I want a wedge, but don't understand all the variations

[BlueWedgy]

Downshiftup said:

Thanks. Which car is it? The link leads just to a main page with several cars.

Opps that was useful heh.....
Use the "All Categories" dropdown, select "TVR-Wedges", hit "Search" look towards the bottom of the list.

Looks like a blank page now so could have been removed in this short space of time. Perhaps they are reading this?

Edited by BlueWedgy on Thursday 2nd March 19:06

[KKson]

BlueWedgy said:

Opps that was useful heh.....
Use the "All Categories" dropdown, select "TVR-Wedges", hit "Search" look towards the bottom of the list.

Looks like a blank page now so could have been removed in this short space of time. Perhaps they are reading this?

Edited by BlueWedgy on Thursday 2nd March 19:06

Was it the white one at £7k or the yellow body shell?

[BlueWedgy]

Neither, It was just free to a good home?
Shown as 390 / SE / Project @10 quid, as said, the ad is still there but the page is blank now?

[Downshiftup]

Daggsy said:

Downshiftup said:

Thanks. Yes, I do like the FHC cars quite a bit. But I never saw a S2 FHC. Meaning a FHC with the nose like a 390SE or 400SE etc. I thought FHC were all S1 and only 280i and 350i.

Our 1983 2.8 FHC will most probably be advertised for sale around Easter time when we return form France.

Well, let me know if you do.

[Downshiftup]

Adrian@ said:

My thoughts are that the yellow picture is a USA spec car rather than an Series 3 (pictures pinched from when they were for sale)
This the Yellow S3 Auto and blue Auto (it is the vented bonnet that is the 'tell'). 400 indicators/side and SD1 rear lamps.





A@

Edited by Adrian@ on Thursday 2nd March 16:28

I had thought it was some sort of basic model, as it's much lighter on the ground effects. You know, "the more ground effects the sportier, the higher the trim level." Or so car companies seem to think.

[Downshiftup]

Adrian@ said:

My Manual 280DH with rims and rear spoiler (neither original to the car).



The red auto (interior with the 4 dial SEAC rather than 5 dial 400 dash) which is now missing the original bonnet.



A@

Edited by Adrian@ on Thursday 2nd March 16:27

Love that interior!

[Downshiftup]

keynsham said:

Panamax said:

I'd keep it simple with a 350i. Proper V8 experience and quick enough. Manageable maintenance.

Totally agree. I love mine!!

Nice!

among the colours I want for my wedge, red is a top one, specially if it ends up being a DH. If FHC, I wouldn't mind a dark colour. Although as rare as they are, I think I will have to take whatever I find at the right condition and price.

What are the most common colours?

[Granturadriver]

There was a 6 pages buyer‘s guide in Alternatives Cars magazine (spring 2022) which might be helpful.

https://www.performancepublishing.co.uk/spring-202...

[Downshiftup]

BlueWedgy said:

Neither, It was just free to a good home?
Shown as 390 / SE / Project @10 quid, as said, the ad is still there but the page is blank now?

I don't see it. Maybe taken down.

[Downshiftup]

Granturadriver said:

There was a 6 pages buyer‘s guide in Alternatives Cars magazine (spring 2022) which might be helpful.

https://www.performancepublishing.co.uk/spring-202...

Thanks. That would be useful. Although there are probably buying guides online too? I have honestly not looked yet, as I'm not quite there yet. But almost.

[Downshiftup]

Talking about buying, what are good places to look, apart from the usual PH, Ebay, Facebook, AT? There is also the page BlueWedgy posted. But any other good ones?

[Rockettvr]

There’s an ( from the photos) nice looking and Very rare 200 up at a (in my opinion) cheap £5k here
https://www.carandclassic.com/car/C1554294

[BlueWedgy]

Ron that looks peachy.

Again if want spannering heres one:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/275720196791?_trkparms=...

However these types of car are projects, I would advocate as said before, spend more on one as budget allows, however that does not mean that the spending stops

[Downshiftup]

Rockettvr said:

There’s an ( from the photos) nice looking and Very rare 200 up at a (in my opinion) cheap £5k here
https://www.carandclassic.com/car/C1554294

Lovely looking. But unfortunately I know if I bought it I would have to engine swap it. So maybe better left to somebody who will buy it and keep it original. Specially that I have the impression the 200 cars are very rare.

[Downshiftup]

BlueWedgy said:

Ron that looks peachy.

Again if want spannering heres one:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/275720196791?_trkparms=...

However these types of car are projects, I would advocate as said before, spend more on one as budget allows, however that does not mean that the spending stops

The highlighted part in your last sentence is exactly my biggest motivation to buy something to finish restoring. I have bad experience with going the pay more for a nice one route and then later on finding something nasty and costly anyways. With something to finish restoring I would make sure it is properly sorted when it hits the road.

Talking price, who knows if it would end up being really that much more expensive if I can find the right "project". Because I would definitely make sure I see the chassis, and would repaint it and protect it before I put the car back together. So I will know it will hold for a good time. So even if it cost a bit more, it would de solid. I can also pay good money for a "good one" and still have to do that in a few months and end up much more expensive in the end.

The biggest negatives are time, I really would love to be driving one sooner rather than later. Plus the electrics, which will be my biggest challenge.

The prefect "project" for me would be a car which is together, I mean the body could be apart from the chassis. But all the wires, electric, lines etc are still in place, has at least an ok interior, is running, even if not perfectly and needs just a paint job or basic body work.

I can paint the car myself and attend to some basic body work. I could probably also attend to the engine. Even if I need to get some help for bigger stuff. But fully restoring interiors can get expensive fast. And if I need to put the whole car together, meaning re-wire the electrics and stuff, redoing brake lines and all, I'm at a loss and will take way more time than I would like. Full disclosure, I never did something like this. Restore a car or take a full car apart or put it together. But for the right car for the right price, I would be willing to take the plunge.

So that car on ebay is way too gone for my needs.


The thing is to know what is really cheap enough to make it worth it. Prices seem to be all over the place. I have seen some very pricey cars which I wonder if they will ever sell. So it doesn't mean this is the price for a good one and what you need to compare to when judging if the cost of a project is worth it. It might be you can get a semi good car for 5-7k. I mean that black 200 looks quite ready. Even if it needs some love to make it run perfectly, body and interior seems straight. If chassis is ok...

But so, if you can get an ok one for 5-7K, paying 3.5K for a project doesn't seem worth the headache.

So I have a lot of things to consider and learn. But it's clear I came to the right place for help.

This started as just looking at wedge TVRs because I was also looking at other wedge cars of the time. It has now evolved to the point I want a wedge TVR so much and not even looking at any other pop up headlight wedges anymore. The more I look at and listen to the TVRs, the more I want one.

Edited by Downshiftup on Friday 3rd March 09:22

[Risryc]

I'm in a similar boat of wedge searching (in fact was going to make an almost identical post until I spotted this one), I'd suggest carandclassic as another place worth keeping an eye on - as well as the 200 posted earlier there is a 390se which has popped up, though too far north for me to consider really. https://www.carandclassic.com/car/C1556557

[BlueWedgy]

I would also keep an eye on Mathewsons and other auction sites they pop up occasionally.
Anglian car auctions
Barons

Blah blah

[KKson]

I'd also talk to Mark at Amore Autos. He generally has good contacts and may well know of owners thinking of selling. I sold my 390SE through him and was very happy with the service. Also TBH most of us Wedge owners now generally use the private FB groups (there are three!). There are a few nasty nameless trolls that hang about on PH that can be very opinionated obnoxious tts.

[Downshiftup]

Thanks for all the tips. I will make sure to follow all those places.

[Downshiftup]

Risryc said:

I'm in a similar boat of wedge searching (in fact was going to make an almost identical post until I spotted this one), I'd suggest carandclassic as another place worth keeping an eye on - as well as the 200 posted earlier there is a 390se which has popped up, though too far north for me to consider really. https://www.carandclassic.com/car/C1556557

Hi. Good to have another tracker along for the journey.

That one looks really nice, with photos of engine bay and even underneath the chassis. Seems worth the distance. I gather it's not your colour then?

But is that then the current going rate for a well sorted really nice V8 wedge? Or it that in the higher end of the price range or perhaps lower end? I know the SEAC and other more special models are a different matter. But I think the 350i, 390SE and 400SE are the most common V8s?