BF Exclusive: Our 1983 TVR Tasmin!
You’ve watched us find, fix, and drive our TVR, but now it is time to let someone else have a turn. This car had been parked for many years as the result of a failed fuel pump. We dragged it home and did the work necessary to make it driveable once again It still needs some help, but this is a good start for anyone interested in a truly unique British roadster. Josh has taken the photos and I will try to give an honest assessment of the car’s condition below. Based on a recent auction sale and Hagerty’s price guide, we feel that $4,800 is a very fair asking price. Before listing it elsewhere though, we wanted to give our readers first dibs. So, keep reading if you’re interested.
Exterior
The exterior looks great now that it’s been cleaned up! It’s not perfect, but the paint does appear to be original. Josh did find evidence of some new paint on the hood, but after polishing it, the paint blends nicely. Some of the stripes could use a touch-up and there are a couple of cracks. The worst is on the top of the passenger side fender. Other problem areas include a cracked windshield and a cracked front bumper (which was repaired previously with rivets), so add those to the to do list. We couldn’t find any evidence of any crash damage though. The body is fiberglass and is in very good condition overall. The passenger side door does stick a little when opening and the side mirrors do no appear to be original. We added an aftermarket antenna because it didn’t have one and repainted the rear bumper. The convertible top works well and the rear window has been stitched back into place using the original holes. The plastic window does have scratches and there are some scratches on the removable section of the roof. Nothing major for a driver, but definitely not show quality either.
Interior
The seats are in great condition with no holes or visible damage. The carpet is also in good shape, but could benefit from a steam cleaning. New door panels need to cut and reupholstered, but the originals are in place to use as patterns. The original Momo steering wheel is in place, but someone “upgraded” the stereo. This car is also fitted with the controls for the optional A/C system, but under-dash controller is loose and the compressor and condenser are not with the car.
Drivetrain
The engine starts right up and runs well. It does rev up and down sometimes when at idle, so it could benefit from a tune-up and possibly a couple of new sensors. We have not taken it on the highway, but have driven it around the neighborhood and it has enough power to push you back in your seat. We replaced the intake bellow because it was cracked, but it might be a good idea to check for any other vacuum leaks before replacing any sensors. The transmission shifts into all gears fine. There is a clunk coming from the back though when first accelerating that sounds like a bad u-joint. The brakes work very well, but we did not replace any hoses so that might be a worthwhile task for the next owner. The clutch pickup point is very low, so the system may need bled or it may even need new master and slave cylinders. The steering is tight and the suspension feels good. As with any old car that has been sitting for a long time though, it might be a good idea to replace things like shocks and bushings if you want the maximum potential out of the car.
Chassis
We have saved the most important aspect of the car for last! These cars use a tube frame chassis and rust can turn a seemingly good project into a nightmare. Watch the episode of Wheeler Dealers where they fix up one of these. Their car was so rusty that they had to replace the whole chassis. Luckily, our frame is solid and we couldn’t find any rust. There were a couple of dings on the outriggers, but nothing that looked serious to us. The underside of the car is greasy, but besides a couple of drips on the driveway, there was no serious fluid loss. As already mentioned, the suspension seems firm, but could benefit from a refreshing. The Momo rims are in very good condition, but new tires will be needed.
This car has its needs, but I have tried to present everything so there are no surprises. It’s powerful, striking, and should be a lot of fun for the next owner. Now that I have experienced a TVR Tasmin firsthand, I can say that they are severely under appreciated cars. In fact, current market values make them seem like a bargain. As more people learn about how special these things were, prices will surely go up. They are rare cars, but do benefit from an active club and decent parts supply. The mechanicals are Ford and we were able to find many of the TVR specific parts from specialists. A full restoration would be a challenge, but I don’t see why this car couldn’t be driven and enjoyed while all the little problems are corrected. The exhaust note alone is worth the price of admission!
The car is located in Boise, Idaho and all interested parties can contact me via email.
You can go back and read our previous stories about the car below:
- Can We Make Any Money With This TVR?
- Day One Of Project TVR!
- Project TVR: First Start Attempt!
- Project TVR: Finishing Touches
You can also view a full photo gallery here. Thanks guys!
Auctions Ending Soon
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1974 Datsun 260ZBid Now2 days$750
2010 Proterra Ecoliner PrototypeBid Now2 days$200
1960 Austin Healey SpriteBid Now5 days$500
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Comments
Would love to give her a new home but my available funds fall a little short… Someone is going to have a great new project car to enjoy, unfortunately that person will not be me.
Hey Chris, if money is tight, I know where you can get a clean 1990 Corolla cheap,,,,,,,too soon? :)
someone is going to get a fun car. love all the photos and video. with that and all the write ups on this car whoever buys the TVR will know what they are getting. this will be fun to watch play out. i thought for sure you two would be keeping this car. so what will the next BF project be?
I have a X1-9 in Cody WY that won’t be ready for pick up until the end of april. If this is still available I’ll have them shipped to me together!
I’m thinking 48 is a bit lofty. But hey some guys want what they want. I’m not your guy- we’re too far apart on the number. Best of luck.
Well, considering that a resprayed one with a salvage title just went for $3,800, I think our asking is fair. What do you think it’s worth?
Gentlemen, I must give you a round of applause and standing ovation. Seeing the before and after photo’s,I cannot express to all of you what a fantastic job you’ve done. Detailed,pristine,clean,the car now reflects “Pride of Ownership”. It take’s a lot of hour’s to make a car look like this. The new owner had better appreciate all you put into it. I realize it’s not perfect,but you definitely raised it up a few level’s. Can’t wait to see the next project.
Hey, Jesse, seems like the price is fair. There will be a bunch of comments by people who would like to get a steal, but for as nice as this one is done (great work!) just “hold the course” and you’ll see some action. It is a special interest car, so it may take added exposure. Just remember, a lot of us that hang out here are looking for the neglected classic for low bucks!! Thanks for giving us first chance at this nice one! (and tell me, where can you find this nice of a classic sports car for $4800?? That’s only VW Bug or Honda 4-door money!)
I believe it’s a fair shake. A TVR enthusiast will come along and snap it right up. Supply vs demand – in this case both are limited but the odds are in your favor. California is a PIA state to register post ’75 cars in but this would be a cool DD.
After going through nine Alfas, letting go of my last one, a Series 1 1750 Spider and now driving an E39 touring for over a year I’m getting ready to start my search for the next classic. Especially now that I have a real garage. This TVR may have been the one but I’m very leery of local smog laws plus I can’t do much to the motor ((
Good luck with the sale.
Inboard rear brakes.
A cool feature that I did not realize the TVR had. I’d no prior history with the brand, other than to admire a few examples. This car certainly looks good to me!
Lets see, this TVR, or a TR7, which get lots of exposure here on BF? …..both being Brit cars.
TVRs have always been great handling cars. All you need to be confident of that is to read all the rave reviews in road tests, and have a look at the sophisticated suspension under this car.
This TVR looks good too, especially for the price. Even the underside looks way better than about 99.7% of the cars featured on BF. And from the video this car sounds better than about 99.7% of the cars featured here too.
The TR7? I hope the TR7 fans out there will not be too offended, but it’s just a fact that the TR7 brings up the rear on every point. And from the stock TR8s I’ve driven I’d say the same.
Great looking car, guys. If I wasn’t already waist deep in car things I’d be very interested. Best wishes for a good sale.
Oh, I want it bad! What are the chances that A 6’4″ guy with about a 34″ inseam could get in and drive it comfortably for extended periods?
Jeremy Clarkson drove an austin healey spright and loved it.
You never know with Brits.
I’m 6’2 with a bigger inseam and I fit fine. Not sure about it being comfortable for extended periods, but that has more to do with ergonomics than space.
Congrats on getting it ready to sell and good luck. I always think a greasy uderside will help to slow rusting…maybe it’s just a justification in my mind….lol Looks clean now. I did see the Wheeler Dealer episode and that was fascinating. And scared me off these forever. Plus I’d rather have a barge.
Can’t wait for the next one. Didn’t y’all already buy something?
Yep, there’s a Spitfire waiting in line.
A few questions…..does he radio work?
Do you have the A/C parts?
Why didn’t you replace the U-joint?
Seems like a simple fix to solve a question that will come up during the test drive. I’m only speaking from experience here and a sound drive train will net you more $ and remove any doubt to reach your $4800 goal.
Good questions Steve. The radio does not appear to work and we do not have any of the A/C components. There wasn’t much of a spread between what we bought it for and what we knew it would be worth, so the point came where we just had to say stop. As many of you know, it is easy to want to fix everything once you get in there, but the bills add up and the times passes quickly.
Yeah I gotta admit, this seems like an easy and inexpensive fix.
I understand that the purchase pruce didn’t leave much room but anything that can be done to reduce the ‘cons’ list for cheap or free should be done IMO.
Carpets need a cleaning? What does a steam cleaner cost to rent for an afternoon?
Bleed the clutch to eliminate that possibility. If it works you’re golden. Otherwise the potential buyer assumes it’s the master anyway.
Tune up and sensors. Again, cheap or free to provide answers.
I hesitated posting this hoping someone else would share the tough love. I’m really not trying to be negative but honest input is going to benefit you more in the long run than blowing smoke up your arse.
It’s obviously a very clean example, with only minor needs but why not do all you can to secure a quick and easy sale?
I am with you………you either fix it up or sell it as is. This in between stuff just because it is cutting into your profit is silly and amature. You will not win on every deal, the best you can do is to learn on every deal. I put my way through collage 45 years ago working at Kmart, they were the largest retailer at the time. On Christmas eave the manager would walk the store with a portable mike, he would cut prices sometimes 80% just to clear the shelves. Another good friend and mentor of mine (he made several fortunes in the salvage busisness) explained that the sales price has nothing to do with what you have in an item…..only what it is worth. The key is making the correct decisions to stay on the upside.
This isn’t Kmart Dave…
You are wrong……..to make this enterprise survive, you have to learn marketing. I realize that you have a day job to buy groceries but working hard with little return will get old real quick. I have always had to sell something to eat and pay rent……..so, it is pretty tough to pay the rent with a car, it has to sell for whatever it will bring. Cash flow is imperative unless you have a generous and wealthy spouse. Many times, cash flow is more important than profit. Just learn and do better next time.
This is my day job Dave. Again, this isn’t Kmart. Luckily. We can see how well things have gone for them…
I had wished I had the money for your 6 cylinder Mustang with the bullet hole. This one has character too. So how hard is the U-Joint job to do? Is it a bad joint in the drive line or on the half shafts?
We haven’t taken apart anything to figure out where the clunk is coming from Chris. Nothing felt loose when we moved things around by hand, but I’m guessing its on the driveshaft.
These cars seem to go for 12k to 15k if they’re fully sorted. 4800 for this car leaves plenty of room to address what is most likely fairly inexpensive fixes. Even if the A/C parts are missing, these have ford Cologne 6cyl engines so probably no big deal. At $4800 I don’t see how a person could go wrong – seems like a really good deal to me. That being said – what I really like is the Tamsin TVR 450i vs the Tamsin TVR 280i because it came with a Rover V8. But good luck finding one – I’ve only ever seen one for sale in the USA and that was 3 or 4 years ago.
Nice work! I agree with Victor; this seems like a fair price. What other British sports car can you get for $5k in decent and drivable condition that has the performance, uniqueness and ease of maintenance as this TVR? Just about all of the needs you have identified can be handled by most folks who possess basic mechanical skills and tools. In fact, anyone who doesn’t fit that description probably shouldn’t be a buyer. (Please forgive the double negative)
If you were anywhere near me here in New England, I’d be heading down right now to check it out with checkbook in hand.
Tirefriar–why do you think there is nothing to be done with this engine? If it is sourced from Ford (or Rover for that matter) your options to hop it up further are a’plenty!
I was speaking from standpoint of tight smog regulations of my “glorious” State. Of course you can make internal mods and as long as the engine runs clean you can have a relatively free hand. However, in Californnia one must pass a visual inspection as well to get a smog certificate. That means on 1976 or newer cars no headers, unless CARB approved. A cat converter is a must – can be aftermarket but carb approved, an air pump and all the other smog garbage that were required n vehicles based on their model years. Of course, you can get a 1975 or older car and have a field day with any modification your car desires short of running an open exhaust.
One of my Spiders was a 1979 with dual weber side drafts. I could not get it smogged because all Alfas imported into US starting from 1969 had injection, whether mechanical or electronic. I had to sell the car out of state.
Hi All,
I believe that $10 to $15K is very hard to get for 280I, I know of one that has been advertised for over a year at $10K and it is a very nice car.
As for this one I feel it is over priced, you’er talking $300 to $400 just for a new compressor and you’ll have to find the brackets to mount it to the engine. Then another $100 or so for the condenser. The receiver dryer is $50 and you hope the evaporator core doesn’t leak. This does’t include the refrigerant or labor.
Then there is the windshield, another $500. The bumper are hard to find and are several bills. What do you do about the paint and cracks? A half way decent paint job will be $4 to $5K.
Well, whats my 2 cents worth.
Bob, that’s why its always cheaper in the long run to buy one in very good condition. However, this is not a bad deal if someone is looking for a reasonable project car that can be daily driven during the week and wrenched on during days off…
I was roughly in a similar situation with one of my 1969 Berlinas. The car was mechanically sound and very decent on the inside. The outside cosmetics did not do the car justice. It was priced at about 2/3 of a similar Berlina with nicer cosmetics. The new owner bought the car to rally it and has owned the car for close to 2 years without doing anything to the outside. Meantime, the prices for Berlinas are going higher and higher.
Thanks for your input Bob, but I have to disagree with you on a few points. Who said the A/C needs to be replaced? It’s a convertible and it’s not likely that the next owner will daily drive it. The windshield and bumper are a bummer, but who said it needs paint? It cleaned up great and personally I’d rather have factory paint with some flaws than a respray any day. Did you see the car that sold for $3,800? It had a salvage title and crash damage, so I’d say it’s to assume that ours is worth a tad more than that one. Since you shot down our asking price, why don’t you tell us what it’s actually worth?
I don’t know the value of your car but a couple of poimts come to mind, You can’t rely on one sale to establish the value of anything…..and was that an actual sale price or asking price? Cars are not like real estate that you actually know what something sells for. In the end…….it will be the market that establishes the value……..not the seller. When cattle prices are low……..ranchers eat a lot of beef.
Well Dave, let’s hear it! What’s it worth?
I should point out that the car referenced did sell for that amount. The link is in the first paragraph. Hagerty’s price guide was also consulted. This is a rare car so there aren’t many sales to go off of. You’d think you guys would give me a little credit. We have featured over 6,000 vehicles here on the site and I have personally bought and sold dozens of classic cars.
I have no idea……sort of the point of my note. I don’t personally care for the car and neither did the market when it was new. It would not have been my choice of a car to do. I always thought it looked too much like a wedge Triumph to have a huge value over the TR7 A V8 car is much more interesting to me…..but those are my prejustes and have nothing to do with reality. You only have one to sell…….maby you will find some dot com billionaire that bought the car new and has to have it back? ………. I must say that you are a brave man to air everything on such a public forum….good luck. I want everyone to be successful in life.
Dave – The TR7 had a 4-cylinder. Perhaps you were thinking of the TR8? They may share the wedge shape, but they didn’t compare at all.
Jesse……..you are a British car guy and know the difference………most of the market does not. That is the kind of influence that drives markets. Try telling a Morgan buyer it isn’t worth more than a TR4….. They have similar running gear but the Morgan is worth twice the money. Curb appeal matters. Your TVR is very different than a TR7-8 but the first look it is very similar. The terrible reputation of the TR7 has coat tails.
I get where you are coming from Dave, but I highly doubt that the people interested in this car would ever confuse it for a TR7. The guys who would probably aren’t in the market for either, so I don’t see how the TR7 would affect the values of this car just as the values of the TR4 don’t affect those of the Morgan.
As one of my old busisness professors used to say………..Have you paid the rent yet?
Hi Tirefriar,
Yes car value keep going up but this is just another bubble, at some point there will be a correction – like 1989 or was it 1990.
Hi Jesse,
You are right, you don’t have to fix the A/C, but you would be a mazed at how people who own convertibles run around with the A/C on. Then they complain that water condenses on the registers and flies off landing on them.
You thoughts on the paint is the “seller’s opinion” and not from the buyer perspective.
There are also other concerns – the clutch, is it the master or does the clutch need to be replaces. The engine idle that you called weird. So what is going on there? Then there is the mystery clunk, is it the driveshaft U-joint? Can the driveshaft be removed without removing a major component? I don’t know. If it is not the U-joint what is it?
No, I didn’t see the one that sold for $3800, but I have been watching TVR for quite a while. In my opinion, and you won’t like it, I would say $3000.
I linked to the eBay car and Hagerty’s price guide right in the first paragraph Bob. Sometimes our personal opinion of a car can affect what we think it’s worth. Heck, I don’t think any car is worth $200k, but obviously there are a lot of people out there who do.
Bob, you are correct about the 1990 bubble. One thing to consider though is that in those heady days cars were not viewed as investment material but rather luxury trophies. When economy tanks, luxury items take the hardest hit. We already went through a recession back in 2007 and the car market did feel a setback but nowhere near the catastrophically decline it experienced 17 years prior.
I personally like cool and uncommon forms of transportation. Hence my daily drivers included a number Alfa Spiders and Berlinas. My motorcycle stable includes 2 Bimotas, etc. the price is all relative to the market and to affordability. This a very rare and cool sports car that is relatively cheap to maintain, at least mechanically. The color combination is right. Good bones, etc.
Going by your calculations, this car should be worth practically nothing and we all know this is not the case.
Ok, my turn. Please note these are MY opinions as a consumer of British cars and NOT as a Barn Finds writer.
#1, if I were in some different circumstances right now instead of being in the middle of building a house and shop that have gone very badly so far, I’d be making Jesse an offer and flying up and driving it home (yes, I’m that nutty, I think it would be a terrific adventure and I’d fix stuff along the way).
#2, if he’d take $3k for it I’d do it anyway (no, I know he won’t).
#3, did you look at the NADA guide? Holy cow, it’s over $8k for one in average condition. I realize TVR’s are not that well known, but this is a LONG way from a TR7…believe me, I know, I’ve spent time in both.
Good luck with the sale, I’ve seen it reposted several times on the internet and I’m sure it will go well. No, it’s not something that will generally sell in one day; as noted by many folks when they purchased it, the pool of interested TVR buyers is a much smaller group than the pool of interested Mustang/Camaro/Tri-Five buyers. But, let me tell you, they do exist.
Jesse, if you still have it in mid-April, let’s get it to the South Central British Car Gathering down my way. I know if I get my wife near it she’ll want it…
Price guides are written to sell subscriptions. They are terribly inaccurate. I know of many car lots that went broke relying on “book” values…….it is the street value that matters……what someone will open there wallet for. Did you ever pay retail for a new or used car? What do you think all these huge discount sales are about?
Dave, I respect your opinion and I know you’ve been there, done that. I’m not saying I’d pay $8k for it, either. But I’ve seen 280i’s in worse shape bring $7500 (and I watched the transaction take place once) in my area. Now, I freely admit I know nothing about the market in Boise. But I can tell you it wouldn’t have a problem selling for close to it’s asking price in North Carolina.
That is the kind of information that is invaluable. I have not said what I think it is worth. Really have no idea……imperical information is essential and seldom comes from a price guide. Markets have equalized with the advent of the Internet to a large extent. My point is if you don’t sell it for whatever……..you can’t eat, or pay rent or buy a new project. You are just stuck. I know you guys like British and have a lot of experiance with them. I am concerned about your busisness model. It looks to me like you are buying from the same market you are trying to sell to. To make a busisness, you have to work between separate environments. Try looking for rebuilders at wrecking yards for instance. Use your mechanical and marketing knowledge to evaluate the project. Do a profit and loss statement even if it is just in your head. Leave room for suprises. One of the problems with this car is it needs unknown repairs, a buyer will discount it heavily for his trouble fixing it and in case there is more than anyone knew required.
The only way we will be stuck with the car is if people post so many negative assumptions that it scares them off. I have presented the car as honestly as possible, but it would seem that some people would rather I was deceitful. Just take a look at eBay. People list cars with 5 photos and a couple of sentences. I have provided a detailed description of what is wrong with the car and enough photos that the buyer will know exactly what they are getting. We will find a buyer and, unlike most long distance purchases, they will not be disappointed when the car arrives.
If I did not already have too many cars…
But my wife would (justifiably) kill me if I brought it home.
you comment was not up when i started to write mine, sorry. looks like we have 2 buyers at $ 3000 already! will it sell for more, anyone?
the one for $3800 also had a wing installed on it which means holes in the fiberglass to patch also. please take time to look at the photos and read the text of that car. then look at the BF car which is light years better. the good title with NO crash history alone is worth the difference in price. i think some of you are badmouthing the car now in hopes of getting it for less then the asking price. if you could get this much TVR for just $ 3000 my name would be going on the title. i would daily drive it until something major broke. i would then sell it in whole or part it out and either way put a lot more then $3000 back in the bank. thanks
What always irks me about some of the comments here is that you’re making the assumption everybody is as worried as you are about a cracked windshield or noisy driveshaft. Give it a rest! Not everyone is as detail-oriented or as consumed with flaws as you may be. I skipped getting a PPI on my E28 simply because I wanted it, warts and all. I had an itchy trigger finger on my wallet and wanted a new project. And while some project car guys will sweat every last detail and only buy perfect specimens, there are a lot of us who simply see a car and want it, end of story.
It’s fine to offer feedback but not fair to make assumptions on a marketplace of buyers that is as colorful and varied as the very vehicles featured on this site.
I’m happy to announce that the TVR has sold to one of our readers for $4,400! It’s been paid for and will ship out in a week or so.
someone got a great deal. i am glad it worked out. i hope the new owner will keep us updated. i did not buy a TVR t-shirt because i hoped i could buy the car. now i do not have either!. but it sure was a lot of fun to watch this play out. i guess the spitfire is the next project. will you be keeping it or listing it for sale at a later date? i would still like to see some photos of the volvo. thanks
Smiling at the news.
And a big plus is knowing that there will be updates on the car.
We’ll done on both sides.
:-D
Yay! Congratulations on the sale! :-)
Hi Jesse,
Congratulation on the sale. So, Is it staying in the USA or going overseas?
It’s staying in the States. Thanks Bob!
Hi Jesse,
When do we get the final installment? After its payed for and recieved by it’a new owner?
I am the party guilty of buying the TVR.
Tirefriar, I REALLY wanted a Berlina and got all dead set to find one but none were coming up for grabs that I felt were going to be a trustworthy transaction. Alfas are one of those hot items, like air cooled Porsches and seem like such magnets for unscrupulous scammers. As I’ve griped before, I sold my well worn 911SC Targa on the cusp of the bubble for $7000. Nobody wanted a Targa then and the SC is so durable and easy to live with it seemed the supply was stable so they’d never enjoy the mystique of the early cars. Well, the buyer, I later learned, is a notorious sleez in the Porsche community. Nor was he as forthcoming as I was about its flaws and shortcomings in his sales pitch weeks later at a doubled price of admission. I’m priced out of the P car game except maybe a 944 and I just don’t want one.
Back to the Berlinas, I didn’t want some 30k garage queen, which there seems to be an endless supply of…fresh from the mother land. I don’t have bread like that and it’s just not my thing. Their was the basket case in Grand Rapids that kept tempting me as it honestly needed everything…no surprises! As a sloppy second, I watched a few Rover SD1 3500s and was way outbid and fairly mind blown at the last one that went for $7600! Always loved the look and while a burbley V8 with a manual in a euro sedan is really appealing I was apprehensive of their long term fun factor.
Considered 928s and a lot of other stuff but just didn’t feel it and got fed up. During this, I re-realized what an automotive desert Louisville, Kentucky is. Somebody prove me wrong.
The TVR seems to offer good bang for my buck and within it beats the heart of an all time favorite, the Capri. Will be interesting to see how it fills my shoes and seats my ass.
Oh, and I was thinking the clunk maybe that bent exhaust. In one of the pics, a joint looks really close to the floor. I just hope the shippers treat it well and it still has an exhaust system when it gets here.
Congratulations, JubJub! Interesting, I was also watching the Rover SD1. Someday I will own one of those. Best of luck with the TVR and I can’t wait to hear more about it once you get it home :-)
It very well could be the exhaust.
Jubjub, congrats on the job well done. I have told Jesse that if this was a pre-76 car I would have been a player for it. Anything ’76 or newer requires smog and that’s no fun.
105/115 chassis Alfas have really taken off. I recall about 4years ago discussing a beat but driveable Giulia TI featured on BaT for $5k and poopooing the car. Same car right now is probably closer to $15k. Berlinas have followed in the Giulia’s wake. A clean Berlina under $10k is a thing of the past. With $20k+ becoming the norm for these cars, all I can say is that I am happy to have scratched that itch. If you are after an Alfa sedan the money is on the 116 Alfetta or the 164. BTW, clean 164 models with manual transmissions are on the rise. An ok one can still be had for around $3k but not for very long.
Frankly, I was surprised at the naysayers here with respect to this car. The price was right for the condition and this is not the car that you will easily come across for sale. I hope you will really enjoy this TVR.
Congrats, Jubjub – you’ve got a lot of fun summer days ahead of you!
Hi Jesse,
So when do we find out how you did on your first attempt at flipping cars? We know you didn’t get rich but you must have come out on the plus side.
Congrats..I have had numerous Tasmin/280i cars in my collection and still own my first 1982 Tasmin I bought 30 years ago. I currently own 9 TVRs most of which are not admissible in the US and many other “big name ” marques. For the money, there is nothing out there that is easier to run, cheaper, rarer and more fun. These things are getting 15-20k Euros in Europe, and for some reason, they are being sold for less than the sum of their parts in the US. I can jump into my Aston, Ferrari or E-Type at any time but still choose to drive one of my TVRs most of the time. You have made a great purchase that will only give you joy and bonding ( and an extended vocabulary on occasion when things go wrong). With TVR coming back in the world marketplace in 2017, the Tasmin series cars will only gain in value and acceptance.
Any luck selling the TVR yet? I have a 1980 Triumph TR7 with a transplanted 3.9l v6 5spd out of a Dakota. Its a tire shedder. Love the wedges.
Yep, it sold within a few days after featuring it.
Damn, I want my car. Really getting stressed over this shipping thing now. Talk about sketchy business. I put these unfortunate wheels into motion on 3/28 with a company who’s initials are DAS, whom you shall all avoid like the plague. They hired a local wrecker pick it up to wait at their lot for transport. Cool enough, right? Transporter shows up a few days later and refuses to load due to a loose hood latch. Fair enough. Jesse made a trip to secure the hood for shipping. Thank you again. But nothing has happened since and my car sits, awaiting a probable trip of destruction.
I had a car successfully shipped cross country years ago and even saved the contact info. However that company is apparently no longer operating.
Kind of over a barrel. I feel the shipper has gained some upper handedness on me with the the hood latch thing. My daily status checks are answered with vagueness and apathy. And the storage fees have to be adding up. I’m afraid these, through my absence and vulnerability may be pegged on me.
What have I done???
I’d fire the shipper but I don’t want to potentially go through this again. I’d be fine with paying the local towing company expenses if I could get my credit card refunded. Ugh.
Or should I just be patient?
Any suggestions?
If you want to have it towed back to my place, I’d be happy to hold it there for another week while you find another shipper. I’ve shipped a lot of cars and never seen anything like this. Sometimes it does take the broker a while to line up a truck, but still.