numbers built

[Mike Brewer]

hi all any idea how many cars on the road .seris one etc i own an early 350i convatble i did read one guy say some early 350i had a zinc coating befoe plastic coating my chassis is now coverd in waxoil .thanks mike in exeter

[19560]

IIRC about 850 350 were built and I'd guess that about 650 survive. The chassis were never zinc coated, nice thought though.

[sevans]

Yep, never heard that the chassis were ever zinc coated however some of the early ones do seem to be fairing better. I think it's some of the earlier ones (pre 83???) which are light grey in colour. I seem to be lucky here and mine is one of these. It is still in great condition 21 years on, only requiring slight attention to chips etc.

[tallbloke]

Not ever galvanised but I'll second that about the quality of the powder coating on the early 350's.

[19560]

Hmmm, I've got an '86 chassis and that's pretty good, esp compared with most griffs. Whendid TVR buy the company and start to do it in house? '89 when they started the coloured chassis?

[wedgeman]

19560 said:

Whendid TVR buy the company and start to do it in house? '89 when they started the coloured chassis?

The White Elephant was registered in September 1988 and that had a white coloured development SEAC chassis that was completed in house...

[19560]

So mid to early '88 then?

[wedgeman]

19560 said:

So mid to early '88 then?

Guess so

I'll ask our resident archivist to find out more precisely!..

3 or 4 pints usually jogs his memory!

[gsx600]

My Jan 89 350 was a black type chassis which has not held up as well as my March 89 400 on a superb silvery effect chassis.

Even with me banging engine and gear box around the silver chassis did not chip. Although once out of the spline area and into stone chips from road there is obviously more marks there, but still not bad for 15 years