Description
NOW SOLD AND HEADING TO A NEW CUSTODIAN
TVR TAIMAR AVY 643V 1980 Black
The Taimar was TVRs first opening boot TVR.
This makes this model the most practical of all the early pre 80s models.
Less than 400 of this M series model were made.
This example was one of the last examples built being registered in 1980.
12 years ago I was asked to find a classic TVR and have it restored to be used as a daily driver locally by my Brother to his art studio and a car that could be used on the great west Cork roads in Southern Ireland.
The Taimar it was decided was the best model to achieve this with the added bonus of the rear opening boot space. Having located this example that required a full restoration we were in a position to start with a blank canvas.
To achieve a reliable daily driver TVR we decided that first of all the car would be converted to 5 speed so a new gear box was commissioned by a specialist company rather than looking for a second hand one.
Engine wise we decided on a newly rebuilt engine to fast road spec by Neil Hookway and this generated 180bhp.
Neil also supplied a fully rebuilt Sailsbury differential with limited slip diff.
The car went to PR Wood TVR Motorbodies in Southend on sea where they managed the build and the chassis rebuild and body work.
Their paint work is something that they are well know for and the end result is something special.
We kept the original black but with a twist and went a metallic finish and then for the Taimar strip and graphics this was ghosted in using a dark gun metal grey.
From a distance the car looks totally black and as you walk towards the car the strip appears.
Phil?s skills with painting are second to none and so many since being painted people have commented on the amazing look.
All told the car received as many new parts rather than re using and cleaning up old parts we could locate many we would struggle to find today such as the front and rear lights and the heather blower.
However when it came to the interior we looked at the condition and it was decided that with some care I could restore that so the car had that classic car feeling and something original.
This decision was a good one and the interior today looks as good 10 years later.
However the seats were beyond restoration and the decision was to have them totally restored and trimmed in leather to match up with the rest of the interior.
This work was done by Trim Unique in Blackpool who are one of the leading TVR trim specialists and are still looking great 10 years on.
All told the restoration 10 years ago cost over £30 000 and today would be closer to £40 000.
Moving on to today.
A year ago my brother due to life changes decided it was time to part with the car and asked if we would have the car back and prepare it for sale.
When the car arrived back after 10 years living in Ireland on the south coast the decision was made that the car would have a full re fresh and we bought the car back.
The paint work is still looking amazing with just a few masks that reflect its 10 years of use and a few small micro blisters which you have to look close to find and are usual in most fiberglass cars/
The car has done about 15000 miles since its last rebuild so the engine and gear box are nicely run in.
This gave us the opportunity to look at how the parts supply for these cars has moved on in recent years.
The decision was made to incorporate all the new parts and upgrades mechanically and some cosmetically that are now available.
Over the last 12 months we have totally restored the car again to bring the car back to even better than when the car was first restored.
The car is the first M series to have the new uprated rear Hub Carriers that have just become available and at the same time getting new uprated front and rear hubs.
All told nearly £6000 of new parts and upgrades have been gone on the car and 400 hours work to prepare the car to a level that we would be proud to have in our collection.
However space does not allow us that luxury so it?s now time for the car to find a new custodian and new adventures ahead.
The Sunroof is the original Webasto fully restored and new fabric.
Spare wheel we have added a space saver to ease removal.
How do you price a car that?s had this amount of work.
Well the saying goes the best cars to buy are the cars someone else has spent all the money on rather than a project that needs all the money spending on.
This car certainly comes into that category.
We are asking £28995 which is way below the real cost of restoring a car to this level.
The list of new parts added on this re build are as follows
Full Polly bush running gear rebuild
All chassis hardware
Front uprated hubs
Brake discs
Track rod ends
Steering gators
Top ball joints
Brake cables
Fuel hoses
Coolant hoses
New Alternator
Engine bay bonnet blanket
Rear hub carriers
Rear Uprated hubs
New tyres
Headlight rings
New Bumpers
New Mirrors with risers and convex glass
Oil and filters changed
New Coil
New HT leads
Plugs etc.
Wipers and blades
The car will be Lanoguard treated underneath to protect the new rebuild before delivery
The car has an electric fuel pump which was fitted in Ireland after it went there and we have added a safety inertia switch.
- details above
