How many wedges are there still on the road

[cdt]

After seeing the Griif thread, I wondered how many wedges there were made and how many are still around?

[wedg1e]

Last time we did this, IIRC it was about 2500 made (over 11-12 years) and about 60% survive. There are a lot that don't come out very often. I know of three wedges in my area whose owners aren't on here, so PH isn't even a guide.

[Graham]

Well I know of 21 that were converted to racers, although about 80% of those converted wern't runners at the time...

Of those 21, 2 have been written off, 1 scrapped and one broken for spares...

Others I know off.

my spare tasmin rag top in a lock up somewhere
The body used for Steve Halls Thorpedo
The s1 body chassis that went on ebay for about 30 quid !!!



Cheers

Graham

[JR]

1,500 seems to ring a bell. That's more like 2.5% p.a. attrition rate which appears to me to be a much more likely figure than the oft quoted 10% which would leave us with less than 400 cars.

[taimar78]

Yes, I would definitely debate the 10% or 400 cars theory because we probably have that many wedges just here in North America. I would feel far more confidient of the 60% speculation.

[wedg1e]

Graham said:

Well I know of 21 that were converted to racers, although about 80% of those converted wern't runners at the time... Of those 21, 2 have been written off, 1 scrapped and one broken for spares... Others I know off. my spare tasmin rag top in a lock up somewhere The body used for Steve Halls Thorpedo The s1 body chassis that went on ebay for about 30 quid !!! Cheers Graham

HHC also have one or two sat around, including my old Tasmin...

[thomr]

Based on this information from the Oxfordshire TVRCC website, it seems that 2,337 were produced, but as to how many are left ...........

www.tvrccoxford.co.uk/timeline.html

I find this a useful chart.


>> Edited by thomr on Tuesday 24th January 12:19

>> Edited by thomr on Tuesday 24th January 12:20

[islander]

A website called the Wegister was being set up last time I looked it was still in the Work in Progress Stage, I think between us we could have a good go at answering this question.

[taimar78]

I just went through my wedge registry that I have been keeping for the past 14 years, and I have documented photographs of 300 Wedges, and that's just a portion of those that I have documented that I don't have photos of. Maybe that will help a little bit.

[l33]

Well, the wedge population is one less now as I am guilty of killing a wedge today
It was mortally wounded a few years ago but now, after having its heart ripped out and being raped for all its useful and pretty bits, its finally dead and has gone to that big wedge graveyard in the sky (Well, in Birmingham actually).

Its a sad day and yes, before you ask, I do feel guilty

Look on the bright side guys, er.... er..... erm... yer... erm....

[islander]

Taimar - I think we would all be interested in more info on your records please tell us more!

[wedg1e]

taimar78 said:

I just went through my wedge registry that I have been keeping for the past 14 years, and I have documented photographs of 300 Wedges, and that's just a portion of those that I have documented that I don't have photos of. Maybe that will help a little bit.

Duplicates?

[taimar78]

As I mentioned, I have photos with serial numbers assigned to some 300 wedges in my files. I haven't had a chance to go through my written registry to count how many cars I have listed there. Most of those are North American cars that I have tracked over the years. When I have time, I'll count those up and give you an idea.
This whole project started several years after I bought my 1983 Tasmin convertible in 1988 and then it grew from a Wedge registry, into a Model Registry for the TVRCC North America and has basically become a sickness. There is no end to a project like this, and it's very difficult to keep it current, since you are at the mercy of owners to report when they buy or sell a car.
Nonetheless, I keep at it, as an obsessive TVR fanatic.

[shpub]

JR said:

1,500 seems to ring a bell. That's more like 2.5% p.a. attrition rate which appears to me to be a much more likely figure than the oft quoted 10% which would leave us with less than 400 cars.

The calcs are quite complicated because the build happened over 13 years and to be accurate the depreciation has to be calculated for each year based on the numbers before and the numbers after. You can't take 2500 and apply 10% depreciation every year. The depreciation is around 5% on average for TVRs but there have been some heavy years where a lot of cars have been written off. A lot of the early cars have gone. The later ones have stayed around because they are worth more and people are prepared to keep them going.

As for an exact figure. I doubt it can be found TBH. My own feeling/guestimate is around 1000.... and getting smaller...

[JR]

This is a difficult question because of the large number of cars not belonging to clubs and totally inactive and it really needs a dedicated registrar. The maths is not as daunting as it seems, especially to get a good approximation and becomes easier as time moves on. Wedges were only built in any real numbers 82-89 (87?) and at 5% numbers will halve every 14 years. I think that we're quite close in opinion here really. I tend to think that 5% is still a touch high (and I note that you did say about 5%) but if the total number surviving is less than 1000 it may well be correct.

[txcoyote]

So, is the Wedgister up and running?