400SE or fake

[looooni]

Hi there

I have had a HPI carried out on a TVR advertised as a 400SE, and looks like a 400SE, but the report is stating its a 3.5 Tasmin!

Any way of finding out for sure (i.e. using the engine number)?

Thanks

David

[jagdpanther]

looooni said:

Hi there

I have had a HPI carried out on a TVR advertised as a 400SE, and looks like a 400SE, but the report is stating its a 3.5 Tasmin!

Any way of finding out for sure (i.e. using the engine number)?

Thanks

David

I cant help with the search, but I think my friends 400SE is registered as a Tasmin 3.5

[Number 7]

For my 400 the V5 says Tasmin. I've updated the engine size, as its now 4.3, but I can't remember what it said on the V5 when I bought it. You's have to go to a lot of trouble to pass a 350 off as a 400: new body, new brakes, new wheels, interior. That's before you even get to the engine.

Post some pics. ?

7.

[jmorgan]

Ditto 400 with tasmin in the description. Many insurers have that as well.

Need pics.

Engine number can be inaccurate.

[looooni]

Thanks for the help; apparently it is quite common.

I'll try and put some pics up (how do you do this throught the forum by the way?).

On a seperate note, what BHP realistically do the 400SE have? I know TVR the claims were 275 or 285 but I know what manufacturers claim and what cars actually are are different!

Thanks

David

[jagdpanther]

looooni said:

Thanks for the help; apparently it is quite common.

I'll try and put some pics up (how do you do this throught the forum by the way?).

On a seperate note, what BHP realistically do the 400SE have? I know TVR the claims were 275 or 285 but I know what manufacturers claim and what cars actually are are different!

Thanks

David

I would think 210-220bhp

[Henry Harris]

I concur. My 450SE is registered as a TVR Tasmin. The engine size can be changed, it appears without any checks.
Checking with the TVR Car Club archivist should determine the validity of you car.

Edited by Henry Harris on Tuesday 22 April 20:54

[islander]

I have seen a car badged as a 390SE which from looking at it had the same body as my series 2 350i except the sills and and the rear bumper and the same interior. Is this possible?

[matt-man]

Dont worry about this, as long as the engine number is NCK your in the 400 business..

Mines a 3.5 tasmin...aparently!!!

[matt-man]

Dont worry about this, as long as the engine number is NCK your in the 400 business..

Mines a 3.5 tasmin...aparently!!!

[JR]

looooni said:

I know TVR the claims were 275 or 285 but I know what manufacturers claim and what cars actually are are different!

TVR made bold claims but not as bold as you; 268.

[JR]

Number 7 said:

You'd have to go to a lot of trouble to pass a 350 off as a 400: new body, new brakes, new wheels, interior. That's before you even get to the engine.

Unless you re-spray it yellow ...

[BadRedWedge]

JR said:

Number 7 said:

You'd have to go to a lot of trouble to pass a 350 off as a 400: new body, new brakes, new wheels, interior. That's before you even get to the engine.

Unless you re-spray it yellow ...

Oh No !!!........

[jmorgan]

matt-man said:

Dont worry about this, as long as the engine number is NCK your in the 400 business..

Mines a 3.5 tasmin...aparently!!!

I really really don't want to say this when someone is looking for a car but mine had that NCK before my issues. Just to say its no guarantee but I had the TVR goggles on and didn't check it out properly (well, thought I had but know better now). Easy to be sure though and not to be something to put you off.

[djc1001]

I believe to save cost and time with model approvals, TVR deemed all Wedges as 350/Tasmin and all other models where 'options'.
Some owners will have had the engine size updated on the V5 others havn't bothered.
If you are a member the best option is TVRCC archivist (Richard Sails) who will probably be able to confirm Reg no./engine/chassis/model/spec/manufacture date/1st reg date and may even produce a copy of the original build sheet.

David

[JR]

jmorgan said:

matt-man said:

Dont worry about this, as long as the engine number is NCK your in the 400 business..

Mines a 3.5 tasmin...aparently!!!

I really really don't want to say this when someone is looking for a car but mine had that NCK before my issues.

The NCK is a guide that it is a 400; not a guide that it is mechanically sound. It's not even that good a guide, since not all 400s have nck engines and there are many anomolies in the TVR world, but it's a starting point.

[TVRleigh_BBWR]

jagdpanther said:

looooni said:

Thanks for the help; apparently it is quite common.

I'll try and put some pics up (how do you do this throught the forum by the way?).

On a seperate note, what BHP realistically do the 400SE have? I know TVR the claims were 275 or 285 but I know what manufacturers claim and what cars actually are are different!

Thanks

David

I would think 210-220bhp

Well that should be a min. a good one will do 230-250 and a very very good one will get 270 ish.

[djc1001]

TVRleigh_BBWR said:

jagdpanther said:

looooni said:

Thanks for the help; apparently it is quite common.

I'll try and put some pics up (how do you do this throught the forum by the way?).

On a seperate note, what BHP realistically do the 400SE have? I know TVR the claims were 275 or 285 but I know what manufacturers claim and what cars actually are are different!

Thanks

David

I would think 210-220bhp

Well that should be a min. a good one will do 230-250 and a very very good one will get 270 ish.

TVR literature only claimed 260BHP for the 400se so can't see 250/270 for a standard 400

[jagdpanther]

djc1001 said:

TVRleigh_BBWR said:

jagdpanther said:

looooni said:

Thanks for the help; apparently it is quite common.

I'll try and put some pics up (how do you do this throught the forum by the way?).

On a seperate note, what BHP realistically do the 400SE have? I know TVR the claims were 275 or 285 but I know what manufacturers claim and what cars actually are are different!

Thanks

David

I would think 210-220bhp

Well that should be a min. a good one will do 230-250 and a very very good one will get 270 ish.

TVR literature only claimed 260BHP for the 400se so can't see 250/270 for a standard 400

Given the age and mileage on most 400's I would think that 220bhp would be a good figure considering my mates 4 litre Chimmie (very healthy example) is only producing around 210-220bhp

[jmorgan]

My manual says 268 for the 400 and 319 for the 450 but I also believe in gruffogs.