So just what is so special about owning a TVR Wedge?

By Jeff Morgan

I have always liked TVR cars. I have owned several starting with a Vixen S3 and S2, then later progressing to a 350i and I am now the proud owner of a TVR 400SE. Within reason I could have opted for any TVR but I decided on the Wedge. Why is this?

Using the Wedge
When I initially bought the car a previous owner who had it had performed a lot of engine modifications. Everything was going well until I discovered the car had both heads over ported! Many pound notes and weeks later I had to have a new V8 4.2L engine fitted by DJE in Nuneaton. The car therefore is a little more powerful than the 'standard' 400SE! Driving the car however is just pure joy. The wall or torque, the handling, the noise everything about it just makes me smile every time I drive the thing.

Front		Rear

I have a Tesco that is 5 minutes down the road from me. When I need some tea bags do I take the direct route? Logic states that in this time of high fuel prices you go the direct route, it saves time, money and effort. Owning a TVR however is more a decision of the heart and not the head so instead of going down the logical route I take a slight 100mile detour via The Neath Valley, Hirwaun, Brecon and maybe via Builth and then back to Tesco in Bridgend! Driving this car is that good. If I were in the Fiesta however there would be no question of which route I would take!

Ok, any TVR owner can testify that they love driving their cars and that alone doesn’t set a Wedge out from the rest so what else can it be?

The sound?
Ah yes, the sound! Starting the Wedge up is like Thor clearing his throat! this car does not just turn over and start it literally explodes into life. After a while the big V8 settles down to a purposeful gargle. One slight blip of the throttle however and Thor is clearing his sinus with a vengeance.

Driving down any fast road, you press the loud pedal, the back squats down and the car heads for the horizon like a scalded cat that had just sat down on a bag of tacks. The wall of noise that comes from the back can not fail to make you smile. I have listened to many other types of TVR's and although they all sound glorious they simply do not make the same sound as the Wedge cars. Often when out in convoy with several other TVR owners who have Chimaera and Griffiths they have all stated that all they can hear is me!

Just the noise alone probably explains the 3000 miles per set of Bridgstones rears. Maybe that's part of a Wedge being different, the noise. The Wedge cars must be some of the loudest cars TVR have made and the bloke who lives three streets away can confirm that fact.

The styling!?
I personally love the shape and the styling of the Wedge cars every which way you look at the car it screams out mean! I think that the Wedge shape is just so out of sync with today's aerodynamic wind tunnel derived designs that it just stands out like a sore thumb especially the bigger Wedge cars with the various vents, spoilers and side skirts. People have said they are just like kit cars. My car has even been called a TVR TR7 by various pub 'experts'. Some have even taken the michael on the build quality - well they may be right there! (mine doesn't leak so thinking of asking the factory for a leak installation kit to be fitted).

Rear shot		Magnolia interior

As for the kit car comments, to be honest it has never bothered me. Being called a TR7 does rankle a bit, but hey-ho just part of putting your head above the fence and opting for something completely different to the usual tin tops I suppose. So far then it's the Sound and Styling.

The build quality?
The build on my car is quite good although the carpets are a bit worn now, but I don’t worry about that when hurtling down to Tesco’s. From what I have seen I don't think that the Wedge cars are significantly different to any other TVR in regards to general build. Sure the newer stuff has had the benefit of years of previous production build experience and to be honest are probably screwed together slightly better but at the end of the day a hand built TVR is a hand built TVR!

One of the car's previous owners and not the factory however contributed to the issues I have had with my car! When I changed from the 350i to the 400 it was supposed to have a modified 4.3L engine in it. The engine unfortunately turned out to be over bored and it was this that caused the block to crack and me having to get a new engine fitted :-(

DJE in Nuneaton did the work for me. They are simply superb, helpful and very knowledgeable and deal only with RV8’s. Engine servicing is with them so every 3000 miles its back to Nuneaton for a check up. Usually a new modification as well if my Wife Linda says yes - usually she does ;-)

My new DJE engine		Modified air intake

Modifications since the re-build have included better race spec ignition leads, nice shiny chromed oil filter, kick stainless plates, plenum insulator and general tender love and care from DJE on the oily bits. Oh, and a nice red ignition coil which matches the car. Well a better coil than the original that happens to be red, that's my story and I am sticking to it!

At this moment I have been having a few overheating issues with the car. Turns out when the original owner fitted a larger engine but a larger radiator wasn’t. So I shipped my radiator off to be reworked and so lets see how it does. Other previous owners however have done the car proud and I am sure its had many a modification and improvement including adjustable corner weights etc. It handles like a dream and the tight set up lets me know of any potential hedge and if the dreaded TVR 'moment' is looming. Linda usually thumps me before the car does anyhow.

Wedge ownership memorable days out
Since owning the Wedge Linda and I have had some brilliant days out and have attended some fantastic events. There are simply too many to mention but a few stand out:-

Duxford Mania was superb. Getting on the runway was nothing short of excellent. First time I could really let rip and light up the tyres. It was a case of not surprising what passed me but suprised at what didn’t!…..Hee Hee Hee, That DJE motor really is sweet.

Rumble in the Gorge was another cracking day out. 32+ TVR’s revving up in a gorge, superb drive around as well. Another moment to remember was the drive home back through the Brynglas tunnels at Newport on the M4. The Chimera behind reckoned I had deafened him, well I did use 3rd gear! Hope I didn't burn his nosecone too much.

The local South Wales TVRCC also organises many a good run, and being in Wales we make use of some of the best driving roads in the UK as I am sure many of you are aware after the Pride & Passion event held in Cardiff this year.

Then of course there was the Big Bad Wedge Fest 2004. Started of as a thread on the Pistonheads website and grew into a monster Wedge meet. It was a fantastic turn out and I am sure there were many elbow injuries caused by people buffing up their pride and joy. Our run up to Ettington started with a mini meet up at Magor services then on to the M4 Junction near Bath. A fine bevy of Wedges were on hand but unfortunately for me, the burger bar was shut! I was looking forward to that as well. We all set off across country at a fair rate lead by Duncan Simey in his infamous blue SEAC. After a petrol and refreshment stop it was onto the final leg to Ettington.

BBWF car park 2004		Brecon Beacons 2001

You did not have to be in the car park to know that something was going on. As you got closer to Ettington Chase there were Wedge cars coming from all directions. They were coming out of every junction, disappearing up another. The poor kids in the local village must have been getting whiplash just watching. Then the main hotel car park was just literally full of Wedge cars of all types and colours.

I don't think there is any need to go over what has already been covered but it turned out to be a superb weekend. One hell of a tyre kicking session with some brilliant company, and more than a few beers to boot! The organisers (you know who you are) worked absolute wonders.

In conclusion
So back to my original question as to why a TVR Wedge. Is it the speed? reliability?, odd-ball aggressive angular looks? or the tidal wave of noise the car generates? At the end of the day I believe that it is ALL of the above but also it comes down to the fact that it's the people you meet by owning the car, especially other Wedge owners.

I have never met such a bunch of friendly and genuine people. Try asking any wedge owner what modification they have made to the car or what element of work they are going to undertake on the car next and I just hope that you have an hour or three to spend! With Wedge ownership it doesn’t matter what walk of life you come from, it's not about what area of work you are in or what you earn and how expensive your watch is - It's about the car and the people who drive them.

If you don't believe me, then turn up to the Big Bad Wedge Fest 2005 and you will see what I mean.

All the best
Jeff