3000m black sill

[plasticpig72]

When i bought my 1976 3000m it had a black band on the sills under the doors.
I thought someone before had added it and i didn't think it looked good. BUT i was talking to a friend and he said they had the black band from new.
I'm thinking about putting a black band like original but i have no measurements.
Can someone please help and should the black be gloss or satin or matt.
Thanks boys i'm all ears waiting for a reply
Alan

[nwarner]

Hi Alan

I've only seen the black sills etc on the pre-75 M's. The bonnet was black under the bumpers and carried on in a straight line from the bottom horizontal line on the side of the bumper to the wheel arch. The sill line went across the body side level with the bottom of the doors. I can't remember what the back was like but I think it was the same from the bumper to the wheel arch at the front.

Nige

I just spotted my typo, that was meant to be pre-76 :-(

Edited by nwarner on Tuesday 4th December 19:29

[plasticpig72]

When i bought my 1976 3000M it had a black line between the front and back wheels only along the sill.
The person i bought it from had had the car from 1982. he said it had been always like this and no sidewinder stripes.
I was silly not to take a photo of the stripes on the sills and also not to measure the height and position.
I could kick myself for not doing that, no excuse. I feel really stupid.
I like to keep my cars exactly how they left the factory.
Alan

[plasticpig72]

Just checked dates on car, first registered 12th March 1976.
Windows, drivers door glass 1971 and quarterlight 1974.
passenger door glass 1971 and quarterlight 1974.
back heated window dated 1971 or 1972 (difficult to read date dot).
IDENT PLATE 3582FM.
So maybe built in 1975 and sold + first registered in 1976
Alan

[Monsun]

Can't give you much info on black sills but I was interested to see that your car was built around the same time as my 3000M.

My chassis number is 3578FM. The build date is 30/01/76 and it was first registered on 25/02/76 so maybe the build date for your car is early Feb '76? I have some photos of the car taken by the second owner in 1979 and these show that the car didn't have black sills.

Peter

[plasticpig72]

Hi Peter,
wow that's interresting, their sisters.
What's the colour, is it Peugeot onyx brun 1359 which would make them identical twins. Or at least as identical as you can get with TVRs.
Could you post a photo please.
Alan

[Monsun]

Hi Alan

I'm afraid I owe you an apology as it turns out that my 3000M did have black sills when it came out of the factory! The photo that I have of the car in its first colour scheme is low res but when I looked at it more closely it seemed that it might have had black sills. I contacted the second owner and he confirmed that this was the case and when he bought the car the sills were matt black. This ended at some point in 1976 as he can't recall black sills on later cars.

My car is now Ford Neptune Blue but when it was made it was Coral Metallic (to many it was pink). The second owner had it resprayed blue and I'm quite glad he did!

Peter

[Monsun]

As a reference you might be interested in this photo of another close relation. This is a 1600M and was taken at one of the early TVR Car Club Extravaganzas at Blackpool. You can just about make out the line that the black took on the front corner.

Peter

[moluag]

A couple of images of my Tuscan V6 before restoration ie. as it was delivered to me from the factory in December 1971. It shows the matt black skirt on the sides, continuing round to the tail of the car. Note there is no black band forward of the front wheel arches.

Hope this helps

[plasticpig72]

Thanks to see the photos for the black band.
On my car being bronze colour it will not give much contrast.
Maybe for the moment i'll leave the Sills the same colour as the Body.
When i get some Stone Chips on the Sills i can then paint black
Alan