TVR 3000S - top of the tree C & SC.

[moffspeed]

As the ex owner of a later S3C I was interested in the 70s shoot out article in the latest edition of Classic and Sports Car.

So the 3000S up against various other contemporaries including Jensen Healey, MGB, TR6, Morgan, Lotus 7 etc. The final verdict gives a clear win for the Tiv on the grounds of noise, performance, road holding and just presence. So congrats to all you discerning owners.

I still miss the sound of my V6 in the morning (my neighbours don't....).

Edited by moffspeed on Wednesday 29th March 11:27

[plasticpig72]

That's good news. I must say it seems strange that one of the cars was a seven and not an Elan or Elan +2.
I am lucky to have a 1978 TVR 3000S + 1976 TVR 3000M and a 1972 Lotus Elan Sprint fhc.
All 3 all so different to drive.
The Elan Sprint is delicate like a ballet.
The 3000M brute force and lots of noise.
The 3000S for cruising with the wind in the hair.
I love them all
Alan
ps. is it the March edition

Edited by plasticpig72 on Wednesday 29th March 13:34

[moffspeed]

Nope it's the May edition (they always get ahead of themselves)..

I also had a baby Elan (S4 SE) in the past, agree with your comments - my TVR made way for a Lancia Fulvia HF Coupe - the way it handles is very reminiscent of the Lotus...

[plasticpig72]

Thanks,
i'll try and get a copy here in Brittany.
Is the Lancia with a V4 and the bonnet opens across the car. They look very nice
Alan

[moffspeed]

Nope thats the Zagato version, this one is the more conventional looking one - but with the same narrow angle twin cam V4 engine.

Unlike the torque of the TVR V6 you need to keep it screaming between 5000 and 6000 rpm to achieve significant forward momentum...

[QBee]

A friend of mine bought a Fulvia (the one with the gearbox at the back and the gear selection backwards?).
By all accounts it does 0-60.
He's going to get back to me when it does.

[Andrew Gray]

moffspeed said:

As the ex owner of a later S3C I was interested in the 70s shoot out article in the latest edition of Classic and Sports Car.

So the 3000S up against various other contemporaries including Jensen Healey, MGB, TR6, Morgan, Lotus 7 etc. The final verdict gives a clear win for the Tiv on the grounds of noise, performance, road holding and just presence. So congrats to all you discerning owners.

I still miss the sound of my V6 in the morning (my neighbours don't....).

Edited by moffspeed on Wednesday 29th March 11:27

THEY WILL ALL WANT ONE

Andrew

[oliverb205]

Glad to hear the car comes out well. Congratulations on finding a copy, I am a subscriber and my copy hasn't arrived yet. The premise for the article is "1970s convertibles for under £20k", which is why neither Elan makes it in. Suspect you would be pushing the limit for a 3000S or Morgan...

Oliver.

PS. The OP needs to drive a 3000S, then he'll see why it is such a great car compared to his modern pastiche!

[moffspeed]

QBee said:

A friend of mine bought a Fulvia (the one with the gearbox at the back and the gear selection backwards?).
By all accounts it does 0-60.
He's going to get back to me when it does.

Not sure about the gearbox at the back but yes it's a dog - leg 5 speed box firmly attached to the block. Sold the TVR and my first drive of the Fulvia made me think - what have I done?...until I realised that you seriously needed to "play" the gearbox and keep it revving. There is a road local to me that winds up the South Downs and is reminiscent of Prescott Hill Climb. I honestly believe that the Fulvia is as quick up there as my old TVR.

From a practical point of view I would nominate the Fulvia Coupe and the TVR S series as the best "sleepers" out there....

[Andrew Gray]

oliverb205 said:

Glad to hear the car comes out well. Congratulations on finding a copy, I am a subscriber and my copy hasn't arrived yet. The premise for the article is "1970s convertibles for under £20k", which is why neither Elan makes it in. Suspect you would be pushing the limit for a 3000S or Morgan...

Oliver.

PS. The OP needs to drive a 3000S, then he'll see why it is such a great car compared to his modern pastiche!

Exactly i drove a V8 S recently and a nice car but nothing like my 3000s
Andrew

[oliverb205]

Got my copy today, and it is worth a buy for a TVR owner. Not only does Duncan's car beat all the other 1970s convertibles but they also pit a Sagaris against the Marcos TSO. Best of all is James Elliott ' s column which is a full tribute to Jack Griffith.

Oliver.

[Andrew Gray]

oliverb205 said:

Got my copy today, and it is worth a buy for a TVR owner. Not only does Duncan's car beat all the other 1970s convertibles but they also pit a Sagaris against the Marcos TSO. Best of all is James Elliott ' s column which is a full tribute to Jack Griffith.

Oliver.

Got my copy today not sure who Mr Byland as chief engineer is maybe he knows where the 3000s cars are with a Triumph Differential i can only find them with a Salisbury Diff must ask him if i ever meet him
Andrew

[plasticpig72]

I ordered my copy today.
Making TVR the winner i wonder if he had a TVR 3000M in the past with a TR6 Diff.
Maybe he has a soft spot for Tivs. We all have our weak spots
Alan

[AMTony]

Bought my V8S to remind me of my old 3000S - chalk and cheese but both great.

Was red and its reg was TAA 757T from memory.

Fantastic car but had to go as deposit for a house!

Wonder where it is now?

[QBee]

Not been taxed or MOTd since 2008 ☹️

[oliverb205]

AMTony said:

Bought my V8S to remind me of my old 3000S - chalk and cheese but both great.

Was red and its reg was TAA 757T from memory.

Fantastic car but had to go as deposit for a house!

Wonder where it is now?

Hi, time for an update then.

This is at Blackpool in April 1995, I think you still owned it then.



Think you sold it to Craig Barnes, who lived in Accrington. Craig reregistered it so that by June 1997 it became this.



I almost bought it in about 1999/2000 but couldn't sell my Taimar so let Craig readvertise as he wanted to sell it quickly, though in fact he ended up keeping it a while longer. He had a fantastic respray done in it, somewhere I have a photo of it at Blackpool in about 2006. He finally sold it in Autumn 2008, to Frank Thomas in Belgium who had no need for the plate. By then I had this.



The deal was done with Craig and so mine is now this.



Frank didn't keep it too long as the steering wheel was on the wrong side, so he sold it when he found a left hooker. The car is still on the Continent, I think in Belgium. Craig had an Elise after the 3000S (his wife didn't like it which was why he sold it), but last I heard he was fancying another M.

Just to add that there is a Facebook page for 3000S owners, and we are trying to track down as many as possible. We are also planning to do a calendar for the 40th anniversary of TVR's first production convertible next, if anyone wants theirs featured drop me an email with a photo to [e-mail]

Oliver.

[QBee]

They are obviously much loved and a particularly inspiring drive.
I am a recent convert to TVR (2012) and have so far only owned a Chimaera.
I have had rides in Speed 6 cars etc, done track days etc, and mine is presently having a power upgrade.

So having come across this thread by accident, I am interested in hearing what made the 3000M so special? Engine? Handling? Powerrrrrr!?

[Andrew Gray]

QBee said:

They are obviously much loved and a particularly inspiring drive.
I am a recent convert to TVR (2012) and have so far only owned a Chimaera.
I have had rides in Speed 6 cars etc, done track days etc, and mine is presently having a power upgrade.

So having come across this thread by accident, I am interested in hearing what made the 3000M so special? Engine? Handling? Powerrrrrr!?

I think the best way to answer that question is Drive a good one and you will find out.
The M series was Peter Wheelers first car as a Customer before he bought the company and he just loved them.
As for the 3000s well to those of us that have them we feel they are the ultimate M series car the design is special not only was it the First production covertable but also only small numbers made 258 and some exported so about 65 here in the UK currently
The Essex engine although not the most powerful 3lt V6 but has fantastic Torque and mated to the 4 speed its just a joy to drive.
Get the magazine and read the feature
Andrew

[AMTony]

oliverb205 said:

Hi, time for an update then.

This is at Blackpool in April 1995, I think you still owned it then.



Think you sold it to Craig Barnes, who lived in Accrington. Craig reregistered it so that by June 1997 it became this.



I almost bought it in about 1999/2000 but couldn't sell my Taimar so let Craig readvertise as he wanted to sell it quickly, though in fact he ended up keeping it a while longer. He had a fantastic respray done in it, somewhere I have a photo of it at Blackpool in about 2006. He finally sold it in Autumn 2008, to Frank Thomas in Belgium who had no need for the plate. By then I had this.



The deal was done with Craig and so mine is now this.



Frank didn't keep it too long as the steering wheel was on the wrong side, so he sold it when he found a left hooker. The car is still on the Continent, I think in Belgium. Craig had an Elise after the 3000S (his wife didn't like it which was why he sold it), but last I heard he was fancying another M.

Just to add that there is a Facebook page for 3000S owners, and we are trying to track down as many as possible. We are also planning to do a calendar for the 40th anniversary of TVR's first production convertible next, if anyone wants theirs featured drop me an email with a photo to [e-mail]

Oliver.

Wow, thanks Oliver!
Was a great car.
I sold my Taimar bought from Colin Lyons to buy the 3000S, will see if i can dig the reg for that as cannot remember it.
Thanks again, happy memories.

[plasticpig72]

QBee said:

They are obviously much loved and a particularly inspiring drive.
I am a recent convert to TVR (2012) and have so far only owned a Chimaera.
I have had rides in Speed 6 cars etc, done track days etc, and mine is presently having a power upgrade.

So having come across this thread by accident, I am interested in hearing what made the 3000M so special? Engine? Handling? Powerrrrrr!?

Like Andrew said, get out and drive one. But be very careful because you may get bitten by the Classic TVR bug and once bitten you will be hooked
Alan