What is so special about a SEAC
Discussion
Whilst understanding the various debates on how TVR built cars during the Wedge era, is there a clear underlying definition of what distinguished the various models?
Having seen chassis for a SEAC and a 450SE there is no difference. There may have been some suspension details like rose jointing in the car out of the factory. As so many have been changed over the years, the differences have been lost.
I am particularly interested in aspects other than loudness, engine capacity, internal and external body styling.
Having seen chassis for a SEAC and a 450SE there is no difference. There may have been some suspension details like rose jointing in the car out of the factory. As so many have been changed over the years, the differences have been lost.
I am particularly interested in aspects other than loudness, engine capacity, internal and external body styling.
As you pointed out there is not much difference.
It was just made to be as extreme as possible with it still being a road car, and affordable.
i.e
Lighter restyled body (some with kevlar)
Bigger and better tuned engines
Rose Joint suspension
Plus add to this the very small production of the SEAC's, It think there maybe less 450SE's but its still an SE, so I think you have to group them into shapes not shape/engine
Also you have the prestige of the SEAC Racer
But I think if you had a new 450SEAC and new 450SE it would be hard to notice any difference, apart from visuals.
There are a few one off ultra extreme wedges that have been made since.
It was just made to be as extreme as possible with it still being a road car, and affordable.
i.e
Lighter restyled body (some with kevlar)
Bigger and better tuned engines
Rose Joint suspension
Plus add to this the very small production of the SEAC's, It think there maybe less 450SE's but its still an SE, so I think you have to group them into shapes not shape/engine
Also you have the prestige of the SEAC Racer
But I think if you had a new 450SEAC and new 450SE it would be hard to notice any difference, apart from visuals.
There are a few one off ultra extreme wedges that have been made since.
The SEAC represented the extreme end of Wedgedom for TVR when compared to the very first Wedge that appeared in 1979. Put the 2 together and you will appreciate my point. At the time the SEAC also provided the test bed in development terms of the RV8 for the later cars and was the nearest thing to a race car for the road which was the fashion in those days hence the F40 et al. The factory also wanted a premium product for the time and that was the SEAC - it even looked different from the other Wedge line up at the time then along came the Griff which as we all know put TVR on the map big time and killed the Wedge for good...
And as I understand the SEAC history & purpose, many parts were homologated on the road SEAC's for the race car...rear wing being a good example.
It's what the car represents, it may not be 'significantly better or different' to the SE's but it's the purpose of design that I love. It really is the biggest & baddest of the lot!
I have owned a 350i, 400SE, (450 Chimaera), and now the 450 SEAC, and the SEAC is just awesome!
It is & I except it's additional 'finnikinis(?)' than the cooking Wedges but that's all part of the ownership experience for me!
Love them...not for shy & retiring types!
It's what the car represents, it may not be 'significantly better or different' to the SE's but it's the purpose of design that I love. It really is the biggest & baddest of the lot!
I have owned a 350i, 400SE, (450 Chimaera), and now the 450 SEAC, and the SEAC is just awesome!
It is & I except it's additional 'finnikinis(?)' than the cooking Wedges but that's all part of the ownership experience for me!
Love them...not for shy & retiring types!
I have a theory (unsubstantiated) that the only reason the SEAC ended up with a 4.5 litre engine was to make up for the weight gain caused by droppping Kevlar and reverting back to GRP.
If you're going to BBWF push the panels of an early 420 SEAC (Kevlar) and compare with a later 420 or any 450 SEAC and you will see the difference. I would love to have had a weighing scales at BBWF to confirm this - maybe next year?
If you're going to BBWF push the panels of an early 420 SEAC (Kevlar) and compare with a later 420 or any 450 SEAC and you will see the difference. I would love to have had a weighing scales at BBWF to confirm this - maybe next year?
TVR Moneypit said:
Am I correct in thinking that a certain Andy Rouse built the SEAC engines to a very special spec, or is that just a myth?
"The engines were initially prepared by Andy Rouse, then back in 1987 NCK took over. Engines featured Cosworth pistons, forged con rods, tufrided crank shaft, stage 3 big valve heads and a fast road cam. Engines varied in their ‘state of tune’ from car to car, the 420 was rated at 300bhp and this was quite a realistic figure for some of the ‘hottest’ cars."http://www.tvrwedgepages.co.uk/project_cars_seac.h...
Thanks for all the posts so far, which are very interesting.
On the engine front, my 450SE has a later 4.6 RV8. I happened to have it tuned following a modification to allow the timing to be adjusted. It developed 242 bhp at the wheels, which seemingly is on par with the engine. I assume the 300 hp quote for the SEAC was at the flywheel.
On the engine front, my 450SE has a later 4.6 RV8. I happened to have it tuned following a modification to allow the timing to be adjusted. It developed 242 bhp at the wheels, which seemingly is on par with the engine. I assume the 300 hp quote for the SEAC was at the flywheel.
For me you need to think back to the late 80s.
The SEAC was the ultimate TVR - it was the (banned because it was winning too much) race car for the road. It was absolutely late 80s outrageous. It was I WANT WANT WANT. It was different - oh not another flared wheel arch 911 going down the road. Visually and marketing wise it was not like the next step up the model range to the top - it was something extra on top of the main wedge model range.
No doubt there are all sorts of logical arguments that say differently but for me we are not talking logic here - we are talking seacs.
The SEAC was the ultimate TVR - it was the (banned because it was winning too much) race car for the road. It was absolutely late 80s outrageous. It was I WANT WANT WANT. It was different - oh not another flared wheel arch 911 going down the road. Visually and marketing wise it was not like the next step up the model range to the top - it was something extra on top of the main wedge model range.
No doubt there are all sorts of logical arguments that say differently but for me we are not talking logic here - we are talking seacs.
firefox1712 said:
.....but then 420SEs are rarer than SEACs.
Alright alright. I'l get my coat. I just couldn't resist it.
JJ
Hmmm.Alright alright. I'l get my coat. I just couldn't resist it.
JJ
rev-erend said:
You have also forgot the SEAC is styled differently to all other wedges.
In many, many pages of debate sparked by a wannabie SE AC owner the SE AC styling was thought to be the only unique SE AC feature.BISHY said:
For all you Wedge fans, you may be interested in a SEAC just in at David Geralds in Inkberrow. Ex Peter Wheeler car.
Peach. 
http://www.davidgeraldtvr.com/stockdetails.asp?Sto...
JR said:
JR said:
the SE AC styling was thought to be the only unique SE AC feature.
Upon reflection I think that I should have said 'the only unique feature that can be used to identify a SE AC' since IIRC the rose joints were never fitted to any other models.pwd95 said:
BISHY said:
For all you Wedge fans, you may be interested in a SEAC just in at David Geralds in Inkberrow. Ex Peter Wheeler car.
Peach. http://www.davidgeraldtvr.com/stockdetails.asp?Sto...
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