1990 400 SE

[flares&chestwig]

Have just inherited a 1990 400 SE. Its blue metallic and would describe in original condition, certainly not immaculate, but more a car which was used everyday. Is has H40OSE as the registration number. This car is not really me, so is the Piston Heads selling forum a good one to use ?

[simonb9]

This would be an ideal place to post an ad in the classified section. Obviously lots of TVR nuts on here and they know people that are after wedges.

Post some pictures in this thread of what you've inherited (you're not allowed to use the forum for selling) we would be more than interested to see what you've got..........(even though its not for sale yet)

Edited by simonb9 on Thursday 28th December 16:08

[flares&chestwig]

Thanks. Will post some pictures tomorrow as the light is now poor - would welcome back comments as no expert on these.

But man alive, does it sound the nuts and go like stink (Wife, Children and Neighbours hate it) - Maybe I should keep it.

[simonb9]

[quote=flares&chestwig]Thanks. Will post some pictures tomorrow as the light is now poor - would welcome back comments as no expert on these.

But man alive, does it sound the nuts and go like stink (Wife, Children and Neighbours hate it) - Maybe I should keep it. [/quote]

Keep it, keep it, KEEP IT ...........

[jvaughan]

I know that car. Ive seen it a few times over the years.

[chunder]

I have also seen that car a few times - it was featured in a Sprint article about a type of paint protection sealant - also passed me a few times at a Castle Combe trackday in 1997. Well sorted car back then.

Didn't someone else ask about the history of this car on this forum 12 - 18 mths ago ?

[rev-erend]

[quote=flares&chestwig]Thanks. Will post some pictures tomorrow as the light is now poor - would welcome back comments as no expert on these.

But man alive, does it sound the nuts and go like stink (Wife, Children and Neighbours hate it) - Maybe I should keep it. [/quote]

Keep it - annoy the neighbours.. and sell it in the summer if you don't like it

[paulg390]

when you say "inherited" I hope this doesn't mean something awful has happened to the previous owner as I'm 99.9% sure I followed this car and chatted to the owner on the Wycombe to BBWF run this year

[flares&chestwig]

Not sure when that particular run was, but the onwer of H40SE died in April this year.

I now have the car but unsure what to do with it. Guy round the corner from me owns a 450SE, both he and I had a good look round it and its in very good order. If I knew how to up load pics, I would share these.

[Flares&Chestwig]

Have posted a picture in my members profile.

One thing the guy with the 450SE said about it was shame about the wheels ?
Its got some cross spokes on it, where he suggests it would originally had some OZ's

Also it missing the lower half of the plastic cowling from around the steering column. Its been suggested that this is from a Ford Granada, can anyone confirm this and what model.

Took me ages how to open the boot and having a different key to open the car to the ignition key is a bit monkey, but again been suggested they are all like that.

[Flares&Chestwig]

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[digga951]

The wheels were fitted to a limited run of the 350SE (25 cars made, not all of them had the wheels), and are in effect much, much rarer than the 5 spoke O.Z's which were most likely fitted to the car when new. Many people actually don't like the wheels, so even though they are hens teeth, the price doesn't reflect it. Whatever you do, don't bin then if you source a set of 5 spokes - lots of people on this forum would probably like a spare or 2 of the multispokes!

The steering column is indeed Granada/Escort. Im not sure if there are subtle differences between the 2, but a good scrappy with turn one up for you. I think it started making an appearence on the Wedges in the very late 80's, so a similar vintage Ford will be a good place to start (Mk4 escort???).

[leorest]

The parts bin saucing of door locks and ignition keys never quite synchronised over the production run so any Wedges out there that share one key to do both jobs are likely not standard. ...All part of the charm of ‘em.

[wedg1e]

[quote=Flares&Chestwig]

... and having a different key to open the car to the ignition key is a bit monkey, but again been suggested they are all like that.[/quote]

... and quite common on cars from around the world in the pre-blandly-efficient-mundanomobile era.

One positive aspect is that if you were to snap a key in the door lock, you'd still be able to drive the car, wouldn't you...

Given that the world and his wife carry a mobile phone, laptop, wallet full of plastic; one more key is hardly an inconvenience.

[number 7]

IIRC the 350SE wheels were only 7 x 15, rather than the 8 (or 8.5) x 15 of the 400 / 450. If you're going to keep it, I'd suggest reverting to the standard size (or larger) wheels, although finding a set of true OZ rims of the correct type would be almost impossible. Maybe one or more of the original wheels got dinged, necessitating a complete change all round.

7.

[flares&chestwig]

Your correct, have ascertained that the original near side front OZ wheel was
destroyed following a bit of a moment. So the spokes where put on as trying to find another OZ was not possible.

Trying to ascertain what happended to the other original 3 OZ wheels, could well be still in the garage

[cdt]

digga951 said:

The wheels were fitted to a limited run of the 350SE (25 cars made, not all of them had the wheels)

Were the wheels an option on the 350SE, or where they standard and some owners choose to have different wheels at the factory?

[tvrleigh]

Hi Sorry to hear about the loss of the owner, car looks like its been looked after, have seen the car several times overs the years, as have had mine for 10 years, and is same colour. allways liked the number plate.
you should keep it for a bit and have a bit of fun, as they have a great grin factor. may be worth getting some 16's for the rear, if you can find 2 good 15's as there are 4 16's up for sale but 2 are spoken for, so you would have to be quick.

[badredwedge]

tvrleigh said:

4 16's up for sale but 2 are spoken for, so you would have to be quick.

Who has 2 16s up fro grabs ??

[digga951]

cdt said:

digga951 said:

The wheels were fitted to a limited run of the 350SE (25 cars made, not all of them had the wheels)

Were the wheels an option on the 350SE, or where they standard and some owners choose to have different wheels at the factory?

The multispoke SE wheels were standard issue on the 350SE's I think, and are mentioned as such in a press release from the factory at the time (will dig it out when I remember where I've filed it). I know of at least two 350SE's which left the factory with the normal 350i multispoke wheels though, and I dare say there could have been more. Perhaps the customers just prefered the look of the original wheels over the 350SE ones. RT Racing also stocked the remaining 350SE wheels a few years ago, so perhaps some of them have found their way onto other Wedges. A couple of the 350SE's have been broken too, so once again their wheels may have found new homes.

They are indeed 7 x 15's, so narrower than the 400SE/450SE 5 spoke OZ's. I also notice some 350i's in the classifieds from time to time wearing the 5 spoke OZ's too, however there seem to be narrower. Did they make the OZ's in 7 x 15 too? The faces of them just seem to be less deep than those on the 400/450's. Perhaps its just a trick of the light though.

Oh, and I understand that Merc wheels have the same bolt pattern. Did RT not source some alternative 5 spoke wheels which look a lot like the original 400/450 ones?