Officially in the S Club!
Discussion
It took a while, but thanks to my family and a very cooperative seller, I am now the owner of a 1987 S!
Sadly, I won't actually get to see it for a few weeks yet because I am 4000 miles away in North Carolina. Sorry guys, but us expats need cool cars too, so it is going to be leaving its home of the last 25 yrs. The weather here is hot and mostly dry so it should enjoy a lot of pleasure cruises. I can't wait to zigzag around the mountains and cruise along next to the beach.
This is my first TVR, but I have had many many cars, and I am not worried at all about the mythical reliability issues. I will be doing my own work on the car, and I believe parts supply over here will be pretty good. I think I will have the only TVR on my street too!
I'll see if I can upload some pics. You may have seen it advertised on the web.
David
Sadly, I won't actually get to see it for a few weeks yet because I am 4000 miles away in North Carolina. Sorry guys, but us expats need cool cars too, so it is going to be leaving its home of the last 25 yrs. The weather here is hot and mostly dry so it should enjoy a lot of pleasure cruises. I can't wait to zigzag around the mountains and cruise along next to the beach.
This is my first TVR, but I have had many many cars, and I am not worried at all about the mythical reliability issues. I will be doing my own work on the car, and I believe parts supply over here will be pretty good. I think I will have the only TVR on my street too!
I'll see if I can upload some pics. You may have seen it advertised on the web.
David
Hi David & welcome to S1 ownership.
Your new Tiv looks to be in beautiful condition from the pic, make sure you look after it! I have to warn you, you're going to be wearing a huge grin every time you go for a drive in it.
I didn't see it in the Classifieds, where in the UK was it's previous home?
I reckon it's one of the first production batch, built the same time as my S1, which is 25 yrs old this month.
Does yours have a seperate bonnet release on each side, no flick wipe, and speedo half hidden by the steering wheel?
And what is the interior like? Can you post some more pics for us when it arrives?
If you're going to be doing your own maintenance, I recommend the Steve Heath TVR S Series 'Bible'. Get the 2nd Edition, it's very helpful, as is this forum if you need any help or advice.
The S is a tinkerer's dream, always a little fettling or mods to
do.
And as for reliability issues: last May, nearly 30 S's made the trip to Spa & Nurburgring & back, no recovery trucks required.
( But we did change a water pump, a fuel pump, & sort out a starter fault.)
Not bad for a bunch of cars in their twenties.
Good luck & take care, & tell us all about it when you've had your first topless blast! I guarantee you're gonna luvvit!
Cheers,
Glen
Your new Tiv looks to be in beautiful condition from the pic, make sure you look after it! I have to warn you, you're going to be wearing a huge grin every time you go for a drive in it.
I didn't see it in the Classifieds, where in the UK was it's previous home?
I reckon it's one of the first production batch, built the same time as my S1, which is 25 yrs old this month.
Does yours have a seperate bonnet release on each side, no flick wipe, and speedo half hidden by the steering wheel?
And what is the interior like? Can you post some more pics for us when it arrives?
If you're going to be doing your own maintenance, I recommend the Steve Heath TVR S Series 'Bible'. Get the 2nd Edition, it's very helpful, as is this forum if you need any help or advice.
The S is a tinkerer's dream, always a little fettling or mods to
do.
And as for reliability issues: last May, nearly 30 S's made the trip to Spa & Nurburgring & back, no recovery trucks required.
( But we did change a water pump, a fuel pump, & sort out a starter fault.)
Not bad for a bunch of cars in their twenties.
Good luck & take care, & tell us all about it when you've had your first topless blast! I guarantee you're gonna luvvit!
Cheers,
Glen
Here's the original ad with some more pics:
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C323215
I'm not sure about the bonnet releases or the flick wipe, but the VIN ends with 323 and it was registered in September '87. The car is coming from the Devon coast, which must have been very enjoyable to drive around.
Over here the roads are about the same as in the UK, except they don't have many traffic 'calming' features like those enormous lumps in the middle of the road.
I will get the S Bible, but the trip to club meets might be a bit far. On my 'to do' list is to rent a TVR from the guy in Taunton next time I am back, and I should probably try and time the trip with a club meet somewhere. There is a small following over here, but there won't be many S cars due to silly import restrictions.
Looking forward to the grin factor! I currently end up driving my little MX5 almost every day for that reason, but it just isn't the real thing!
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C323215
I'm not sure about the bonnet releases or the flick wipe, but the VIN ends with 323 and it was registered in September '87. The car is coming from the Devon coast, which must have been very enjoyable to drive around.
Over here the roads are about the same as in the UK, except they don't have many traffic 'calming' features like those enormous lumps in the middle of the road.
I will get the S Bible, but the trip to club meets might be a bit far. On my 'to do' list is to rent a TVR from the guy in Taunton next time I am back, and I should probably try and time the trip with a club meet somewhere. There is a small following over here, but there won't be many S cars due to silly import restrictions.
Looking forward to the grin factor! I currently end up driving my little MX5 almost every day for that reason, but it just isn't the real thing!
Julesprivate said:
Awesome - well done. I have a friend in the US who'd love to get his hands on an S - how difficult was it to arrange to import it?
Not too bad, as long as it 25 years old. It's still with the previous owner, but it looks like everything should be pretty smooth. It's not a cheap proposition - shipping is the best part of a grand, then there are a host of taxes, fees, agent fees, etc. in the USA. You need someone in the UK to help out too, and/or a cooperative seller. I had both!In the States we can chose between some wedges that were officially imported, some old Griffiths, Tuscans and Granturas, or import your own 1987 S1. The choice was easy for me and my modest budget.
Hi David,
You can rest assured that you've made the best choice.
The S is by far the best value (smiles per miles) car on the planet today.
( I may be slightly biased, but hey, that's how I roll! )
Every guy should enjoy a topless 25 yr old, I'm having a Blackpool party for mine,
it's just a flimsy excuse I know, but I feel it's my duty to mark the occasion. And it means I can get it out & play with it.
Thanks for the link to the ad., interior pic is v. similar to mine, I think yours was registered a week or so before my Austin. So definately one of the first S's, and such a superb example.
I just hope that this doesn't mean that all the S 1's will all end up Stateside now that the 25 yr threshhold has been reached.
I just can't imagine parting with my P&J, no matter how big the wedge of dollars.
Although i'm quite tempted by Jools' 5.0 litre V8S. Especially as i'm now officially too old to die young.
What a way to go...... t
Edited for grammar, spelling, accuracy, whatevva. ( I was v. v. drunk. )
You can rest assured that you've made the best choice.
The S is by far the best value (smiles per miles) car on the planet today.
( I may be slightly biased, but hey, that's how I roll! )
Every guy should enjoy a topless 25 yr old, I'm having a Blackpool party for mine,
it's just a flimsy excuse I know, but I feel it's my duty to mark the occasion. And it means I can get it out & play with it.
Thanks for the link to the ad., interior pic is v. similar to mine, I think yours was registered a week or so before my Austin. So definately one of the first S's, and such a superb example.
I just hope that this doesn't mean that all the S 1's will all end up Stateside now that the 25 yr threshhold has been reached.
I just can't imagine parting with my P&J, no matter how big the wedge of dollars.
Although i'm quite tempted by Jools' 5.0 litre V8S. Especially as i'm now officially too old to die young.
What a way to go...... t
Edited for grammar, spelling, accuracy, whatevva. ( I was v. v. drunk. )
Edited by glenrobbo on Friday 14th September 23:15
glenrobbo said:
Thanks for the link to the ad., interior pic is v. similar to mine, I think yours was registered a week or so before my Austin. So definately one of the first S's, and such a superb example.
Just curious, what are the last 3 numbers of your VIN? Mine is 323. I wonder what the first production car was?Hello David,
Just been researching, yours is -323, my Austin is -338, a lot of Wedge350's in between.
So yes, your S1 is one of the first production batch, so you are duty bound to preserve it/ him/ her for posterity.
I hope you can shoulder all this responsibility, let us know how you get on.
Hi Dave man,
Just drive it & enjoy, the bloke above is just an anorack who doesn't know how to enjoy himself. Imagine giving a car an actual name..... What a retard!... A good spanking round Nurburgring & Spa shows it who's the boss. Oh yeah.
Just been researching, yours is -323, my Austin is -338, a lot of Wedge350's in between.
So yes, your S1 is one of the first production batch, so you are duty bound to preserve it/ him/ her for posterity.
I hope you can shoulder all this responsibility, let us know how you get on.
Hi Dave man,
Just drive it & enjoy, the bloke above is just an anorack who doesn't know how to enjoy himself. Imagine giving a car an actual name..... What a retard!... A good spanking round Nurburgring & Spa shows it who's the boss. Oh yeah.
With a lot of time on my hands, I thought I would see what my number plate options are. I like this one:
The wife thinks it might be a bit humiliating. Not sure why, most people will assume we like to dance a lot. Anyone that has seen Austin Powers will probably get it though.
This is also available:
The best bit - they only cost $30 a year. None of the silly prices that special plates command in the UK.
The wife thinks it might be a bit humiliating. Not sure why, most people will assume we like to dance a lot. Anyone that has seen Austin Powers will probably get it though.
This is also available:
The best bit - they only cost $30 a year. None of the silly prices that special plates command in the UK.
Alan Whitaker said:
Hi All
I have no 148 but not registered until Feb 1988, must have been lost in the back
Alan
Hi Alan, I think it all reverts to -001 at the beginning of each year, the date code moves on to the next letter in the alphabet. Not model specific, your's was the 148th TVR to be built in 1988 I believe. They were busy then.I have no 148 but not registered until Feb 1988, must have been lost in the back
Alan
Year code 1987 - HB
1988 - HC...?
Hope this makes sense.
Must dash, off on holiday in the morning.
ETA I may be wrong, it's happened once or twice, but I think it's explained in the S. H. Bible
Edited by glenrobbo on Sunday 16th September 20:59
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