Found in a shed
Discussion
I've found a TVR Tasmin convertible, X-reg, about 50 thousand on the clock. It has been left untouched, roof off for at least seven years, during which time the shed has collapsed around it. Looks like the owner was changing the stereo over when they got bored, so wires and oddments are hanging out of the centre console.
Though it seems to be dry (the seats aren't rotten), the tires are all flat and I guess it would need a good deal of preparation before even daring to turn the engine over. I haven't had a chance to talk with the owner properly, though they are apparently interested in selling it. So, apart from a surface inspection, I haven't been able to find out if it can be moved, or even look underneath it.
So - my questions.
I assume this must be a 280i?? The boot just says Tasmin.
I can't imagine that a full restoration would be cost effective - at a rough guess the 280i is worth about 3 grand? Just seeing to tires, brakes/suspension, exhaust (probably), new battery, general electrics and getting the engine running would eat up most of that. That doesn't allow for general cosmetics (seats, paint, any problems with hood) and 'unforseen' problems - chassis, drivetrain and so on.
Would the engine require an unleaded conversion?
What is this about rear wheels falling off?
Anything else I should know, or any thoughts?
Though it seems to be dry (the seats aren't rotten), the tires are all flat and I guess it would need a good deal of preparation before even daring to turn the engine over. I haven't had a chance to talk with the owner properly, though they are apparently interested in selling it. So, apart from a surface inspection, I haven't been able to find out if it can be moved, or even look underneath it.
So - my questions.
I assume this must be a 280i?? The boot just says Tasmin.
I can't imagine that a full restoration would be cost effective - at a rough guess the 280i is worth about 3 grand? Just seeing to tires, brakes/suspension, exhaust (probably), new battery, general electrics and getting the engine running would eat up most of that. That doesn't allow for general cosmetics (seats, paint, any problems with hood) and 'unforseen' problems - chassis, drivetrain and so on.
Would the engine require an unleaded conversion?
What is this about rear wheels falling off?
Anything else I should know, or any thoughts?
I sold my '80 Tasmin (a fixed-head) for just over 2 grand a couple of years back. I've heard of cars in useable condition going for £1500.
X reg would make it '82: that would be before the 350 came out (though it could be an early one?).
My car had an £800 respray just to make it look tidy - it was far from immaculate elsewhere.
The Ford engine is supposed to require an unleaded conversion: a quicker (and probably cheaper) option is to find some post-85 cylinder heads from an XR4i or similar which were UL-ready.
The rear wheels don't fall off unless you keep re-using the hub nuts, don't use the correct torque and/or dump the clutch every time you set off.
I'd be offering £500 and getting ready to walk away.
Ian
X reg would make it '82: that would be before the 350 came out (though it could be an early one?).
My car had an £800 respray just to make it look tidy - it was far from immaculate elsewhere.
The Ford engine is supposed to require an unleaded conversion: a quicker (and probably cheaper) option is to find some post-85 cylinder heads from an XR4i or similar which were UL-ready.
The rear wheels don't fall off unless you keep re-using the hub nuts, don't use the correct torque and/or dump the clutch every time you set off.
I'd be offering £500 and getting ready to walk away.
Ian
I bought my 2+2 for £1500. Spent about £1000 on parts, suspension, steel for outriggers and a MIG welder which doesn't really count I guess! Electrics were all a bit dodgy but just required time and lots of patience. Prob another £500 on tyres and general service items and she'll be roadworthy.
The interior is a state and will either cost me lots to get done or will require me to get good at upholstery!
Next one I get (want a V8 convertible wedge) I'll make sure interior is good and the rest I'm less bothered about if price is right!
Depends how much and what work you can or are prepared to do yourself?
cheers
Dave
The interior is a state and will either cost me lots to get done or will require me to get good at upholstery!
Next one I get (want a V8 convertible wedge) I'll make sure interior is good and the rest I'm less bothered about if price is right!
Depends how much and what work you can or are prepared to do yourself?
cheers
Dave
I was thinking that £500 would be a bit steep.. I've already got a good sportscar, so this would just be for the fun of it. If it's going to involve me spending thousands just to get a runner, I'm not interested.
On the other hand, a few hundred for a summer 'fun car' seems quite reasonable.
On the other hand, a few hundred for a summer 'fun car' seems quite reasonable.
£500 sounds a bit steep to me - but it depends on if you've got £500 burning a hole in your pocket. I reckon you'd be doing them a favour just taking it away. There are quite a few Nice 280's for sale at the moment for less than it would cost you to get that up to the same condition.
It would be a shame to see a wedge allowed to disintegrate so I'd offer a token £150 (and be getting ready to walk away!)
It would be a shame to see a wedge allowed to disintegrate so I'd offer a token £150 (and be getting ready to walk away!)
Bargains are out there. I bought a 280i FHC for £400 a couple of years ago - tatty as anything but a runner - sold it recently. I replaced it with a 350 drop head series 1, for "a song". Tatty non-runner. It's a runner now and needs a clean inside but it's tidy underneath and outside. I'm not using it and have had a couple of offers on it - rose tinted Wedge glasses stop me from selling it as because it was cheap it'd be a good track day toy but guess I need to take the spec's off and get ride. Your X plate sounds like it'll take a few hours to move from the shed so you'd be doing them a favour. Have a look underneath and see if the chassis is sound - check for mice/rats in the workings! I'd say £100 max if you have to extract it!
GB
GB
Ironically, of course, it's this kind of cut-throat buying that leads people to expect the prices to drop, so we all moan our tits off at selling time.
I paid £2100 for my Tsmin (chassis #36) in '96; I sold it for £2050 five years later. Including the £800 respray, I'd spent about another £2000 on it, and that includes all consumables, MOTs, chassis repairs, replacement engine, seats, front bumper, lots of odds'n'ends. OK I was lucky and got some bits cheap (like the seats - a tenner!); I didn't have a MIG so I fabricated the bits and a mate did the bulk of the welding. Now I have two MIGs and did all the chassis work on my 390 (saving hundreds - the Tas cost me a few beers to have the welding done :-) ). I repaired the saggy seats and the rest of the interior was basically OK apart from the headcloth.
I could probably spend another 2 grand on my 390 just to tart it up, but I'm not going to. I'm more concerned that it goes well and hangs together. To be fair I concur with the 'cheap as possible' brigade in a way: the Tasmin is well-outclassed in terms of power nowadays; its only saving grace is rarity, but whether you think the investment is worth it is your choice.
Ian
I paid £2100 for my Tsmin (chassis #36) in '96; I sold it for £2050 five years later. Including the £800 respray, I'd spent about another £2000 on it, and that includes all consumables, MOTs, chassis repairs, replacement engine, seats, front bumper, lots of odds'n'ends. OK I was lucky and got some bits cheap (like the seats - a tenner!); I didn't have a MIG so I fabricated the bits and a mate did the bulk of the welding. Now I have two MIGs and did all the chassis work on my 390 (saving hundreds - the Tas cost me a few beers to have the welding done :-) ). I repaired the saggy seats and the rest of the interior was basically OK apart from the headcloth.
I could probably spend another 2 grand on my 390 just to tart it up, but I'm not going to. I'm more concerned that it goes well and hangs together. To be fair I concur with the 'cheap as possible' brigade in a way: the Tasmin is well-outclassed in terms of power nowadays; its only saving grace is rarity, but whether you think the investment is worth it is your choice.
Ian
Ian,
I agree with you - it's a problem these Wedges and prices. The question is do we try and beat it or do we join in. Unfortunately if you don't join in you loose out
The top end of Wedge prices seem to have taken a bit of a beating due to the cheap Chimps/Grifs due to the arrival of the new Tiv models, this seems to have cascaded through the range though good 350 series 2's seem to be hanging in there. My 400 was £9,250 last year, cost £2k in general keep it going (non-tarting) stuff such as a new cam and I only had interest at around £8k. Money was burning a hole so bought another Wedge
.(Yes - it's a hobby but it's very expensive!) IMHO the key is to weigh up the buy tatty plus get it going cost v's get a known runner (though you'll inevitably still have to spend some £ to get it how you want it). Can't find the thread elsewhere but think it was Steve (SHPUB) who said try and get as good a one as you can it'll be worth it in the long run, as said elswhere here there are some good value 280i's around at the moment.
GB
I agree with you - it's a problem these Wedges and prices. The question is do we try and beat it or do we join in. Unfortunately if you don't join in you loose out
The top end of Wedge prices seem to have taken a bit of a beating due to the cheap Chimps/Grifs due to the arrival of the new Tiv models, this seems to have cascaded through the range though good 350 series 2's seem to be hanging in there. My 400 was £9,250 last year, cost £2k in general keep it going (non-tarting) stuff such as a new cam and I only had interest at around £8k. Money was burning a hole so bought another Wedge.(Yes - it's a hobby but it's very expensive!) IMHO the key is to weigh up the buy tatty plus get it going cost v's get a known runner (though you'll inevitably still have to spend some £ to get it how you want it). Can't find the thread elsewhere but think it was Steve (SHPUB) who said try and get as good a one as you can it'll be worth it in the long run, as said elswhere here there are some good value 280i's around at the moment. GB
You are a bad bad person 
Breaking them is a PIA. I've had a couple of fixed heads for bits for my motorsport car project and have tried to sell stuff through Sprint. Could sell loads of seats, headlamp and window motors but all the other stuff is slow to move and I've now got two 1/2 FHC bodies (sold fronts to Taz racers - they keep driving into each other - if they reversed into each other I might sell the other half!) also still got a 280 chassis, a complete non-mot 350, and a shed load of stuff in the way but can't bring myself to junk it as I'm sure out there there's a Taz head who needs them. IMHO - don't buy a tatty job to break - (it'll not pay back quickly) or to re-build as it'll probably cost more than buying a good one.
GB
GB
I've heard lots of rumours that the Tasmin race series can yield bits. I'm either looking in the wrong places or am too slow but I've hardly seen much going. Peruse here, findit, Taz race website(out of date usually), anywhere else I'm missing? You be keeping that 350i in one piece, I want one when my impractical car (kit car) gets sold 
For bits via the Taz race boys try Richard or Paul at Moore racing. If they haven't got stuff they'll pass you on to one of there customers who usually strip there own cars. I got a hood to use as a mould for a hard top, via this route.
e mail me on my link (name) for more info on the 350.
GB
e mail me on my link (name) for more info on the 350.
GB
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