New French TVR S owner
Discussion
Hi guys, my name is Florian, 35 yo, come from north east of France (Champagne) and I'm an engineer in mechanics. I'm impassioned by British cars since I got my first one, a Mini, 18 years ago.
Please forgive me for my poor English, I do my best..... not so easy.
I own several British cars. 4 Minis, a Cooper S R53 as a daily driver, an MG Metro 1300 and last summer, I sold my MGF to afford a TVR S3C. The car was built in January 1992. It is in France since 03/2008. The car was in an awful state, abandoned since 2013 in a barn... top down
I went to the north of France to buy it and came back by the road.... with propershaft UJs completely destroyed .... 50 mph on the motorway to preserve it. That was more a battle with the car than a trip. But in general, it is in really good condition. The chassis is not too rusty. The car is complete. The electrical system need some repairs, but nothing too serious. All body panels needed to be adjusted but the paint work is in really good condition. Seats need a total refurbishment, especially the driver one.
After 2 weeks of intensive work, the car is now presentable.
The car was in metalic grey colour when built. I can see it under the bonnet. But it was resprayed a really long time ago, before coming in France. The job was really well done.
I found (and always find) a huge amount of information on this forum to help me. I really thank you for that. Now, I have some little troubles to resolve and reading is no more enough. So I'm coming to ask your help.
Regards.
Please forgive me for my poor English, I do my best..... not so easy.
I own several British cars. 4 Minis, a Cooper S R53 as a daily driver, an MG Metro 1300 and last summer, I sold my MGF to afford a TVR S3C. The car was built in January 1992. It is in France since 03/2008. The car was in an awful state, abandoned since 2013 in a barn... top down
I went to the north of France to buy it and came back by the road.... with propershaft UJs completely destroyed .... 50 mph on the motorway to preserve it. That was more a battle with the car than a trip. But in general, it is in really good condition. The chassis is not too rusty. The car is complete. The electrical system need some repairs, but nothing too serious. All body panels needed to be adjusted but the paint work is in really good condition. Seats need a total refurbishment, especially the driver one. After 2 weeks of intensive work, the car is now presentable.
The car was in metalic grey colour when built. I can see it under the bonnet. But it was resprayed a really long time ago, before coming in France. The job was really well done.
I found (and always find) a huge amount of information on this forum to help me. I really thank you for that. Now, I have some little troubles to resolve and reading is no more enough. So I'm coming to ask your help.
Regards.
Hello Florian and welcome to the forum.
Your car looks great considering it had been left for so long. They all require a bit of maintenance to keep them in top condition but if you are a mechanical engineer you will have the skill set necessary to cover most of the issues you'll likely encounter.
No doubt you will find most of your questions answered by the knowledgeable on this forum and although it has been a bit quite of late (think everyone uses the Facebook group, except for me) usually some of the forum sages will have a solution.
Keep us posted on your progress with the car.
Your car looks great considering it had been left for so long. They all require a bit of maintenance to keep them in top condition but if you are a mechanical engineer you will have the skill set necessary to cover most of the issues you'll likely encounter.
No doubt you will find most of your questions answered by the knowledgeable on this forum and although it has been a bit quite of late (think everyone uses the Facebook group, except for me) usually some of the forum sages will have a solution.
Keep us posted on your progress with the car.
Bercilac said:
Great car and very lucky to be sunning itself with you in La Belle France!
This year was very sunny, but where I live, normally the weather is more like Kent than St Tropey 
Concerning the colour, I thought It was Ruby Mica Red. But to be sure, and with a feeling, I went to see my spray painter to ask him to flash the body color. He said it is in reality a Alfa Romeo Rosso Proteo 195A. Does anybody with a genuine TVR Ruby Mica Red car asked a painter to flash it ? TVR colors are not in the flashing system database in France.
I have a lot a car mechanics equipment at home : a car lift, a MIG welder, engine hoist, engine stand etc... so there is very few operation that afraid me. But the main difficulty with the TVR cars is to find information.
I'm not a big fan of Facebook. I prefer the encyclopedia philosophy of a forum. Sometime, I find my answer in a 10 yo topic ! As soon as a problem is solved on a forum, the answer will be available forever.
AutoAndy said:
Welcome Florian, great car...have some fun with it....at you aware that there may be around 20 or more S’s coming past your area in July....would be good so see you then...
wink
Great new, I discover this road trip. If you go from Reims to Lons-le Saulnier, not using the motorway, sure you will pass not far from my home. 5th of July is a Friday, I could take my day off to go to Reims and driving some kilometers with you.wink
Is this the correct website ? https://fasttracktours.co.uk/booking/tvr-s-club-eu...
Yes it could have been resprayed in any colour.....surprisingly similar to a genuine TVR colour. All mechanical/electrical components come from other car manufacturers. Is it so difficult to think that colors could also come from other manufacturers ? That's why I ask : Does anybody ask a painter to flash his genuine color body ? To see if Mika Red is a truly TVR creation, or if the color come from another manufacturer. Just out of curiosity.
Hi Fefeu52,
Nice car!
Do not hesitate also to have a look to the french TVR forum and to join the club, we are a tiny group compared to this forum or the UK club but we are very kind with new joiners
I discover the trip you mentioned, I'm living in the Alps, I will be pleased to take a beer with you guys (if you accept Chimaera owners ;-)).
Nice car!
Do not hesitate also to have a look to the french TVR forum and to join the club, we are a tiny group compared to this forum or the UK club but we are very kind with new joiners
I discover the trip you mentioned, I'm living in the Alps, I will be pleased to take a beer with you guys (if you accept Chimaera owners ;-)).
Fefeu52 said:
Great new, I discover this road trip. If you go from Reims to Lons-le Saulnier, not using the motorway, sure you will pass not far from my home. 5th of July is a Friday, I could take my day off to go to Reims and driving some kilometers with you.
Is this the correct website ? https://fasttracktours.co.uk/booking/tvr-s-club-eu...
That is the tour. We have driven many miles in France on many an enjoyable road trip. It would be good to meet with you and to see your lovely car when we come over in July. Is this the correct website ? https://fasttracktours.co.uk/booking/tvr-s-club-eu...
The S-Forum is a very friendly place and there is lots of information here, do not be afraid to ask questions, we are a friendly bunch.
Your English is very good, it is better than many of the English people on here.
Hi Florian
Sorry for not responding before now. I have meant to several times but kept getting distracted by other things...
As others have already said that is a fine looking car you have there. You've got the same bonnet as I have on my S3C - I think it's the best looking S bonnet by a long way.
Reims > Lons le Saunier and a beer in the Alps sounds great. We'll be near Bourg Saint Maurice on 6 July and in Chamonix on 7 July. A couple of S owners now have Chimaeras so you'll be made to feel more than welcome. By them
Contact me through my profile so we can arrange where and when to meet
Cheers,
L'rs
Sorry for not responding before now. I have meant to several times but kept getting distracted by other things...
As others have already said that is a fine looking car you have there. You've got the same bonnet as I have on my S3C - I think it's the best looking S bonnet by a long way.
Fefeu52 said:
If you go from Reims to Lons-le Saulnier, not using the motorway, sure you will pass not far from my home. 5th of July is a Friday, I could take my day off to go to Reims and driving some kilometers with you.
Zeb74 said:
I discover the trip you mentioned, I'm living in the Alps, I will be pleased to take a beer with you guys (if you accept Chimaera owners ;-)).
It would be great if you could join us for part of the tour. The idea behind the very first S Club Eurotour (2019 will be the 10th) was to meet up with the owner of a rare 2.0 V8S in Italy. In the end he didn't make it but we did! Reims > Lons le Saunier and a beer in the Alps sounds great. We'll be near Bourg Saint Maurice on 6 July and in Chamonix on 7 July. A couple of S owners now have Chimaeras so you'll be made to feel more than welcome. By them
Contact me through my profile so we can arrange where and when to meet
Cheers,
L'rs
Longers said:
You've got the same bonnet as I have on my S3C - I think it's the best looking S bonnet by a long way.
In fact I don't know if I prefer the S4 bonnet on the older one. The S4 bonnet is finer but the older hump is more aggressive. Different style.I've never seen the Reims/Geux pits, it's a good opportunity
Hi all,
I've a huge amount of work on the car for the winter.
First of all, I worked on the engine bay. I refurbished the swirlpot, top radiator pipe and battery stand (sandblasting + epoxy paint). I also clean and paint the rocker covers, and changed the gaskets. I installed a battery cut off switch with a new battery earth strap.
I found the second HEGO loom and I was able to plug it correctly, fix the loom etc. The engine seems to run properly with both sensors.
I was bored with the inaccurate and swinging fuel gauge. So I worked on the subject. I removed the sender and understood why the gauge indicate an empty fuel tank with 25 litres in it.
I should be able soon to give you an accurate DWG file (vectorial) to be able to produce ready-to-stick plastic veneer.
So I bent the sender arm and found an electronic solution to fix the problem. With £12 and little time, I buit an Arduino-based device. The idea come from a French guy, an Alpine enthusiast :
http://a110a.free.fr/SPIP172/article.php3?id_artic...
The system works fine now on my car : https://dai.ly/x6ipqns
The Alfa 147 seats are now in the car. I will take pictures when the belt top anchor will be modified.
I worked also on the gearbox. I installed a homemade quick-change changed the propshaft output seal and changed the gearbox oil.
About rear dampers, I removed them to replace the damaged bushes with new COM8T spherical bearings :
I had to machine spacers, but one of my mates own a lathe that I can use whenever I want. I also modified the bottom alloy ring to be able to lower the car boot of about 7-8mm
And finally, my last mission.... removing the dashboard to refurbish it. My father is a woodworker. He will veneer it with real zebrano wood, as used on some 80's Mercedes
The dash is removed :
And because I'm a kind man
.... I'm also working for the community :
I've a huge amount of work on the car for the winter.
First of all, I worked on the engine bay. I refurbished the swirlpot, top radiator pipe and battery stand (sandblasting + epoxy paint). I also clean and paint the rocker covers, and changed the gaskets. I installed a battery cut off switch with a new battery earth strap.
I found the second HEGO loom and I was able to plug it correctly, fix the loom etc. The engine seems to run properly with both sensors.
I was bored with the inaccurate and swinging fuel gauge. So I worked on the subject. I removed the sender and understood why the gauge indicate an empty fuel tank with 25 litres in it.
I should be able soon to give you an accurate DWG file (vectorial) to be able to produce ready-to-stick plastic veneer.
So I bent the sender arm and found an electronic solution to fix the problem. With £12 and little time, I buit an Arduino-based device. The idea come from a French guy, an Alpine enthusiast :
http://a110a.free.fr/SPIP172/article.php3?id_artic...
The system works fine now on my car : https://dai.ly/x6ipqns
The Alfa 147 seats are now in the car. I will take pictures when the belt top anchor will be modified.
I worked also on the gearbox. I installed a homemade quick-change changed the propshaft output seal and changed the gearbox oil.
About rear dampers, I removed them to replace the damaged bushes with new COM8T spherical bearings :
I had to machine spacers, but one of my mates own a lathe that I can use whenever I want. I also modified the bottom alloy ring to be able to lower the car boot of about 7-8mm
And finally, my last mission.... removing the dashboard to refurbish it. My father is a woodworker. He will veneer it with real zebrano wood, as used on some 80's Mercedes
The dash is removed :
And because I'm a kind man
.... I'm also working for the community :Gassing Station | S Series | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff