3000S Prototype how many left

[pridaux]

In Peter Filbys Book he mentions that a number of 3000s models where initially built without a boot however i was sent this picture of one taken at Beaulieu and we know there is a blue one in the USA Peter says in his book that they all went back to the factory at a later date to have the boot added however i wonder how many where converted and how many survive as built.

Edited by pridaux on Sunday 24th February 16:19

Edited by pridaux on Sunday 24th February 16:19

[pridaux]

oliverb205 said:

There was a red one around 6 or 7 years ago, belonged to a young lad from Hull. I'll see if I can find a photo.

Oliver.

Thanks Oliver
I belive they all started life white and i hear someone saw a white one a while back but would be good to know exactly how many are left.
Maybe someone with the IT skills could start a 3000s register like the Viven and Grantura register at least we would have some idea where they all are.
Andrew

[pridaux]

davepen said:

I was surprised by the statement that they had all been converted at the factory.

We had one in the early 90's (HCK836S).
At the time it still didn't have a boot lid, it was then sold in about 1995 to SteveR.
The DVLA check appears to show it is tax'd and still blue.

The DVLA also show HCK837S in RED was last taxed in 2004, and ....8S in Green is SORN.
No information on the model is given. From memory, the chassis number was just a standard M series xxxxFM

Thanks David
Thats the kind of information we needed to help fill in the gaps.
I cant help wondering if maybe one went back and with time and chinese whispers that has ended up with the information Peter was given.
He can only write what he is told and the book is really fantastic and we are luck to have such a great documentation of our Mark.
Sure if there is a re print and a second idition that will be updated?? and the pictures of my car taken out
Andrew

[pridaux]

Cheers
Looked like a good night out maybe we can find them all and even find out if any had the boot added.
Andrew

[pridaux]

dryden said:

It would seem to be a strange idea that the factory would convert cars that were already sold, presumably to owners who had been happy with the then standard spec. To stick the boot in.....so to speak,
would require a replacement bodyshell, even if the original bodytub was to be cut and shut, the factory would have to cut up a new tub to provide the parts. All very expensive for loading convienience.

Yes that was what i thaught hence why i started the post.
I spoke with Peter today and he belives he was told by Martin or 1 of the factory workers when he did his research that they went back,however 37 years have passed and memorys do fade,hence why i thaught it interesting to find out fully.
So far it looks like we have 4 confirmed that have not been converted 3 in the UK and one in the USA.
How many in total where made without a boot is hard to say David Gerald thaught there was only one when i spoke with Doug and we know that there are at least 4.
The plot thickens ???? Maybe others will appear.
A

[pridaux]

Thanks Ian
So just to confirm your car was one of the 5 cars that where sold to the london dealer and used as hire cars in white and later converted.
If thats the case we have the first one we know that was converted quite a job to do right but yours looks good.
Andrew

[pridaux]

bluezeeland said:

Is it me, or has 'HCK....' wider flared wheel arches at the back, and why have they got 'SE' wheels ?

its you/because they wanted them

[pridaux]

Had a call from Martin today to remind me the boat should be out there somewhere as he thinks it had a screen added at some time.
Also the car that was used by the guys as a dummy by the ex Jenson guys to fit the hood someone eventually put that on the road and had no boot.
He says that some did have the boot added and it was not that difficult a job to do but not sure how many.
We seem to be getting there?
Any more pictures of bootless 3000S appreciated so we get the full picture
Andrew

[pridaux]

Hexhamhc said:

We sold 'TYG 14W' when new back in 1980, this had simply been stood at Bristol Avenue and the factory had contemplated retro-fitting the boot aperture/lid. I don't think that it had ever been registered previously. I also think from memory that it may have had the 'TurboVec'alloy wheels fitted which mainly found there way onto the US cars. John Viggars, who was the RO for the Liverpool branch of the TVRCC had a dark green 'HCK' registered 3000S which had a big-valve head engine etc. I can't remember if that had a bbot lid or not?
The original prototype car that I had a few years ago was registered 'JHG 891S' and had been the first version of 'XKU 3L' I was told by Mike Penny, the TVR production director. This car differed significantly from any later 'production' 3000S. Not only did it have no boot lid, it had a different shaped rear 'deck' early type rear light units, different doors and sidescreens and a completely standard 3000M dash arrangement.
I hope that this helps a little!

Thanks Tony and everyone else who has helped so far.
Really glad i asked the question as a lot of answers have come out especially the fact that some cars had the boot added but obviously not all as Peters book said i wonder does the 258 3000s cars made take some of these into account but the important thing is we have what we have and they are great cars.
Andrew

[pridaux]

Thanks Oliver
Great to get all this inf into one place really does look different a great piece of the puzzle
Andrew

[pridaux]

Astacus said:

Certainly looks like it (p91). I dont know whetherits the angle, but the facia (what you can see of it) looks slightly different and the petrol cap looks much further inset in the Robson book. Obviously an older photo though, and who knows what was done to the car between 1993 and 2007 !

Edited by Astacus on Thursday 28th February 00:16

The Facia is just not fitted if you look carefully the brackets that hold it up via the sun visor screws etc are there and in place either had it removed or never had it fitted or was at the trimmers when the picture was taken screen looks standard
Andrew

[pridaux]

From all the replies it looks like there was a lot of development work to get to the final 3000s was this the first model where there was this number of prototypes.
Or where there earlier ones when they did the earlier models yes i am sure there must have been prototypes but was it more a case of constant development from the early Granturas when you look at them all in a line it lookes like Motoring evoloution which all stops in 1980 with the Tasmin.
Andrew

[pridaux]

Adrian@ said:

Slow M said:

@Adrian,

Did it for you.

Now looks like this:

TVR 3000S	USTVRDUDE, nwarner, 62GRANTIII, Gnasher, Big g, v8yale, Christian3000s, Devon Flyer, oldgeebee, chris willy Sold, pridaux, Tunepipe911, jim3000s, Adrian@
TVR 3500S V8	Graham Halfyard

Best,
B.

I...I...I
JUST need add the... Taimar turbo,1600M, 3000M, Taimar, Griffith 500, and Chimaera 500

Show Off no wonder the 3000s only got 69miles last year

[pridaux]

dryden said:

Er... Is this the difference between a 3000S and a Taimar convertible???!

You never know you could be right but you would need to ask the editor of ROAD and TRACK sure they might know

[pridaux]

unless the doors have been changed and altered no as the Boat had flat doors without the curve.
A

[pridaux]

oliverb205 said:

As Andrew says, I think it was probably their second attempt at a convertible.

Oliver.

Maybe when Martin Reads this he maybe can let us know if it was the second prototype it seems like the 3000s took a lot of trial and error to get to what we have just a shame like Morgan it did not continue as a retro classic with just modern systems added in the way Morgan has over the years.
Andrew

[pridaux]

Adrian@ said:

From a previous thread
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=15&...
Adrian@

So from that previous thread then the Red car on page 2 JHG891S is the original car but re bodied hence the confusion probably kept the doors hence the push button door handles etc.
Andrew

[pridaux]

There where not that many hard tops made I believe 15 To 20.
The Yellow car is now owned by Martin Lilley and still has the hard top despite it blowing off once and ending up in a field in a previous owners care.
I believe Adrian has one for his Turbo.
I am told by David Gerald that getting them to fit properly was a pain and I think they still have the mould .
Andrew

[pridaux]

DavidY said:

Another bootless one....

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C291133

Hi David
That one has been a round for a long time twice on e bay twice reserve not met then I suspect went to them on consignment was entered into an auction in feb this year and still not sold.
Guess as prices rise it may become the right car at the right price just depends how keen the seller is to sell or is getting free storage
However pictures don't show how good or bad the restoration may be???.

Andrew

[pridaux]

Hi Brian
Thats Fantastic post some pictures of the before and after it would be great to see her a unique car you have there
You can loose that add on fog light as for that year its not needed for the MOT however if you want one Adrian does a modification that allows you to add one to the other lights that avoids cluttering up the rear
Andrew

Edited by pridaux on Monday 29th April 06:40