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

[QBee]

plasticpig72 said:

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

A good friend of mine was bought a 1.6 Vixen for his birthday by his wife last December. His other TVR is a 370bhp 5.5 Chimaera. He loves the little Vixen.....so I am looking forward to a ride in it. I can already see that TVRs don't just have be about power and speed.
I would love to be bitten by the classic bug. When I first had my Chimaera I couldn't see why anyone would want a TVR without a V8. In the last year or two I have come to understand the attraction of the classics. Just not yet driven one. But I have photographed a few.....the first step, I guess.

[oliverb205]

The appeal of the 4 cylinder cars is their balance, the Vixen had a 50/50 weight distribution and is just so chuckable, "Road and Track" magazine in the US found it the 3rd fastest car around their skid pan - beaten only by a Dino and a Pantera. I had one at 20 and it spoilt me forever, taught me to drive sideways in snow! I still miss it, over 26 years later...

That white Grantura 3833UN above is wonderful to see on a track day, as it catches and passes Chimaeras and Griffiths on corners. The Vixen is wonderful, as standard the 88bhp is not enough but the cross flow is easily tuneable to 130+ which will just make you laugh out loud on a twisty road. Enjoy your ride in the lovely little green Vixen.

Oliver.

[Andrew Gray]

oliverb205 said:

The appeal of the 4 cylinder cars is their balance, the Vixen had a 50/50 weight distribution and is just so chuckable, "Road and Track" magazine in the US found it the 3rd fastest car around their skid pan - beaten only by a Dino and a Pantera. I had one at 20 and it spoilt me forever, taught me to drive sideways in snow! I still miss it, over 26 years later...

That white Grantura 3833UN above is wonderful to see on a track day, as it catches and passes Chimaeras and Griffiths on corners. The Vixen is wonderful, as standard the 88bhp is not enough but the cross flow is easily tuneable to 130+ which will just make you laugh out loud on a twisty road. Enjoy your ride in the lovely little green Vixen.

Oliver.

Fully agree with Oliver
I took my Vixen with just under 140bhp to the Millbrook Celebration and on the Alpine track which is a tight supposedly slow speed test track i found that the later cars where far slower and a 30 second head start was not enough as half way round they where holding me back.
Even on the speed bowl she was overtaking later cars







Andrew

[anonymous-user]

Andrew Gray said:

oliverb205 said:

The appeal of the 4 cylinder cars is their balance, the Vixen had a 50/50 weight distribution and is just so chuckable, "Road and Track" magazine in the US found it the 3rd fastest car around their skid pan - beaten only by a Dino and a Pantera. I had one at 20 and it spoilt me forever, taught me to drive sideways in snow! I still miss it, over 26 years later...

That white Grantura 3833UN above is wonderful to see on a track day, as it catches and passes Chimaeras and Griffiths on corners. The Vixen is wonderful, as standard the 88bhp is not enough but the cross flow is easily tuneable to 130+ which will just make you laugh out loud on a twisty road. Enjoy your ride in the lovely little green Vixen.

Oliver.

Fully agree with Oliver
I took my Vixen with just under 140bhp to the Millbrook Celebration and on the Alpine track which is a tight supposedly slow speed test track i found that the later cars where far slower and a 30 second head start was not enough as half way round they where holding me back.
Even on the speed bowl she was overtaking later cars







Andrew

LOL,
I think you'll find many of the later cars were being driven sedately Andrew and not as is if it were are a speed trial.

Got to agree about the 4 cylinder car's balance though - as demonstrated in the Hill climb/Sprint reports in the car club magazine. Some very well developed and seriously quick Vixen/Driver combinations.

[moffspeed]

[quote=QBee]
A good friend of mine was bought a 1.6 Vixen for his birthday by his wife last December. His other TVR is a 370bhp 5.5 Chimaera. He loves the little Vixen.....so I am looking forward to a ride in it. I can already see that TVRs don't just have be about power and speed.



: a TVR for his birthday - respect, irrespective of his wife's beauty, intellect, financial standing or age your friend chose well....

[AMTony]

Hi Oliver

Reg of my old Taimar was ELO 411T

Don't suppose you know what happened to it?

Again, what a stunning car that was

[oliverb205]

Do you think I know every car Tony? I am good but not that good! ;-)

But to make up here is a photo of it at the Norbreck Castle in Blackpool in April 1990. It is a very attractive car, but I don't recall ever seeing it since.



But in looking back at this shot I spotted two things I have never noticed before - the silver Taimar in the far right is the car I bought from Mark Masterson 4 months later, and above it is the roof of my orange Vixen S2 which I owned at the time of this "Meet your maker" event.

Oliver.

[AMTony]

oliverb205 said:

Do you think I know every car Tony? I am good but not that good! ;-)

But to make up here is a photo of it at the Norbreck Castle in Blackpool in April 1990. It is a very attractive car, but I don't recall ever seeing it since.



But in looking back at this shot I spotted two things I have never noticed before - the silver Taimar in the far right is the car I bought from Mark Masterson 4 months later, and above it is the roof of my orange Vixen S2 which I owned at the time of this "Meet your maker" event.

Oliver.

Hi Oliver

Am amazed at your detective skills!
I owned the car in 1990 so it must have been me at Blaxkpool. Think one guy was drag racing a Tuscan racer that weekend across I think it was Norbreck Castle car park - might have been another meet as was such a long time ago.
Traded the Taimar for the 3000S.
Total respect to you sir, again happy memories

[plasticpig72]

Just got my copy of Classic and Sports Cars and agree that a TVR 3000S is the best.
I think i need to drive along the Brittany coast with the wind in my hair (what's left) and listen to the V6 burble.
Alan

Edited by plasticpig72 on Wednesday 5th April 15:47

[Andrew Gray]

plasticpig72 said:

Just got my copy of Classic and Sports Cars and agree that a TVR 3000S is the best.
I think i need to drive along the Brittany coast with the wind in my hair (what's left) and listen to the V6 burble.
Alan

Edited by plasticpig72 on Wednesday 5th April 15:47

Careful Lad check there are enough toilet stops on the way at our age its not fuel stops but comfort brakes that are more important
Andrew

[QBee]

Comfort brakes? Is that a soft pedal and rubber bumpers?

[oliverb205]

AMTony said:

oliverb205 said:

Do you think I know every car Tony? I am good but not that good! ;-)

But to make up here is a photo of it at the Norbreck Castle in Blackpool in April 1990. It is a very attractive car, but I don't recall ever seeing it since.



But in looking back at this shot I spotted two things I have never noticed before - the silver Taimar in the far right is the car I bought from Mark Masterson 4 months later, and above it is the roof of my orange Vixen S2 which I owned at the time of this "Meet your maker" event.

Oliver.

Hi Oliver

Am amazed at your detective skills!
I owned the car in 1990 so it must have been me at Blaxkpool. Think one guy was drag racing a Tuscan racer that weekend across I think it was Norbreck Castle car park - might have been another meet as was such a long time ago.
Traded the Taimar for the 3000S.
Total respect to you sir, again happy memories

I do have an awful lot of photos taken over the years, fortunately I am anal enough to have albumed them all up with dates and places, your Taimar just stuck out because of the "Electric Light Orchestra" registration. I suspect the Tuscan racer you remember belonged to Russ Hughes, who was the first person to put one on the road, but I think it may have been 1992 that he came to Blackpool. I first remember it at Zolder and the first time I went was 1991, so it was probably April 1992 at Blackpool.

Great memories, even if we have gone off the original topic a bit now!

Oliver.

[Andrew Gray]

QBee said:

Comfort brakes? Is that a soft pedal and rubber bumpers?

Not in my Case
A

[hogg968]

Great to see the car from 28 years ago. Its been with a chap around the corner from me since i think 1999. I have just
purchased the vehicle and it would be great to have contact with previous owners.

[plasticpig72]

Well done that man, enjoy and keep posting it's a good forum.
Alan

[USTVRDUDE]

Random websurfing on an over cast day here in SoCal and saw this thread. Maybe everyone here has seen it, but here is me autocrossing my "stock" one in 1999 Nationals. Was bumped up 2 classes from previous year when I took 2nd in class at prior National event.

I may have recently decided to just get roadworthy again..and not prep to autocross again.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4R32A-UNyg&t=...