390SE or 350SE

[blade7]

I'm planning on looking at some cars soon and wondered is there much difference between the 390SE and the 350SE ?.

Cheers.

[TVRleigh_BBWR]

I think the main difference in the 350 and 390 SE's are there body's. also the 390SE may have slightly better front brakes. I think all the rest is the same.

[JR]

TVRleigh_BBWR said:

I think the main difference in the 350 and 390 SEs are their bodies. Also the 390SE may have slightly better front brakes. I think all the rest is the same.

390SE is the earlier car - TVR's first larger capacity RV8 engine - has lowered, stiffer, suspension and wider alloys with vented brakes. If you want performance/track days then this is the car for you.

350SE is a run out car. Likely to be better condition and not modified.

What sort of driving would you like?

[pwd95]

They only made around 100 390SE's. They had the 3905cc engine instead of the 3500, as well as being tweaked in the other areas mentioned. Some had the 350i dashboard, some had a SEAC/400SE style dash. Fabulous and unique cars IMHO.

[blade7]

Thanks for the replies, the car would be for road use, I would probably buy something more focused for track use, but I would drive it er briskly. I haven't made my mind up which wedge to buy yet, like the look of the 400se but they are quite a bit more dosh for nicer bodywork/dash. It seems to me that the 400 the 390 and the 350SE are fairly similar performance wise or is there more to it ?.

[JR]

Without studying the performance specs those three will be similar in straight line performance. In original spec. the 390 is the most track focussed whilst the 350 is the best luxury cruiser with the 400 inbetween.

Cost wise there was a 350SE on here for £5250 recently IIRC. Would that suit your budget?

[TVRleigh_BBWR]

If you like the look of the 400SE then go for a 390. same body on the later car's but 350 style dash.

Performance should be similar on the 390SE and 400SE. the 350 SE was a 3.9 engine but did not have the tuning mods the other 2 had.

All depends on the Car. In the real world a 350 will be about 200-230 BHP and a 390 / 400SE will be from 220-250.

I would not call a Std 390/400SE an balls out track car. not 100% sure they are any lower than a 390/400 if they are will not be by much. as for brakes. even though 390/400SE brakes are better than the 350's they could still do with an upgrade if you want to push the car hard.

for £1500 you could fit a 350SE with better suspension and brakes than a 390/400

so it mainly comes down to styling and budget.

[JR]

TVRleigh_BBWR said:

I would not call a Std 390/400SE a balls out track car. Not 100% sure they are any lower than a 390/400 if they are will not be by much.

I can't understand what you are trying to say. If you were to take the 350i as a base line the 390SE had lowered suspension (springs and dampers) but the 400SE was higher. The 350SE had the 400SE springs but the taller profile tyres of the 350i.

[blade7]

Well I was planning on looking at the 350se advertised on here, no.9 I think, and also a 400 advertised on autotrader. I think the 400 has a different front to the 390 ?.

[JR]

blade7 said:

Well I was planning on looking at the 350se advertised on here, no.9 I think, and also a 400 advertised on autotrader. I think the 400 has a different front to the 390 ?.

The 390SE has the rear under spoiler whilst the 400SE has many tiny details improved such as the front corners of the roof and the boot hinges.

[blade7]

I may be wrong here but hasn't the 350/390 got a seperate front bumper moulding, the 400 seems to have a one piece nose.

[TVRleigh_BBWR]

JR said:

TVRleigh_BBWR said:

I would not call a Std 390/400SE a balls out track car. Not 100% sure they are any lower than a 390/400 if they are will not be by much.

I can't understand what you are trying to say. If you were to take the 350i as a base line the 390SE had lowered suspension (springs and dampers) but the 400SE was higher. The 350SE had the 400SE springs but the taller profile tyres of the 350i.

Was comparing the 350SE to the 390, was just saying it not going to make a masive amount of differance. nothing that can't be changed after if you want a slightly lower or harder set-up.

[JR]

blade7 said:

I may be wrong here but hasn't the 350/390 got a seperate front bumper moulding, the 400 seems to have a one piece nose.

True and the ducting/cooling is different but I can't remember the details. I also can't remember which cars have an oil cooler; yes for the 400SE, no for the 350i.
Rover steering column on the 350i/390SE and maybe early 400SEs, Ford on later cars.

[djc1001]

If you want the flared arches then 390/400se.
Not worried about the flares, then 350se probably best buy - latest engine with Hot wire ign. 350se's have 4.0 ltr NCK (TVR power) engines' so are 'leaned on to early Griff spec' - same Koni adjustables as 400se (poss replaced by now) and some do have vented discs. 7in rim with 60 profile tyre.

Go for condition, condition, condition unless it's s projet car.

David

[JR]

Now that you can't buy them new you can't be too fussy. They only built about 250 larger cc wedges and maybe 120 are left with 20 for sale each year. Knock out those that you don't like the colour, interior spec, mechanical condition, body/chassis condition, location, price etc and you'll probably only be left with say four cars or one new to the market every three months.

Some say that the cars choose you. Good luck.

[blade7]

3 of the cars that seem worth viewing are red, not my first choice but I don't think there's enough cars out there to rule them out just because of the colour, are a high percentage of the cars this colour ?.

[JR]

I would say that the highest percentage is for dark blue/black, then for red.

[red tasmin]

Only 25 350SE's were built so they have it on rarity, also outriggers are more easly and cheaply done when they inevitably need replacing.

[grahamw48]

My last car was a series 2 390SE (1988) and my present one a 400SE(1990).

Bodywise, the 390 had a small front 'bumper' (whereas the 400 has a flat nose), no front lip spoiler, external boot hinges, and no bootlid spoiler.
Also had older style dash, but beautiful car to my eyes.

In all honesty, to drive, they feel no different.

Remember that so many of these cars have had their original suspension and brakes changed/upgraded from original, that only driving will give you the answers you need.

I actually regret swapping the 390 for the 400, as I miss the nice popping and banging of the flapper injection of the older car as opposed to the technically more advanced hotwire system.

My mistake was in assuming that 'bigger is better'.

The brakes (standard 4-pots) on the 400 are very good though.

[JR]

red tasmin said:

Only 25 350SE's were built so they have it on rarity

How many 420SEs were built? Three? Four?