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WCA G46 - The slow build (MX5 donor, customer chassis)
Nice one. My personal daily driver (Saab) is reliable, fast, quiet, comfortable, handles and is utterly boring.
My work car is reliable, fast, quiet, comfortable, handles and is utterly boring, even though I have to drive it at more than double the speed limit on a regular basis.
Sheer speed ain't all it's cracked up to be though: the toughest part of driving really fast is predicting what the other guy (or gal) is going to do in front of you and making allowances for it. That's where most 'press on' drivers get it wrong and kill someone, usually themselves.
In one of Gary's creations my stonking 95bhp is going to feel like plenty and my moniker acknowledges the fact that, after years of classic car ownership, I just know that they break down. A lot. And, as the 'Pistols would say, I don't care!
Now there's a novel idea. You could try asking Gary J if he could knock up a one-off body to fit a single donor that wouldn't need much modding. A Triumph Herald or Vitesse, for example?
Following this thread with interest and quite enjoying the sparring....
I can see merits for both sides of the argument.....I love the fact that the flexibility of the package is giving you so many options ...I am a Hot Rodder primarily and refuse to be restricted by Kit Car mentality....open the box , bolt part A to part B building just aint my style .....nothing wrong with it but I like to think I am a bit more creative than that....
I may have an answer.......and I may not !!
WCA ....You want space frame , modernish 90's style mechanicals
TOWED .... You say keep it traditional and horse powery with an engine that looks like it belongs...
How about this ....
I have been keeping this one on the back burner as a potential turnkey option for the G46....
Its a TVR TASMIN ....made from early 80's up into the 90's can be run injected or not , modernish interpretation of a trad chassis , SPACE FRAME , HORSE POWER , credible donor that can be bought between £500 and £2000 easily....I have been watching these for a while on ebay.
More expensive start than an MX5 but no space frame build costs and NO SVA/IVA !!!......so potentially less expense.
Track width is about right.....Wheelbase is 94'' ....what we going to do about that ?
If you , or anyone else wants a G46 body modified to fit a Tasmin , I will shorten the rear deck , modifying the wheelbase and reposition the cockpit etc if required ....basically modify the G46 to qualify for the Tasmin chassis FREE OF CHARGE !!!!!
Whats the catch ? I would want to pull a quick mould from the area we modify that can be used with my existing mould to give the G46 another option....so I would need the bodyshell to be kept back for about 2 weeks after production to achieve that...
I'm sure the TVR has advantages and disadvantages ...but its a viable candidate in my book....
WCA ....Sorry if I am confusing matters ....maybe I should have discussed it with you on your last visit but I didn't want to distract you from your plan...then this lot started picking on you , and here we are !!
If the V6 isn't your thing ....the Tasmin 350i is a Rover V8 injection !
The 280i is the V6 , I think...
There was a Tasmin on ebay a few weeks back sold for a grand , a dealer friend bought a nice one , Mot'd and pretty mint for £2000 a few weeks back....
You can re-sale the entire body , interior etc. in the same way we all re-coup our donor costs on here .....
I am pretty sure I am going to do something with one of these sometime ....I need to get some money back next year from this years development marathon that has cleared me out !! But it is festering in my head for a future build.....
I would be more than happy to get you started ...modified body helps us both , me commercially , you financially ...we can strip the Tasmin for you here as well , if that helps...
The Tasmin is a tubular spaceframe , modified Cortina IFS with Granada uprights and discs etc., Rover or Ford engine , Jaguar XJS Rear diff and TVR driveshafts with Granada brakes, coilovers etc...Very good , simple basis with an incredibly ugly body on top that helps keep the prices down !!
You are not confusing me, you are making me even more keen to get started.
I have been looking for both 280 and 350 Tasmins. I definitely prefer the idea of the 350 but a good 280 would be an acceptable option.
My main problem will be finding a reasonable donor as I don't have many contacts in the trade so rely on ebay/autotrader etc.
I like the idea of working with you on the build, you are only 35 miles away, as I will be using this as a learning experience. I might as well learn from someone who knows what they are doing rather than just random YouTube clips.
The plan is still to start in the New Year as the wife has booked my next few pay packets for Christmas and then the dreaded tax man. If you do see something interesting though, let me know.
They upgraded the chassis for the 350 from the 280 which makes it more attractive too. Having spent 24 hours scanning the ads on the web, there do seem to be some selling for that sort of money. I just need to see one and pounce.
I sold my TVR S3 to fund the Sammio, as it was a pain in the arse with the "Brain", Lamda sensors, etc....going for the simplicity of the old triumph mechanicals of my youf! (plus it weighs a tonnne and with those fat tyres a real pig to park with no power steering)
Mind you the insurance was still only about £140 for fully comp with the 2.9i cologne engine and the exhaust note was to die for....Tax was starting to jump with the emission rating tho.
The S series S1, 2 & 3 are being knocked out for similar money and could be a base?
Just think of all those new welding experiences of welding old scaffold tubes into the tubular chassis
Got him down from 4K to £2,700 plus an engine stand and a second hand oven with him delivering the car.
Not sure if he will go for it but have given him the weekend to think about it. I am in no real rush. Just spotted a race prepped 2.8 for £2,500 but they have the narrow chassis at the front and don't handle as well.
Is that a christmas pressi for the wife? i wish i was romantic like you... or is it for powdercoating bits? I had never realised that the TVR had such a nice chassis, and ther seems to be plenty of bits for it on ebay. Good luck anyway
