I've been looking for a classic TVR to restore, for about 6 years. I originally imagined a tatty but running example or perhaps one that at least moved under its own steam or, at worst was complete and at least rolled.....if pushed....quite hard.
I started off looking for a Grantura; Mk II or Mk III. I naively thought I might find a Mk III, (of which only 90 odd were made). I particularly like these cars because, unlike the MkIIs they have all round independent suspension, (compared to the torsion bar suspension of the earlier cars) and more pleasing treatment of the rear end (no really!). However, since these cars have race history in period, they often get bought by the historic racers and this has pushed the price through the roof. The last one I saw for restoration, in about 2008, was not much more than a shell with a chassis and suspension. It had been messed about with, and I believe it went for about six grand.
So I gave up that idea and set my sights on an early Vixen. These cars have the advantage of sixties cool, superb handling, the bullet proof Ford 1600 cross flow engine (except the first few, which were MG powered), the fantastic "Ban the Bomb" rear lights and a wooden dash, packed with silver Smiths gauges. What more could you ask for?
Here are a couple of pictures I took at this year's pre 80s TVR gathering. The powder blue car is similar to a a series I Vixen, but the C plate suggests its an earlier 1800S (edit: as does the badge at the rear, which says TVR 1800s!!).
and a Grantura MkIII
I had been looking seriously again for a few months and last weekend I found a Mk I Vixen, for sale. the car was a stalled restoration project, completely dismantled and looked rather rough. I was in two minds about it because it looked like a lot of work was going to be needed to rebuild the car. The ad had been up for a few days and I almost didn't follow it up, eventually I decide to check it out and I e-mailed the seller to see if it was still available. Disappointingly it had already been sold, but the seller promised to contact me if the sale fell through. I didn't hold out much hope, but a day or so later, unbelievably, I got an E-mail saying the sale had indeed fallen through and was I still interested.
The seller rang me with details of the car. It turned out the car had been stripped for restoration many years ago. A lot of work had been done on restoring the components. The car had a new chassis made on the original jigs (great, that saves a lot of heartache and a fair bit of knuckle skin) and a new floor pan professionally converted to bolt-on configuration (even better) and the engine had been rebuilt (where do I sign). All the bits were apparently there, except the rear screen and the seats. Anyway, to cut a long story short, after a very nervous morning, including a short bidding war with the original buyer who re appeared on the scene, I bought myself a 1968 TVR Vixen Mk I, in kit form, without ever having actually seen it in the flesh. I am going to see it this week end though, to arrange transport. Can't wait to smell the old oil and I am already planning how to put it all back together.
Silver......with bulls blood red leather upholstery....what do you think?
