My new wedge

[PV7998]

Well new to me anyway..........

Got me home in the pouring rain with no problems................there's a few gauges that don't work that really should - so that's the first task.

After that I'm just going to enjoy it for the next year or so.

[Rockettvr]

Hi Peter and welcome
Congrats on your new purchase - it's mikes (early bay) car isn't it?
If you need help/advice/ a laugh you'll find the folks on here more than willing to supply it
I see your an Essex boy like myself (I'm in Grays) hope to see you about - there's a regular wedge meet just over the water in either northfleet or Greenwich park ( look out for the Temporary Sausage meet posts)
Enjoy the FHC - looks awesome in black
Ron

[PV7998]

Hello Ron - yes it was Mike's.
I'd had half an eye open for either a 400SE or a 350I FHC for a while. I got waylaid and bought a Cerbera which I owned for a year, but it really wasn't my cup of tea in the way that M Series and Wedges are.
I'm sure that I'll be on here testing everyone's knowledge before too long..........cheers

[Yatesy350i]

Hi Peter

That's was mine briefly (long story most of it on here) that has the makings of a nice car and is one of the best sounding wedges I've ever heard. Much louder than my 350i S2.

Sorry to hear Mike has let it go as I know he was looking for one for a long time.

Hope you have fun with it.

Karl.

[earlybay]

glad to hear you back OK Peter - I was a bit concerned with the amount of rain yesterday !

Yep, I did plan to keep it long-term, but it was time to move on for me ... hope it continues to provide fun - the noise is awesome !

[mrzigazaga]

Lovely looking rare FHC...Welcome to the nut house...Another guest for the "Sausage meets"...Maybe....Ziga

[V8 Fettler]

I sometimes wonder if a FHC could become a good winter car, and have a convertible Wedge for the summer. Same issues with corrosion and challenging handling though.

[Wedg1e]

V8 Fettler said:

I sometimes wonder if a FHC could become a good winter car, and have a convertible Wedge for the summer. Same issues with corrosion and challenging handling though.

Y'know, if only the factory had come up with a hardtop for the DHC...

[earlybay]

Wedg1e said:

Y'know, if only the factory had come up with a hardtop for the DHC...

could be a good little market for someone to produce one ... would it be that difficult ??

[JamesMK]

V8 Fettler said:

I sometimes wonder if a FHC could become a good winter car, and have a convertible Wedge for the summer. Same issues with corrosion and challenging handling though.

No! My FHC leaks like a sieve and the windows fog up so badly at the first hint of rain. Heater works though, in fact it never shuts off.

[JamesMK]

V8 Fettler said:

I sometimes wonder if a FHC could become a good winter car, and have a convertible Wedge for the summer. Same issues with corrosion and challenging handling though.

No! My FHC leaks like a sieve and the windows fog up so badly at the first hint of rain. Heater works though, in fact it never shuts off.

[Wedg1e]

earlybay said:

could be a good little market for someone to produce one ... would it be that difficult ??

Rumour was that the factory DID get as far as producing a mould for a hardtop but none have ever seen the light of day.
There was speculation a couple of years back (maybe more) that the mould had ended up with TVRCarParts, whose stock was then bought by David Gerald, but the mould has still not surfaced.

Graham Walden did create a hardtop for his racing Tasmin but he'd be the first to agree it was a long way shy of concours standard

Probably the easiest option would be to create a mould using the shape of the soft-top as a start, that way the visual proportions would be the same either way.

[V8 Fettler]

JamesMK said:

V8 Fettler said:

I sometimes wonder if a FHC could become a good winter car, and have a convertible Wedge for the summer. Same issues with corrosion and challenging handling though.

No! My FHC leaks like a sieve and the windows fog up so badly at the first hint of rain. Heater works though, in fact it never shuts off.

Although perhaps a proper winter car would be a 1980's TVRange Rover? RV8, character, potential to throw substantial bills, RV8, drinks petrol, might not start, RV8 etc. They made them with a flapper as well.

[B@man]

I think I'd prefer the FHC....

[celcius]

Looks great , enjoy

Greg

[PV7998]

Thanks for the comments everyone, first (of probably many) questions:

The car is insured on an A*miral Classic Policy, because of this I have to fill in a form listing some aspects of the car and also supply photos.

In an attempt to explain to them that it's quite a rare car, I've told them that there were only about 52 350i FHCs built (thanks to earlybay for that info)
What I can't seem to find out is how many FHCs were built in total - by that I mean 280s and 200s...............anyone got (even roughly) any idea?

[JumboBeef]

PV7998 said:

Don't normally like "sports" cars in black, but that looks nice.

You just need to add some red lamps to the front....

[matt-man]

I would never insure a classic through someone like admiral..they were such a pain in all cases I have dealt with them I can only imagine if you have an accident... "Is this painted bolt standard?" If its not too late go with a proper classic company like rh,hagerty etc

[Wedg1e]

PV7998 said:

What I can't seem to find out is how many FHCs were built in total - by that I mean 280s and 200s...............anyone got (even roughly) any idea?

Probably not even a third of all Wedge production were FHCs... so less than 800... maybe 500 cars?

[PV7998]

Regarding numbers: On the Form I said something like "I believe there were less than 500 FHCs built in total".

There's a Wikipedia entry that says that "Only 16 Tasmin 200 coupes and 45 convertibles were made in total" and "In total, 1,167 V6 cars were produced"

I make that 1228 Tasmins in total, and if the proportion of FHCs was about the same for the 280 as it was for the 200 then a guesstimate would be about a quarter of all cars were FHC - so about 300.....then add the 52 350i FHCs and your total is about 350/360.
On that basis I don't think that saying "less than 500" would be far out.

Regarding insurance: At present I'm happy with A*miral because all I want is very basic insurance........if and when the car is beautifully restored I might explore a more specialist company.