Future demand for TVRS

[JPW231]

See here and vote if you agree:
http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyI...

[stuarte]

Can't imagine Sags going much further north but you never know. Happy to see chims go up though

Seems that the '90s V8 cars are increasingly being bought by the age group that would previously have bought something like a TR6 or MGB. And you get so much more bang for your buck..

[Skateboard]

The topic of "value" and "how much is it worth" reared it's head a few weeks ago.
"To mod or not to mod" brings up the question of future value. Someone posted he was having problems selling his Chim and the general opinion for lack of a sale was because of the "upgrades" made by the owner.
Are these increased TVR values for cars in original condition ?? What do people think.

[GTRene]

'upgrades' are ok as long as you don't over do it and make the car ugly/strange.

[JPW231]

I reckon minor tweaks would be accepted. My own thoughts are suspension and brakes, as my suspension is tired. I might consider wheels as the standard tyre sizes are becoming more scarce :-(
It would be nice for values to start to rise. I'm sure that we all have future classics

[macca]

Personally... alterations to bodywork incorporating front or rear lights makes me think serious repairs. I would avoid aftermarket wheels for the same reason. Engine mods (induction, cam, ecu, ali radiator) and suspension would be OK (these could be classed as consumables) but I would tend to avoid engines with altered capacity, turbos or supercharging because it suggests a car being driven to its limits, which may introduce problems on other components. Rebuilds on Speed 6 a pre-requisite on the earlier cars because so many had problems.

I know some cars will have mods for legitimate reasons and may not have been abused or damaged but, for me, the doubt would remain.

[Chilliman]

stuarte said:

Seems that the '90s V8 cars are increasingly being bought by the age group that would previously have bought something like a TR6 or MGB.

I agree with this, and have a theory as to why this is so I think blokes are staying younger longer, (or getting older later), or to put it another way not growing up (or not wanting to.. and why should we?) This has the effect of older blokes not being able to control the hooligan that exists within us, which is like an unruly child that delights in being bad This is my excuse for behaving (on a regular basis) like an eight year old with a new bike. You simply can't be a hooligan in an MGB. It doesn't work A TVR on the other hand....

[Robert Lees]

Chilliman said:

stuarte said:

You simply can't be a hooligan in an MGB. It doesn't work A TVR on the other hand....

I intend to give it a go! Mgb bored to 1860, Webber carb , Kent cam, Peter Burgess fast road big valve cylinder head and sports exhaust should give close to 150 BHP, not in same league as my Chim 450, but may suprise few modern cars,,, just need to put it all back together!

[phillpot]

Robert Lees said:

I intend to give it a go! ...........

Scrap that ancient B series engine and drop a Duratec in complete with a decent 5 speed box ( or a V8 )

[Chris71]

stuarte said:

Seems that the '90s V8 cars are increasingly being bought by the age group that would previously have bought something like a TR6 or MGB. And you get so much more bang for your buck..

I've heard a similar argument put forward for the S-Series and the wedges, but more on the grounds of price. The prices for TRs and the like are getting silly now, which has created a trickle down effect.

And long may it continue. I do wonder how fuel prices will affect the situation, though. There's an argument that says higher prices will force people out of fast daily drivers and into a weekday eco-box plus a weekend toy (which can be as thirsty as it likes if it's only driven one day a week...)

Conversely, you can get the best part of double the fuel economy of a Chim 500 from a Caterham or an Elise, which might cause some people to question where their hard earned cash goes.