What is the ultimate wedge ?

[TVR Engineer]

200,280,350,390,400,420,430,450 and 500 what makes the ultimate wedge?, is it body style, engine, performance or rarity?

[Graham]

I would have tought the b ig engined SEAC with the kevlar body, it has everything "body style, engine, performance and rarity" Is one i would like to add to my collection Graham 280i dhc Racer 4ltr Chim

[350matt]

I'd have to say that while the SEAC body construction is very flash and should save weight from the rather chunky panels, the best looking cars are the 400's with the small boot spoiler and restyled dash. But then obviously you'd prabably want the 450SEAC engine or one of those ultra rare 400SX supercharged lumps then again any wedge can be tuned to pretty high level and to be honest at the minute I'm concentrating on sorting the heater / demist out as it doesn't matter how much is under the bonnet unless you can see out!

[TVR Engineer]

OK you say the SEAC is the ultimate, but what about changing the spotlights you have to break a perspex cover at the cost of at least £80 to do the job. Personaly I believe the 450SE is the ultimate, what more can you ask for 320BHP+ and a body style to die for. I have driven most models of TVR`s and I think for all round driveability, cost and sheer drop dead looks you can not beat a 450SE. P.S there are far less 450SE`s about than SEAC`s.

[fourwheeldrift]

Sand?

[Rob350]

Dittos to much of below. Any V8 wedge can be tuned to go like stink and they are all pretty rare, I'm lucky enough to have a factory built hybrid 350i/390SE (basic looks and badging of former plus brakes, rear axle, mirrors, spoiler and bonnet of the later)with a very tuned 3.5 motor. I'd like both a 450SE -- only 35 ever made -- because of all the torque and a SEAC because of the looks (I'm not sure I remember right but was it only the first few cars that had a genuine Aramid Composite bodyshell and then TVR reverted to good old GRP). Maybe the ultimate is something else though. Didn't the factory also once build a Wedge with a big block Chevy in it -- now that would have been interesting on a wet road, wheelspin in 5th (instead of just 1,2 and 3rd) anyone?

[patrick]

Well not being in the least biased I've gotta vote for the SEAC. Rarity, looks, NOISE, performance, it does everything that I want. IMHO it's the curviest wedge that was produced. Patrick.

[TVR Engineer]

Speak now if you have the ultra rare 500SE Edited by TVR Engineer on Saturday 10th February 00:30

[PetrolTed]

quote:Maybe the ultimate is something else though. Didn't the factory also once build a Wedge with a big block Chevy in it -- now that would have been interesting on a wet road, wheelspin in 5th (instead of just 1,2 and 3rd) anyone?

Was that the 660SE(?) that went to Sweden(?)

[TVR Engineer]

I need to telephone the factory tomorrow and speak to my old buddies, you have got me interested I will ask about the chevy wedge !

[Rob350]

That's right Ted, thanks for the memory jog.

[TVR Engineer]

I talked to the factory today, They know about the Chevy wedge in Sweden but they did not fit the Engine at the Factory. There is an ex PW prototype wedge with an Austrialian Holden engine that is still kicking round the factory but the factory insist there are no official cars bigger than 4.5, although a few years ago they put a 500 engine in a wedge when its original engine retired. Does anyone know different ?

[andycollier]

Hi I'm Andrew Collier! I owned the 500SE wedge for three years up until last April! IMHO the ultimate wedge is the yellow SEAC racer. The 500 SE was almost unusable on public roads. It was totally uncompromising. It really needed a racetrack. Also it needed to be tuned for racing as roadgoing tune didn't suit the car at all. The engine sounded like a bag of bolts for at least 10 minutes until it was warm, but it was brilliantly rewarding to drive hard. I sold the car only because there were so many great cars out there and I can only afford one at a time. Anyway. Thats my tuppence ha'penny!

[TVR Engineer]

Thankyou Andrew, I have been waiting for you to surface. I must ask though, who fitted the engine ?

[andycollier]

Hi! Sorry, my work firewall doesn't allow me to get to this site during the day anymore so have not been here for ages (Sorry!). All the following is 100% accurate, no hearsay etc. All the parts for the mods were bought directly from TVR power. It was modified a lot more than a stroking kit as the previous owner rattled off a whole load off stuff that had been done, but I cannot recall exactly what was done as he only said it while I was looking round the car except it was 4881cc(don't flame me - I was excited!). It was a totally professional job, decals and everything else were correct. It had carbon fibre look 500 badges on the rear and on the rocker cover. They were very early and I believe all these bits were factory sourced too. After the mods were complete the car went back to TVR power to be tuned and checked over as far as I know. I believe it also went back there again but I don't know what for. Every year all the rear doughnuts needed to be changed as the torque would literally rip them to pieces. Lovely! I met the cousin of the guy who converted the car at a Brands Hatch meet a few years ago. He is a TVRCC member and also had a wedge. The guy who converted the car was last seen driving a Testarossa apparently. A Grey 500SE apparently was also built but the only sighting of this was unconfirmed. Anyone know any better? TVR power knew the car. They had no paper recs, but when I spoke to them on th phone, they knew all about "the blue one"! My letters to TVR etc I passed on to the new owner as part of the car's history. I should stress that the car was very much a one off. It was also a product or TVR power rather than TVR. I hope this helps. p.s. My new car is at http://www.supras.co.uk/images/Members_Cars/AndrewCollier.JPG and it's not my girlfriend in the pic!

[TVR Engineer]

Thanks for the info Andy. Nice car you have now.

[shayes]

I've always like the SEACs and sold my trusty 350i to buy the blue 420 SEAC. Specification 5 litre (was 4.6 and was 4.2 when I bought it) All engine work done through V8 Developments and ACT Performance Products. Partly Carbon Fibre Mostly rose jointed Adjustable front suspension 16x9 Ex Tuscan rims with S02-PPs ACT Carbon Fibre Plenum Enlarged Inlet manifold ACT Enlarged Carbon Fibre Trumpets ACT Enlarged 76mm Throttle body Front Brakes - 310mm AP rotors and custom bells with Bremsport calipers (Raven Automotive) Std SD1/Vitesse gearbox Std XJS / Jag diff. 3 (individual) slip on (oo-eer) ACT silencers for -3or4db, -5 db and -10db practical noise reduction for those tracks (Goodwood, Castle Combe, Thruxton etc). Presently sporting a sore engine mount which is allowing the engine and gearbox to move and hit things - like the chassis. "Some" more information on: http://www.seanhayes.co.uk Cheers Sean

[dragon]

Sean - fantastic spec! What is this beast putting out now at the wheels?? Seen you at action at Goodwood - when is the next outing down there??

[shayes]

Figures 300bhp flywheel and only 227 bhp wheels but 337 lb/ft torque These are real figures - not figures indicative of what the engine configuration is capable of. I'm getting a "new" design carbon plenum tonight - be interesting to see how it drives after that. See graph 7 on the following ACT web page. http://www.shayes.plus.com/act/performance.html When my engine had fully programmable engine management (before I got it) it produced the power and torque of graph 1 Goodwood Ahhhh Goodwood. If I can sprint there this year then end May or early July. Else maybe a track day - with -10db silencer

[jvaughan]

Sean, what will you be doing with the old Plenum ??? I am currently looking into changing my Standard Plenum, Trumpets, and eventually throttle body, and looking to move into the Carbon era. ? If you are selling it ... how much are you asking ? and will it fit a 400SE ?