|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wedges in the New World By
Marshall Moore TVR had been a presence in North America since the 1950’s but it went through a three-year hiatus between 1980 when the last of the Taimars and 3000S models were imported, and 1983 when the first US-spec Tasmins began coming in to the US. (Prior to this, wedges were imported into Canada through John Wadman’s TVR North America Ltd).
Records indicate only about 40 US-spec Tasmins were imported for the 1983 model year, with the 10-louvre bonnet, and running from serial number BDH1001 through BDH1041. When the 1984 models began with BFH1042, the first coupe for the US market, subtle changes had occurred, including deleting the 10-louvre bonnet in favor of the one with 2 NACA ducts near the forward part of the bonnet. These cars also now carried the logo on the decklid of "Tasmin/280I" instead of merely "Tasmin". Of the 172 cars reportedly produced that year, it is uncertain just how many were imported into the US. Production continued
to grow for the 1985 model year, and along with that came some more model
changes. The car was now known simply as "280I" and then, starting
in January of 1985, the first Series 1 1/2 model, BDH1239, a silver convertible
with red leather interior, was produced. Some of the model changes included
standard central locking, electric bootlid release, smaller bumpers, modified
front air dam with parking lights below the bumper, and Rover SD1 taillights.
During the 1984-85 model years, perhaps two dozen S2 coupes were imported
into the country, of which 16 have been documented by the TVR Car Club
North America registry to date. Also during the 1985 season, attempts
were made to certify the 350I to bring into the US, however this was never
accomplished. Nonetheless, two cars, which were brought over for the auto
show circuit, did remain in the States, one yellow with the 390SE engine,
and the other dark green with the same engine fitment. The 1986 model year
saw the introduction of the full Series 2 280I convertibles into the United
States market. All the updated styling cues were featured on this model,
rounding out the overall look of the car from the sharp-edged lines of
the early Series 1 wedge cars. However, sales in the US were waning a
bit. By the 1987 model year, only a handful of "true 1987" model
280I TVRs were imported into the US before TVR Engineering ended its presence
in the US. There were, however,
some leftover 1985 Series 1 1/2 and 1986 Series 2 280is that received
some "renumbering" in the States. These cars were given serial
numbers that were not assigned by the factory and were marketed as 1986
and 1987 cars respectively. These began coming to light in the mid 1990’s
and are slowly being checked to determine their original serial numbers
as part of TVRCCNA registry documentation. The numbers assigned the Series
1 1/2 cars were GBO19600 through GBO19099; and the leftover Series 2 cars
received numbers ranging from HBO19052 through HBO19099. There may have
been some other Series 2 cars with numbers preceding HBO19052, but none
have surfaced to date. The 1987 production officially started with HBO19100,
a 350i. The earliest 1987 the TVRCCNA has documented to date is HBO19144
with HBO19384 being the last 1987 US spec car documented by the club. After this point, the only way to get a new TVR in North America was through the Canadian importer, John Wadman, who continued to bring cars in through the mid 1990’s. While the wedge cars have not enjoyed steady increases in value that some of the earlier TVR models have seen, recent value guides are now showing the 1984-87 280is to have increased in value by 4%, with future gains a possibility.
At the TVRCCNA’s
most recent annual show, "Out of the Woodwork 2001", nine wedges,
including two S2 Coupes, were on hand, most of which were in excellent
condition. With TVR’s name more present in the motoring press these
days, not to mention being a "star" in the movie "Swordfish",
more and more people are recognizing the name TVR when our cars are driven
on the roads. We now have to answer fewer of those "whatkindofcarizzat"?
questions and with the anticipated reintroduction of TVR into the American
marketplace in the coming years, that familiarity is bound to increase. Marshall Moore President & Registrar - TVR Car Club North America |
 |
