
AFAIK one sure sign of a Malaysian built shell is the cut outs, which channeled cool air to an oil cooler required for hot climates.
My '98 500 has these - here's a pic (not my car - image taken from thread on this subject last year).
Mines got these - is this definitely not present on "standard" brit-built cars..?My '98 500 has these - here's a pic (not my car - image taken from thread on this subject last year).
Dom
I've just had a look at Cyril's (sl55kleeman) pics from Le Mans last year and all the Chims I looked at have this vent (mine included);
That's a huge co-incidence if all those cars that went to LM were Malaysian, surely??
And shame on you if you had the roof up!!
ETA - what are those wheels in the last pic?
Edited by pincher on Tuesday 11th January 22:13
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