New Tuscan arrival
Discussion
Hi all.
Following on from the sale of my T350T, I figured I'd put the money towards a nice early Cerbera and then keep an eye out for a project Tuscan. My idea being that I could drip feed money into the Tuscan when funds allow and use the Cerbera sparingly in the meantime. Ideally I was hoping to find something with low miles, perhaps cosmetically needing some work and potentially a car with an engine problem.
So, fast forward to now, and yesterday onto eBay came a 2000 Tuscan, 19000 miles from new in fabulous Porsche Violet Blue. It's in need of an engine rebuild and has a few minor paint and interior defects to rectify. It has been sat in the owner's garage since approximately 2003, so I'm sure getting her back up to scratch will be a labour of love! I saw the car at 10am, by 12 the deposit was paid. I will not meet the car until it turns up on its trailer... I collect the Cerbera on Thursday, so this week is set to be a busy one!
Following on from the sale of my T350T, I figured I'd put the money towards a nice early Cerbera and then keep an eye out for a project Tuscan. My idea being that I could drip feed money into the Tuscan when funds allow and use the Cerbera sparingly in the meantime. Ideally I was hoping to find something with low miles, perhaps cosmetically needing some work and potentially a car with an engine problem.
So, fast forward to now, and yesterday onto eBay came a 2000 Tuscan, 19000 miles from new in fabulous Porsche Violet Blue. It's in need of an engine rebuild and has a few minor paint and interior defects to rectify. It has been sat in the owner's garage since approximately 2003, so I'm sure getting her back up to scratch will be a labour of love! I saw the car at 10am, by 12 the deposit was paid. I will not meet the car until it turns up on its trailer... I collect the Cerbera on Thursday, so this week is set to be a busy one!
I'm toying with how to approach the refurb of the car at the minute. It's so original, down to the early door mirror position, the door opening in the window switches instead of either side of the radio, the orange indicators, and right down to the horrible early flocked door cards which remain as hideous as they always were.
This makes me question what choices to make. For instance, do I rebuild to 4.0S, 4.3? Or do I carry out a standard rebuild? Do I do the bonnet conversion or do I leave it bolted down? Do I convert the flocked roof panels and flocked door cards with a proper re-trim or do I refurb them back to original? Many decisions.
Then it's a choice of who to use. To be honest, on the odd occasion I've ever needed assistance from the guys at Str8Six, I've found them quite awkward to deal with. Perhaps it's the North South divide. I've never had any real dealings with the guys at TVR Power before, but I do strongly see the benefit in the engine warranty. I presume this comes as part of the rebuild price and not an additional cost?
This makes me question what choices to make. For instance, do I rebuild to 4.0S, 4.3? Or do I carry out a standard rebuild? Do I do the bonnet conversion or do I leave it bolted down? Do I convert the flocked roof panels and flocked door cards with a proper re-trim or do I refurb them back to original? Many decisions.
Then it's a choice of who to use. To be honest, on the odd occasion I've ever needed assistance from the guys at Str8Six, I've found them quite awkward to deal with. Perhaps it's the North South divide. I've never had any real dealings with the guys at TVR Power before, but I do strongly see the benefit in the engine warranty. I presume this comes as part of the rebuild price and not an additional cost?
So the Tuscan is over at Track V Road (who now offer 3 year warranties on their Speed Six rebuilds - speak with Ian or Craig). I've chosen to go with a standard 4.0 rebuild, allowing funds to be spent elsewhere. What's more I'd never drive an early Tuscan as hard as the Cerbera gets driven, so I do think more power would be wasted on this occasion. Miraculously, with the exception of the passenger side rear indicator, everything works, even down to the air con which blows ice cold! Result. Obviously we have a few bits to go through in time. The brakes are the piffly early ones and the shocks are weeping a tad - but can be left for now.
The car should return in a month or so and I can make a start on the rest.
The car should return in a month or so and I can make a start on the rest.
Hi Speed 3.
The flocking and orange indicators are staying. Cosmetically there is a little paintwork to do and the leather has shrunk around the rear window. I will upgrade the dampers shortly but with a hefty bill on the way it’s a case of time. I doubt you’ll ever get an early Tuscan to handle as progressively as a well set up Cerbera anyway - the shorter wheelbase and ludicrously quick rack don’t lend themselves to the same level of confidence, in my view at least. My first early Tuscan was a twitchy little so and so.
The flocking and orange indicators are staying. Cosmetically there is a little paintwork to do and the leather has shrunk around the rear window. I will upgrade the dampers shortly but with a hefty bill on the way it’s a case of time. I doubt you’ll ever get an early Tuscan to handle as progressively as a well set up Cerbera anyway - the shorter wheelbase and ludicrously quick rack don’t lend themselves to the same level of confidence, in my view at least. My first early Tuscan was a twitchy little so and so.
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