I want a wedge, but don't understand all the variations

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I'm interested in buying a wedge. But they made quite a few variations of it. I get the differences in engines. The names are clear enough. 350i is a 3.5, 390SE is a 3.9 and so on. But what about the rest?

Cosmetically, apart from the SEAC cars, the shells seem to be all the same, with just different bumpers, spoilers, chins, bonnets etc? Specially at the front. At the rear the taillights changed from Rover to Porsche? So I guess the taillight pods needed to be remodeled.

Mechanically, the chassis are all the same? Maybe change in suspension parts? Is the difference between a 1980 Tasmin 2.8, a 1983 280i/350i and a 390SE huge, mechanically, apart from the engine?

What about up keeping? Are parts difficult to find? I guess mechanically it should be ok as parts are from other mainstream cars? But what about body parts? Things like chin spoilers, sills ground effects and things which can easily break or chip?

Thanks for the guidance.

Edited by Downshiftup on Wednesday 1st March 10:02

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adam quantrill said:

Hi Downshiftup, some good questions.

The forum here has a wealth of information in past articles, also start with the FAQ that has some recommendations for reading material.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

I think the only confusing one is the limited series of 350SE's that were actually 3.95l.

For body styles, there is series 1 and series 2 as well as SEAC.

Welcome to the world of wedges! You won't be disappointed.

Thanks for the welcoming.

I had a look at the FAQ before. But most of my questions were not listed on the topics. I will try having another look, thanks.

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BlueWedgy said:

There is a bit more here:

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Taken from here:

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Have a look at this site (It is German but in English), some pages may not work unless you are a member:

https://tvrcarclub.de/knowledgebase_category/wedge...

As Adam says enjoy, but be prepared to tinker along the way.

Thanks.

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BananaFama said:

No mention yet for the budget model ,the 200 ,with a Ford Cortina , Sierra etc ,"Pinto" engine .

I was after one of these about 30 years ago but made zero effort to find one and lost interest , went back to owning rubbish Fords again .

I would also really be interested in feedback about the Tasmin 280i. As I really like the coupes and many coupes seem to be the 2.8i.

I would also love a convertible. Whichever I find which seems right. But most reports are on the V8s. So it seems difficult to get info about the V6. Compared to the 350i the power difference is supposedly 30bhp. So I'm not really worried. I do know the V8 sounds better. But if a nice V6 coupe would pop, I would not turn it down because it's not a V8. So V6 info would be welcome.

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KKson said:

Hi, as Adam has highlighted, there is a load of Wedge info on this forum which is very useful.

Thanks. And thanks also for your great and detailed reply. I will have to take it bit by bit.

Wedge wise in my opinion they are the most underrated of TVR's. They are easy for home maintenance, sound fantastic and go very well, despite the original basis of suspension (Cortina front, Jag XJS rear). I'm on to my third. 350i, then 390SE and now 450 SEAC.

I really like the looks and sound of them. Even the V6 sounds good. Never driven one though. My only fear and what has kept me away a bit is the reliability rumors. This will be a weekend car. But I would hope it wouldn't be the type of car I must spend most weekends under it instead of driving. I don't have a lot of time for this. Basic stuff sure.

KKson said:

There are the two basis body options, convertible and Fixed Head Coupe (FHC). The earlier more angular bodies are series 1, and later series 2. As you note there are differences to the series 2 bodies. Some had integral rear bumpers were others had separate. The 390SE also had a deeper front air dam and a rear diffuser to add downforce (in theory!). Later Wedges use Renault Fuego rear lights, mounted upside down, not Porsche,

But are the shells different in S1 and S2 or just bumper, chins spoilers etc? Between the cars with integrated nose, sure. But I mean between these for example:


To me they look like the same body shell, but different bumpers and chin spoilers.

KKson said:

Suspension wise earlier cars used "trailing arm" suspension but this was not good for handling more power such as the V8's so later cars have a more robust "A frame" suspension. All run a Jaguar rear diff and inboard brake system, but some of the diffs are limited slip.

Is it possible to upgrade an earlier car, like a 1980 280i to the later A frame set up? Just bolt on? Possible to find the parts?

KKson said:

Spares are pretty good. Rear A frames and hubs are not available, but suspension wise most other items are about,

Ah, I guess this answers my earlier question. So I would be stuck with the earlier suspension set up? And if it goes in a car which had it, how do you do? Custom made?

KKson said:

Body wise there is a company called Black cat racing who acquired the original TVR Wedge moulds, so body panels can be re-made. There are however quite a few spare or chopped up bodies that are sold, as some individuals remove the bodies and use the running gear to create special kit cars, such as Escorts, Healeys and Cobra replicas.

Ok, I will check this company. Thanks.

KKson said:

The Wedge community is VERY friendly and well supported, so let us know if you have any more questions. Cheers.

I've been noticing that. Thanks for the welcoming.

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KKson said:

Hi, answering those questions I can:

Reliability - if they are maintained correctly then they are reliable as any other car. if they are left sat in a garage for months and then fired up, they will not be happy. So thorough servicing and plenty of use and they are great. During Covid and lockdown I used my 450 SEAC as my daily driver. Despite all the st going on, the TVR put a smile on my face.

Well, being a weekend car and not being driven on winter, it will mean probably no more than 100 days a year of driving. But realistically, maybe even only half that. So if they don't like sitting around, will this be a problem? How often you gentlemen drive your wedges?

KKson said:

Bodyshells - they may look similar but in reality all the various body shapes are different. Different bulkheads, different fibreglass thickness, slightly different dimensions, different internal cockpit widths. In my opinion no two Wedges are the same!

Understood. But the difference on the exterior body shell between S1 and S2 is mainly the taillight pods and the wheel flares, right? The rest is add on bumpers, spoilers, wings etc, which could be added to either S1 and S2 interchangeably ? For example I have the impression this car has a S1 shell, because of the skinny body without flares, but has the ground effects and front spoiler of the S2 390SE 400SE etc?


So this white car seems to have a hybrid looks? Meaning parts are somehow interchangeable?

KKson said:

Suspension - the trailing arm and A frame chassis are completely different so no you cant just fit later suspension to an earlier chassis. Similarly earlier 2.8i cars had a much narrower chassis, so the V8 wont fit without serious butchering and welding mods.

Interesting to know the chassis are different. Tried a quick google search to see if I could spot the difference in the suspension and tell which chassis is trail arm and which is A frame, but didn't go very far. I would love to see it, to understand.

KKson said:

Shout if you have any more questions. Cheers Keith

Thank you very much!

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FHCNICK said:

If you are looking at Tasmin coupe's (always referred to as FHC - Fixed Head Coupe's) then the bodies did change between series 1 & series 2.

The series 1 Tasmin fhc has a vertical small rear glass panel where on the series 2 it slopes because the series 2 is 2" longer - the longer body came into being to produce the rare 2+2 coupe's and that body sans the 2 small rear seats became the series 2 shell. The series 1 also had the Stewart Warner instruments in the dashboard which look better to me than the later VDO gauges.

The V6 S1 cars had twin tailpipes which exited throuhh holes in the rear vallance (In my eyes the best solution for exhaust tailpipe integration on any car). Early cars had a 4 speed gearbox replaced with a 5 speed box in 1982 I think.

There are lots of subtle differences and some features evolved rather than being strictly S1 or S2 features if that makes sense. Things like the stubby handbrake lever replaced by a more mainstream handle, electric window switches moving from the transmission tunnel to centre console and so on.


I have had 3 FHC wedges starting with an S1 280i (1981), an early 350i (1984) and I currently drive a 390i (1985) all of which are trailing arm suspension which I have never had any problems with.

All the best with your hunt
Nick

Thanks. Yes, I do like the FHC cars quite a bit. But I never saw a S2 FHC. Meaning a FHC with the nose like a 390SE or 400SE etc. I thought FHC were all S1 and only 280i and 350i.

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mrzigazaga said:

Hi

If you can then buy the best that you can afford, they are all a load of fun, I owned a 280i and after many painful years got it to a useable standard and to be fair she was a reliable fun classic, however I had to scratch the V8 itch so the 350i was to be the scratching stick, now gone after 8 years I would like a 400SE .....parts are predominantly ford, apart from some TVR engineered parts, so sourceable, running cost for a V8 depending on use is around £1000 p.a...you also become part of a fraternity who will help where they can ...

Good luck

Thanks. Yes, buying best I can afford is good advice. But a part of me is also tempted to buy a project, from somebody who started restoring or something and didn't finish it. Maybe in hopes it would end up cheaper or not more than the best I can afford. But I could for example make sure the chassis is restored and correctly, as I heard the chassis is one the biggest weaknesses. Is it a crazy idea to go for a project car? What I fear is putting the electrics together. I never put a car together and am not a mechanic. But I could paint it myself though.

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ElvisWedgeman said:

I just wanted to add that Wedges are addictive. I remember when I bought my first Wedge many years ago I bought it just to see what they’re like. I’ve bough nine more since over the years. Every model is brilliant in its own way and they all sound good like only a TVR can sound. It’s just a matter of how much power you want as to what model suits. They are all reliable if looked after and well maintained.

The more I look into them, the more looking forward to driving a wedge I get.

But them being basically Ford and a mix of mainstream parts, do they need a TVR specialist to care for them? Given what they are made of, I would think any mechanic used to older cars could? Specially a Ford one?

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FHCNICK said:

Looking at the photos you posted the FHC at top left is a S1 car and the one on bottom right is a S2 FHC. They were made in 200, 280i & 350i guises with only 1 390i recognised as manufactured as a special order in 1990.

I have no idea if my 390i left the factory with the 3.9 engine that is in it or if it originally had a 3.5, I bought the car 20+ years ago with very little history although the engine number is very close to some of the early 390se convertible cars and is of an age as the car itself.

Thanks. And what do you make of the white car with the blue wheels? Indeed a hybrid in looks?

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Panamax said:

I'd keep it simple with a 350i. Proper V8 experience and quick enough. Manageable maintenance.

Thanks. Are the 350i the most common and easy to find V8? I think it's also the only V8 which came out as a FHC?

Talking about maintenance, is a 350i harder or more expensive to maintain than a 280i, apart from the fuel?

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KKson said:

Bodyshells - they may look similar but in reality all the various body shapes are different. Different bulkheads, different fibreglass thickness, slightly different dimensions, different internal cockpit widths. In my opinion no two Wedges are the same!

Does this happen with the interiors as well? I have the impression I have seen the same model with the original flat dash and with the wrap around version. Like a 400SE with flat dash and another 400SE with the wrap around dash. Did this happen?

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BlueWedgy said:

If this is still available and you fancy some spannering, probably a lot of spannering, you could have a look at this.;)

https://www.tvr-car-club.co.uk/classifieds.html

Thanks. Which car is it? The link leads just to a main page with several cars.

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Adrian@ said:

Yes, I have one of the last 280DH built ...400 chassis, late cooling system, SEAC 4 dial interior. A@

I see. Thanks.

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KKson said:

Likewise I had a 1988 green 350i that had a 5 clock wrap around dash, similar to the SEAC and later SE versions. I might be wrong but I think the American versions also had the wrap around dash, rather than the square slab type. As I said earlier, I don't think there are two identical Wedges out there......

In a way, this individuality is great. Makes them more unique. But may create headaches to buy used parts? If a dash from a model won't fit in another, of the same model, or a center console, or a chin spoiler etc, because they are all slightly different. Or it's not that bad?

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KKson said:

KKson said:

Suspension - the trailing arm and A frame chassis are completely different so no you cant just fit later suspension to an earlier chassis. Similarly earlier 2.8i cars had a much narrower chassis, so the V8 wont fit without serious butchering and welding mods.

Interesting to know the chassis are different. Tried a quick google search to see if I could spot the difference in the suspension and tell which chassis is trail arm and which is A frame, but didn't go very far. I would love to see it, to understand.

This is the earlier trailing arm system:


And this is the later A frame arrangement:

Aaah, now I see it. Thanks. This is very useful.

Although I find conflicting reports of how bad the trailing arm really is or how much of an improvement the A frame is. Is there any real way to improve the handling in the trailing arm cars, if I feel the need?

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Daggsy said:

Downshiftup said:

Thanks. Yes, I do like the FHC cars quite a bit. But I never saw a S2 FHC. Meaning a FHC with the nose like a 390SE or 400SE etc. I thought FHC were all S1 and only 280i and 350i.

Our 1983 2.8 FHC will most probably be advertised for sale around Easter time when we return form France.

Well, let me know if you do.

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Adrian@ said:

My thoughts are that the yellow picture is a USA spec car rather than an Series 3 (pictures pinched from when they were for sale)
This the Yellow S3 Auto and blue Auto (it is the vented bonnet that is the 'tell'). 400 indicators/side and SD1 rear lamps.





A@

Edited by Adrian@ on Thursday 2nd March 16:28

I had thought it was some sort of basic model, as it's much lighter on the ground effects. You know, "the more ground effects the sportier, the higher the trim level." Or so car companies seem to think.

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Adrian@ said:

My Manual 280DH with rims and rear spoiler (neither original to the car).



The red auto (interior with the 4 dial SEAC rather than 5 dial 400 dash) which is now missing the original bonnet.



A@

Edited by Adrian@ on Thursday 2nd March 16:27

Love that interior!

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keynsham said:

Panamax said:

I'd keep it simple with a 350i. Proper V8 experience and quick enough. Manageable maintenance.

Totally agree. I love mine!!

Nice!

among the colours I want for my wedge, red is a top one, specially if it ends up being a DH. If FHC, I wouldn't mind a dark colour. Although as rare as they are, I think I will have to take whatever I find at the right condition and price.

What are the most common colours?