Discussion
Hi to all,
This is the first time I am doing this so apologies if these basic questions have been asked already. (Great website by the way)
Background is I was a biker (Triumph Rocket III), loved the speed, sound and feeling of being different but one fast bend too many threw me in the path of a car in June and totaled both. Now thankfully back on two legs I am looking for a replacement that gives a similar sensation - hence the curiosity with the TVR S Series. Powerful and retro and definately individual.
So the questions I have are these:-
1) the 280 is from a Ford Capri - is it the injection or a normal 2.8? I only ask because as soon as you add injection your possibilities to tinker and service yourself are limited.
2) I currently live in a small village in France just outside of Geneva, Switzerland. If it is injected then garage calls are necessary. But the French only seem to cater for Peugeot and Renault. Aside from TVR themselves who can service them?
3) As said I live in France so to register would possibly require a certificate of conformity from the manufacturer. Has anyone come across this problem?
4) Finally, I figured from the insurance money I should get after having kitted the wife with a new wardrobe and several pairs of shoes I should have 3-4000 GBP to spend on one. Is this reasonable for a good condition S1, S2? What should I look for / expect?
Thanks for any help anyone can offer on these.
Guy
This is the first time I am doing this so apologies if these basic questions have been asked already. (Great website by the way)
Background is I was a biker (Triumph Rocket III), loved the speed, sound and feeling of being different but one fast bend too many threw me in the path of a car in June and totaled both. Now thankfully back on two legs I am looking for a replacement that gives a similar sensation - hence the curiosity with the TVR S Series. Powerful and retro and definately individual.
So the questions I have are these:-
1) the 280 is from a Ford Capri - is it the injection or a normal 2.8? I only ask because as soon as you add injection your possibilities to tinker and service yourself are limited.
2) I currently live in a small village in France just outside of Geneva, Switzerland. If it is injected then garage calls are necessary. But the French only seem to cater for Peugeot and Renault. Aside from TVR themselves who can service them?
3) As said I live in France so to register would possibly require a certificate of conformity from the manufacturer. Has anyone come across this problem?
4) Finally, I figured from the insurance money I should get after having kitted the wife with a new wardrobe and several pairs of shoes I should have 3-4000 GBP to spend on one. Is this reasonable for a good condition S1, S2? What should I look for / expect?
Thanks for any help anyone can offer on these.
Guy
I think you would find the acceleration much slower than your old Rocket III. They are incredible bikes, I would love to own one one day.
I also think you would enjoy the noise a little better with an S as they sound absolutely fantastic.
3-4k may be on the cheap side of things if you want a decent one. Cracking cars though, I doubt you'll be disappointed. When looking, look very well at the chassis and have a good poke around.
I also think you would enjoy the noise a little better with an S as they sound absolutely fantastic.
3-4k may be on the cheap side of things if you want a decent one. Cracking cars though, I doubt you'll be disappointed. When looking, look very well at the chassis and have a good poke around.
answering your specific questions:
1)Injection
2) They are easy to maintain yourself using this resource and the multitude of owners sites at the useful links section - you should only need a garage if you are really not mechanically competent or for some of the more unusual stubborn problems
3) For the CofC there was a thread in the general gassing section a while ago on this exact subject I would suggest searching that forum for the thread which seemed to point at a way out for the older cars
4)£4000 will get you an average to good S1/S2 and an scruffy but drivable S3/4 or a real dog of a V8S (will need major work).
My site and Pies will show you what to look out for: www.gbsportscar.com and www.tvrsseries.com
Mark
1)Injection
2) They are easy to maintain yourself using this resource and the multitude of owners sites at the useful links section - you should only need a garage if you are really not mechanically competent or for some of the more unusual stubborn problems
3) For the CofC there was a thread in the general gassing section a while ago on this exact subject I would suggest searching that forum for the thread which seemed to point at a way out for the older cars
4)£4000 will get you an average to good S1/S2 and an scruffy but drivable S3/4 or a real dog of a V8S (will need major work).
My site and Pies will show you what to look out for: www.gbsportscar.com and www.tvrsseries.com
Mark
1: injected
2: it's mostly made of bits of sierra, they're not hugely complicated cars, many owners do their own servicing.
3: this thread might be helpful http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
4: look for rust on the chassis outriggers, then look again and again just to be sure, also check for rusty trailing arms. Mechanical bits are mostly ford so fairly easyish to get and not usually too expensive, chassis repairs aren't the easiest thing in the world.
2: it's mostly made of bits of sierra, they're not hugely complicated cars, many owners do their own servicing.
3: this thread might be helpful http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
4: look for rust on the chassis outriggers, then look again and again just to be sure, also check for rusty trailing arms. Mechanical bits are mostly ford so fairly easyish to get and not usually too expensive, chassis repairs aren't the easiest thing in the world.
guyspy said:
3) As said I live in France so to register would possibly require a certificate of conformity from the manufacturer. Has anyone come across this problem?
Hello Guy,All the other points have been covered in detail so it just no.3 left.
Full details of the S series registration in France is covered here:
http://www.tvrcarclub-france.net/forum/viewtopic.p...
It is of course, impossible to have any certificates now that TVR dont really exist. Ben Lang at TVR said that most of the certification archives have been lost during all the moving around at the end.
For importing a TVR into France your choices are very limited. The only TVR to receive the full EU certification were some versions of the Chimaera.
The Chims that are possible to register in France will have the following on the VIN plate:
e11*97/27*0096*00
e11*97/27*0096*01
e11*97/27*0096*02
BUT beware!
There are some final version Chims that have the following:
e11*97/27*0096*03
The 03 suffix is an amendment where the approval was downgraded from full EU to just UK national and these cars will not be accepted.
There have been many people who have bought TVRs into France and have never managed to register them and then had to re-export them.
Thanks to all for this really useful information and for the links. I'll have to look in to the registering thing, but it must be the same for other older British cars e.g. MGs of which there are hundreds of them out here with French plates on. I'll let you know how I get on. In the meantime I'll keep a look out for an affordable S in the hope that the insurance money comes in soon and the wife changes her mind!
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