390SE - Prototype
Discussion
I'm picking up my 'new' Wedge tomorrow afternoon - 80% chance of rain ... a great day to drive 150 miles in it for the first time!
I'll post information about the car when it's all in my hands, but for now it's the "Fast Lane" car, original index B402WFV, chassis # DH5959RI. This was the 390SE prototype that the factory had to buy back from the media company they sold it to when so many things went wrong with it (surprise, surprise
). Chris Schirle then set about rectifying all the problems with (variously) John Ravenscroft, Ian Hopley and Dave Cummings (at least) all getting their hands on it. Along the way Ian got one of the 'rats' to modify it to a Hot-wire EMS. It was used as a test bed for various ideas and developments. It was the first to be fitted (retroactively) with wishbone suspension (by Chris) as soon as it returned to the factory.
Good set of bills, including major overhauls to engine, drive train, brakes and chassis in past couple of year and recent months.
The car appears to have had four owners including TVR themselves (for 6 years or so).
As I said, I'll post more when I have it (the car and the information).
Streaky
Edited to update chassis # in line with Ian's comment below - S
Edited again to update the story somewhat, and credit those where credit is due - S
>>> Edited by streaky on Thursday 25th September 16:21
I'll post information about the car when it's all in my hands, but for now it's the "Fast Lane" car, original index B402WFV, chassis # DH5959RI. This was the 390SE prototype that the factory had to buy back from the media company they sold it to when so many things went wrong with it (surprise, surprise
). Chris Schirle then set about rectifying all the problems with (variously) John Ravenscroft, Ian Hopley and Dave Cummings (at least) all getting their hands on it. Along the way Ian got one of the 'rats' to modify it to a Hot-wire EMS. It was used as a test bed for various ideas and developments. It was the first to be fitted (retroactively) with wishbone suspension (by Chris) as soon as it returned to the factory. Good set of bills, including major overhauls to engine, drive train, brakes and chassis in past couple of year and recent months.
The car appears to have had four owners including TVR themselves (for 6 years or so).
As I said, I'll post more when I have it (the car and the information).
Streaky
Edited to update chassis # in line with Ian's comment below - S
Edited again to update the story somewhat, and credit those where credit is due - S
>>> Edited by streaky on Thursday 25th September 16:21
Mmmmm, 390 prototype...
I remember seeing a 'orange' 390 prototype in a magazine years ago - sadly the article was about
it breaking the driveshafts and it looked more like
a 350 with a few bolt on's.
Weeks later - the 390 looked very polished in the looks
department (black car) but it broke on the longterm test on some remote moore somewhere...
Then a year later .. there was news of TVR having the
services of a Merc Benz suspension engineer to fix the rear end problems they were having..
Oh - Andy390 took me out for a spin in his 390 on Monday - very impressive.
Hope you have fun in your new car - post a picture
when you get it !
I remember seeing a 'orange' 390 prototype in a magazine years ago - sadly the article was about
it breaking the driveshafts and it looked more like
a 350 with a few bolt on's.
Weeks later - the 390 looked very polished in the looks
department (black car) but it broke on the longterm test on some remote moore somewhere...
Then a year later .. there was news of TVR having the
services of a Merc Benz suspension engineer to fix the rear end problems they were having..
Oh - Andy390 took me out for a spin in his 390 on Monday - very impressive.
Hope you have fun in your new car - post a picture
when you get it !
Join the club! 
One small point: that chassis number ends in 'RI' not 'R1' - stands for Rover Injection, to distinguish from the V6 cars which ended in 'FI' for Fuel Injection (the Rover engine not being contemplated when they Tasmin was introduced, so it doesn't stand for Ford Injection as some will tell you).
A car with a bit of history, that's what you want!
Ian
One small point: that chassis number ends in 'RI' not 'R1' - stands for Rover Injection, to distinguish from the V6 cars which ended in 'FI' for Fuel Injection (the Rover engine not being contemplated when they Tasmin was introduced, so it doesn't stand for Ford Injection as some will tell you).
A car with a bit of history, that's what you want!
Ian
If you find any confetti in the heater box or bits of kipper on top of the valley gasket under the inlet manifold, they're from my wedding! I worked at the factory and used that car round about 1992. Needless to say, all my "mates" stitched it up good and proper that day!
I also have a copy of one of the earliest editions of "Fast Lane" magazine from (I think) round about 1984 with a photo of that particular car on the cover. I bought it as a school kid 'cause I craved a car like that one day!
Hope you have fun with it - it has plenty of great memories for me!
I also have a copy of one of the earliest editions of "Fast Lane" magazine from (I think) round about 1984 with a photo of that particular car on the cover. I bought it as a school kid 'cause I craved a car like that one day!
Hope you have fun with it - it has plenty of great memories for me!
streaky said:
Ian (avocet) has provided confirmation of my previous information about the car. He's also sent me some photos of the car in its B402WFV guise (at his wedding!). I'll put the story together as currently known and post it ASAP - Streaky
Good to have a bit of extra history to the car, hows it running at the moment streaky, did you get the tick over sorted
Harry
HarryW said:Still
Ian (avocet) has provided confirmation of my previous information about the car. He's also sent me some photos of the car in its B402WFV guise (at his wedding!). I'll put the story together as currently known and post it ASAP - Streaky
Good to have a bit of extra history to the car, hows it running at the moment streaky, did you get the tick over sorted
Harry
. The tick-over problem is there ... and almost gone again. If the revs come down slowly it will pick up from base-idle and idle at about 700 (usually 800). If the revs come down quickly it will usually stall. But not all the time! Argh! - Streaky
PS - profile updated with original piccy of the car - S
rev-erend said:See Profile - lost its red TVR sticker, gained a Series II wing (during time at factory), wheels changed before 1991. The engine was a 'special' to start with and the hot-wire EMS was added by the factory. Explains a lot! - Streaky
Mmmmm, 390 prototype...
I remember seeing a 'orange' 390 prototype in a magazine years ago - sadly the article was about
it breaking the driveshafts and it looked more like
a 350 with a few bolt on's.
Weeks later - the 390 looked very polished in the looks
department (black car) but it broke on the longterm test on some remote moore somewhere...
Then a year later .. there was news of TVR having the
services of a Merc Benz suspension engineer to fix the rear end problems they were having..
Oh - Andy390 took me out for a spin in his 390 on Monday - very impressive.
Hope you have fun in your new car - post a picture
when you get it !
Just a thought re. Idle speed. Check the Idle Speed Control valve on the back of the plenum. They were famous for giving trouble - even Landrover got more than they'd care to remember back under warranty! Failing that, the mixture might still be too rich. See if the fuel pressure is too high. that sometimes caused the tickover to go mad. I think there was quite a wild cam in it so don't expect too nice a tickover (but it revvs-out nicely though!)
The Fast lane article (June 1985) mentions the car being fitted with a Torsen 'Continuous Drive' differential. Was that standard? Can I easily identify whether it is still fitted? How?
Mind you, the article also mentions that the heater controls were knobs, not 'stalk-in-letterbox', but they are 's-i-l' and the interior picture in the article shows 's-i-l' controls. So you can't believe everything you read!
The article does refer to the car breaking a halfshaft on the Brecon Beacons per Alan's (rev-erend)recollection, but the car was delivered from the factory in black. It does have burgundy upholstery, so perhaps that's what Alan remembers.
Many thanks to Ian (Avocet) for his recollections, photographs and scan of what remains of the Fast Lane article. Thanks also to Claire (gaffer) for memories of being dropped off at school in the car!
I'm hoping to track down Chris Schirle and get information from him and John Ravenscroft, both of whom used the car before Ian had it at the factory.
I'll keep you posted. Might make an article for Sprint.
Streaky
Mind you, the article also mentions that the heater controls were knobs, not 'stalk-in-letterbox', but they are 's-i-l' and the interior picture in the article shows 's-i-l' controls. So you can't believe everything you read!
The article does refer to the car breaking a halfshaft on the Brecon Beacons per Alan's (rev-erend)recollection, but the car was delivered from the factory in black. It does have burgundy upholstery, so perhaps that's what Alan remembers.
Many thanks to Ian (Avocet) for his recollections, photographs and scan of what remains of the Fast Lane article. Thanks also to Claire (gaffer) for memories of being dropped off at school in the car!
I'm hoping to track down Chris Schirle and get information from him and John Ravenscroft, both of whom used the car before Ian had it at the factory.
I'll keep you posted. Might make an article for Sprint
. Streaky
rev-erend said:Alan - thx. Ian Hopley is working on it, plus I've sent a letter to PeterW (anyone know his e-mail address? - if so, pls e-mail it 2 me, thx) - S
Streaky - last I head of Chris Shearle was he left
TVR after working on the SEAC's.. and went on
to a race 'team' type of job but I don't know
where !
Stories, I'm sure there are plenty! And I'm looking forward to hearing/reading them all.
In a short conversation last night, Chris did tell me that when the car arrived back at the factory (it had been the subject of a court case), Peter Wheeler gave it to Chris with the instruction, "Sort it out!". At this time it had the trailing-arm suspension set up at the rear.
Chris devised the new A-frame suspension arrangement in such a way that it could be fitted without changes to the chassis - much to the relief of what then passed for a production line. Chris spent about two weeks on the project initially before reporting back to Peter.
"Great," said Peter, taking the keys, "I'll be back in 10 minutes." And with that he roared out of the factory in the car.
Four hours later he hadn't returned - remember, this was before cellular telephones were commonplace - and Chris was quite concerned because he hadn't tested the car. Strangely, Tivs had a certain notoriety regarding their reliability, this one had a brand new rear suspension, and Peter's driving style would certainly put it to the test! If it had broken at high speed, there would likely have been a large accident.
Eventually Peter returned ... grinning from ear to ear. "Fantastic, this is the best TVR I've ever driven!" he said.
==
More to come, I'm sure ... but you might have to wait to read it in Sprint.
>> Edited by streaky on Wednesday 1st October 21:08
In a short conversation last night, Chris did tell me that when the car arrived back at the factory (it had been the subject of a court case), Peter Wheeler gave it to Chris with the instruction, "Sort it out!". At this time it had the trailing-arm suspension set up at the rear.
Chris devised the new A-frame suspension arrangement in such a way that it could be fitted without changes to the chassis - much to the relief of what then passed for a production line. Chris spent about two weeks on the project initially before reporting back to Peter.
"Great," said Peter, taking the keys, "I'll be back in 10 minutes." And with that he roared out of the factory in the car.
Four hours later he hadn't returned - remember, this was before cellular telephones were commonplace - and Chris was quite concerned because he hadn't tested the car. Strangely, Tivs had a certain notoriety regarding their reliability, this one had a brand new rear suspension, and Peter's driving style would certainly put it to the test! If it had broken at high speed, there would likely have been a large accident.
Eventually Peter returned ... grinning from ear to ear. "Fantastic, this is the best TVR I've ever driven!" he said.
==
More to come, I'm sure ... but you might have to wait to read it in Sprint.
>> Edited by streaky on Wednesday 1st October 21:08
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