Highlights
- One of only 5 made in the specification
- First of the series 3 cars
- Genuine 82,454 miles
- 6 owners from new
- History back to 2010, part specialist service history
- Always garaged
The Appeal
Is there a more iconic 80s car shape than the wedge? We don’t think so. Combined with the meaty 2.8 V6 driving the rear wheels in the 280i, it makes for a delicious slice of retro British muscle car goodness. This example has been exceptionally well maintained by a professional engineer, and has been kept garaged and only taken out in dry weather.
This level of care really shows in the quality of the vehicle. For a car that’s now 35 years old it’s in very good condition and runs beautifully. The retro styling is also enhanced by the metallic electric blue paintwork, which is absolutely perfect for the shape and era and just adds to the drama.
Very few series 3 cars (previously known as the Tasmin) were produced and only 5 were made in this specification. The series 3s were the last 280i’s that were built and featured a new all-moulded body shell and a new style dash. Therefore it is a rare car, and very likely to be an appreciating asset.
The History and Paperwork
- First registered in August 1987
- History back to 2010
- Always garaged
- Part service history (specialist)
- 1/5 produced in this specification
- Current owner since May 2020
- Previous owner since 2010, before that since 1991
- MOT until September 2022
- 6 owners from new
- Includes a number of invoices and receipts for work carried out
- Comes with a maintenance manual
- Supplied with a number of previous MOT certificates
- Last serviced in October 2020 @ 80,774 miles
- Only covered 3,000 miles since 2018
- Owner is only selling to fund another vehicle purchase
The Interior
- New carpets fitted in 2017 by D&C Trim
- Electric windows and aerial
- Modern Pioneer DAB radio with multi-CD changer
- Spare wheel and toolkit
- Light grey leather interior with blue piping
- Wood veneer dash and trim
- Risers fitted to seats for ease of access
The interior of the car is in very good condition, with some light wear evident commensurate with the vehicle’s age, but nothing that should raise any concerns. We love the contrast of the light grey leather with the vivid blue carpeting and wood dash – it feels very ‘of the era’. The wooden dash and trim are unusual details in a TVR and ones you’ll find on very few vehicles.
A DAB stereo (which is also connected to a multi-CD changer in the boot) adds a splash of modernity, but otherwise the cabin is completely original and all the better for it. The seats are comfortable and supportive and, despite what you may have heard about TVRs, the quality is easily on a par with contemporary sports cars of the era from more major manufacturers. All of the dials and switchgear work well, and generally everything feels very well put together and confidence-inspiring.
The seats have had 2” risers installed to ease access. This means that you currently cannot slide the seats back and forth, but the owner has informed us that should a buyer wish to have them removed, this can easily be arranged.
The Exterior
- New roof fitted in 2017 by D&C Trim
- Removable roof section with bespoke bag
- Electric blue metallic paintwork
- Original 15” multispoke alloys
- Pop-up lights
- Underside recently repainted and treated
Externally, the design of the 280i is very eye-catching. With its distinctive wedge profile, there’s no mistaking that this is an 80s car. One of the reasons it has aged so well is the fact that it features a fibreglass bodyshell, so there are no metal panels to corrode. All of the external trim is present and correct, and in good original condition. As such there is some fading and age-related wear evident on the badging.
Overall the paintwork is in good original condition, with one or two areas that the new owner may wish to remedy. The passenger side wing mirror and the underside of the bonnet edge have been scuffed, but the damage is minimal and nothing that would concern us.
The roof is a manual convertible with hinges from the later Chimera model and a removable central panel, allowing for the car to be used as a Targa or full convertible. It’s very quick and simple to fit, and with the bespoke bag for the roof panel in the boot, makes for a practical and usable sports car. As it was only replaced in 2017 and has been largely garaged since then, the roof is in as-new condition.
We noted that the car still wears its original 15-inch multispoke wheels, which complement the car perfectly and are in good condition, with only some minor blemishes. The tyres also look very good, with plenty of tread depth. Underneath the vehicle presents as very solid and straight, with no evidence of corrosion or damage. The current owner has had the underside treated and painted to protect it, which should be good for many more years to come.
The Mechanics
- Coolant system refurbished in 2017
- 2,796cc Ford ‘Cologne’ V6
- Automatic transmission
- Disc brakes all round
- Power steering
Visually, the engine and all of the drivetrain components look in excellent condition – clean and well-maintained. When driving, the Ford Cologne V6 pulls well, sounding throaty and purposeful. The car handled well, cornering flat and steadily and stopping well, with no unexpected noises or movements.
One of the unusual aspects of this car is the automatic transmission – the first time one was ever fitted to a TVR and a rare option. It makes it a practical and comfortable option as an everyday sports car, especially when driven at low speeds or around town, as TVR clutches are notoriously heavy. Combine with the power-assisted steering and it’s a car that should be very easy to live with.
The owner assures us that mechanically the car has been very well maintained and operates exactly as it should, and from what we saw we have no reason to doubt that.
Summary
If you like an unusual vehicle, there’s much to love about this 280i. First of all, it’s presented in excellent overall condition, with a good history. Then there’s the fact that it has a rare and unique specification – just try and find another Series 3 car with an automatic box. They’re few and far between. And, as far as we’re concerned, this is the best colour we’ve ever seen on this era of TVR - the electric blue paint contrasts brilliantly with the light grey interior.
We reckon it ticks an awful lot of boxes: it’s rare, quirky, fun, well-maintained and bound to be an appreciating classic. And let’s face it, everyone loves a wedge don’t they?
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