Are earlier wedges better built?

[GBinUSA]

Looking at the 280i that are available in the US, I'm seeing differences in the build quiality between S1.5 cars (1985) and S2 cars (1986). You would think the S2 would be better. On the S2, the fiberglass weave is very apparent and when looking down the side of the car you can clearly see ripples in the body. S1.5 bodies are much straighter. It's like the factory just stopped blocking the bodies and went for a quick sand and shoot instead. Also the door, bonnet and boot gaps are much tighter and consistent on the S1.5. The infamous rear body sag seen on S2 cars doesn't seem to happen to earlier cars. It's like the S1.5 is bolted together with a bit more care and attention. Or could it be they reduced the production hours on the S2 to try to increase profits.

[bradderztvr]

I would agree. The earlier 350's have better fibre and paint finishes. Appears that as production increased the quality dropped off.

[KKson]

Wedges have feelings too. Series 2 cars are just as lovely and special as earlier ones.

[bradderztvr]

Pmls....you know I'm biased to my old girl.

[ElvisWedgely]

I believe that quality was fairly consistent throughout production and that the later ones had very similar finish quality as the earlier cars. They really had no reason to cut corners as these were totally hand built cars for which financially previlaged customers were paying high prices. Don't forget that these cars are now around thirty years old and the finish you are looking at on the Wedges today are probably ones that have had after market work carried out of a poorer quality.

Tony.TCB.

[GBinUSA]

Wedges here in the States tend to be very low mileage examples and accident free. For example, I'm currently looking at two cars 1) 1986 S2 with 21400 miles and 2) 1985 S1.5 with 31000 miles. Both have had no bodywork and are what could be described as survivors. They are also both red. Red paint doesn't fair well in sunny climates and normally suffers from a pinky discoloration. The S2 has been repainted but otherwise is original. I've not seen them in the flesh yet, I see the S1.5 tomorrow, but it's evident in the photographs the sellers have sent me that there is a clear difference in the bodywork. I owned an 86 S2 some years ago and that had very visible weave patterns and ripples. The fiberglass of the main body seems to have been laid up very thickly on the S2. If I was to place a bet, I would wager that something changed in the manufacturing process and that is what resulted in the difference in the finishes.

I'm very keen to see the S1.5 as it has been described as in pristine condition and comes with the original manuals and books. Also one owner for 29 years. The S2 however has one of the cleanest chassis I ever seen in a photograph and has a really super interior. Red dash and carpets with magnolia leather seats with red piping. The S1.5 has the more low key traditional tan interior.

[ElvisWedgely]

GBinUSA said:

Wedges here in the States tend to be very low mileage examples and accident free. For example, I'm currently looking at two cars 1) 1986 S2 with 21400 miles and 2) 1985 S1.5 with 31000 miles. Both have had no bodywork and are what could be described as survivors. They are also both red. Red paint doesn't fair well in sunny climates and normally suffers from a pinky discoloration. The S2 has been repainted but otherwise is original. I've not seen them in the flesh yet, I see the S1.5 tomorrow, but it's evident in the photographs the sellers have sent me that there is a clear difference in the bodywork. I owned an 86 S2 some years ago and that had very visible weave patterns and ripples. The fiberglass of the main body seems to have been laid up very thickly on the S2. If I was to place a bet, I would wager that something changed in the manufacturing process and that is what resulted in the difference in the finishes.

I'm very keen to see the S1.5 as it has been described as in pristine condition and comes with the original manuals and books. Also one owner for 29 years. The S2 however has one of the cleanest chassis I ever seen in a photograph and has a really super interior. Red dash and carpets with magnolia leather seats with red piping. The S1.5 has the more low key traditional tan interior.

I am sure that the two cars you are describing are of an exceptional quality. I would imagine Wedges are rare in the USA and well looked after and preserved. Having said that, in use, the heat and the sun can be just as destructive as the cold and the snow here in the UK. Not to mention the long distances and and outer city dirt roads of the USA. The build quality of the TVR was never anything exceptional from new. Especially the fiberglass finish. Though I believe they had consistency in the build quality throughout the years, as with any other hand built fibre glass car, they were never the most reliable or the smoothest finish, even compared to other manufacturers such as Lotus etc. TVR was an expensive, specialist car for the financially privilaged, but also a small private company that needed to keep producing to survive. Hence why the cars vary even in the use of components, as production had to carry on with what was available at the time.
If the cars you are describing turn out to be as good in reality when you see them, then that is a rarerity in itself and well worth buying and preserving. Sounds to me very interesting. Take a few pictures when you view them and put them on this forum for us to see. TVR,s are fun to own and drive and you can get all the information you need here. I wish you good luck in your purchase and hope that it all goes well.

Tony. TCB.

[bobs280i]

That's interesting? Guess I will be looking for this at car shows this year now ...my usa s2 1986 is not to bad but not dead straight. So I would think they had a different moulds apart from doors ..boot n bonnet because the flares around the wheel arches? ? Good luck on you car hunt mate ...you do see a few good ones over here
Bob

[Wedg1e]

bobs280i said:

That's interesting? Guess I will be looking for this at car shows this year now ...my usa s2 1986 is not to bad but not dead straight. So I would think they had a different moulds apart from doors ..boot n bonnet because the flares around the wheel arches? ? Good luck on you car hunt mate ...you do see a few good ones over here
Bob

If you look closely you may well find that the flared arches were built-up onto the shell once the two halves were bonded together... otherwise TVR would have had to have several different body moulds for the varies styles in parallel production. Look under a 390SE with the sills off and you can see how they did it.

TVR's fibreglass was no better or worse than Lotus or Ginetta, or several other small-volume kit manufacturers for that matter. The only cars I've seen where the GRP is substantially better are Nobles; the first time I saw one I thought the shell was made of aluminium, the shut-lines were that crisp.

[bradderztvr]

I've understood there is a common belief that there was a little more attention to build quality of the first few of each model to encourage buyers, but then as production increased the attention to detail dropped off a little, but obviously still a high standard as you say for hand built cars. From experience you seem to see more rippling and later star cracking more so on the later cars. But in any case, what ever you own, be assured you own a piece of motor engineering history.
Roar on.

[bobs280i]

Did not know that 'wedg1e ...wish I had a 390se to dissect ...lol ' I have seen many older corvettes which make my wedge look straight. But all I know is when the spring rolls around the wedge gets tons off looks ' there's just not that many around here ...what a fun car to drive ( 2 more months to wait)

[Wedg1e]

bradderztvr said:

But in any case, what ever you own, be assured you own a piece of motor engineering history.
Roar on.

If you consider that TVR built about 2500 wedges and assume that after all these years each has had an average of ten owners, that's only about the population of a small town that has ever owned a TVR Wedge, in the entire history of the World

[adam quantrill]

Ian, that analysis is skewed because I have owned three, and I imagine a lot of owners have owned two ;^)