T350 Red Rose - is it worth it?

[the machine]

Hi,

First post on t350 section, was looking for a cerb but have fallen for driveability and looks of t350.
I have been to drive a few t350c/t's today but am unsure about the red rose model....can anyone give their experience or opinion?

Is it much different to the standard t350? I believe the difference is engine bhp increase, bigger brakes and sports exhaust?

Does the engine upgrade make muh difference - is it still a 3.6 or is it bored out nearer to the 4.0 sp6?

I have seen a lovely example down at SSCC in Yorkshire - has anyone dealt with them before, are they a good independent garage? (they seem pretty good and know how to present and prepare the cars).

Just looking for some peace of mind before i go and spend £25k!

Thanks for your help.
Neil.

[SEN 18]

the machine said:

Hi,

First post on t350 section, was looking for a cerb but have fallen for driveability and looks of t350.
I have been to drive a few t350c/t's today but am unsure about the red rose model....can anyone give their experience or opinion?

Is it much different to the standard t350? I believe the difference is engine bhp increase, bigger brakes and sports exhaust?

Does the engine upgrade make muh difference - is it still a 3.6 or is it bored out nearer to the 4.0 sp6?

I have seen a lovely example down at SSCC in Yorkshire - has anyone dealt with them before, are they a good independent garage? (they seem pretty good and know how to present and prepare the cars).

Just looking for some peace of mind before i go and spend £25k!

Thanks for your help.

Neil.

It sure makes a differance the RR engine is Blueprinted and all the components within are all matched making the engine much more responsive and smooth you will have to get its output checked as the BHP can vary having said that it is much higher than the standard speed six.
If its a factory RR it will also have upgraded brakes/dampers/and big bore exhaust,my Tamora RR is so quick its unreal, its close to 10k miles and no problems yet.My other two speed six cars were not as smooth the engines sounded harsher but they were quick as well.A RR engined car will cost more and is well worth it IMHO.
Good luck Chris.

[jamie g]

I went for a 3.6 RR model: extra 25bhp, better brakes, lighter vinylester body, noisy exhaust. It measured 375bhp on austecs rollers after they improved the fueling(not cheap but worth it).
I didn't compare the standard t350 side by side with the RR but I thought the RR can only be better if anything.
I would have been happy with either as I'm sure you will

[Targarama]

jamie g said:

I went for a 3.6 RR model: extra 25bhp, better brakes, lighter vinylester body, noisy exhaust. It measured 375bhp on austecs rollers after they improved the fueling(not cheap but worth it).
I didn't compare the standard t350 side by side with the RR but I thought the RR can only be better if anything.
I would have been happy with either as I'm sure you will

I'm sure on average a Red Rose is better. But take my car for example, which measured 376hp on the same rolling road and you will see that not all TVRs are equal. I found the same when I owned a Chimaera - a mate's 4.0HC made less power than my 4.0L on the same RR on the same day.

Is there any proof the Red Rose spec body is any different? Or the suspension? My understanding was that RR was engine and brake upgrade.

[L1OFF]

jamie g said:

I went for a 3.6 RR model: extra 25bhp, better brakes, lighter vinylester body, noisy exhaust.

Vinylester body? though they didn't bother with this after the SEAC Wedge.

I had a RR Tuscan and I doubt (knowing TVR) there was actually any difference at all in the engine spec.

[the machine]

Thanks guys, appreciate the feedback. i am going back down for test drive next weekend and will have a look through all the history and documentation to see if its a factory red rose - i think it is, and its listed as a 3.6 so probably doesnt have the 4.0 engine.

As you say i would be happy with either, just wanted to understand what was difference in the red rose.

[hollowpockets]

im led to believe engine wise the only difference was bigger injectors. could be wrong though

would i be right in saying that the term "red rose" is the same as the later "s" versions? anyone

graham

[TGJR]

Never bought a car from SSCC Boroughbridge but have heard they are very good and have ex-HHC Harrogate mechanics. I looked at a car there once and the chap was very helpful and not at all pushy so I would have to say a good place to buy with confidence and not quite the price tag of main dealers. T350 red rose sounds a great choice!

[Daftlad]

Hexham HC have a proper from new 4.0S engined T350 car in stock, huge spec and very quick capable car. Maybe worth a look or call Tony on 01434 601666.

[L1OFF]

hollowpockets said:

im led to believe engine wise the only difference was bigger injectors. could be wrong though

would i be right in saying that the term "red rose" is the same as the later "s" versions? anyone

graham

I heard it was just the timing advanced.

[mrmop]

I recently bought a pearl white T350T from SSCC and found John and his wife very pleasant and proffesional with a real love of TVR's and motorsport in general, had a couple of minor problems with the car which John quickly resolved via my local TVR dealer.

Overall a very pleasant experiance, and the Blue T350C I think you considering looks a beauty.

MrMop

[smithyl23]

I bought my T350 RR which was owned by the factory and i was unsure as to what the RR meant so i phoned one of the service managers and asked for a report using my reg as a trace. As far as i'm aware there were loads of different options you could choose within the RR spec. Mine had different pistons, blue printed engine also lightened, stage 3 chip, multi angled valve seats, bigger brakes, lighter body, not the big bore exhaust, but interestingly mine had a quicker steering wrack put on it. If the engine was fully blue printed from new then i'd imagine would be in a much better state then a non RR engine with the same miles. I took it with a pinch of salt but the service manager said that mine was 390 bhp as it was the T350 given to 5th gear to drive they made extra mods to give a good impression.

[JR]

Targarama said:

Is there any proof the Red Rose spec body is any different?

Yes, the matting is woven instead of chopped strand - where visible.

[the machine]

mrmop said:

I recently bought a pearl white T350T from SSCC and found John and his wife very pleasant and proffesional with a real love of TVR's and motorsport in general, had a couple of minor problems with the car which John quickly resolved via my local TVR dealer.

Overall a very pleasant experiance, and the Blue T350C I think you considering looks a beauty.

MrMop

When you say you resloved them via your local TVR dealer what do you mean? John paid for them to be fixedlocally without having to return the car to SSCC?

Thanks for the feedback, it really is a lovely motor, and I got a similarly good impression of John and his wife - genuine people with a love of TVRs and motorsport.

Lets hope I can get it all sorted VERY SOON!!!!

[mrmop]

the machine said:

mrmop said:

I recently bought a pearl white T350T from SSCC and found John and his wife very pleasant and proffesional with a real love of TVR's and motorsport in general, had a couple of minor problems with the car which John quickly resolved via my local TVR dealer.

Overall a very pleasant experiance, and the Blue T350C I think you considering looks a beauty.

MrMop

When you say you resloved them via your local TVR dealer what do you mean? John paid for them to be fixedlocally without having to return the car to SSCC?

Thanks for the feedback, it really is a lovely motor, and I got a similarly good impression of John and his wife - genuine people with a love of TVRs and motorsport.

Lets hope I can get it all sorted VERY SOON!!!!

I had a couple of small items looked at, John arranged this and paid for it, he offer 6 Months warrenty on his cars, it is very much based on his word and bond rather then a formal arrangment but that suits me fine, the car is a real beauty and is SO much different from the Cerbera.

Good luck with the purchase.

MrMop

[Targarama]

JR said:

Targarama said:

Is there any proof the Red Rose spec body is any different?

Yes, the matting is woven instead of chopped strand - where visible.

Interesting.

Does this make the body stronger, or lighter, or both? Is the material the same or more expensive?

If you had a crash (god forbid), and needed some GRP repair would it be easy to replicate or would the repairer have to use 'normal' GRP?

Sorry for all the questions, just intrigued.

[piscola90]

I have a Tam and I'm interested in turning it into a 4.0l? I have heard that a RR conversion does this and gives it huge torque?

Is any of this true? Has anyone bored out a Tam to 4.0l? was it worth it? and how much did it cost?

Thanks,

Stu

[icraigmy]

piscola90 said:

I have a Tam and I'm interested in turning it into a 4.0l? I have heard that a RR conversion does this and gives it huge torque?

Is any of this true? Has anyone bored out a Tam to 4.0l? was it worth it? and how much did it cost?

Thanks,

Stu

Yep, my Tamora is a 4.0L RR. Had the engine rebuild/upgrade done by Richard at Dulfords. Also had Nitrons, Alloy radiator, and ACT Air Box fitted. Makes my Tamora a proper little beasty

[Targarama]

piscola90 said:

I have a Tam and I'm interested in turning it into a 4.0l? I have heard that a RR conversion does this and gives it huge torque?

Is any of this true? Has anyone bored out a Tam to 4.0l? was it worth it? and how much did it cost?

Thanks,

Stu

How much is 'huge'? Its an expensive way to get a bit more go-go as it requires a rebuild - see TVR Power's website for a cost example.

A 4.0L will be more torquey than a 3.6L. If you're looking for more usable performance another option is changing the diff final drive ratio. Lots of threads on this one here.

[Paxo1]

Targarama said:

JR said:

Targarama said:

Is there any proof the Red Rose spec body is any different?

Yes, the matting is woven instead of chopped strand - where visible.

Interesting.

Does this make the body stronger, or lighter, or both? Is the material the same or more expensive?

If you had a crash (god forbid), and needed some GRP repair would it be easy to replicate or would the repairer have to use 'normal' GRP?

The body can be repaired with standard GRP no problem at all. Ask any boat builder as vinylester is used a lot in boatbuilding, they will tell you it makes a significantly stronger end product than GRP. The density of the woven fibres and the resin is pretty much the same as GRP i.e. they weigh about the same for the same thickness.However, the trick is the vinylester can be laid much thinner and give just the same strength as GRP, this is where the weight saving comes in. Overall you end up with a stiffer, lighter and much stronger car....much better than a GRP one