3000S Prototype how many left

[pridaux]

In Peter Filbys Book he mentions that a number of 3000s models where initially built without a boot however i was sent this picture of one taken at Beaulieu and we know there is a blue one in the USA Peter says in his book that they all went back to the factory at a later date to have the boot added however i wonder how many where converted and how many survive as built.

Edited by pridaux on Sunday 24th February 16:19

Edited by pridaux on Sunday 24th February 16:19

[oliverb205]

There was a red one around 6 or 7 years ago, belonged to a young lad from Hull. I'll see if I can find a photo.

Oliver.

[pridaux]

oliverb205 said:

There was a red one around 6 or 7 years ago, belonged to a young lad from Hull. I'll see if I can find a photo.

Oliver.

Thanks Oliver
I belive they all started life white and i hear someone saw a white one a while back but would be good to know exactly how many are left.
Maybe someone with the IT skills could start a 3000s register like the Viven and Grantura register at least we would have some idea where they all are.
Andrew

[davepen]

I was surprised by the statement that they had all been converted at the factory.

We had one in the early 90's (HCK836S).
At the time it still didn't have a boot lid, it was then sold in about 1995 to SteveR.
The DVLA check appears to show it is tax'd and still blue.

The DVLA also show HCK837S in RED was last taxed in 2004, and ....8S in Green is SORN.
No information on the model is given. From memory, the chassis number was just a standard M series xxxxFM

[pridaux]

davepen said:

I was surprised by the statement that they had all been converted at the factory.

We had one in the early 90's (HCK836S).
At the time it still didn't have a boot lid, it was then sold in about 1995 to SteveR.
The DVLA check appears to show it is tax'd and still blue.

The DVLA also show HCK837S in RED was last taxed in 2004, and ....8S in Green is SORN.
No information on the model is given. From memory, the chassis number was just a standard M series xxxxFM

Thanks David
Thats the kind of information we needed to help fill in the gaps.
I cant help wondering if maybe one went back and with time and chinese whispers that has ended up with the information Peter was given.
He can only write what he is told and the book is really fantastic and we are luck to have such a great documentation of our Mark.
Sure if there is a re print and a second idition that will be updated?? and the pictures of my car taken out
Andrew

[davepen]

Grapped some old pictures.

We'd just been down the pub, in a six seater convertable: 3000S, MGB and 280S.



With my then new acquistion - a 280S (S1) and my old Ital. Also Grampa, Dad and Brother.

[pridaux]

Cheers
Looked like a good night out maybe we can find them all and even find out if any had the boot added.
Andrew

[dryden]

It would seem to be a strange idea that the factory would convert cars that were already sold, presumably to owners who had been happy with the then standard spec. To stick the boot in.....so to speak,
would require a replacement bodyshell, even if the original bodytub was to be cut and shut, the factory would have to cut up a new tub to provide the parts. All very expensive for loading convienience.

[pridaux]

dryden said:

It would seem to be a strange idea that the factory would convert cars that were already sold, presumably to owners who had been happy with the then standard spec. To stick the boot in.....so to speak,
would require a replacement bodyshell, even if the original bodytub was to be cut and shut, the factory would have to cut up a new tub to provide the parts. All very expensive for loading convienience.

Yes that was what i thaught hence why i started the post.
I spoke with Peter today and he belives he was told by Martin or 1 of the factory workers when he did his research that they went back,however 37 years have passed and memorys do fade,hence why i thaught it interesting to find out fully.
So far it looks like we have 4 confirmed that have not been converted 3 in the UK and one in the USA.
How many in total where made without a boot is hard to say David Gerald thaught there was only one when i spoke with Doug and we know that there are at least 4.
The plot thickens ???? Maybe others will appear.
A

[bluezeeland]

There appear to five white cars in total, this is however unconfirmed

They had been sold (?) to Morris (Maurice ?) Stapleton Garage in London (Morgan dealers), the cars were actually rented out.............

Reportedly four have been converted, one of them being "TVR 22"

Perhaps a query at the Club or DG is in order here ?

Frank

[62GRANTIII]

4306FM, ORIGINAL REG. LFV 778T THE 5th 'S' BUILT. DOB 23 FEB 78.
FIRST REGISTERED OWNER TVR ENGINEERING.
CAR WAS ORIGINALLY WHITE AS FOUR OF THE FIRST FIVE WERE.
UNDERNEATH REAR DECK IS EVIDENCE OF THE BOOT FITMENT.
DON'T KNOW IF ANY SUBSEQUENT CARS WERE BUILT 'BOOTLESS'
CHEERS IAN

[pridaux]

Thanks Ian
So just to confirm your car was one of the 5 cars that where sold to the london dealer and used as hire cars in white and later converted.
If thats the case we have the first one we know that was converted quite a job to do right but yours looks good.
Andrew

[bluezeeland]

Is it me, or has 'HCK....' wider flared wheel arches at the back, and why have they got 'SE' wheels ?

[pridaux]

bluezeeland said:

Is it me, or has 'HCK....' wider flared wheel arches at the back, and why have they got 'SE' wheels ?

its you/because they wanted them

[pridaux]

Had a call from Martin today to remind me the boat should be out there somewhere as he thinks it had a screen added at some time.
Also the car that was used by the guys as a dummy by the ex Jenson guys to fit the hood someone eventually put that on the road and had no boot.
He says that some did have the boot added and it was not that difficult a job to do but not sure how many.
We seem to be getting there?
Any more pictures of bootless 3000S appreciated so we get the full picture
Andrew

[oliverb205]

The metallic green car at the top of this thread WAS the one that was used for the hood fitting, I chatted to the then owner at Beaulieu and have some very similar photos of it.

I thought that the boat (originally XKU3L) went on to have hillclimb history and bits of it finished up in Malaysia with a 5 litre V8, it was covered here a while ago and someone (Tony Abrams?) filled me in with some of it's history.

Oliver.

[DavidY]

I used to have a set of 5 TVR Press Photos of a white bootless 3000S, car was registered EBV174S (or similar, it was 12 years ago that I had the pictures!) I sold them about 12 years ago (think they went to the USA), I'm afraid I don't have scans of them.

Sorry can't be of any more help

davidy

[Slow M]

http://www.tvrfiles.co.uk/gallery/protos.htm

http://www.google.com/imgres?hl=en&biw=1209&am...

http://www.collectorcarads.com/TVR-3000S/38527

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1978-TVR-3000S-prototype...

Best,
B.

[gmw9666]

Hi Ian,
Off topic but what seats do you have in your S
G

62GRANTIII said:

4306FM, ORIGINAL REG. LFV 778T THE 5th 'S' BUILT. DOB 23 FEB 78.
FIRST REGISTERED OWNER TVR ENGINEERING.
CAR WAS ORIGINALLY WHITE AS FOUR OF THE FIRST FIVE WERE.
UNDERNEATH REAR DECK IS EVIDENCE OF THE BOOT FITMENT.
DON'T KNOW IF ANY SUBSEQUENT CARS WERE BUILT 'BOOTLESS'
CHEERS IAN

[davepen]

A question on the standard cars - do they still have the "coal hole" in the rear bulkhead to give access to the boot? Putting the side screens in there, compared to the roof panels on the S1, and the lack of 5th gear gave the car a much older feel. When we got the car from South London the thottle pedal had a stop that limited the revs to about 3000rpm. I adjusted that!

ETA: We were told that the car in the background of the brouchure shots was one of the white boot-lid-less ones.

Edited by davepen on Tuesday 26th February 15:20