BMW, the Ultimate Driving Machine (Based on a TVR Wedge)

[H2DCA]

I believe I read somewhere that Peter Wheeler had heard BMW had a TVR at their factory in Germany for errr research and and having seen a Z1 today I can believe it as the car has a striking ressembalnce to the Wedge, rear end, side profile (Headlamps aka White Elephant but not sure what came first) and the under body rear wing !!! As well as this striking resemblance to the wedge it shows traits of the wedges perceived replacement the Speed 8.

It was certainly a double take as I drove past it !!

Sorry no pic's but here's some links until I find out (Again !!) how to upload a photo

http://media.photobucket.com/image/BMW%20Z1/pere_n...
http://www.bmwz1.co.uk/z1aero.htm

They say ‘Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery’

[grahamw48]

I see what you mean.

Have you noticed that many current cars now have part or all of the rear valance formed into a sort of crude 'underwing' shape ?

Nice to be ahead of the game, eh.

[jmorgan]

Whilst the 390 (correct me here) has the full one under the rear, the 400 has bits of one. Anyone any proof they actually do anything apart from catch stones? Same for the 400 boot spoiler which I assume is there to keep the boot closed when the catch fails......

[B@man]

jmorgan said:

Anyone any proof they actually do anything apart from catch stones? Same for the 400 boot spoiler which I assume is there to keep the boot closed when the catch fails......

Correct on both accounts !

Boot spoiler also doubles as a very useful handle

[Wedg1e]

jmorgan said:

Whilst the 390 (correct me here) has the full one under the rear, the 400 has bits of one. Anyone any proof they actually do anything apart from catch stones? Same for the 400 boot spoiler which I assume is there to keep the boot closed when the catch fails......

OK then, I'll correct you Jeff... ;O

SOME 390s have the full wing. The (very) late ones have the pseudo-wing of the 400SE, but grafted onto a still-detachable rear bumper.
The wing was claimed to increase downforce over xxx mph (insert factory bullsh!t in place of x's) but this seems never to have been scientifically tested (other than by Steve Heath who ripped his off on a tyre wall and claimed all it did was make the car lighter).
The Group 2 Jaguars at the time were running an under-boot wing and it seems likely that TVR copied the idea, though the aerodynamics under the Wedge probably render it ineffective anyway. Shame really, as the full 390 wing actually is something approaching a proper airfoil (or is it aerofoil) shape, it'd be nice if it really did work!
I came out of a supermarket once to find some idiot trying to push mine down with his foot, he was convinced it must extend at speed I was tempted to extend my right arm and rearrange his aerodynamics, but I had bags full of shopping. Since then however, and given the plethora of pop-up spoilers on Porsches etc., I have been tempted to re-mount my wing on rams so that it WILL extend, just to p155 off the chavvy bling-bling brigade...
Maybe once I finish fitting the cruise control and rebush all the suspension...

[Waynester]

Wedg1e said:

jmorgan said:

Whilst the 390 (correct me here) has the full one under the rear, the 400 has bits of one. Anyone any proof they actually do anything apart from catch stones? Same for the 400 boot spoiler which I assume is there to keep the boot closed when the catch fails......

OK then, I'll correct you Jeff... ;O

SOME 390s have the full wing. The (very) late ones have the pseudo-wing of the 400SE, but grafted onto a still-detachable rear bumper.
The wing was claimed to increase downforce over xxx mph (insert factory bullsh!t in place of x's) but this seems never to have been scientifically tested (other than by Steve Heath who ripped his off on a tyre wall and claimed all it did was make the car lighter).
The Group 2 Jaguars at the time were running an under-boot wing and it seems likely that TVR copied the idea, though the aerodynamics under the Wedge probably render it ineffective anyway. Shame really, as the full 390 wing actually is something approaching a proper airfoil (or is it aerofoil) shape, it'd be nice if it really did work!
I came out of a supermarket once to find some idiot trying to push mine down with his foot, he was convinced it must extend at speed I was tempted to extend my right arm and rearrange his aerodynamics, but I had bags full of shopping. Since then however, and given the plethora of pop-up spoilers on Porsches etc., I have been tempted to re-mount my wing on rams so that it WILL extend, just to p155 off the chavvy bling-bling brigade...
Maybe once I finish fitting the cruise control and rebush all the suspension...

If someone even leans or touches my car, let alone push the spoiler down with their foot..!!! I'd probably be on the next day local news!

Bang out of order! Some people..


Ian... Cruise control..Really, in a wedge? So your right foot gets time to rest??

[jmorgan]

Cheers Ian, as ever very informative.


So, anyone gaffered a bin liner under the car to see if that smoothes the airflow.......

[Wedg1e]

Waynester said:

Ian... Cruise control..Really, in a wedge? So your right foot gets time to rest??

Yep, readallabahdit.....

http://www.wedgeneering.co.uk/TVR%20390SE%20p9.htm


Might stop me overtaking Plod dog vans and getting a ticket...