1991 TVR Wedge 430SE (1 of 3 made)

Highlights

• Ultra rare, one of only three made
• Original 1991 London Motor Show car
• Recent restoration
• New chassis fitted
• Rebuilt engine and transmission

Overview

TVR’s ‘Wedges’ have a bit of a Marmite effect: those who love them simply can’t understand how anyone could take a disliking to them. And if you appreciate a Wedge, you’ll be positively tripping over yourself to get your hands on this 430SE. It’s one of three – yes three, not three hundred – built in 1991. And this one just so happens to have been on the TVR stand at the London Motor Show. Unfortunately for the 430SE, it was also alongside the new Griffith model, which rather rained on its parade by proving far more popular at the time. But this now makes the car we see here all the more alluring. Its rarity sets it apart and offers a chance to own a piece of history. 280 hp and 305 lb ft of torque from the car’s Rover V8 promise it’ll perform commendably. And this particular car benefits from a professionally rebuilt engine, gearbox and rear axle, providing peace of mind to go with all that performance. Finished in a recent coat of white paint – along with the pop-up headlights and wedge shape – if you squint and drive it out of the sea you might even be able to convince yourself that you’re Roger Moore.

History and Documentation

• One of only three 430SE cars produced
• First registered in November 1991
• Owned by the present keeper for six years
• 3.5-year restoration undertaken at a cost of many thousands of pounds
• A detailed photographic record of the restoration accompanies the car
• The rebuild on this car was completled in line with the orginal specifiaction, if not better than when it left the factory
• The car had previously spent 12 years languishing outside
• Vehicle report and valuation from the TVR Car Club on file
• This report was made in November 2022 and estimates the replacement value to be £34,000
• It is ‘based on photographic and other evidence provided by the owner’
• It states that the car was displayed at the Earl’s Court Motor Show in 1991 for the launch of the new Griffith-engined 430SE
• All aspects of the car’s condition were stated in the club report to be ‘excellent’
• HPI check clear
• Four registered former keepers
• There is a letter on file from the TVR Club model registrar to the DVLA supporting the correction of the car’s engine size on its registration documents
• MOT valid until October 2024

Interior

• Green leather swathes the interior, covering the seats, door cards, and the dashboard
• The upholstery is very well presented, having reportedly been treated to professional work
• The seller states that a new set of matching green carpets was also supplied
• Bookmatched burr walnut veneers add a touch of class to the dashboard and centre console
• The vendor tells us that the veneer work was carried out by GDK Veneer in Crewe
• The lacquer appears to be in very good condition, without any obvious chips or damage
• Polished wood-rimmed steering wheel, with TVR centre boss
• Full set of TVR-badged gauges, with repainted bezels
• Kenwood radio/cassette player
• ‘430SE’ branded sill plates in very good condition
• Fully carpeted boot at the rear
• Space-saver spare wheel and scissor jack

Exterior

• Unapologetically wedge-shaped, with hardly a compound curve to be seen
• Pop-up headlamps, a feature which never gets old
• The vendor explains that the body panels were each removed, prepared, and painted in ‘VW White’, receiving two undercoats and three topcoats
• The car has been professionally resprayed
• Alloy wheels refurbished in September 2021, finished in chrome gloss powder coating
• There is an invoice on file for a set of four tyres, fitted in September 2021
• The Targa soft-top roof was reportedly fitted by a specialist

Mechanical

• 4,280cc V8 engine, as fitted to the TVR Griffith
• There is a invoice on file for a ‘full engine overhaul, gearbox overhaul, strip and overhaul rear axle’ in December 2019
• The vendor tells us that a new chassis was built by RT Racing Sheffield
• Power steering system serviced by Clintons in Birmingham
• The radiator has reportedly received a new core
• Front brakes upgraded with larger discs
• Both petrol tanks have been fully refurbished
• No MOT advisories

Summary

There’s a lot going for this TVR: rarity, history, restoration, wedge styling. It sits at the centre of a complicated Venn diagram, crossing the boundaries of performance, styling, and poor marketing. Launching this model alongside the ‘showstopper’ Griffith was a very TVR thing to do, shooting themselves in the foot. But this is all part of the appeal. It’s different. It has a story to tell. You’re not going to see another one at the petrol station. And you can drive along wearing your choice of smug smile, knowing that your car is almost unique. To arrange a viewing, please request this in the Q&A section. You can click through to the seller's profile and use the 'Email Me' function to arrange a viewing privately. This seller is located in Newcastle-upon-Tyne.