Discussion
Can anyone offer opinion/advice on which early to mid 1960's TVR is the best choice for vintage racing? I currently race a MkI Sprite in the US and am looking for a replacement. Any information at all will be greatly appreciated, but I am particularly interested in handling quirks (if any), chassis strength/weakness, systems problems (brake, fuel), etc. I am also looking for info on the various engines offered during this time frame. I am familiar with the BMC A series from my Sprite, and have some experience with the Ford 289ci and 1600cc...which provided the best combination of power/weight/reliablity in the TVR?
Thanks in advance.
I too race vintage vehicles in the USA, a 1959 TVR Mk. 2 Grantura. It has been totally restored & has 996 miles on it. Our club VSCCA only allows pre 1960 vehicles so my choices are even slimmer. The best bang for your buck (assuming you have some) would be the Ford V8 powered vehicles. They are available (20-30,000 Dollars) and fall into your mfgr. year slot. Other than that, you have the later Mark series vehicles, which also came with disc brakes, a nice option my vehicle never had. When dealing with the 1500-1622 series engines, remember that we had available a dealer installed option which IS allowed by all sanctioning groups- that being the crossflow aluminum cylinder head, and twin Weber carbs. Like they say: How fast do you want to go? How big is your wallet!!! Good luck in your search, we have so many different groups to compete in, sometimes it's flat out confusing. Feel free to contact me anytime.
Actually they did make a Mk.2 in 1959. At the end of one years production and the beginning of the next ( 1960 ), they used pieces from each years run ( read that as what they had left over from the previous year AND the new production pieces ). These were called "Production Overruns", thus my '59 has a serial number of 7B219, whereas most 1959's ended with 200. Even the body parts were mixed, such as the placement of my fuel fill cap, taillights, etc. Send me your address, and I will mail photos F&Rear, plus photos from when vehicle was retreived from the impound area in California-including the license plate numbers from England. By the way, this is a RHD vehicle.
I would be very interested to see your photos to go with the ones I already have of the car. I probably know more about it than you. I assume it was registered in the UK as reg number 2505UE, belonging for much of its life to Charlie Schmidt. It was seriously damaged on more than one occasion and subsequently imported incomplete and nelected into America by Geoffry Smith French of Import Auto Parts in Nebraska in July/August 1982.I have documented evidence from him that he was sold the car in UK repersented as a 1959 car but admitted himself that it was a 1960. How it came to be registered in America as a 1959 car is probably best answered by him, perhaps he also misrepresented the car to make it elligible for the American Vintage Racing Club Championships.
The mixture of era's of the parts of your car are probably best explained by the fact that the parts missing and damaged were replaced by later parts. I find your "Production Overruns " expression hilarious. In the 1950's/60's TVR sold a car to provide money for the next one------ They were not General Motors.In any case how could they have Production Overruns in 1959 of cars they did not start to make until June 1960.Your particular car was not made until September 1960.I suspect that you were convinced by the Florida dealer that sold you the car last year that he was telling you the truth. Funny how most car dealers are accused of being dishonest until what they tell you suits your purpose and then its OK.
Message Board | TVR Classics | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff