Stainless Steel Chassis

Stainless Steel Chassis

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aderut

Original Poster:

163 posts

173 months

Thursday 13th January 2011
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Does anyone know if the SEAC recently sold via Pistonheds, as "Peter Wheeler's own SEAC" had a stainless chassis. TheSEACpages has a comment from Chris Schirle saying that there were 1 or 2 stainless chassis on road cars.
It would be nice to know how many there are.

aderut

Original Poster:

163 posts

173 months

Friday 14th January 2011
quotequote all
I gues it would depend on the gauge of the SS tubing, knowing TVR it would be like folded cooking foil rather than oil pipe-line stuff.

By the by, on trying to get back on subject. The "ex Peter Wheeler" car was sold by David Gerald, and was on a "Preston" DVLA plate rather than a "London" area plate (eg D*** *LL or D*** *LP).

I know that D175ALL was ordered with a SS chassis, and I believe that it was not delivered with one due to problems expereienced with D177ALL.

aderut

Original Poster:

163 posts

173 months

Monday 10th September 2012
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Hi Andy,
Not sure of the price, This tread goes back a long way...
I'm sure that the stainless chassis was another really great TVR idea that went something like this.
"Let's do it! Let's sell it! We'll let the customer road test it for us. Oh, *rap it doesn't work! we'll drop it, but there's this other realy great idea which we've got........."
From much of the comment it would seem that Stainless gives very little advantage with large cost and manufacturing problems, so (and I stand to be corrected on this one) there are very few SS chassis out there and those that are are most probably ex-factory.
All best
Ade

aderut

Original Poster:

163 posts

173 months

Monday 10th September 2012
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Hi Andy,
Very curious about the racer chassis not being stainless.
It was always said the SEAC stainless chassis were made because they replicated the racer.
As ever TVR's customer information/misinformation has much to answer for.
I guess the last laugh is on us.
Oh! The fun they had.
Tee-Hee!!
Ade

aderut

Original Poster:

163 posts

173 months

Tuesday 11th September 2012
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Mine had some problems with the stainless failing.
The mounting plates for the top of the rear suspension torn apart and had to be replaced with heavier gauge material.
Interesting that so few stainless chassis were made and that even fewer survive, at the last count only two in existance.
I spoke to Giles Cooper at the time and I'm fairly sure that he only delivered one stainless chassis, although more were ordered, and that Martin's (The Hatter) ex Barry Zee car was one of only a few ex-factort early cars. Giles said that he sold the first 10 (or so) dealer cars from Barnet.
As ever a wait for correction on this...

aderut

Original Poster:

163 posts

173 months

Monday 24th September 2012
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I would agree with...

D488PHG has a stainless 'competition' SEAC chassis without vertical plates on the outriggers (mine, known history)
D177ALL has a stainless 'competition' SEAC chassis without vertical plates on the outriggers (aderut's, known history)

But would have to add to
One trailing arm '390/SEAC' 'removable sill' chassis exists in Scotland and was put up for sale recently

(History and construction unknown, let's have a bit more info on the Scottish car, please anyone?)



aderut

Original Poster:

163 posts

173 months

Wednesday 26th September 2012
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On the subject of the road cars. I know that David Hill did order a Stainless Chassis for what was D175ALL but that it was delivered a mild steel. I think his was the first car with what became the "standard" SEAC dash.
I can ask Gilesd if he delivered any other Stainless Chassis cars but I'm sure that would be covering old ground and that D177ALL was the only one he sent out of the doors of TVR Centre in Arkley.
As no doublt been said before Barry Zee was very friendly with the factory and so he bought Hatter's car direct from Bristol Avenue.

aderut

Original Poster:

163 posts

173 months

Thursday 25th October 2012
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Thanks Roop.
Think I owe you a beer!

aderut

Original Poster:

163 posts

173 months

Saturday 1st November 2014
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Yes. D177ALL is still on the stainless chassis. D175ALL was the next SEAC delivered after mine. I think it was the first with the SEAC dash. D177ALL has a special one-off interior.

aderut

Original Poster:

163 posts

173 months

Monday 3rd November 2014
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D177ALL did spend some time in The Netherlands, and some of it's original body parts are still there, although they traveled separately to the low countries....a long story.....
Will try to get to wedgefest next year, it's been a bit busy this year with loads of family stuff to do.
Would be great to see "D175ALL" again. It's been a while.

aderut

Original Poster:

163 posts

173 months

Friday 21st November 2014
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Would be great.