Description
Well, I didn’t expect to be writing this so soon. For sale reluctantly due to separation. This car is the factory prototype T350, used for press and development purposes, the first T350 registered (although I believe it to be chassis number two) and the very first Targa (the car was originally built as a coupe for the Motorshow, and subsequently converted to a Targa at the factory in early 2003 by Lee Hodgetts and Damian McTaggart). It is one of the two cars used for the launch of the T350 in 2002; this car was the car driven onto the show stand by Peter Wheeler, Peter used the car regularly up to the point of selling it to its first private owner in 2005. Also featured on Top Gear, used in the T350 sales brochure, various factory literature etc - so quite a history.
Exterior colour is Chameleon Green, interior is full hide in Oxford Blue, carpets also Oxford blue. The stitching is Neptune (green!). This car is a non A/ C car. Current mileage 37, 750. Exterior and interior colour both original and as it was shown at the Motorshow.
In my 3 months of custodianship, and in anticipation of it being a long term keeper, I have had the following work carried out at a cost of circa £7, 000:
Full 12k service
Valve clearances
Full gearbox rebuild by John Reid, including modification to 5th gear circlip
Clutch
Clutch slave cylinder
All four wheels refurbished in OEM silver
Stainless steel wheel nuts
New rear quarter windows
New front headlight covers
Inner headlights refinished
New Bosch wiper arms and blades
Interior deep cleaned
New handbrake cable
Brakes stripped, cleaned, new rear pads
New stainless steering wheel bolts
New stainless seat back bolts
New gear knob
As the factory development car, it does have some choice upgrades. 4 litre S engine, forged pistons, steel crank, Tuscan race ECU, Red Rose exhaust etc. It also has a JP sports back box which sounds incredible, the cats are still fitted.
I would describe the paint and interior both as 7. 5/ 10. The exterior has the odd mark here and there, commensurate with the age and mileage. The worst part is where TVR allegedly sat the Targa panels down before the roof paint was fully baked dry! This is only properly visible with the panels out of course. It is also possible on the driver’s side to see the join of the nose to the wing in certain light conditions, which was common on very early cars.
The interior is good, it has had the carpets done by Dave The Trimmer, he also re-trimmed the driver's bolster. If being critical there is some shrinkage around the lower dash section on the passenger side, and the glove box is sat slightly proud on one side as most of them do.
The car comes with the following items:
Huge T350 launch poster as displayed at the factory, signed by Peter Wheeler
Photos in build for the Motorshow
Factory build sheet
Previous V5 registered to TVR Engineering
Sales brochure and literature featuring the car
Factory TVR toolkit
Targa panel bags made my Dave The Trimmer
Spare roll of Oxford Blue carpet
100ml or so of Chameleon Green touch up paint
Original back box
Both keys
TVR Filofax with stamped book
Given the car’s provenance, I value it higher than a standard T350t (and this was reflected in what I paid for it too), as such the price is £45, 000. Now ready to be used and enjoyed. A slice of TVR history and I’m gutted to be letting it go. Any questions, please ask me, I can talk TVRs all day long! Rob.
