My T350 convertible (Tamora) conversion project
Discussion
Hi All,
I'm embarking on a little project.... I've been looking for a project car for some time, had to be 6 cylinders, RWD, sporty and with a targa or soft top. I've been a long time fan of Alfa Romeos and currently have 3, and was considering a massive project using a 1991 spider and their V6, and then later a custom built car based on the duettotanta concept: http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4135/4871352480_d0c... which lead to a tube frame donor car for the fibreglass shell, which lead to TVR!
I've always had a soft spot for TVR's, and loved especially the Sagaris and T350, but when I discovered you could put a T350 front on a Tamora fairly easily, the path was set. I could have bought a good Tamora and started to cut it up, but that was a bit barbaric! And as I was going to be cutting the front and rear off, it made sense to start with a salvage car, and it saves a TVR from the graveyard, which can only be a great thing, surely!?
So I found a 2 options and traveled 500 miles round trip to view them, and one grabbed me straight away. A 2005 Tamora in Alloy Pearl (metallic light blue) with Prussian and Portland interior (navy and grey). The car was- aside from what I consider light accident damage- in excellent condition. No signs of chassis rust, clear evidence of waxoiling, everything was clean and seemingly well maintained and the interior immaculate. Unfortunately the car was separated from it's history but I have traced that it was last sold in June 2011 by James Agger with 18,000miles and I believe a FSH. It was crashed about 6 months later with 20,700 miles and written off as Cat D.
I understand it's not black and white with insurance companies, but really can't figure how it was in their financial interests to not repair the car! The damage is for the most part superficial, but at least it opened a door for me! New Radiator, A/C heat exchanger, mounting bracket and fog light, plus fibreglass repairs to front and rear, and it would have lived on. I'd priced up the bits to repair it as a Tamora and paint it at 4000 pounds.
Anyway, let's look at some pictures!
And then, here's what we're aiming for.........
(not my best photoshop effort)
(someone else's better effort)
Along the way I'll be asking for some opinions and suggestions, so I hope you guys like the project!
I'm embarking on a little project.... I've been looking for a project car for some time, had to be 6 cylinders, RWD, sporty and with a targa or soft top. I've been a long time fan of Alfa Romeos and currently have 3, and was considering a massive project using a 1991 spider and their V6, and then later a custom built car based on the duettotanta concept: http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4135/4871352480_d0c... which lead to a tube frame donor car for the fibreglass shell, which lead to TVR!
I've always had a soft spot for TVR's, and loved especially the Sagaris and T350, but when I discovered you could put a T350 front on a Tamora fairly easily, the path was set. I could have bought a good Tamora and started to cut it up, but that was a bit barbaric! And as I was going to be cutting the front and rear off, it made sense to start with a salvage car, and it saves a TVR from the graveyard, which can only be a great thing, surely!?
So I found a 2 options and traveled 500 miles round trip to view them, and one grabbed me straight away. A 2005 Tamora in Alloy Pearl (metallic light blue) with Prussian and Portland interior (navy and grey). The car was- aside from what I consider light accident damage- in excellent condition. No signs of chassis rust, clear evidence of waxoiling, everything was clean and seemingly well maintained and the interior immaculate. Unfortunately the car was separated from it's history but I have traced that it was last sold in June 2011 by James Agger with 18,000miles and I believe a FSH. It was crashed about 6 months later with 20,700 miles and written off as Cat D.
I understand it's not black and white with insurance companies, but really can't figure how it was in their financial interests to not repair the car! The damage is for the most part superficial, but at least it opened a door for me! New Radiator, A/C heat exchanger, mounting bracket and fog light, plus fibreglass repairs to front and rear, and it would have lived on. I'd priced up the bits to repair it as a Tamora and paint it at 4000 pounds.
Anyway, let's look at some pictures!
And then, here's what we're aiming for.........
(not my best photoshop effort)
(someone else's better effort)
Along the way I'll be asking for some opinions and suggestions, so I hope you guys like the project!
Edited by ChrisPap on Friday 10th August 23:43
I have thought about a T350 front for mine but it's too good to mess with (if I ever smash the front end I would definately change it for the T350 lights. (T350 with a Tamora back end would be my project)
I have always prefered the Tamora back end to the T350 so to me it looks wrong, I'm sure it will be a great car when finished. look forward to the results.
Another mod I would do is make the bonnet flip up furthor or quick release bonnet hinges
I have always prefered the Tamora back end to the T350 so to me it looks wrong, I'm sure it will be a great car when finished. look forward to the results.
Another mod I would do is make the bonnet flip up furthor or quick release bonnet hinges
Mine has the T350 front end and personally I love it. Not to everyones taste and in truth I wouldn't mod a perfectly good car, but I bought it like that abd its one of the reasons I looked at that particular car, (amongst others).
Similarly, wouldn't do anything to the rear unless it needed fixing. I do like the boomerang lights, but I think I'd put the rear back to standard if it needed any work. the boomerang lights I think look great on T350s and Sagaris..
Similarly, wouldn't do anything to the rear unless it needed fixing. I do like the boomerang lights, but I think I'd put the rear back to standard if it needed any work. the boomerang lights I think look great on T350s and Sagaris..
Hi Guys,
thanks for the positive response. To be honest, after spending some time with a few, the look of the Tamora, especially the Mk2 front, grew on me. The back isn't too bad either , but it is very fussy for my taste with the big, round ass, boot spoiler, small lights, and then cluttered exhaust/numberplate/diffuser deal. I'm sure it could be cleaned up but I'd decided at that stage to embark on a different project that started with a pre damaged car- ie blank slate!
Now here's the first question I'm asking of the audience:
Should I leave the tail lights standard full length, or shorten the 'boomerang' and shuffle things around a bit? I like the bigger gap to the corners of the lower diffuser plate, but not sure about the overall look. I swing on this depending on mood. Anyway, check out my dodgy photoshop skills and if you'd be so kind, tell me what you think....
thanks for the positive response. To be honest, after spending some time with a few, the look of the Tamora, especially the Mk2 front, grew on me. The back isn't too bad either , but it is very fussy for my taste with the big, round ass, boot spoiler, small lights, and then cluttered exhaust/numberplate/diffuser deal. I'm sure it could be cleaned up but I'd decided at that stage to embark on a different project that started with a pre damaged car- ie blank slate!
Now here's the first question I'm asking of the audience:
Should I leave the tail lights standard full length, or shorten the 'boomerang' and shuffle things around a bit? I like the bigger gap to the corners of the lower diffuser plate, but not sure about the overall look. I swing on this depending on mood. Anyway, check out my dodgy photoshop skills and if you'd be so kind, tell me what you think....
Actually, that brings to the next point. The shorter lights tie in with a different diffuser. I'm originally wasn't sure about the body coloured diffuser and exhaust cover, so thought about a black one, or even totally different and more conventional one. That got me thinking that the bottom part of the lights was too close to the diffuser edge, hence moving the light lense up and away. Check out these poorly crafted images:
But I'm also coming around to the idea of keeping it all standard, which is why I'm asking you, the studio audience, to help me decide!
But I'm also coming around to the idea of keeping it all standard, which is why I'm asking you, the studio audience, to help me decide!
Yeah, I get 'fallen off' thing. It's unconventional but once you're used to a T350 having the body coloured exhaust panel, it can look strange when it goes missing. Think I might be keeping that standard.
I need to get to some TVR meets and look at a few cars and particularly colours. Where can I find details on meets? I'm based in Buckingham.
As the car is going to get a full respray when done, I'm thinking about colour. I don't mind the original Alloy Pearl, but I do think it might be a bit... calm. As you can see by some of my photoshop focus, I'm looking towards a medium metallic blue. Maybe Laser Blue?
I'm looking at some shade of blue to go with the existing dark blue roof and interior, but am I being too conservative?! Would the blue work with any other colours? Maybe silver, red or even green? I think it might work with the flip blue/green, but I'm having a hard time convincing the Mrs!
I need to get to some TVR meets and look at a few cars and particularly colours. Where can I find details on meets? I'm based in Buckingham.
As the car is going to get a full respray when done, I'm thinking about colour. I don't mind the original Alloy Pearl, but I do think it might be a bit... calm. As you can see by some of my photoshop focus, I'm looking towards a medium metallic blue. Maybe Laser Blue?
I'm looking at some shade of blue to go with the existing dark blue roof and interior, but am I being too conservative?! Would the blue work with any other colours? Maybe silver, red or even green? I think it might work with the flip blue/green, but I'm having a hard time convincing the Mrs!
Do you mean a bit like this Pete?
Don't think I'll be adding a Sag spoiler. I love the Sag but not sure if it suits the less aggressive lines of a 350 but even less again on a convertible....
Red Bull Blue is not a bad shout, but I know there is at least one Tam350 front conversion in RBB already.
Just found a colour called Zircon Blue which isn't bad, but a similar shade to Laser Blue.
There's a little something in the back of my mind saying metallic orange or even the metallic green from the racng green Sag would work with blue, but I'd have to do something about the portland grey highlights and carpet piping I think. The quest continues.
Wonder what a full interior re-trim would cost, or if anyone would want to swap....
Don't think I'll be adding a Sag spoiler. I love the Sag but not sure if it suits the less aggressive lines of a 350 but even less again on a convertible....
Red Bull Blue is not a bad shout, but I know there is at least one Tam350 front conversion in RBB already.
Just found a colour called Zircon Blue which isn't bad, but a similar shade to Laser Blue.
There's a little something in the back of my mind saying metallic orange or even the metallic green from the racng green Sag would work with blue, but I'd have to do something about the portland grey highlights and carpet piping I think. The quest continues.
Wonder what a full interior re-trim would cost, or if anyone would want to swap....
ChrisPap said:
Do you mean a bit like this Pete?
Don't think I'll be adding a Sag spoiler. I love the Sag but not sure if it suits the less aggressive lines of a 350 but even less again on a convertible....
Red Bull Blue is not a bad shout, but I know there is at least one Tam350 front conversion in RBB already.
Just found a colour called Zircon Blue which isn't bad, but a similar shade to Laser Blue.
There's a little something in the back of my mind saying metallic orange or even the metallic green from the racng green Sag would work with blue, but I'd have to do something about the portland grey highlights and carpet piping I think. The quest continues.
Wonder what a full interior re-trim would cost, or if anyone would want to swap....
Yeh I guess....but with the exhausts existing as normal rather than the sides...? I know what you mean about the sag spoiler...probably too much.Don't think I'll be adding a Sag spoiler. I love the Sag but not sure if it suits the less aggressive lines of a 350 but even less again on a convertible....
Red Bull Blue is not a bad shout, but I know there is at least one Tam350 front conversion in RBB already.
Just found a colour called Zircon Blue which isn't bad, but a similar shade to Laser Blue.
There's a little something in the back of my mind saying metallic orange or even the metallic green from the racng green Sag would work with blue, but I'd have to do something about the portland grey highlights and carpet piping I think. The quest continues.
Wonder what a full interior re-trim would cost, or if anyone would want to swap....
Rolex blue...? Looks more like purple to me but it does look stunning but not sure how it would contrast with your interior and roof. I think a interior retrim is about £3K but will depend on what you want...roof, not sure....maybe £1500...?
Sure it's going to look great!
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