59' GRANTURA Mk1 restoration update

[jomarsaidel]

Hello William,
Thanks for the great info. I plan on being at Woodwork this year also and look forward to meeting you. I will update my archive with your information. I have chassis 7/C-S/116. The was a supercharged Coventry climax 1500cc chassis that my father installed an alloy body on top of. As you may or may not be aware TVR built 2 different chassis during the period my father was involved. These were designated 7T and 7C. They were identical in dimension but the C (climax powered)involved thinner walled, lighter weight tubing(as these were the majority of the racing chassis). In addition there were two different chassis made in that:

7C101-7C115 (all Climax powered) all had gussets on the OUTSIDE making a small engine bay
7FS101-7FS116 (all Ford powered) had to make room for the supercharger and thus had gussets on the INSIDE.

At some point TVR stopped with the OUTSIDE (small bay) and continued to only make the larger engine bay cars. I believe this happened with 7/C-S/116 but am still looking for those OUTSIDE gusset cars.

My thinking was that once the chassis design was consolidated(INSIDE GUSSETS ONLY), the duplication of chassis numbers may have also ended.

Unfortunately, this doesn't seem to be the case as I have seen later cars with duplicate vin #s ie: 7F178 and 7C178. This also explains why some cars with later chassis numbers have earlier body styles.

A greqat example of this is the 1958 NY Auto Show Car currently owned by Tracy Miller. This was the 1st fastback or Grantura Mk I. Its chassis number is 7FS103. In a letter that he sent me in 1991 he asked why Ian Rainfords 7C107 (a notchback coupe the sister to Paul hadfields in the UK) had the early body but a later serial number?

This was strictly due to the fact that my father had ordered 5 Climax racing chassis (7c101-7c105) before the first real coupe was built (7FS101). Then came 7C106 (notchback stayed in UK), then we got notchbacks 7C107, and 7c108 as well as 7F102 in jan of 1958. Meanwhile the first fast back was a FS and the next number was 103. If my dad had ordered the first fast back in a climax, it would have been 7C109. It was just a matter of timing and how many climax vs FSs had been built. Unfortunately, all my info ends in June of 1959. Anything after that is guess work but it seems like they kept the vin #s separte at least for a while.
Cheers,
Alex

[jomarsaidel]

Hi William,
Several additions to my earlier ramblings. 7C-S113 was also a super charged Climax 1220 cc racing chassis that (due to the large shorrock charger) also had gussets on the inside. So this and 7C-S116 are the only "C" chassis to have gussets inside.

Also, I read that you have opted to replace the worm and sector steering for the rack. Not that I have any say in the matter but I'm all for sticking to originality especially on such an early model.

Did your car come with the steel brake drums or alfins? How about the backing plates, steel or alloy. You must have the pendant style clutch and brake setup as these changed in jan 1959. I'm curious as to the bonnet air intakes and bumper setup. Does your car have the double bumperette setup on the front. One horizontal and 1 tilted up?

Cheers,Alex

[cantus]

cantus said:

Removing the paint from the bonnet.
At least 10 layers of paint during the last 50 years.
The blue one is probably done by good old Trevor himself.
May he rest in peace.

Edited by cantus on Wednesday 25th March 11:04

[heightswitch]

cantus said:

cantus said:

Removing the paint from the bonnet.
At least 10 layers of paint during the last 50 years.
The blue one is probably done by good old Trevor himself.
May he rest in peace.

It puts it all into a little more perspective in terms of our responsibilities as custodians of rare pieces of finely engineered art to keep the marque well and truly Alive. Are you going to paint it the original colour Cantus.

Rest in peace Mr Wilkinson.

N.

[cantus]

heightswitch said:

cantus said:

cantus said:

It puts it all into a little more perspective in terms of our responsibilities as custodians of rare pieces of finely engineered art to keep the marque well and truly Alive. Are you going to paint it the original colour Cantus.

Rest in peace Mr Wilkinson.

N.

I am thinking to make it old english white with red interior..........what do you think ?

[900T-R]

Wot, no flat black then?

[jpa]

Olde English with a red interior was what I thought about doing on my Vixen. I went for a brighter white in the end as thought the colour would not quite look right on the car. I think it would really suit a Grantura though as it is a more 'classic' style.

Paul.

[pistolar]

I am thinking to make it old english white with red interior..........what do you think ?
[/quote]


BORING

Definately has to be Dutch Orange and not Italian Blue, or you could go with the winning German Porsche Viper Green.

Edited by pistolar on Tuesday 10th June 13:46

[cantus]

pistolar said:

I am thinking to make it old english white with red interior..........what do you think ?

BORING

Definately has to be Dutch Orange and not Italian Blue, or you could go with the winning German Porsche Viper Green.

Edited by pistolar on Tuesday 10th June 13:46

Dutch Orange .........nice but is already done (see threat which will be placed tonight) .

I am so proud on the Dutch team last night !! Fantastic match !!!!

[900T-R]

cantus said:

(see threat which will be placed tonight) .

[Godfather]
I'll make you an offer you'd be wise not to refuse...
[/Godfather]

[heightswitch]

cantus said:

heightswitch said:

cantus said:

cantus said:

It puts it all into a little more perspective in terms of our responsibilities as custodians of rare pieces of finely engineered art to keep the marque well and truly Alive. Are you going to paint it the original colour Cantus.

Rest in peace Mr Wilkinson.

N.

I am thinking to make it old english white with red interior..........what do you think ?

I think that the colour would be entirely period and ivory white with a red interior always works. I think I have a car pic of an early grantura in the original blue somewhere which also looks very nice.

Neil.

[heightswitch]

cantus said:

heightswitch said:

cantus said:

cantus said:

It puts it all into a little more perspective in terms of our responsibilities as custodians of rare pieces of finely engineered art to keep the marque well and truly Alive. Are you going to paint it the original colour Cantus.

Rest in peace Mr Wilkinson.

N.

I am thinking to make it old english white with red interior..........what do you think ?

I think that the colour would be entirely period and ivory white with a red interior always works. I think I have a car pic of an early grantura in the original blue somewhere which also looks very nice.

Neil.

[cantus]

took me 3/4 of a day .........

Edited by cantus on Wednesday 25th March 11:08

[pistolar]

so what!!

[vixen]

cantus said:

took me 3/4 of a day .........

It looks great! But 3/4 of a day....
Imagine what else you could have done with your time.
For example riding on your bike through the country,
cleaning the windows of your house, do some work in the garden.

What a shame to put all your free time in just an old copper tank.........

[luckycarter]

Hi William,
Have you leak tested it yet, when i refurbished mine it needed a couple of the seams re soldering. Has yours got a steel plate on the bottom to mount it to the chassis, had to make a new one for mine . I think id rather shine some copper than gardening.

[cantus]

luckycarter said:

Hi William,
Have you leak tested it yet, when i refurbished mine it needed a couple of the seams re soldering. Has yours got a steel plate on the bottom to mount it to the chassis, had to make a new one for mine . I think id rather shine some copper than gardening.

Hi richard, Neil, Eric....

Yes I know.....could do much better things.
Couldn't make a choise between to go and see the concert of Marco Borsato incl. a meet-and-greet with Gerard Joling or.......polishing my copper tank.

And no Richard I didn't test it yet on pressure. Good advice !!!Thnx !
Don't have the steel plate ! I have to make one.

Edited by cantus on Monday 20th October 20:36

[kurtiejjj]

cantus said:

Couldn't make a choise between to go and see the concert of Marco Borsato incl. a meet-and-greet with Gerard Joling or.......polishing my copper tank.

Hahaha, at least the tank seems to glitter just as much as Gerard Joling now

[cantus]

Overhauled Engine & gearbox the last couple of months ! Both are ready to install on chassis. Engine is pre-X-flow Ford engine(Anglia) type 105/109. Gearbox ia all synchro Ford type 113.

I keep you all informed.
Have a good Christmas & a happy 2009

William "cantus" Waardenburg
The Netherlands

Edited by cantus on Wednesday 25th March 11:11

[pistolar]

And a very merry christmas to you