what can I expect from a 390
Discussion
I note that you're also looking at an Esprit Turbo; the cornering is never going to match one of those but it's pretty good. Bad handling is almost always down to needing new springs, dampers, bushes and a good set up. I heard on Tuesday that the factory are currently burning the last of the wedge moulds you you might get one cheap there if you're quick, other than that TET mouldings is a good place to start. Is it just the fibreglass that's damaged?
>> Edited by 19560 on Sunday 19th September 12:49
>> Edited by 19560 on Sunday 19th September 12:49
I reckon it probably is an early 390 - in '85 they wouldn't have made many, and it would have been selling on the engine, not the looks.
Ignoring the sad flare on the leading edge of the front wheelarch (which I have seen before, also a version of the front bumper that incorporated the flare)... the front bumper is correct, as is the rear (lower) wing, note the twin tailpipes. My '87 car only has one large-bore pipe, the orifice for the other is blanked. So if the white car got the spoiler off a 390, it got the pipe as well. The boot spoiler is of course 400SE, and many a 350 et al has had one of those retro-fitted.
The early cars definitely didn't get the 'fatter' louvred bonnet, so no problems with that.... and the sills look like those on my car without the flares, so again, no arguments there.
The giveaway would be the engine number/ markings; we know the early 390s had the same rear suspension as a 350, so as long as it has a 3.9 in it, it's no more of a dodgy car than when TVR themselves first started doing the SE (boot spoiler aside). Indeed if it's a tuned NCK motor, it may be a wolf in , er, wolf's clobber....
My only reservation is the rear bumper and the shape of the shell around it: later cars have the shell cut away such that the bumper 'replaces' it; on the white car it's a 350 rear end with a wrap-around bumper - but not one that I've seen many of, so it may be an interim styling.
Perhaps reference to Streaky's and/or Firefox's cars may shed some light....
Ignoring the sad flare on the leading edge of the front wheelarch (which I have seen before, also a version of the front bumper that incorporated the flare)... the front bumper is correct, as is the rear (lower) wing, note the twin tailpipes. My '87 car only has one large-bore pipe, the orifice for the other is blanked. So if the white car got the spoiler off a 390, it got the pipe as well. The boot spoiler is of course 400SE, and many a 350 et al has had one of those retro-fitted.
The early cars definitely didn't get the 'fatter' louvred bonnet, so no problems with that.... and the sills look like those on my car without the flares, so again, no arguments there.
The giveaway would be the engine number/ markings; we know the early 390s had the same rear suspension as a 350, so as long as it has a 3.9 in it, it's no more of a dodgy car than when TVR themselves first started doing the SE (boot spoiler aside). Indeed if it's a tuned NCK motor, it may be a wolf in , er, wolf's clobber....
My only reservation is the rear bumper and the shape of the shell around it: later cars have the shell cut away such that the bumper 'replaces' it; on the white car it's a 350 rear end with a wrap-around bumper - but not one that I've seen many of, so it may be an interim styling.
Perhaps reference to Streaky's and/or Firefox's cars may shed some light....
Can't offer advice on what driving a 390 is like, but the damage to that car looks pretty much the same as I had to mt 280 earlier this year. Getting repaired at the moment bt RT Racing. They've had the car for about 15 weeks or so now, but should be getting it back any day now. Cost of repair £3200 
I can do a 350 front end which will fit a 390 but have to cut it off a car first so e mail for a price!
That is one seriously early 390 on Universals site - With the twin pipes and a 3905 engine it could even be a trailing arm 390 (not a problem - just and observation). Wonder how good the engine is. Probably worth max £800 as it'll cost upwards of £2.5k to sort and with a Cat C record it'll struggle to sell for more than £3.5k in future. IMHO of course.
TaS
>> Edited by tasmania on Thursday 23 September 18:38
That is one seriously early 390 on Universals site - With the twin pipes and a 3905 engine it could even be a trailing arm 390 (not a problem - just and observation). Wonder how good the engine is. Probably worth max £800 as it'll cost upwards of £2.5k to sort and with a Cat C record it'll struggle to sell for more than £3.5k in future. IMHO of course.
TaS
>> Edited by tasmania on Thursday 23 September 18:38
Looks like its new owner wants shot of it already:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=18308&item=2492704209&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=18308&item=2492704209&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW
aldersd said:
Looks like its new owner wants shot of it already:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=18308&item=2492704209&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW
Looks like he buys to sell - see other items under this seller
19560 said:
Looks like it was £1,100 www.universal-auctions.co.uk/cgi-bin/osa/ViewPage.cgi?templateName=item_form.htx&itemNumber=726050
Jonathan, thanks. Seems cheap if there are no other problems than the front end damage. Bit worrying the statement about the oil cooler being damaged.......
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