Hello from a very happy new owner
Discussion
Hi,
Having lurked here for a bit & even asked a question or two, I felt I should say hello and introduce myself properly now I've finally got my Tuscan.
Just before Christmas I wandered into Racing Green TVR to have a look at a Tuscan in the flesh and spent what must have been about an hour being shown around the workshops and chatting about the cars by the head TVR bloke there - John Heywood. Impressive looking place by the way..
Came back a few days later to test drive a pale blue X reg Tuscan & loved the car, with the minor exception of the colour which wasn't really my cup of tea.
There I was explaining that while the car was great, I'd really have loved to find one in the same blue/green chameleon colour as the one in Swordfish and a big smile appeared on John's face. Lady Luck was apparently busily throwing double-sixes on my behalf, 'cos out the back they'd just gotten a Tuscan back from being loaned out to Jonah Lomu for a week or so by TVR. Not only was the car the same colour as the one in Swordfish, it actually WAS the Tuscan from Swordfish which TVR have been using for promo's since!!! (Not the one with the bullet holes mind you
A couple of phone calls by John to Blackpool to confirm it he could sell it to me (while I was busily trying to restrain myself from throwing credit cards at him) and it turned out it was all mine if I wanted it
Admittedly it wasn't in perfect nick, it's W reg and it's been shipped to the US and back, had numerous bits of flaked or shipped paint. When I saw it, it didn't even have a 5th gear! Still, it was absolutely gorgeous and Mr Heywood said he could have it sent back to Blackpool to have everything sorted out, so down went my deposit after 20 mins umm'ing and err'ing.
It's been a long 6 week wait, but it finally arrived yesterday and boy was it worth it. They did all the things that were promised like the gearbox, the DAB radio etc but rather than do a bit of repainting, they opted to respray the whole car & replace the wheels and tyres.
I don't think I'm overstating it when I say the only way you can tell it's not a brand new car is a couple of tiny wear marks on the leather under the ignition.
I've spent 2 days pootling around and I love it. I'm now almost able to drive in 1st gear without lurching up the road too !
My last car was a Mazda Mx5 which saw a fair amount of trackday driving during my 4 yrs with it, so I'll be joining the TVR OC shortly and hopefully you'll see me at the odd trackday once I'm more comfortable with my car.
If anyone in the area is looking for a dealer/garage then I reckon you could do a lot worse than pop along to Racing Green and speak to Mr Heywood. They've been great sorting out my car for me and you definately get the feeling they're in it for the ongoing customer relationship, not just a sales & servicing dealership. Not to mention they have a gorgeous Speed 12 sat upstairs which is has to be seen up close to be believed.
I'll post some pictures once I've gotten around to buying a digital camera, but for now my car's the backdrop to the Tuscan model page at www.racinggreentvr.com (which has been my homepage for the past 3 weeks
Martin
Having lurked here for a bit & even asked a question or two, I felt I should say hello and introduce myself properly now I've finally got my Tuscan.
Just before Christmas I wandered into Racing Green TVR to have a look at a Tuscan in the flesh and spent what must have been about an hour being shown around the workshops and chatting about the cars by the head TVR bloke there - John Heywood. Impressive looking place by the way..
Came back a few days later to test drive a pale blue X reg Tuscan & loved the car, with the minor exception of the colour which wasn't really my cup of tea.
There I was explaining that while the car was great, I'd really have loved to find one in the same blue/green chameleon colour as the one in Swordfish and a big smile appeared on John's face. Lady Luck was apparently busily throwing double-sixes on my behalf, 'cos out the back they'd just gotten a Tuscan back from being loaned out to Jonah Lomu for a week or so by TVR. Not only was the car the same colour as the one in Swordfish, it actually WAS the Tuscan from Swordfish which TVR have been using for promo's since!!! (Not the one with the bullet holes mind you
A couple of phone calls by John to Blackpool to confirm it he could sell it to me (while I was busily trying to restrain myself from throwing credit cards at him) and it turned out it was all mine if I wanted it
Admittedly it wasn't in perfect nick, it's W reg and it's been shipped to the US and back, had numerous bits of flaked or shipped paint. When I saw it, it didn't even have a 5th gear! Still, it was absolutely gorgeous and Mr Heywood said he could have it sent back to Blackpool to have everything sorted out, so down went my deposit after 20 mins umm'ing and err'ing.
It's been a long 6 week wait, but it finally arrived yesterday and boy was it worth it. They did all the things that were promised like the gearbox, the DAB radio etc but rather than do a bit of repainting, they opted to respray the whole car & replace the wheels and tyres.
I don't think I'm overstating it when I say the only way you can tell it's not a brand new car is a couple of tiny wear marks on the leather under the ignition.
I've spent 2 days pootling around and I love it. I'm now almost able to drive in 1st gear without lurching up the road too !
My last car was a Mazda Mx5 which saw a fair amount of trackday driving during my 4 yrs with it, so I'll be joining the TVR OC shortly and hopefully you'll see me at the odd trackday once I'm more comfortable with my car.
If anyone in the area is looking for a dealer/garage then I reckon you could do a lot worse than pop along to Racing Green and speak to Mr Heywood. They've been great sorting out my car for me and you definately get the feeling they're in it for the ongoing customer relationship, not just a sales & servicing dealership. Not to mention they have a gorgeous Speed 12 sat upstairs which is has to be seen up close to be believed.
I'll post some pictures once I've gotten around to buying a digital camera, but for now my car's the backdrop to the Tuscan model page at www.racinggreentvr.com (which has been my homepage for the past 3 weeks
Martin
IIRC there were around 5 cars used for the filming of Swordfish in the USA, including the bullet hole car which I last saw at the factory. The registration in the file was (again if IRC) W 998 AFR which is a Preston plate, I think the factory have kept that too. At least one of the other cars is now in private ownership, so I have heard. It went to a chap who had a new Cerbera which was full of problems. The factory did a deal swapping him the Tuscan back for it.
Have fun with the car, and I know what you mean about 1st gear too with tyre shredding power under the right foot - part of the enjoyment!
Have fun with the car, and I know what you mean about 1st gear too with tyre shredding power under the right foot - part of the enjoyment!
It's still got the same plate (W998 AFR - good memory!, so I'm hoping I'm the only one with it or things will get mighty confusing if one of us passes a gatso! I guess I'll get confirmation of that when the DVLA get around to sending the new log book.
I've done some web searching about the cars used for filming - the only thing I've seen which was in any detail said there were 4, of which only 2 are particularly road-worthy, one of which is the bulletholed one.
No idea if this is right - it's as trustworthy as any random page on the internet I guess I haven't gotten around to asking the factory for details yet - thought I'd wait until it was actually mine.
, so I'm hoping I'm the only one with it or things will get mighty confusing if one of us passes a gatso! I guess I'll get confirmation of that when the DVLA get around to sending the new log book. I've done some web searching about the cars used for filming - the only thing I've seen which was in any detail said there were 4, of which only 2 are particularly road-worthy, one of which is the bulletholed one.
No idea if this is right - it's as trustworthy as any random page on the internet I guess
I haven't gotten around to asking the factory for details yet - thought I'd wait until it was actually mine.Like TUS, I saw the bullet holed one at the factory when we went Back Home last year.
If you have any problem with Gatsos you presumably shout at the passenger (who says "I don't know how to drive a stick shift") to drive, get the armoury out of the boot and
"sort" the offending camera out! 
If you have any problem with Gatsos you presumably shout at the passenger (who says "I don't know how to drive a stick shift") to drive, get the armoury out of the boot and
"sort" the offending camera out! Hi!
I have the other Tuscan (swapped for my poorly Cerbie)The history is that 3 cars were built 2 road going (yours and mine) the 3rd had the bullett holes which has been back in the States for another film!
Mine was used for al the drive by shots in the film and yours all the close up's.
If you are ever in M/cr let me know!
I have the other Tuscan (swapped for my poorly Cerbie)The history is that 3 cars were built 2 road going (yours and mine) the 3rd had the bullett holes which has been back in the States for another film!
Mine was used for al the drive by shots in the film and yours all the close up's.
If you are ever in M/cr let me know!
Just saw your car on Saturday in the showroom Fell in love with the colour and asked if it was still for sale - you know the rest
I took some digital shots of it if you want them and also the Topaz one upstairs.
I'll be on the market very soon, just need to sell my Elan now - should be looking seriously in a month or two. Around the 33K mark.
Hope you enjoy it............@#%$stard.
Jez
I took some digital shots of it if you want them and also the Topaz one upstairs.
I'll be on the market very soon, just need to sell my Elan now - should be looking seriously in a month or two. Around the 33K mark.
Hope you enjoy it............@#%$stard.
Jez
Here is a picture of the original 3 Swordfish Tuscans when they were brand new. I took this down at the factory in 2000 when mine was being built. I guess one of these is yours but God knows which one
www.tvrstuff.fsnet.co.uk/TVR/imagepage10.htm
www.tvrstuff.fsnet.co.uk/TVR/imagepage10.htm
Ian - My parents live up near Manchester so it's only a matter of time before I'm up in that part of the world again.
Cheers for the image link Paul.. That's a great shot!
21TVR - No problem mentioning my car at all - It's pretty cool to have a tiny piece of TVR history sat in my garage
Hoping to get a digital camera this weekend, so pictures soon - once I've found a suitably good backdrop for them.. I envisage much driving around the New Forest this weekend searching for just the right spot !
Cheers for the image link Paul.. That's a great shot!
21TVR - No problem mentioning my car at all - It's pretty cool to have a tiny piece of TVR history sat in my garage
Hoping to get a digital camera this weekend, so pictures soon - once I've found a suitably good backdrop for them.. I envisage much driving around the New Forest this weekend searching for just the right spot !
polarbert said:
any news about these pictures yet?
Wow, that does show patience! Waitig 2 1/2 years to bump the thread is a bit of a record? Anything to beat that!?
The little thing I have to add is that I have seen your car W*** AFR. On Gran Turismo 4! If you look closely on the Blackpool Racer competition for TVRs you can see the number plate
Can I ask, did you take the car to them for the photos or was it old publicity photo they used?
Also, if you are interested in selling, please mail me!
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