TVR Vixen S2 1969 WFD 400H

[Dollyman1850]

1969tuscan said:

Just another thought on the restoration theme , seems a shame that parts for these quite rare cars are so expensive , maybe that's why some of these cars are stripped To sell
as spares. There owners could not afford to restore them , as a pensioner I have struggled to find money to carry on the restoration of wfd400f I got a part time cleaning job in a garage to help. I was lucky as a vehicle technition since school at least I can do the majority of work myself , subject to health allowing. But I suppose the high prices that's on Even the most basic of classic cars. Now .means people will ask high prices for parts. I remember a lot of years ago ,think it was late eighties might be wrong the yuppy years classic cars hit the roof people spent fortunes restoring them taking them out of the price range for ordinary People. Some people lost a lot of money on the restored cars when the bottom fell out of the market. Can't see prices falling now though

What exactly do you consider expensive on your car? I see very few early TVR's being broken as spares, most are sold as complete projects. All bits on vixens apart from perhaps a few bits which are unique to the car are generally reasonably priced!

N.

[1969tuscan]

So you call £800 for a set of bumpers cheap ? And all but £200 for one wheel , yes the run of the mill parts are reasonable but I was also refering to repaires like body off chassis repares and six grand resprays , maybe that's why like you say some end up as restoration projects sold to someone who can afford to spend money on them. Anyway thanks for the response I was beginning to think this blog had died a death 😂 Ha Ha still think these classics are out of the price range for a lot of enthusiasts which is a shame ,

[limjamrace]

Post hasn't dried up.
Lots of people just sit back and read..
To me it is a marvel to see WFD progress to present state..
Taking into account £200 'a worth of paint I cannot see the justification of £6000 for a paint job. .
I build racing cars in a 10 metre square premises at a rented business unit premises so I have similar overheads and so on.
I do get people to obtain parts and pay for themselves ..Astonished as to the cost of them. .
The world has gone crazy over historic cars!

[limjamrace]

That should be 10 metres by 10 metres premises not 10 metres square.

[1969tuscan]

Restoration put on hold till after Christmas , hope to put WFD400H. Back on the road next year if things go to plan , just like to wish all of you that have helped me and contributed to this post a very happy Christmas and a good new year , keith

[Andrew Gray]

And a Happy Christmas to you to hang in there you will get there
Andrew

[anonymous-user]

Control of restoration costs usually ends in losing a battle against a poorly constructed restoration budget... if you wish to maintain the standard you set out with.

£5K + VAT for a repaint is a fortune for a little plastic car if you're using sensible (not £850 a litre) paint.

To strip the body of a 45 year old little plastic car, remove and align the doors correctly remove and repair window frames, gutters and door furniture, remove all crazing and previous accident damage, prepare for paint, mask, paint, remove mask, refit doors and build back-up with lights and glass, final machine polish? Sounds cheap if you want something that's very presentable and, importantly, will look very presentable in 10 years time.


edited to add, I haven't a clue how to to construct a robust restoration budget. I have two cars nearing restoration completion that are admissible evidence that I haven't a clue how to construct a robust restoration budget.

Edited by anonymous-user on Friday 15th December 13:02

[Andrew Gray]

TVRMs said:

edited to add, I haven't a clue how to to construct a robust restoration budget. I have two cars nearing restoration completion that are admissible evidence that I haven't a clue how to construct a robust restoration budget.

Edited by TVRMs on Friday 15th December 13:02

A

[limjamrace]

Well Xmas has gone..
Awaiting the latest news..

[1969tuscan]

Hi nothing to update on wfd400h at the moment with work and family commitments , found tvr owners club meeting tees valley meet second Sunday in the month at a hotel near me , times avertized as twelve till three so went down at one only to be told they had been and gone since ten thirty , think they need there website updating , next time I'll consult my Cristal ball ?, I did find a guy not far from me that has a 70s 3000m he's just starting to do a complete renovation on, so was nice to chat with like minded people, will have to get into garage and move forward with this rebuild this year. Need to find someone to either make a new headcloth or repair bottom edges of old one , as mine is in tidy condition apart from rear lower edges , will keep updating progress as it happens. Keith.

[Andrew Gray]

1969tuscan said:

Hi nothing to update on wfd400h at the moment with work and family commitments , found tvr owners club meeting tees valley meet second Sunday in the month at a hotel near me , times avertized as twelve till three so went down at one only to be told they had been and gone since ten thirty , think they need there website updating , next time I'll consult my Cristal ball ?, I did find a guy not far from me that has a 70s 3000m he's just starting to do a complete renovation on, so was nice to chat with like minded people, will have to get into garage and move forward with this rebuild this year. Need to find someone to either make a new headcloth or repair bottom edges of old one , as mine is in tidy condition apart from rear lower edges , will keep updating progress as it happens. Keith.

Its not worth salvaging take it off and take it to a local trimmer and get a new one made its not expensive fitting takes a bit of time call me if you want some tips done a couple now no expert but if you do some simple steps not hard to do.
Andrew

[1969tuscan]

Thanks Andrew , took your advise contacted a locally trimmer reckons if I take it to him he can make a new one so first chance I get I'll drop it off to him , might ask him to add a bit more fabric on to edges , as when i removed it there wasn't much oerlapp on the screens and doors, when I get new one I will contact you for fitting advise if that ok , thanks for info regards Keith.

[limjamrace]

How are things Keith?

[1969tuscan]

Hi David everything Good just got new headcloth back from trimers today another hole in my bank balance don't mind paying for the head cloth , it's the vat I disagree with.. payed taxes all my working life and they are still bleeding me now I'm retired .whether it's on my small private pension or on my three afternoons a week part time job . That's my moan over for this year, as soon as the weather starts picking up a bit I'll be in the garage working on wfd400h as I said before I'll try hard to get car on the road this year regards Keith. PS how's your imp projects doing

[limjamrace]

Had another ex car turn up. .The Mason Stiletto 's new owner from 6 years ago was making enquiries as to its past to which I got to hear about and I obliged..
Things were getting exciting when he requested me to help get it back on the track but since then he has not replied. .
I bought the Mason Stiletto just before I saw WFD 400H parked up in a side road in Brentwood...
I am in the notion of getting cine film footage of both cars transferred into DVD which I hope is good ..I havn't been able to see the film for years as it was taken by me in 1980..
Perhaps i will be able to' you tube' it for all to see..
Other than that I have been multi Stromberg carb testing and rectifying for a customer whose engine I actually built for months ago..
I bought the world worst rotten imp shell some time ago and am doing an exercise in innovation and imagination to transform it into a competition shell..
It's all on my Facebook page " Llewellyn Imp Motorsport ". amongst lots of other interesting snippets.
I am selling one project that was to be a replica of my first car but have changed my mind as I have decided to use more time and money on EVR 151D my ex friend ,sponser and customer the late Ted Pool. MC..Google that and see what a guy he was..D day paratrooper and motorsport competitor..

Does anyone know who bought Tina Marshall 's TVR Tina?
It was placed on auction some time back..
Wonder if it will be in the show circuit .

[1969tuscan]

Hi David forgot to mention I served my time as a mechanic at minories in Darlington in the 60s working on roots group vehicles ie imps and Hillmans the Coventry climax engine was a good and fast motor apart from the odd head gasket problem. Changed a few of them . At the time we had the rac ralley car in the showroom. I remember you could get a clear perspect engine cover for them . My favourite at the time was the sport with the twin Strombergs. Owned one myself at one point suppose like everything there thin on the ground now also changed a lot of the rubbers drive donuts and the flexy gear linkage , brings back memories. Regards keith

[limjamrace]

Amazing..
That is interesting..
Why not visit the Hillman Imp Group site on Facebook and write that..
Be a change from the stance lowered ,massive 20deg negative wheel camber some of them keep going on about...

I also have a wreck of a Sunbeam Rapier..Series V
Despite being near derelict I wish I had turned to these years a go..
Nice blend of late 1950's into late 1960's with a competition history in their day.

[1969tuscan]

Yes remember the sunbeams worked on all of them years ago the 1725 holbay engines ,the sunbeam alpine and tigers all strait forward vehicles to work on ,not like today's tin boxes unless you have a computer to plug in your wasting your time , the rapiers had a beautiful dash board , as did the Humber sceptre still got some side wing badge somewhere for them , these cars bring back so many memories , I'm showing my age , Keith

[1969tuscan]

Found the badge had them for years]

[FarmyardPants]

1969tuscan said:

Yes remember the sunbeams worked on all of them years ago the 1725 holbay engines ,the sunbeam alpine and tigers all strait forward vehicles to work on ,not like today's tin boxes unless you have a computer to plug in your wasting your time , the rapiers had a beautiful dash board , as did the Humber sceptre still got some side wing badge somewhere for them , these cars bring back so many memories , I'm showing my age , Keith

My dad had a Sunbeam Rapier fastback, 1725 twin carb with overdrive. Lovely car in its day. When we kids came along he sold it and bought a Humber Sceptre estate. I passed my test in that back in 1986 . Great engines in those. So great in fact that someone stole the sceptre off our driveway using a crane with a big claw - just lifted it up and plonked it on the back of a lorry, according to the neighbours, lol.