Bog-Standard M's

[sprintmp]

Having been reading this and other e-groups for a while now, there seem to have been many modifications made to M's (and Taimars and S's) over the years. I believe that there were around 650 'official' M's built. I have 3 questions:

1. How many are left?

2. How many are still original - just as they came out of the factory.

3. What is is the most popular modification made.

I doubt if there if we will ever know the answer to the first question, and I would think that the answer to the second is 'very few'.

The 3rd question should generate some interesting answers. It is upgrading the suspension, fitting extra carbs., upgrading the brakes, or just changing the steering wheel?

Over to you....

Pietro

[Terminator]

2. How many are still original - just as they came out of the factory.

None, I would guess. Even the last M built would have needed at least an oil change, new battery and tyres by now. The 'originality' debate has raged for years and no car can be described as "just as they came out of the factory" unless it went straight into a museum.

[sprintmp]

Perhaps I should rephrase Q2 to 'How many have not been modified?'

[davidy]

Pietro

What is the word 'original' I think that its a mutually exclusive word as far as TVR goes

You and I know that virtually every M series car made is now non-original, most have been rechassised, repainted, modified, etc (however the most original car that I know of is Roger's Taimar Turbo SE (TVR191), which is 99.99% original)

Regarding mods, I suspect that the most common is a mild engine power increase, but the best mods that I ever applied to my (much modified) Taimar in 12 years of ownership were (in order of goodness!)

1) Full Exactly TVR Leda Suspension/Spring setup with cornerweighting and stiffer anti-roll bar
2) Big Radiator System - no more overheating/getting hot -etc
3) Repadding drivers seat, its no good sitting on the seat rails!
4) Big Brake kit - got to be able to stop
5) Fast Road Engine
6) Tony Law Big Bore, bunch of bananas exhaust and manifold, more power and loads of noise
7) Baffled Petrol Tank - no more starvation on corners
8) 15x7 and 15x9 wheels shod with S02PP, amazing grip, needed to clear brakes (item 4) and made best use of suspension (item 1)
9) Salisbury Powrlok LSD replacing TR6 diff
10) 100/90 headlamp bulbs with upgraded wiring/alternator, got to be able to see a night!

Theres a starter list for you, but as you know my car was driven hard and not a poncy concours machine, therefore paint, rest of interior trim, etc do not feature on my list.

davidy

[sprintmp]

Agree with you on Roger's Car, but are there others? I also agree with your number one choice. What a difference that made. My 'M' no longer overheats thanks to the correct radiator being fitted - see posts past. The driver's seat - mmm, this is a planned job for this winter!

What alternator do you now use?

Pietro

[Terminator]

Most original 'M' I've seen recently (last month) is David Price's 3000M. He is the original owner, having bought the car from Frederick Charles TVR Sales in 1978. Car is unmodifed, original paint, trim etc., and now resides in Canada where David has worked for a number of years.

[davidy]

Pietro

I sold the car a few months ago, but originally it came with the standard Lucas jobbie, I replaced this vai Bannister motors with a Bosch one, but that expired after about 2 years, the car electrical place I went to could repar the Bosch one, but it would have taken two weeks so I got a high output (55A?) Lucas one which I had for 6 years with no grief.

If you are going to upgrade the headlamps you MUST

1) Beef up the wiring, including the return earth (as 100W bulbs will draw 8.5amps each!)

2) Get a relay for the lights both on dipped and main beam, you do not want this kind of current going through old TVR switchgear or the column switch), I used an Autolec Fusiblie Relay (about £4.50) for each

davidy

ps I had one amusing instance at an MOT Test station with the lights, as the guy got a bit close to his machine when the lights were switched on....many expletives followed by those are too bright...until I carefully explained to him that the MOT only tests for the correct pattern and not for brightness.

pps you can get 130/90 bulbs as well!

[sprintmp]

Thanks for that. I have relay's fitted - mainly Ring 30amp jobbies - and a 55amp alternator. I did this when I did the rebuild. I actually put relays on all of the switched circuits - those old BL/Morgan switches were the worst Lucas ever made according to my Lucas dealer. What reflectors did you use? I currently have Wipac, but they are starting to rust - after only 6 years.

Pietro

[davidy]

I had Cibie 7" lights

davidy

[pistolar]

I have a Taimar Turbo No 29 of 30 which has had one owner other than me and is totally original also a 1600m also totally original plus a nutter 3000m in viper green

[Oliver]

The most original standard Taimar I know of is Howard Jenson's (OVY97T). He has owned it from new at about the same time as he started a family, so it has only done around 30,000 miles. It is very original apart from some wolfraces bought, ironically, from Roger Coulsey and he still has the original T slots.

[tasmin83]

I agree it is increasingly difficult to locate M-series cars that are still original as they were constructed, except for the normal wear items, such as tires, brakes, shocks, etc. I know of a handful of M-series cars in the model registry of the TVR Car Club North America which are not only with their original owners, but, to my knowledge, have not been modified in any way and I believe still have their original paint. I can think of two right here in Virginia, one a 1973 2500M and the other a 1977 2500M.
I also agree that David Price's 3000M is one of the finest out there as I saw it just two months ago looking absolutely splendid!