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| Jens tells the story... "I bought the car (a 1990 400SE)
from the TVR Centre in Barnet in about April 1996. It was a local car and hadn't been
treated that well by the previous owner, cosmetically at least. It was smoky and
full of cigarette butts when I first saw it.
New carpets and a good clean up by the garage and I picked it up. The previous
owner had 2 engine rebuilds done on it - both after having tried to run it on diesel.
Duh! So, mechanically very sound. I had my father give it a once over
... he has a 1989 'Andy Rouse' 390SE so I knew what I was in for!
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Nicked...
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| Within 3 days of ownership the wheels were stolen and the car was left
prefectly balanced on 3 bricks and a trolley jack. The police showed no interest, although
an ad in Loot did result in an anonymous phone message with the number and name of someone
'who knows where they are'. Again, no interest from the Police.
Cheers. A week of frantic phone calls around the country sourced 3 replacement OZ Formula
Style wheels, one damaged but repairable.  |
Wide Boy...
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| Then I had a call from Henley Heritage who told me that they had a set of
ex-Tuscan racer wheels, raced once, complete with slicks - mine for £250. Done.
When I saw them stacked, almost 5 feet high, I knew there was no way they were ever
going to fit. I took them to a local tyre place to have the 225x50 Goodyears shod.
"Not a hope, fella", was the answer. When a tyre was on
the rim, there was a good inch of rim either side of the tyre. These babies are
9" wide! 
Out came 'Big Bertha' and they were blasted on with a single blast of
compressed air, once the operator had put on protective gear and everyone had left the
workshop. They fit, but really need at least a 245x45, if not 255x40!
Once fitted, the car's handling was transformed. It corners like it's on rails,
but I have to be incredibly careful parking, as the rims are exposed outside of the
rubber. |
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Tuscan Racer's 9" Rims |
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| After only 6 months of driving, I moved to the US and now only get to
drive the car a couple of times a year. |
Crackle and Pop...
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Jens' home page can be found at www.ratsey.com |
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