are the bumpers on my wedge rare?

[andrew tolley]

been looking at lots of wedges since i bought mine and not seen any with the same shape bumpers, are they rare?
andy

[hallsie]

I may be wrong, but they may be the ones from the American spec that should have a big rubber insert which is missing from yours!
I think they look pretty good, especially with the lower valence on the rear too.

Stu

[JR]

hallsie said:

I may be wrong, but they may be the ones from the American spec that should have a big rubber insert which is missing from yours!
I think they look pretty good, especially with the lower valence on the rear too.

Those are my thoughts also.

[Adrian@]

Check out the history of Mr Tank for his 280i auto it has pictures..
Adrian@

[adam quantrill]

The tailpipes stick out an awful long way - meaning a smack up the arse will bend them first? Not such a good idea...

[Mr Tank]

Hi

No not American bumper but series 3 the same as my 280i which has a rubber insert, which is the same as a "S" or even early Chimaera.



The American bumper insert is much bigger!

Andy

Edited by Mr Tank on Thursday 9th September 23:06

[Mr Tank]

Hi Andy

Re looking at your car and I would say it's a series 2 1/2.

Have you any interior pics you can post up!

Andy

[Grady]

"Series 3"? that's new to me.

I think its the same as a US series 2 rear without the black filler. My tail pipes have straight chrome extensions which keep the fumes out of the the cockpit. Not bad looking in real life or too long but but could be a bit larger. Grady

[JR]

Grady said:

"Series 3"? that's new to me.

Not bad for an '87 car...

[Mr Tank]

Hi Grady

I knew mentioning a Series 3 car would raise some question's!

Yes they do exist!




This pic comes from "TVR" an illustrated History, by Johnny Tipler


Here's a couple more pics of my/wife's car which we belive is the first, of maybe only 10 made.









I think Andrew's car is a cross betwwen the above and a USA car hence the Series 2 1/2


Andy.

Edited by Mr Tank on Friday 10th September 09:03

[andrew tolley]

hi thanks for the replies guys, really interesting, the tail pipes don't stick out that far, i guess someone as removed the rubber inserts but it still looks good to me, will take some interior pictures when im off work next week.
thanks guys andy.

[andrew tolley]

hi mr tank looking at the pictures it does look like the series 3 280i in the black and white picture.
andy.

[JR]

andrew tolley said:

hi mr tank looking at the pictures it does look like the series 3 280i in the black and white picture.

If it refers to your car then you don't appear to have the integrated front air dam...

I'd say more likely that your car has had a bump and the bumpers available at the time were the latest ones that were being made.

[andrew tolley]

hi jr don't believe its ever had a bump, ive got very extensive history on this tvr and its also hpi clear.
andy

[JR]

andrew tolley said:

hi jr don't believe its ever had a bump, ive got very extensive history on this tvr and its also hpi clear.

HPI won't show up replacement bumpers. What about the "one" piece front? Your car appears to be the standard valance+bumper+air dam so not the same as Mr Tank. Given that all wedges are rare does it make much difference?

[andrew tolley]

hi jonathan no it don't make much difference, like you say theres are so many variations in bodywork, among the history i have on this car are photographs going back to when it was nearly new showing the same bumpers, so don't believe they have been chaged.
andy.

[grahamw48]

Whatever it is...it looks a beauty.

[Mr Tank]

Hi Andy

I have looked yet again at your pics and I would say that it's a normal 280i which was made around the time the factory stopped making cars for the USA. So they used the bumpers on the UK cars made at this time. If you look at the bottom pic I posted out of the book, your car looks identical apart from the side indicators and the rubber strip! That's why I called it a series 2 1/2.
To answer your original question yes your bumpers are rare in this country, proberly only 10 or so cars had them and how many are now left?

Andy

[grahamw48]

.
The one in the centre is a 'D' reg 'export' model.
Bonnet similar to Mr.Tank's car, and with the rubber inserts.

.

Edited by grahamw48 on Saturday 11th September 00:10

[Mr Tank]

Graham

Very intersting pic my car is the first Series 3 car made in 1987/88 and is a E plate so were the D plate comes from (unless it was a private number!)It was made after TVR stopped making cars for the USA!
These cars were not made for export!
How long ago was that pic taken?

Andy

Edited by Mr Tank on Saturday 11th September 00:35

Edited by Mr Tank on Saturday 11th September 00:37