TVR 1600M på eBay

Har de seneste dage fulgt auktionen over denne meget meget fine 1973 TVR 1600M nøje:

Billederne illusterer meget godt, hvor lav og lækker sådan en TVR M-serie er. Motoren i en 1600M er på 4 cylindre og stammer fra Cortina GT (den såkaldte 'Kent' crossflow motor). Auktionen endte i går på 6.200 £ - ikke urimeligt for et så fint og grundigt renoveret eksemplar, hvor det eneste problem er en lidt dårlig lakering.

Den  omtalte bil er opgraderet på flere områder med 5 gear, motor der er boret til 1698 ccm og monteret med bl.a. Weber karburator samt bremser fra en Griffith 200. Tuningen bringer ydelsen op på tilstrækkelige 105 HK, og så kunne jeg sagtens leve med den lille indgangsmodel. Eksemplaret her vil formentlig være noget hurtigere end fx en 2500M med den 6 cylindrede Triumph motor og er over 100 kg lettere end en 3000M.

Her er følger et uddrag af sælgers beskrivelse af bilen:

• Over the last 23 or so years it has undergone a full and comprehensive restoration with just about every replaceable part replaced or refurbished. It has been tastefully updated and enhanced and is now a practical useable car. The amount of money and time spent is incomprehensible.
• New headlamp shells/headlamps and rims with modern H4 halogen fittings, New sidelight/indicators, genuine BL item as original. New rear lights (ford 1600E items) number plate light and reversing lights.
• New galvanised bonnet subframe with fully adjustable rose jointed hinges (this is a weak point on unrestored M series cars as they rot badly) The front wiring harness has been fitted with a waterproof multi-plug making bonnet removal a 5 minute job.
• Engine re-built to roughly Mexico spec,with lightened flywheel, ballanced crank, duplex timing gear, standard Ford GT cam, dual valve springs, alloy rocker box, bored to 1698cc and fitted with high compression pistons (around 10:1 if i remember correctly) runs well on unleaded with fuel additive. Stands at around 105 Bhp with room for improvement.
• New Weber twinchoke downdraught carb and KN filter. Full custom fabricated stainless steel exhaust system with proprietory 4:2:1 stainless steel extractor manifold.
• Ford type 9, 5 speed gearbox fitted, with custom propshaft. Gives much improved power delivery and comfortable cruising speed over the original Bullitt box. New 3 part clutch also fitted.
• 5 original M series wheels, fully refurbished with new Goodyear Eagle 195/65/R15 tyres.
• Front calipers uprated with AP Lockheed 4 pot calipers from a mid 60`s TVR Griffith 200, mega rare items in their own right and give exceptional stopping performance.
• Custom fabricated aluminium fuel tank fitted with one piece copper fuel lines, eliminating the in cabin petrol smell that blights these cars.
• Mountney dished steering wheel, giving enhanced leg room.
• The chassis is 100% rot free although there is some surface rust in places. It was sand blasted, repaired and painted by me in the early 90`s and although still very good its not aesthetically pleasing. Every item of rubber on the chassis, ie suspension bushes, diff mounts, engine mounts etc are all new. I fitted brand new Spax adjustable coil overs and springs about 2 years ago and they are still as new. New wheel bearings all round. All new ball joints, track rod ends etc.
• Diff re-built, new U/J`s all round on IRS (triumph 4.1:1 ratio)
• Modern cross flow radiator adapted and fitted with one off electric fan with manual override.
• I had the interior professionally re-trimmed with new carpets, new head-lining, sound deadening throughout, Original seats, dash capping and door liners re-trimmed in light grey leather.
• The car has its original glass front and rear screens and the rear has its (fully working) factory fitted heater.
• The only thing that lets this car down is the paint-work, at face value its good, more than acceptable for a car of its age. 
  The problems is that the paint is thin and brittle and damages easily.