1967 Tuscan V8

[jaydom]

Hello everybody
Only one question...
What is the reference of the blue used on the Tuscan Silver and Blue ?
I own on my side a 2500M which is red now, but the original paint was "mediterr anean blue" i think(but i don't really like it).
That gives me some ideas as i will have to make mine repainted.
So if the member is around here and that he can gives me the reference... That would be helpful !
Many thanks
Jay
(France)

[zozolivier]

enjoy some pictures of my tuscan V8SE, lwb chassis#7, original french car from the paris car show

[GTRene]

very nice and LHD too, thankx for sharing.

[zozolivier]

pridaux said:

Thanks looks fantastic can we see some more pictures please back window looks unusual really nice car
Andrew

the rear window is made of lexan, I found the car in a barn back in 1995, the car was heavily modified for racing purpose, the chassis was shot and I had a new body and chassis from david gerald. unfortunately, the new body needed 500 hours of work to reach my restoration standart but I never managed to properly fit the original rear window so I ended with this.

[GTRene]

what are the specs now?

[zozolivier]

the chassis has been upgraded to griffith FIA spec with 6 double adjustable aluminum shocks,modified braking system with tilton pedal assembly and vented calipers, 7 inch compomotive on 215/65/15 with modified wheel arch but inside for stock look, 302 ford racing engine prepared by doug baker at esi engine service making 385 hp on dyno, modified cooling system with de-gas system and corvette radiator, ford racing T5Z gearbox, new complete electrical system with modern fusebox and much more...Of course, I've kept all the original parts, including rotten chassis, original 289 HP engine and toploader gearbox

[GTRene]

sounds very good, better then it left the factory
lovely...one day, one day.

[ATE399J]

My Goodness Zoz, what a beautiful car! You must almost be able to built another form all of the original pieces left over!!

[zozolivier]

i surely can buy another tuscan with the cost invested in restoration but it was just the only way to save the one and only original french tuscan ever, as I restored the car and spoke with the tvr car club, we found many special things on the car, the front suspension, th vixen bonnet with griffith side scoops, etc, etc.

the car is incredibly fast with only 915 kgs, unfortunaltelly, I have too many cars and only 24hrs a day, so I don't really drive it, may be 2500 kms in 8 years, sooner or later it will have to go to someone with more time to enjoy it as it should. may be I'll go to spa classic, may be

[davepen]

zozolivier said:

the vixen bonnet with griffith side scoops

004 has a similar arrangement - as questioned in the 1976 Success Against the Odds.
001 appears to have a Griffith style bonnet - without the front inlets
Later cars have the squarer side vent with the "vixen" style bonnet

[JDinoM64]

Bonnet differs to Vixen as it should have no scoops or vents

[zozolivier]

the bonnet on my car is correct because I had the original one stripped to bare to see if there was some modifications made during life of the car and there wasn't any sign of remolding, we did that to check the original color which was the mystery question from tvr car club (the car was lost since it left the factory as it didn't return from the paris car show), the car came to me in red and as I sanded the paint it was BRG just under and before primer

[thegamekeeper]

[quote=zozolivier]the bonnet on my car is correct because I had the original one stripped to bare to see if there was some modifications made during life of the car and there wasn't any sign of remolding, we did that to check the original color which was the mystery question from tvr car club (the car was lost since it left the factory as it didn't return from the paris car show), the car came to me in red and as I sanded the paint it was BRG just under and before primer[/quot


The bonnet on your car is NOT correct for a Tuscan V8, its a Tuscan V6 bonnet.


Is the body now bonded on or bolted?

Edited by thegamekeeper on Wednesday 8th May 21:32

[zozolivier]

I'll clear this issue about the bonnet tomorrow (i remember david gerald made a griffith bonnet first then I had to go back to UK to collect this one), I have the original picture of the car as I found it back in 95, the body is now bolted to solve the problem on the outer molded tube (that were broken on 4 corners as we seperated chassis from body)

[thegamekeeper]

I have no reason to believe that when you bought the car it didn,t have a bonnet identical to the one you have replaced it with but that does not mean its correct. You said that when you found it it was 28 years old, been a race car and was heavily modified. Do you not accept that it could possibly have been damaged in those 28 "lost" years during which it raced. Tuscan V8 bonnets were not readily available but V6 bonnets were, hence that is what you have been supplied with as a replacement.As regards the rear window, i cant understand why it was possible to fit Lexan (polycarbonate) window but not the original perspex (acrylic)

Its your car and its very nice. the pity is, and its only my opinion, that you have restored the car to a very non original specification when it would have been just as easy, if not easier to restore it to original. You have the original 289 engine, top loader gearbox etc, originality is king.

I am not arguing with you, its your car but I would suggest you have a chat with JDino, he has Martin Lilleys immaculate original car, unrestored and unmolested. If he says its a Vixen?Tuscan bonnet, it probably is!

[zozolivier]

you're certainly right about the bonnet and about originality of a car but I was alone here in france back in 95 to restore (or save) this car with no support, no club, no picture and I did it the best I could with some mistake. Things are easier today as you can collect tons of pictures, info and advices in a clic time. for exemple, this bonnet, I relied on david gerald for a bonnet that was wrong style, the rear window opening on the new body was too large with a 1cm gap all around, the front wishbones brackets were not properly welded to mention a few.

[GTRene]

I don't care if its original to the bone or not, I like such car because of their cute/raw/brutal but small looks and ofcorse the V8 in such small car, love those old TVR's (but with a bit modern wires/electric and brakes and and suspension etc.

Also when its not to original its a bit easier to change some things, you can always save the parts you replaced, but the first thing I buy a car for is when i drive it I want to enjoy it, even when its just for doing some chopping

I only have one car, thats also enough for me most of the times. and I don't drive that much (sadly but ok)
But when I drive my car its big fun which starts when I see it in my garage and then when I start it the V8 comes to life.

But such old, but good TVR with V8 could replace my one and only, maybe one day when my car is sold we could make contact and see if its interesting/fun.

[zozolivier]

you were right, the original bonnet had no vent or scoop, my mistake, I should have controled

[rdanville]

Slow M said:

t's amazing what magnification can do. That's a 302 Cleveland. Easy to know, once you can see the shape of the valve covers.

Does that make two, or is it the same car we dicussed on another thread?

Best,
B.

Just saw this. That's a Boss 302 1970. How do I know? I helped Robert take out the original 289 Hi Po and install the Boss 302. Sometime around 1976.
He still lives across the street from my parents. Still has the car in a lock up. I left London for the USA in 1989 but still visit. I have many pictures of that TVR.

Richard

[e-mail]

[GTRene]

if you can share here, please do, love those oldies.