A question of history.. (one Tamora in particular)

[neilboyd]

Good evening
I am looking to buy a particular TVR Tamora, but it seems to have a strange history - can anyone here help?

The RAC vehicle checking site has the following details:
Date manufactured 31 December 2004
Number of previous owners 1

However a full HPI check / V5 document revealed the following:
Date of manufacture: February 2004
Date of first registration: the car was used within the UK but not registered until April 2005 (or words to that effect)

Can anyone enlighten me as to what this means / what's going on here?
Does this suggest that the car was used in the Channel Islands or is it more likely that it has been a TVR factory demonstrator / track mule etc?

Thank you for any light you can shed on this.

Neil

[RayVonn]

[redacted]

[helipilot]

It may well have been used abroad (for example British Forces in Germany) so was not registered properly in the UK till 2005.

[neilboyd]

That makes sense.
Thanks for responding

[maddog-uk]

Email me the details and I can see if I can spot anything with previously registered cars on the Tamora register (www.tvrtamora.com).

The tamora, tvr's best kept secret!

cheers

Simon

[Hilti]

Is it black?? with a twin headlight conversion?

[ntel]

Hilti said:

Is it black?? with a twin headlight conversion?

The one that Gorners ended up with. 1500 miles on the clock before it was registered? That one?

[Ginner]

Yeh,

That's the one i was thinking of?

J

Edited by Ginner on Friday 19th January 16:32

[neilboyd]

No - its red bull blue.
(Thankfully, by the sound of things!)

Neil

[madbadger]

helipilot said:

It may well have been used abroad (for example British Forces in Germany) so was not registered properly in the UK till 2005.

Since a bomb attack in the late 80s Forces cars are registered as German. Shame, as forces plates looked cool. Our Volvo was BBC 37B. Made it much more interesting than it was when it became A704 HMY.

(Of course, I could just be 20 years out of date!)

This sounds more like a dealer car.

Edited by madbadger on Friday 19th January 18:53

[tvrinbfg]

Forces rhd cars in British Forces Germany are on what look like normal UK plates, whilst lhd cars are on what look like normal local German plates. Forces' TVRs should appear normal when they are registered back in UK, although the Vehicle Registration Offices do make mistakes (ie if it were sold to BFG on 1/1/03 and then imported back into UK in 2005, the V5 should say the proper earlier date). If the VRO has made a mistake, they will correct it, so that when you come to resell, you shouldn't have any queries.

[neilboyd]

Ok so it is unlikely to be a BFPO car.
Is there any harm in this having been a dealer car, do you think?

Thanks again
Neil

[julianc]

neilboyd said:

Is there any harm in this having been a dealer car, do you think?

Depends if it was this dealer:

www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?t=328481&f=7&h=0



Julian

[neilboyd]

That is exactly my worry - its a long time to be unaccounted for and therefore exposed to the risk of a LOT of cold thrashings . Mind you, if it had been dealer stock it would not have been registered so wouldn't account for the V5 statement. Not even if it was a demonstrator - that would have required normal registration.

My biggest concern is if it was used as a trackday car - I've seen first hand the abuse that these cars take. (I've contributed to it on occasion ...) This would be consistent with it having been used in the UK, but not on public roads - therefore not registered. I've seen a few Lotus Elises with the same "status" because they used to be used on track.

So, to summarise:
- Could it have been a Channel Islands car? - probably not
- Could it have been registered to someone in the forces overseas? - probably not
- Could it have been a dealer demo? - probably not
- Could it have been a TVR track demo / other track use? - yes
- Could DVLA have made a mistake? - its possible, but try selling that to the nect purchaser!

I have had quite a bit of feedback via e-mail, which has confirmed for me that my initial concerns were not far off the mark.

Probably the most pertinent comment was:
"Would you buy a car with this "history" if it was a (safe/reliable) regular car such as a VW / BMW? If not, run a mile."

I hope to have access to the car's official service records / history tomorrow, which should clear this whole thing up.
If not, then ...... another £250 inspection down the pan.


Thanks again for everyone's helpful comments.

Neil

[neilboyd]

Holey Moley
I bought it!!!!!!!!!!!

I would love to say that I have clangers of steel and thought "to hell with it - I'm going to have that car, come hail or shine". But no. DVLA confirmed that the first 14 months of the car's life were spent in the Isle of Man / Channel Islands

So these reassurances (and the 12 month warranty) were enough. As of Saturday it will be mine....



Thanks for all of your help. I will post pics as soon as possible.

Neil

Edited by neilboyd on Friday 26th January 07:48

[madbadger]

Nice one

Seems a sound reason for the history.

[gridgway]

well done Neil!!
Graham

[TAMSTER.]

Neilboyd, you will find on the RAC vehicle check site all registration numbers checked show date of manufacture as 31/12,the year is (generally) correct, try a different registration number to test.

[neilboyd]

Tamster - Thanks for the info.

Neil