TVR 350i
Encyclopedia
In 1982 TVR's then new owner Peter Wheeler
found himself wanting more power than the Cologne V6
-equipped Tasmin 280i
could offer. Thus, based on the existing car the Tasmin 350i appeared in August 1983. Using the same chassis and body (with some minor changes), a 3.5-litre Rover V8
was installed. After a year, the "Tasmin" part of the name was dropped and the car became plain TVR 350i.
/450 SEAC
and other future developments. A modified form of the 350i's chassis, itself a stretched version of the chassis used for the old M-series
, also underpinned the S-series
as well as the later Griffith
. There was a short run of non-factory Sprintex supercharged 350SX (and the bigger hearted 400SX
) made by the Northern TVR Centre in the mid-1980s. Nine and two of the respective versions are thought to have been built. Power is not certain, but 260 bhp for the 350SX is commonly cited.
By 1989, after the introduction of the 400/450SE
and 420
/450 SEAC
, the lineup was rationalized and the by now least powerful 350i was dropped. Over 1,000 350i's were built. The end of the run was marked by the limited edition (25 examples only) 3.9-litre TVR 350SE
of 1990-91.
Peter Wheeler (TVR)
Peter Robert Wheeler was a chemical engineer from Sheffield, Yorkshire, UK, who owned the Blackpool-based TVR sports car company for 23 years....
found himself wanting more power than the Cologne V6
Ford Cologne V6 engine
The original Ford Cologne V6, also known as the 'Ford Taunus V6', is a series of 60° cast iron block V6 engines produced continuously by the Ford Motor Company in Cologne, Germany since 1968...
-equipped Tasmin 280i
TVR Tasmin 280i
The TVR Tasmin or TVR 280i is a sports car designed and built by TVR from 1980 to 1988. It was the first of TVR's "Wedge"-series which formed the basis of nearly their entire 1980's lineup...
could offer. Thus, based on the existing car the Tasmin 350i appeared in August 1983. Using the same chassis and body (with some minor changes), a 3.5-litre Rover V8
Rover V8 engine
The Rover V8 engine is a compact V8 internal combustion engine with aluminium cylinder heads and cylinder block, originally designed by General Motors and later re-designed and produced by Rover in the United Kingdom...
was installed. After a year, the "Tasmin" part of the name was dropped and the car became plain TVR 350i.
Development
The 190 hp V8 propelled the 350i to 130 mph (209 km/h), while 60 mph came up in 6.3 seconds. The Rover-engined 350i provided the added benefit of being marketable in Arab countries, where there was a certain resistance to buying Ford products because of Ford's close dealings with Israel. The 350i also provided the basis for the 390SE first seen at the Birmingham Motor Show in October 1984, as well as the bonkers 420TVR 420 SEAC
The TVR 420 SEAC is a sports car designed and built by TVR between 1986 and 1988 . It is considered as the ultimate "wedge" TVR and is the final of TVR wedge family. Unlike the other wedges the 420 SEAC was different. The acronym SEAC stands for Special Equipment Aramid Composite, that means that...
/450 SEAC
TVR 450 SEAC
The TVR 450 SEAC is a sports car designed and built by TVR in a one year only run. It used the same fibreglass and kevlar body as the 420 SEAC and the same chassis. The only difference was the engine which grew to 4,5 litres and about and 435 Nm torque. As a consequence though the 450 SEAC was...
and other future developments. A modified form of the 350i's chassis, itself a stretched version of the chassis used for the old M-series
TVR M Series
The TVR M Series is a series of sports cars built by automaker TVR between 1972 and 1979. The series replaced the outgoing TVR Vixen and Tuscan models, and is characterized by a common chassis and shared body style. As with other TVR models before and since, the M Series cars used a front...
, also underpinned the S-series
TVR S Series
The TVR S Series was announced at the 1986 NEC motor show. Due to a massive positive response the car went into production in less than 12 months, with 250 pre-manufacture orders...
as well as the later Griffith
TVR Griffith
The TVR Griffith, later models being referred to as the Griffith 500, was a sports car designed and built by TVR starting in 1991 and ending in 2002....
. There was a short run of non-factory Sprintex supercharged 350SX (and the bigger hearted 400SX
TVR 400SE
The TVR 400/450SE was a series of open sports cars designed and built by TVR in the late eighties and early nineties. The 400SE was introduced in 1988, the 450SE a year later. The 400SE was the last of the Wedges built, with the last cars being produced in late 1991 and registered in 1992...
) made by the Northern TVR Centre in the mid-1980s. Nine and two of the respective versions are thought to have been built. Power is not certain, but 260 bhp for the 350SX is commonly cited.
By 1989, after the introduction of the 400/450SE
TVR 400SE
The TVR 400/450SE was a series of open sports cars designed and built by TVR in the late eighties and early nineties. The 400SE was introduced in 1988, the 450SE a year later. The 400SE was the last of the Wedges built, with the last cars being produced in late 1991 and registered in 1992...
and 420
TVR 420 SEAC
The TVR 420 SEAC is a sports car designed and built by TVR between 1986 and 1988 . It is considered as the ultimate "wedge" TVR and is the final of TVR wedge family. Unlike the other wedges the 420 SEAC was different. The acronym SEAC stands for Special Equipment Aramid Composite, that means that...
/450 SEAC
TVR 450 SEAC
The TVR 450 SEAC is a sports car designed and built by TVR in a one year only run. It used the same fibreglass and kevlar body as the 420 SEAC and the same chassis. The only difference was the engine which grew to 4,5 litres and about and 435 Nm torque. As a consequence though the 450 SEAC was...
, the lineup was rationalized and the by now least powerful 350i was dropped. Over 1,000 350i's were built. The end of the run was marked by the limited edition (25 examples only) 3.9-litre TVR 350SE
TVR 350SE
The TVR 350SE was a sports car designed and built by TVR starting in 1990 and ending in 1991.In 1990 TVR Engineering Limited produced a limited production run of 25 specially prepared 350's to mark the end of the era heralded by the 350i...
of 1990-91.