1984 TVR Tasmin 280i Body/Paint code SC 262 info

[OldCarGuy]

Hi. I'm a newbie and would apprecxiate any help/advice about paint touch up on a 1984 Tasmin 280i I recxently purchased. The body code is SC 262 and the color appears to be a metalic red with a gold tone (rather than silver) to the metalic. The paint is original and in general is in pretty good shape. However there is a section on the right front fender where the clear coat is poor and under the gas tank it appears that there was some sort of spill that has discolored the finish. There is a small area by the left rear wheel wheel that needs a touchup or repair.

I have searched all of the PistonHeads entries that mention TVR paint codes but nothing seems relevant to 1984 (U.S.) cars. So, advice would be great.

Does anyone know the name that used used for the SC 262 metallic red (or maybe metallic maroon?) paint color and/or where I can obtain touch up paint to match.

I understand from some other postings that the initials (SC) may refer to the manufacturer of the paint. If that is correct, does anyone know what does SC stand for.

I have been happy with aerosol touch up paint from Automotive Touchup in the U.S. in the past with other makes of car. They don't list TVR at all on their website. Does anyone know how to figure out a PPG number or color hame that correspontes to TVR SC 262 that might help in dealing with them. Or advice that addresses the problem through some other vendor?

Or, does anyone have a suggestion for another company that makes custom aerosol cans that has been helpful in working with TVR paint codes. I can work with paint that is not areosol if necessary so a source that isn't arerosol might work out.

From casual observation is seems that a Jaguar metallic red of that period and also a 1984 Buick Riviera color called Firemist Autaun seem pretty similar. Does anyone know if TVR was relying on the same paint supplier as either Jaguar or Buick during that time?

I would prefer to deal with a supplier in the US to avoid delays and very high shipping charges but if that isn't feasible what is a recoommentiton for a firm in England.

Answers to any of these questions will help be get a step further.

Thanks for your consideration.

[jeff m2]

http://tvrpaint.com/

Out of Huston TX.

[OldCarGuy]

Thanks for your advice. I've written to them and will post what I find out.

Their website talks about making arrangements for shipping outside of UK so I didn'r realize that they also had office in Houston, TX. Their site doesn't recognize the SC 262 paint code but it may be that it's mica ruby which is apparently used on newer cars as well.

Thanks again.

[jeff m2]

A problem with "Reds" is that they are the weakest pigments and original paint will be faded, have you considered taking the gas filler cover into a good auto paint supplier.
They'll scan it with a spectra thingy and should give you a decent match.

[OldCarGuy]

Thank you for this suggestion. I will take the gas cap door and have it scanned. There is a distributor of PPG automotive paints a half hour drive from here and i assume that they'll be able to do the scan. I assume that there must be some trick to getting good scans with metallic paint

[Tasmintvr]

Hi OldCarGuy, I am original owner of 1984 Tasmin 280i Coupe in what I believed was Cherry Red sort of metallic with clear coat. Wondering how you made out in the USA with accessing your TVR paint. Unfortunately, some of the original papers are readily available. Do you know with having the VIN number can the body, paint color be ascertained? Did you take the gas cap door in to be scanned? Appreciate any advise.
Thx

[OldCarGuy]

Hi. I've not yet had much luck dealing with my paint query, but perhaps in part that is because I have worried first with getting the car back on the road.

I have written to TVRPAINT via their website but oddly have not gotten any reply. I also searched for them on Google and have not found any Houston listing, but perhaps I'm missing something.

The suggestion to take off the gas filler cap is a good one but the PPG auto paint dealer in this area is about 60 miles away and I've not yet taken that drive.

To my knowledge, the vin number on your car will not directly identify the color. The vin number on the tasmin usually appears on an aluminum plate that is attached to the top of the right front wheel wheel (under the hood). On my car and others I've seen that same plate has a "body code" which I understand to be the paint code. I've read that the letters (in my case, SC) refer to the paint manufacturer and the number to a specific color. However, I've not been able to ideatify what SC means. If your car no longer has that plate then it may be that one of the TVR books or perhaps the paint shop which has taken over the old TVR facility can tell you the original point based on the vin number. I have not had any luch finding such cross references. The TVR Car Club wed site gives list of TVR colors and color codes, but from what I can tell they do not go back to the years of our early Tasmins. The colors may or may not be the same but it is hard to tell.

From your question it sounds like you are in the U.S. If that is the case it would be nice to have a conversation. I live in Chapel Hill, NC and it appears that there are not other Tasmins in this area, but I'm met a pleasnt man who has or had a 1988 TVR roadster and I've heard that there is a Tuscan in Hillsboro NC. I've not seen it.

Cheers,
Bill

[Grady]

10+ years ago there was a black or dark blue 280i in Durham. I had Flying Circus do an inspection and found the seller had misrepresented its condition - including an un-photographed scrape down the passenger side so I passed. No idea what happened to the car. Liked the FC people though, I still have the inspection video they shot. Grady

Edited by Grady on Wednesday 7th September 22:40

[Grady]

jeff m2 said:

http://tvrpaint.com/

Out of Huston TX.

At some point they had a Houston address but that seems gone. Do the color links work for anyone?

[OldCarGuy]

I have lived in this area since 1976 but don't remember seeing the dark blue car. I understand that there was a TVR dealer in Durham on the Chapel Hill-Durham Blvd (Hwy 15-501, near Garrett Rd,) thirty or so years ago. As a result there were several Tasmins sold in this area. I now have two of them and another one that came from Baltimore area (for parts). The two from this area are both low mileage and pretty much complete. I have not yet tracked down the original owners. My red car was apparently owned by a guy in the High Point, NC area and he was a member of the golf club there. The other car is white with blue interior. I bought it from a British gent in garner who towed it to his workshop 15 years ago and there it sat; he appentently got if from a person who lived in Elon College and worked for Northern Telecom. I have a third parts car from Baltimore, so in time I should be able to get the two NC cars back on the road. The good news is that all three are pretty much rust free.

Flying Circus still operates in Durham and I think has a pretty good rep among British car owners. I've not personally dealt with them.