Why a wedge?

[JumboBeef]

I have always wanted a wedge, since my girlfriend* at the time worked for a dealer in B'ham who sold/raced wedges (and other cars, incl Jags). I remember sitting a brand new wedge in the showroom in about 1985 and dying to own one (and then driving home in my 1974 1.6 Capri )

Fastforward 20 odd years, two children and two marriages later, and I find myself in the position to be able to spend a few grand on a 'toy', I have the space to keep it, and the time to tinker. But, at the grand old age of mid 40s, do I still want one?

Why did you buy a wedge over whatever else is out there?

*she dumped me for the bosses son who I believe she is still married to, more than 20 years on.

Edited by JumboBeef on Thursday 12th November 20:36

[Waynester]

We all have similar stories....me, i used to live in a smallish village called Fernhurst during the '80s. There was a TVR dealership (still is) right opposite where i lived. In fact the school bus stop was right outside the showroom window!

I would spend ages staring into that showroom, TVR heaven! I remember white Wedges and red interiors....i was 13ish...and just loved watching & listening.

I also always promised myself i would own a wedge. I'm now on my 5th TVR, 4th Wedge! Still love them!




Do it man - you only live once!

[combine]

I found a pic I took a of a wedge on the Tvr stand at the Birmingham motor show in the early eighties , remember sitting in it !

[C O Jones]

I went to the launch of the Turbo AlphaSud at Bell & Colville and saw an Esprit Turbo in the flesh (Essex livery, numbered) for the first time.

I wanted one!

6 years later I had enough cash for a decent downpayment that would let me afford the repayments so we went to Mike Spence Lotus in Shinfield. We found that we both hated the Lotus then and went away disappointed.

I had a lump of money sitting in the Bradford & Bingley shouting "Spend Me!, Spend Me!" so I went looking for something - this was early 1985.

I tried to buy an XJS convertible but the delivery times were extended.

I visited Jem Marsh in Wiltshire and asked if he would be producing a soft-top, he replied that he would never build a convertible - there was one on the market within a year.

Morgan had a 7 year waiting list.

We went to the Motor Show and saw the TVR stand, instantly struck by the 350 and then found about the 390SE which we duly ordered from Drakes Broughton.

TVR let me spec a two-tone full leather interior at no extra cost (over normal full leather) and a few other extras so we ended up picking the car up in October '85. They made me pay an extra £500 for the Torsen diff (which was supposed to be standard) and supplied the car with a space saver which I refused to accept. Luckily there was an earlier 390 (TVR Owner's ?) which was in there so they ended up nicking the full-sized spare from that.

Sorry for the saga.

That's why I bought a Wedge. That's why I've still got it.

Russ Wood (TVR 3X)

[chedder]

1980 I used to get the bus to College and there was a gorgeous silver Tasmin 280 dhc always parked across the road from the bus stop every morning, promised myself that I would get one someday, fastforward 20 years to 2000 driving home one Sunday afternoon and there on the grass verge at the side of a road was a 1980 silver wedge dhc (complete shed), piece of cardboard propped on the side declared it was for sale 'offers' deal done within 24hrs completely clueless as to what needed doing.
9 years, a steep learning curve and plenty of skinned knuckles later it's still mine and it's 29 years old on Saturday!

Chedder

[adam quantrill]

In 1983 or thereabouts I was watching the motor show on a poxy 14" portable colour telly in my student flat, and they showed a white wedge - I was instantly struck by the sharpness of the look - it was probably a Tasmin 200 or something.

This must have stuck in my brain somehow, because 10 or 12 years later when I was looking for a car to upgrade to from the Rover P6 3500S the Wedge seemed to be the obvious choice - and I could afford the 10 grand too (as a company car, mind ;^)

I'm on my third Wedge now and have never looked back. I test drove a Griff once but it just didn't do it for me...

[grahamw48]

I remember the Wedges first coming out, and didn't like the new shape...preferred the earlier rounded ones,Taimars,etc.

Really got to like them when the 'muscular' blokes' sort of cars, the 390s, SEACs, etc came along....now that was more like it.

20 years on, as the most tight fisted power-hungry Tyke around, then please tell me of a cheaper, faster, more exclusive convertible in existence ?

Eta: ....and not forgetting...the NOISE !

Edited by grahamw48 on Thursday 12th November 23:26

[350zwelgje]

One word: NOISE
Can be extended to two words: best NOISE.

Rob

[Wedg1e]

Saw an advert over my dad's shoulder when the convertible Wedge was launched; at the time it was the only car on the UK market where the drophead was cheaper than the hardtop! From memory £8995 versus £9995, or thereabouts.
Got my chance when I'd had enough of the company taking the p155 and making me use my own car for service jobs all over the UK, when the directors kept buying themselves new cars but wouldn't spring for a van.
I told them my Renault 25 had died, sold it and was going to buy another bike until the then g/f gave me the evil eye so I opted for the next best thing, a 4-wheeled bike
Now I'm onto my second Wedge, 4th company van and as the kids have grown, have a bike as well

[jmorgan]

Styling, noise, hooligan approach. Think I wrote some prosaic clap trap somewhere on tinternet.

Edit. Found it, go on, have a larf...... Clicky

Edited by jmorgan on Friday 13th November 15:49

[convert]

Saw one at a motorshow and my jaw just dropped.

Forgot all about them for a good few years.

Lost my mum a few years ago, and decided fk it, I'll spend some money on a fun car. Started off looking @ MX5's and MGF's. Then saw a Wedge for sale on fleabay. Got a couple of insurance quotes and the Wedge was cheaper than any of the Nicky Clarke specials.

Went to look at theat first one (about a 150 mile round trip) It had no MOT or TAX, and it'd been stood for over a year. It fired first turn of the key, the NOISE just sold me on a Wedge. I didn't buy that one though I did go back for a second look at it. Timed to perfection; the owner had it booked in for an MOT and agreed that I could nip to the test station and take a look. It failed on an exhaust mounting and a broken coil spring. Spoke to the owner and asked where he was getting the new springs from. He said it didn't need a pair just one. I walked away.

Looked at a few others before buying the White one in my profile.

Got to admit though if I won the lottery I would swap it... For a SEAC

[Mike Blake]

I've been driving my wedge for nearly 20 years and still love the sound it makes when I start it up and take it out.
Call me old fashioned but I think the styling is great as well!
The 2.8 may not be the quickest machine around but it's great for putting that silly grin on your face like this

[peaktorque]

I live very near a TVR dealer (WLA then Waldonway) and my dad has owned three TVRs (Cerb 4.2, T350T, back to Cerb 4.5)

I love TVRs, but despite earning a decent wage, I find all my hard earned disappearing into the house, the kids or my wifes credit card bills , which left no money for exciting cars.

An engine less Wedge came up on ebay last year and for some reason I ended up winning it. To be fair I don't like the looks, (although it's better than the S), but it's dirt cheap to run, fun and always needs fixing a bit of improvement here and there. Which makes it perfect for me

Although I can see a Cerbera on the cards

[Pilo-Wedgebits]

When I was young my sister's boyfriend had a TR7 and i fell in love with the shape of it
Then my mates dad got a 350i and that was it - i was bought.

I was halfway there some 15 years ago when I bought a TR7 V8 Grinnell conversion - the noise was great, the car was cr@p

Later came a FHC 280i, One pile of 350i bits and now an 1988 350i i still love the shape and of course the music.

A V8 has to be one of the best sounds on the planet

The other really great thing about a Wedge is the social aspect. I have met lots of great people on here and in the flesh - its like being a part of a large extended family..


Long may it continue

Shaun

[Brap_Brap]

[quote]Why did you buy a wedge over whatever else is out there?
[/quote]

Stupidity. At least in the case of MY wedge. Others I'm sure would have been less hassle