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Tasmin S1 Fixed Head Coupe (1980-1981) First on sale in 1980, the Tasmin was a fixed head two seater coupe. The styling was a radical departure for TVR, who were previously known for their curvaceous coupes and at that time for the good looking 3000S convertible. Why Tasmin? Well so the story goes (yet another TVR tale), Martin Lilley's girlfriend of the time was called Tasmin! Still, it could have been worse..
As with all TVR's,
the running gear was located in a space-frame tubular steel chassis which
was longer and sturdier than that of the 'M' series. Much of the running
gear is sourced from Ford's of the period. The suspension and steering
was sourced from Ford Cortinas, with a TVR engineered rear wishbones.
Gearboxes were from Cortinas and Sierras. Brakes were discs all round,
wtih the front ones from the Ford Granada. The engine was the Ford 2.8
Cologne V6 with Bosch fuel injection producing about 150-160 bhp. An automatic
gearbox was an option. Tasmin
280i Convertible (1980-1988) The convertible was launched in 1980. Mechanically identical to the FHC (Fixed Head Coupe), the body had a modified windscreen surround, new doors and a different boot arrangement, including storage for the hard targa panel that formed the overhead section of the roof.
The targa panel can
be removed and stored in the boot, allowing the rear section to be left
up, giving some protection for motorway type journies, or folded down
to give the roof off experience. This roof arrangement has been used on
all convertible TVR's since. Around 1988, shortly
after the launch of the TVR 'S', production of the 280i ceased. The 'S'
was cheaper than the wedge, and was proving extremely popular, at the
expense of the 280i which was using the same engine. Tasmin
200 (1981-1984) The 200 was introduced
around the time when when Peter Wheeler took over at TVR. It had become
apparent that the Tasmin was proving more expensive to make than the previous
'M' models, and sales were suffering. A lower specification, smaller engined
Tasmin appeared, using the Ford Pinto (again an engine with Capri/Cortina
heritage). Pinto's weren't exactly powerful, producing in the region of
one hundred bhp in standard form. Not surprisingly this model wasn't popular
and production stopped in 1984. In total 16 only coupes and 45 convertibles
were made. Tasmin
+2 (1981-1985) The +2 is a rare car,
with around fifty models being produced the majority being the 2.8 litre
version and six made with the V8 from the 350i. The original two seater
had two fuel tanks either side of the main transmission tunnel. For the
+2 a single fuel tank was mounted above the rear wheels, freeing up space
to extend the cabin. Tasmin
S2 / 280i (1981-1985) The S2 model evolved
from the S1 and ironed out some of the glitches of the first cars. In
1983, with the 350 ready for launch, the Tasmin name was dropped and the
model was merely called the 280i. Tasmins
in the USA The Tasmin was the last TVR to be exported to the USA. TVR's inconsistent badging policy resulted in the cars appearing as Tasmins, Tasmin 280i's or 280i's (The Tasmin name was dropped in the UK). The last car was exported in 1987, this being a series II 280i. A number of reasons are cited for TVR's withdrawal from the US. These allegedly include a deteriorating relationship with the import agents and the distribution network, warranty problems and liability insurance premiums rising from $160K to over $1M.
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