Vehicle Description
1984 TVR 280i Convertible
The abbreviation TVR stems from the name of the company's owner
Trevor Wilkinson, his first garage sporting the letters T, V and R.
In 1946, he purchased an old wheelwright's workshop in Beverley
Grove, Blackpool to start an engineering business that he named
Trevcar Motors. Initially, the company performed general
engineering work, (not always automobile related), and would also
refresh and service cars and trucks. In 1947, local auto enthusiast
Jack Pickard joined the company. Trevcar Motors was subsequently
renamed to TVR Engineering, (dropping several letters from
Wilkinson's first name), and it continued to find general
mechanical engineering work through the following years.
Lovingly known as the wedge design, this consignment can change
personalities with the drop of the top, (or a reconfiguration), as
you have the full top up, a targa style top, or a full top-down
convertible. With an amateur restoration performed over the course
of the last 2 years on this former North Carolina ride you can rest
assured that things are nearlytip top on this very aero skate. The
Ford Cologne 2.8 Liter V6 now has a much more reliablecarburetor in
place of the former Bosch mechanical fuel injection, most of the
wiring was replaced and a new convertible top was installed among
many otherupgrades. It's showing in the North hall in a very
nicelight red metallic. A somewhat rare example with few built and
fewer surviving, it's time to step out of the norm and enjoy some
sports car fun 2 seater style.
Exterior
Oliver Winterbottom, (what a great British name, cheerio pip pip
and all that rot!), was the designer of record and some of his
inspiration came from a previous design of the Lotus Elise.
Although many say that the car looks like an Alfa Romeo Caimano
concept car. Either way we have the wedge. Pointy front, hidden
headlights, integrated black bumpers and some inlet on the hood it
retains its original look. Straight steel with well minded gaps are
throughout, and this car is draped in light red metallic that
presents well but does have its fair share of inclusions and tiger
striping in the finish. Some black accenting in the form of a thin
pinstripe runs the gamut of the sides of this car at the beltline.
On the back the high trunk line hovers above Triumph-esque
horizontal tail lighting, and a black ribbed bumper below. Dual
exhaust tips peek out from underneath the bumper. The new black top
is in fine condition with a clear plastic rear window and can be
left up on the chilly days,have the center targa section removed or
this writer's favorite look, or folded down and going completely
topless. Body color matching snowflake styled wheels with shiny
lips are wrapped by like new rubber on all 4 corners.
Interior
A swing of the burl accented doors and we see smooth black vinyl
mixing with some wood for the door pulls. Seats are smooth black
bolsters and black tufted inserts and these conform nicely to
nearly any body style. A few areas of seam separation and slight
wear are noted in the driver's bucket. Square and rectangle design
right out of 1984 abounds inside for the dash which has some nice
restained burl and blackface gauges lined up neatly in front of the
driver. Just above the center console is a padded covered black
vinyl box that houses the temp sliders and an aftermarket AM/FM/CD
radio. On the console is the shift lever, parking brake and window
toggles, along with a storage tray. Behind the two buckets is a
small carpeted storage area and this carpet flows down to float the
interior. Clean and like new is the phrase for the carpeting and
that's because it is! A shout out to the trunk which is lined with
black carpeting in good condition, and a black vinyl wrapped spare
tire.
Drivetrain
Under the hood is a gaggle of wiring and hoses and directly in the
center is a Ford Cologne 2.8 Liter V6 but now being fed by a single
2bbl carburetor in place of the somewhat cantankerous Bosch fuel
injection. A 4-speed manual transmission on back. The entire engine
bay is clean with supple hoses and well sorted wiring.
Undercarriage
A powder coated tubular space frame is underneath, and clean floor
pans showing just some light patina abound. Independent coil
springs are on front, and independent suspension with MacPherson
struts are on back. Power disc brakes are noted all around, and
most of the suspension bushings were replaced in August of
2022.
Drive-Ability
We went targa style for the test drive, and after a quick firing up
and warm up we were off! Great acceleration, good handling, and a
steady straight stopper on the panic stop all was well. I did
notice the speedometer and fuel gauge are not working and the A/C
is not blowing cold because it isn't hooked up. Also, the driver's
headlight wouldn'tpop up.
Convertible, targa, or full on top down this car can be used year
round thanks to a carefulrestoration by our TVR enthusiast
consignor. The iconic wedge shape popularized in the mid 1980's,
red metallic snowflake wheels, and snappy black interior, a seldom
seen example here in the good old USA.
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special
interest automobile showroom, featuring over 650 vehicles for sale
with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle
barn find collection is on display.
This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown,
Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia
on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is
www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914.
Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the
vehicle in person.
