My 15 year old bought a Tasmin - roof and seats need work

[UKAuto]

My 15 year old just bought a 1983 Tasmin on the weekend. It needs a new roof, and wants seats recovered.
(Looking for Black).

Does anyone know a source for a new roof? Is it an easy install?

Less worried about seats, as local shop could do them; I doubt they sell re-cover sets, but would be glad to hear of some if I am wrong.

Cheers,

Rob

[voltage_maxx]

UKAuto said:

My 15 year old just bought a 1983 Tasmin on the weekend. It needs a new roof, and wants seats recovered.
(Looking for Black).

Does anyone know a source for a new roof? Is it an easy install?

Less worried about seats, as local shop could do them; I doubt they sell re-cover sets, but would be glad to hear of some if I am wrong.

Cheers,

Rob

Firstly, great that someone young is interested in these cars and not souped up Corsas and the like

Roof wise, if you want new, you'll probably have to go to a specialist and have one made up. That's probably about 300 quid

Alternately, it may be worth calling the specialist breakers such as Douglas Valley or Bell Hill to see if they've got a reasonable take off hood. Last time I was in touch with Douglas Valley they quoted me about £160 for a take-off used hood.

[Solitude]

he's in canada......no corsa's !!!

[UKAuto]

Solitude said:

he's in canada......no corsa's !!!

Every country has it's own Corsa substitute - I get it completely. My other son has a 1978 Mini, so dodged that bullet with both my kids!

Trying TVR North America, waiting for their quote; will try Douglas Valley - that's a good idea. If i can get someone to put it in a container with cars they are shipping I can get off cheap on the shipping, otherwise it could get rough.

Thanks for the advice!

[vonhazelwood]

You will be better off sourcing parts from the UK much cheaper than anything here especially as Marshall is not around anymore.. If you use DHL for shipping you can keep the cost way down.

Steve in Winnipeg

[UKAuto]

vonhazelwood said:

You will be better off sourcing parts from the UK much cheaper than anything here especially as Marshall is not around anymore.. If you use DHL for shipping you can keep the cost way down.

Steve in Winnipeg

Thanks Steve. I do find that John and Doug at TVR NA are reasonable; although clearly they do need to charge more for some items if they stock them - as they have a smaller pool of buyers. I am trying them first, but I am also digging overseas.

Cheers.

[vonhazelwood]

Richard Thorpe in Sheffield is good, so are TVR car parts. You should get a copy of Steve Heaths bible: https://delta.securesslhost.net/~shenglt/catalog/p...

[UKAuto]

Have Steve's book (two of them in fact).

I know the cars pretty well; between my 350i and my Tasmin I put 630,000 km on them so had LOTS of experience fixing them ;-)

[jeff m2]

vonhazelwood said:

You will be better off sourcing parts from the UK much cheaper than anything here especially as Marshall is not around anymore.. If you use DHL for shipping you can keep the cost way down.

Steve in Winnipeg

Sorry to jump off topic on OPs thread, but.....
Has Marshall ceased trading ?
Absent from Woodwork ?

[UKAuto]

jeff m2 said:

Sorry to jump off topic on OPs thread, but.....
Has Marshall ceased trading ?
Absent from Woodwork ?

Marshall was not at Woodwork, that is correct, I believe we will see him next year, it will be good to see him.

With respect to Marshall and the TVR Parts business he is still active, he sent a note a few days ago indicating that his full time job is taking up a lot of his time and energy, so for TVR stuff he is mainly reachable on Fridays and Saturdays (and some evenings after 6pm).

[UKAuto]

Here is Stirling's new car (after hours of polishing I might add!)




...and next to my Griffith...

[jeff m2]

UKAuto said:

jeff m2 said:

Sorry to jump off topic on OPs thread, but.....
Has Marshall ceased trading ?
Absent from Woodwork ?

Marshall was not at Woodwork, that is correct, I believe we will see him next year, it will be good to see him.

With respect to Marshall and the TVR Parts business he is still active, he sent a note a few days ago indicating that his full time job is taking up a lot of his time and energy, so for TVR stuff he is mainly reachable on Fridays and Saturdays (and some evenings after 6pm).

Thanks

[jeff m2]

UKAuto said:

Here is Stirling's new car (after hours of polishing I might add!)

That looks nice, what's the driving age up there in Canadia, poor kid must be chomping at the bit

Or has he been out for a short spin already...best you don't answer that

[Wacky Racer]

UKAuto said:

Here is Stirling's new car (after hours of polishing I might add!)




...and next to my Griffith...

Very very nice indeed.

[UKAuto]

jeff m2 said:

That looks nice, what's the driving age up there in Canadia, poor kid must be chomping at the bit

Or has he been out for a short spin already...best you don't answer that

Driven on private property, all legal, owners permission, ok, I assume the owners wouldn't mind - parking lot was wide open and empty. He gets his learner's permit in March, and has to wait 9 months to get his solo licence. So, once the snow clears he can drive with a licenced driver next to him - then spring of 2013 he can go solo

[Grady]

Would he like to come polish mine?

Let me know what you decide to do about the roof. Marshall has someone that made them up from his pattern but I think the price was $750 USD (or it might have gone up) plus $50 S&H. I emailed http://www.carhood.com/tvr/ 300 pounds and the shipping was another 100 (and the GB/USD was at about 2:1). I asked on PS and got cautioned that it's not that easy a job and if it didn't fit I'd be stuck - the thread should still be around. I got a crazy price of $2000 locally but I guess I'll need to ask around a bit more.

If you find someone, I'd take a look at having one made for me if that saves anything. Grady

[UKAuto]

Grady said:

Would he like to come polish mine?

Let me know what you decide to do about the roof. Marshall has someone that made them up from his pattern but I think the price was $750 USD

Long way to polish your car - but its warmer down there, so fly me in and consider it done!

So, back to reality, the roof. TVRNA is near the same price. They are on my way to work, so they are my most likely source. They also will install, and have done a number of them, so should do a good job. Installed price starts to climb, sounds like the better part of a day's work.

No big rush, winter is coming. We need to get the jobs lined up. Will be pulling the seats and the dash wood. Will pull carpets and use as patterns for new set, and then reveneer the dash. Roof can be done just as season is starting in the spring.


Cheers

Rob.

[Grady]

UKAuto said:

Roof can be done just as season is starting in the spring.

That's what I've been saying every year but that's also when I never have the top up. Grady