Anyone own my old Grantura?
Discussion
Nice one tutman you saved me e-mailing them, these were the pics i mentioned ,tutman sent them to me a while back. The car was for sale in Hemmings motor news in Sept 2012 for $29,500, it was in Warminster Pennsylvania, it was being sold with a Climax engine back in it. The car is also in the TVR Sprint mag of June 1993, the then owner Jim Duncan(of open top TVR fame i assume) was asking for info/history on the car.From info on the ch/no list i have it appears to be 7/c/192
Rich.
Rich.
Cheers, Rich. I thought it was the same car, but the pictures I have do not show the rear....would assume that it still has those features? The keeper advertises the car from time to time, but does not return emails, phone calls, etc.
192 does not make it the 49th car, but close to the MKIIs.
Best,
D.
192 does not make it the 49th car, but close to the MKIIs.
Best,
D.
Very interesting, so the rumour that it went to the USA was right. Nice to know that it seems to have survived to at least 2012....and risen in value rather dramatically! Ah well, we all know of something we shouldn't have sold, and this was certainly it for me. Worth more than a couple of windowframes for my first house now.
I cannot be absolutely sure but I will have owned it in the 1967-70 period. They were pretty well worthless then of course.
Next step will be to get a copy of that Sprint if I can and start making some enquiries re the TVROC in the USA. If anything interesting comes back I will keep you guys posted. Given the 2012 price and where it is, I think it is out of my range to bring it back across the pond!
Just saw your post D. Does that mean you still have some form of contact info, even if there has been no response?
I cannot be absolutely sure but I will have owned it in the 1967-70 period. They were pretty well worthless then of course.
Next step will be to get a copy of that Sprint if I can and start making some enquiries re the TVROC in the USA. If anything interesting comes back I will keep you guys posted. Given the 2012 price and where it is, I think it is out of my range to bring it back across the pond!
Just saw your post D. Does that mean you still have some form of contact info, even if there has been no response?
Edited by greymrj on Monday 20th October 18:06
Yes, Sir. I did at one point, and am not the only one on this forum that has attempted to make contact. When advertised, the pictures do not show the rear or front features of the car, but it is still yellow and would think that she still carries them?
There are many folks looking for MKIs, but the price he is asking is too dear.
Best,
D.
There are many folks looking for MKIs, but the price he is asking is too dear.
Best,
D.
Richard Dont give up over price i know its hard that the prices are high but that price as David says is to high but they are rather higher than what you sold it for you dont have to have it that long to realise that dream which is a great one and then sell it again but enjoy and re live the past i know if the original owner of one of my cars popped up i would not sell it but i would say take it away and enjoy as that would give me great pleasure we are planning a previous owner reunion for my Tuscan sometime next year which should be fun
Andrew
Andrew
hi Richard, Found more history,
April59 built by lead craftsman- Phil Mcneil, June 1960 first registered. Raced at Oulton park, Aintree and others in North west Engand, 1969-75 owned by RA Jarvis(you i assume), installed Riley and made street legal, 1975-78 owned by Graham Mackreth , 1978 sold to Brian classic of Knutsford, car packaged with 2 other TVRs and imported to U.S. Delivered to Gary Billiter of Portsmouth Ohio, 1980 purchased by Keith Brown of Onsted Michigan, 1983 purchased by Albert Way New Jersey(which is where the photo's might be from as that looks like his Jomar in the background), 1996 purchased by Stu French Wyckoff New Jersey, i also found the car was for sale at £20,000 in March 2013 on our car and classic for sale UK site. Will e mail ad as it has phone No's on it
April59 built by lead craftsman- Phil Mcneil, June 1960 first registered. Raced at Oulton park, Aintree and others in North west Engand, 1969-75 owned by RA Jarvis(you i assume), installed Riley and made street legal, 1975-78 owned by Graham Mackreth , 1978 sold to Brian classic of Knutsford, car packaged with 2 other TVRs and imported to U.S. Delivered to Gary Billiter of Portsmouth Ohio, 1980 purchased by Keith Brown of Onsted Michigan, 1983 purchased by Albert Way New Jersey(which is where the photo's might be from as that looks like his Jomar in the background), 1996 purchased by Stu French Wyckoff New Jersey, i also found the car was for sale at £20,000 in March 2013 on our car and classic for sale UK site. Will e mail ad as it has phone No's on it
That is fantastic Richard. Yes I am the Richard Jarvis referred to. All the stuff up to going to America fits in with my knowledge. I wonder if my idea that it was car 49 is somehow a confusion with it having been built in 59. I know I did take it up to the TVR factory once and got a very good reception and some basic info from them. The early racing history in the NW fits as well. It had the remains of scrutineers tags round the gear lever. It had non standard brakes and wheels and what I understood to be a 'fast' rack and a different diff. Damn shame I no longer have my notes or photographs.
This was in the days before space savers and getting the large 5th wheel in and out was a pain, especially as we also went camping in it! (How, I simply do not know!!) hence the decision to try to introduce a boot lid. One day I was at a breakers sourcing bits for someone else when I noticed either a Reliant or more likely a Bond with a bonnet panel of about the right size and shape. I was a competitive kayakker at the time (hence the subsequent sale to Graham Mackreth) and was used to moulding g.r.p. so I set to, modified the curvature on the panel and moulded the recess and mountings. It actually worked pretty well and made the car a lot more convenient.
I will just share a little tale with everybody else as it may bring in another Grantura owner. I was at Oulton Park one day for a classics meeting and there was an early Grantura, dark green, and a very nice restoration. I complemented the owner but made a comment that it was a shame the bonnet TRV badge wasnt original! He said they were as rare as hens teeth. I then told him there was one in my garage as I had sold my Grantura stripped for painting and the badge had been left on a shelf. He offered to buy it but I said I would give it to him to complete such a fine job, provided he sent me pictures of the finished car. Some time later he sent me pictures as promised, together with a TVR publicity brochure which included several classic TVR's including his; with 'my' badge on it! I was made up at the time. (when I am next in the loft I must get down the box of magazines and find that brochure again). So someone out there is possibly still running about in a Grantura with the bonnet badge from LSN 950! Does he remember I wonder?
This was in the days before space savers and getting the large 5th wheel in and out was a pain, especially as we also went camping in it! (How, I simply do not know!!) hence the decision to try to introduce a boot lid. One day I was at a breakers sourcing bits for someone else when I noticed either a Reliant or more likely a Bond with a bonnet panel of about the right size and shape. I was a competitive kayakker at the time (hence the subsequent sale to Graham Mackreth) and was used to moulding g.r.p. so I set to, modified the curvature on the panel and moulded the recess and mountings. It actually worked pretty well and made the car a lot more convenient.
I will just share a little tale with everybody else as it may bring in another Grantura owner. I was at Oulton Park one day for a classics meeting and there was an early Grantura, dark green, and a very nice restoration. I complemented the owner but made a comment that it was a shame the bonnet TRV badge wasnt original! He said they were as rare as hens teeth. I then told him there was one in my garage as I had sold my Grantura stripped for painting and the badge had been left on a shelf. He offered to buy it but I said I would give it to him to complete such a fine job, provided he sent me pictures of the finished car. Some time later he sent me pictures as promised, together with a TVR publicity brochure which included several classic TVR's including his; with 'my' badge on it! I was made up at the time. (when I am next in the loft I must get down the box of magazines and find that brochure again). So someone out there is possibly still running about in a Grantura with the bonnet badge from LSN 950! Does he remember I wonder?
Edited by greymrj on Tuesday 21st October 14:44
Although I'm more M-series than Pre-M, I've been following this thread with interest.
I have a copy of TVRCC Sprint magazine for June 1993 in which there is a photo of LSN 950. The photo is of relatively poor quality and is a rear-view taken in a garage and is not dissimilar to that on page 1, except that it is in black and white.
The interesting bit is in the blurb that was written by Paul Shrimpton who was RO for the Dorset region of TVRCC at the time. It is as follows - 'I have received an interesting letter from the US of A from Jim Duncan, 313 Woodward, Rochester, Michigan. Jim owns the car in the photo and thinks it is the Coffee Bean referred to in Peter Filby's book [Success Against The Odds]. There is brown paint under the yellow and the chassis has been extensively lightened. There is no chassis plate on the vehicle, but its registration was LSN 950.' Unfortunately as far as I can see there is no feedback in subsequent issues.
According to Peter Filby's most recent book on the early TVRs there were actually two Coffee Beans, both bought by Bunty Scott-Moncrieff and mostly raced by his wife Averil. The first car appeared in 1959 but was written off when being guest-driven on a Scottish hill climb. The second Coffee Bean was built in 1960 so there is a possibility that this car 'might' be LSN 950?
Peter
I have a copy of TVRCC Sprint magazine for June 1993 in which there is a photo of LSN 950. The photo is of relatively poor quality and is a rear-view taken in a garage and is not dissimilar to that on page 1, except that it is in black and white.
The interesting bit is in the blurb that was written by Paul Shrimpton who was RO for the Dorset region of TVRCC at the time. It is as follows - 'I have received an interesting letter from the US of A from Jim Duncan, 313 Woodward, Rochester, Michigan. Jim owns the car in the photo and thinks it is the Coffee Bean referred to in Peter Filby's book [Success Against The Odds]. There is brown paint under the yellow and the chassis has been extensively lightened. There is no chassis plate on the vehicle, but its registration was LSN 950.' Unfortunately as far as I can see there is no feedback in subsequent issues.
According to Peter Filby's most recent book on the early TVRs there were actually two Coffee Beans, both bought by Bunty Scott-Moncrieff and mostly raced by his wife Averil. The first car appeared in 1959 but was written off when being guest-driven on a Scottish hill climb. The second Coffee Bean was built in 1960 so there is a possibility that this car 'might' be LSN 950?
Peter
Now that is puzzling! I do not specifically remember brown paint when I was rubbing down the new g.r.p., although I suppose I might have thought it was an undercoat of some sort. Nor do I remember any substantial or obvious lightening of the chassis, although in fairness I had no other Grantura to compare it to. The uprights, hubs, brakes and wheels were all light alloy but other than that I cannot recall anything. However there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that the body in the picture was mine; if the particular boot wasnt distinctive enough, that tail light recess is definitely my work, I can 'see' the 'mould' I used now.
As you can imagine I would be pig sick if I had had a special car and let it go!
As you can imagine I would be pig sick if I had had a special car and let it go!
I have just found the TVR brochure I referred to above. It appears to have originated in 1988 and is a catalogue of the history of TVR, referred to as 'Handcrafted British Sports cars since 1949', coincidentally it appears to have been part of the launch material for the S type and my current car is an S1. On the inside front page it shows a green 1963 Grantura 2A. That is the car I was referring to and it was owned by a Mr Trevor Crawley of Newcastle (Staffs) and was registered 688 GFR.
Rob which thread is that on ten tenths ?. I wonder if the car was re-registered ?, LSN is a Dumbarton c.c registration, isnt that of the type(spare unused regstrations) they give you now for age related registrations ?.
RobMk2a said:
There is a post on ten tenths by someone called Sharman who identifies Coffee Bean as 7/c/ 192 built by Phil McNeil works forman at TVR specifically for racing.
So this car may be Coffee Bean.
Rob
So this car may be Coffee Bean.
Rob
Sorry the thread is on autosport nostalgia forum.
Edit - I Dont seem to be able to post a link (using my iPad) search on Google TVR Coffee Bean auto sport It comes up under a discussion about 'baron' Entwhistle.
Im not sure who Sharman is but he appears to have been involved in racing Grantura's in period.
Rob
Edit - I Dont seem to be able to post a link (using my iPad) search on Google TVR Coffee Bean auto sport It comes up under a discussion about 'baron' Entwhistle.
Im not sure who Sharman is but he appears to have been involved in racing Grantura's in period.
Rob
Edited by RobMk2a on Wednesday 22 October 17:46
Edited by RobMk2a on Wednesday 22 October 18:00
Edited by RobMk2a on Wednesday 22 October 18:30
Oh, Oh, this is getting complicated isnt it. I went onto that old Autosport link and there is a reference in it to the car having 15" wobbly web wheels. So did LSN950 when I had it! Wish I could see the car in America, I could tell quickly enough from a couple of details (perhaps I ought to keep them to myself for the time being?!)
The comment about sandracing at Ainsdale is interesting. I never raced LSN950 there but I did go there to support a guy with a fast Anglia and I did assist a bit. On at least two occasions I drove LSN950 round the course at speed, getting firmly 'b
ked' on one occasion for doing so. The Grantura was wholly unsuitable for sand racing as it simply didnt have enough ground clearance and would just finish up beached. Good fun at the time but a bit of a nuisance for the club! (Didnt do the car any good either as it needed a lot of cleaning afterwards)
The comment about sandracing at Ainsdale is interesting. I never raced LSN950 there but I did go there to support a guy with a fast Anglia and I did assist a bit. On at least two occasions I drove LSN950 round the course at speed, getting firmly 'b
ked' on one occasion for doing so. The Grantura was wholly unsuitable for sand racing as it simply didnt have enough ground clearance and would just finish up beached. Good fun at the time but a bit of a nuisance for the club! (Didnt do the car any good either as it needed a lot of cleaning afterwards)Gassing Station | TVR Classics | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff