History please ! New tvr M owner

[Grassyknoll]

Hello,

I have just picked up a white 3000m from a dealer who took it in p/ex on an mx-5.

I have word of mouth history, some makes sense, some doesn't,

I also have some history in receipts back to 2004 and know who the last two owners were from the paperwork.

The car is from north west London according to the reg and, I have a paper reciept found under the carpet from a shop in ruislip dated 1984.
It has spent most of its life near the m40 High Wycombe.

The paper history tells me:
That it has very low mileage from 2004 onwards, being driven once a year to the service/ MOT place for its annual wiper blade replacement and brake overhaul with an MOT.
Then last year it was sold to a local guy who within 6 months moved it on to a dealer in surrey as a p-ex, so maybe it was tarted up and flipped... Or he gave up hope...

The verbal history from the dealer :
It is a low mileage (33,500) very original, unmolested 3000m
It was sold to the dealer as p-ex on an mx5 by an "older gentleman" who just didn't t get on with the seating position, driving style etc...
Prior to that it had been in one family for 35 years, passing from its original owner to his wife following divorce.

What I have found out so far:
It has a David Gerald badge on the windscreen but David Gerald didn't recognise the reg.
It has had a replacement bonnet fitted at some point
The diff has been "out" through a custom "hatch" in the rear ( cut rear panel)
It has had a "restoration" at some point, probably prior to 2004 but has been sitting in the open for 10 years at least.
Restoration involved a painted vinyl roof ( thankfully in black !), and a full respray in white (original colour) with a pale blue stripe. The paintwork is actually not bad, looks like a professional job judging by the overspray (that's not a criticism, it means I can see the different layers of coats in hidden away areas meaning they remasked as they went along)
It has had some extensive re-wiring, but I don' t think it is a professional job, some of it involved soldering wires together and brown masking tape, combined with halfords wire splicers.
I think the carpet was replaced during the rebuild in the past as the seatbelts are sunbleached grey/ white but the carpet is in pretty good condition where it has stayed dry, 10 years of water leaks through the roof and door seals has resulted in sopping carpets, and siezed roof, heavily stained lining etc...

I found an old archived gumtree ad of the same car from 2012, so maybe it was moved on by a dealer which doesn't show on the v5 ? I can only see the thumbnail of the ad so it is illegible sadly, and I have been unable to find it since.

The car sold on eBay beginning of the year but then was advertised on car and classic after the winning bidder withdrew. That's where I picked it up.

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C362930

Tvrcc tell me it is manufactured in dec 1973 and is confirmed as a white 3000m.

While I rebuild it, what I am really looking for is some history pre 2004, it would be nice to fill in the blanks.

Reg: ULF 553M

I have the chassis number to hand if anyone needs it.

Edited by Grassyknoll on Sunday 9th June 12:27

Edited by Grassyknoll on Sunday 9th June 12:32

Edited by Grassyknoll on Monday 17th June 09:35

[DAKOTAstorm]

For a fiver you can apply to the DVLA to release the information held on the car. I done this for my M and they gave me all the owners from new including prints of the V5's which included mileage and colour changes. Quite an interesting read.

[gmw9666]

Being a 1973 you'll now benefit from being "taxi free" and those bumpers are worth a fair bit

Good look with the history search......I did the same for mind and found it all.......get the dvla list of previous owners and contact them all.....post, googles searches etc etc......you really have to hunt

Best of luck