buying tvr s2/3
Discussion
Hi Everyone ,first post from me -so be gentle.have owned classics all my driving life and always maintained them myself.now a young 50 am drawn to trying a tvr before petrol prices get even more silly. as a military boat builder/fitter i work with and around fibre glass a lot.currently own volvo 1800es which has been the best of the bunch so far.have owned triumphs -3 vitesses,wolseley 1550,rover 14 and rover p6 and just enjoyed driving them everyday !!.so now looking for a mint series 2 or 3 .went to view my first one yesterday -red s2 body paint ,chassis and interior were good it was let down by poor passenger door fit-rear bottom corner protruding out 10 - 15 mm. ripples in paint/glass on top of front offside wing .rusty underside of brake servo .rear fold down roof damaged on sides and front indicator lens broken plus engine bay scruffy with what looked like bonnet underside insulation missing.anyway i walked away from it -though realise most of those faults fixable asking price was at the top end.one thing i will say for it was when i started engine up it made hair on the back of my neck stand up!!!so search contiues for a mint s2/3 -if anyone has or knows of one coming onto the market please let me know.look fwd to interacting with fellow tvr owners and picking your brains all the best dave
I dont think I have seen more than 1 or 2 mint examples come up for sale and when they do they go for big bucks, the 'faults' you list are all very comman and fixable although indicator lenses are rare they do come up also I belive servos are now getting scarse too because ford have stopped manufacturing the only sutible replacement, If you are resonably hands on I wouldnt let it put you off, just buy the best one you can afford .
As you said most of those faults are fixable, just budget the cost into the asking price.
1.The main thing I would be looking for is a solid chassis, make sure that the powder coat/paint isn't peeling off so that rust can set in. The main places are the outriggers, trailing arms and the rear of the chassis where the trailing arms mount too. This is the most critical part as it will cost big bucks to get this part repaired as it is a integral part of the chassis and is difficult to cut out properly.
2. Bodywork - Was the door warped or just poorly aligned. If the latter the bushes in the hinges wear and cause the doors to sag. As for the rest of it it depends on what your looking for, a go car or a show car.
3. Brake servo - Most will be like this unless recently repaired. Various options to solve this which are listed on the forum or try calling a specialist parts supplier such as racetech. Its not listed on their site but they may be able to source one for you for a price.
4. Indicators - Sherpa van, rare as hens teeth.
5. Bonnet insulation - Not sure if this was ever standard so may have been added by a previous owner.
6. The engine bay being untidy would just be a project, and you could get it the way you wanted it. With one of these cars you will always be tinkering with just one more job to do!!
Have a look around at all the cars for sale and you'll get a good idea of whats good and whats not.
1.The main thing I would be looking for is a solid chassis, make sure that the powder coat/paint isn't peeling off so that rust can set in. The main places are the outriggers, trailing arms and the rear of the chassis where the trailing arms mount too. This is the most critical part as it will cost big bucks to get this part repaired as it is a integral part of the chassis and is difficult to cut out properly.
2. Bodywork - Was the door warped or just poorly aligned. If the latter the bushes in the hinges wear and cause the doors to sag. As for the rest of it it depends on what your looking for, a go car or a show car.
3. Brake servo - Most will be like this unless recently repaired. Various options to solve this which are listed on the forum or try calling a specialist parts supplier such as racetech. Its not listed on their site but they may be able to source one for you for a price.
4. Indicators - Sherpa van, rare as hens teeth.
5. Bonnet insulation - Not sure if this was ever standard so may have been added by a previous owner.
6. The engine bay being untidy would just be a project, and you could get it the way you wanted it. With one of these cars you will always be tinkering with just one more job to do!!
Have a look around at all the cars for sale and you'll get a good idea of whats good and whats not.
I am an ex Vitesse and Wolseley owner, albeit a 1500(amongst many other vehicles)! Certainly chassis and outriggers extremely important if you don't want a body lift project. Unless you want to spend really serious money on a concours vehicle I would assume that you will find a car which needs some cosmetic improvement. Paint is expensive, tidying up an engine bay less so. But I suspect you know this already from your experience. When you see the right car you will know it is for you.......... Lots of help on this forum with any porblems.
Where abouts in the UK are you French Dave (Diane ?). I have an S3 listed currently, its not mint but has the main stuff sorted with enough left for you to put your stamp on it...
Sherpa lens are not as rare as they have been, Racetech sell them now I believe for £60'ish each... my pair went for a disappointing £50 each and I see another sold for just over that last week.
K
Sherpa lens are not as rare as they have been, Racetech sell them now I believe for £60'ish each... my pair went for a disappointing £50 each and I see another sold for just over that last week.
K
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