Cat C Tuscan in classifieds for 6k

[smithyl23]

Looking at getting back into the TVR fold shortly and wanted to hear people's opinion and thoughts on the following idea.

Buying the cat C Tuscan and throwing a good 15k+ at her? Would be looking at the following work:

- 4.0 or 4.3 from power or Str8six
- Full chassis + body repair including respray.
- All new suspension and wheels as required.
- Interior retrim
- 3.73 diff

This would be a car I would keep for a very long time.

Am I nuts? Not really fussed at what it would be worth at the other end, but my thinking is struggle to find car with that spec for 20k and added bonus of being able to customise it as I go.

What do you think?

Had a t350 for 5 years with a Str8six 4L rr and 3.73 diff, but had to sell to fund my 1st house. I'm 31 and this car could likely be taken to my grave!

Smithy

Edited by smithyl23 on Monday 3rd February 19:04

[MrChips]

Not a route I'd go down although there are a few other who I believe have done something similar.
£15k almost certainly wouldn't cover the list of stuff you're looking at doing though!

[S6 Devil]

It will definitely cost your much more than £15k.

I bought a Cat D which had minimal bodywork damage and no chassis damage. The engine and front grille were damaged by flood water,hence the Cat D.

I had a Power rebuild, respray, Nitrons, retrim and lots of other bits. I spent £15k+, on top of purchase price. Think hard on this one, it's likely to cost a lot more.

[Dischordant]

I'd estimate 5k respray
8k rebuild or 10 for upgraded engine
Chassis work 2k
Suspension (Nitrons + Bushes) 2k
Wheels 1.5k with tyres
Interior retrim - 800 for carpets - 600 for alacantara replacing flocking - 2.5k+ if you planning to totally releather
Diff 500

+ Any repair work that actually needs doing.

I'd estimate Total = 22k + repairs imo so total 28k for a sorted cat c car - maybe more depending on repairs required.

I'd buy a non cat c with an engine rebuild already done and go from there changing the parts you'd like to imo + if you ever resell won't have that cat c label hanging over you.

I was in a very similar position to you a year and a half ago (I'm now 33)- had to sell my porsche to buy a house and then decided to turn to TVR for the obvious reasons - I looked into trying to save a Tuscan from the scrap heap and it just didn't make financial sense to me (though I loved the idea of bringing it back from the dead!). I ended up buying a good health mechanically, but tired looking mk1 for 13.9k that had already had an engine rebuild - got it fully resprayed plus some bodywork changes such as a rear spoiler/splitter fitted - resprayed it and now I'm getting nitrons on it and interior sorting this year.

Edited by Dischordant on Monday 3rd February 21:34

Edited by Dischordant on Monday 3rd February 21:40

[DJR 7]

I see no problem with this, I know owners that have bought their cars back from insurance companies after being paid out and had them repaired.
You can pay good money for a car that can give you plenty of grief.
Many cat c cars suffer minimal damage and can be purchased at relatively cheap money, as long as you buy with eyes wide open and watch the budget you'll end up with exactly what you want.
Granted it'll always have the stigma of an insurance loss registered car but if it's a long term keeper and you take that into account when and if you sell it's not really an issue.
Good luck with your proposition

D

[smithyl23]

Dischordant said:

I'd estimate 5k respray
8k rebuild or 10 for upgraded engine
Chassis work 2k
Suspension (Nitrons + Bushes) 2k
Wheels 1.5k with tyres
Interior retrim - 800 for carpets - 600 for alacantara replacing flocking - 2.5k+ if you planning to totally releather
Diff 500

+ Any repair work that actually needs doing.

I'd estimate Total = 22k + repairs imo so total 28k for a sorted cat c car - maybe more depending on repairs required.

I'd buy a non cat c with an engine rebuild already done and go from there changing the parts you'd like to imo + if you ever resell won't have that cat c label hanging over you.

I was in a very similar position to you a year and a half ago (I'm now 33)- had to sell my porsche to buy a house and then decided to turn to TVR for the obvious reasons - I looked into trying to save a Tuscan from the scrap heap and it just didn't make financial sense to me (though I loved the idea of bringing it back from the dead!). I ended up buying a good health mechanically, but tired looking mk1 for 13.9k that had already had an engine rebuild - got it fully resprayed plus some bodywork changes such as a rear spoiler/splitter fitted - resprayed it and now I'm getting nitrons on it and interior sorting this year.

Edited by Dischordant on Monday 3rd February 21:34

Edited by Dischordant on Monday 3rd February 21:40

I can see your point, and was really only sounding people's ideas and thoughts out, but I was thinking i could do it a lot cheaper than you suggest....

- I figured 5k all in roughly for the chassis and bodywork repair - only respraying where necessary.

- 4Lrr rebuild would surely be no more than 7 - 8k (i got my 3.6 upgraded to 4Lrr for 6.5k by str8six.

- Eibach + Bilsteins for 1k ish (really dont see why people spend 2k on Nitrons, then drive their tvr's well within the limits on the public roads). I have Bilsteins and Eibach setup on my 535d at the moment and really rate them.

- Looks like might only need one maybe two new spiders.

- Only retrim the worn bits.

- Granted with what I suggest means stuck with colour and interior design

Maybe I should take another look on the classifieds....

Cheers for thoughts anyway.

Smithy

[Sagi Badger]

Only problem is the respect, or lack of, you will have for this car. I am currently doing a major, like real major, on a not so great when I started, but good looking, Tuscan. Real head turner but a bit like the girl friend you can't take home this will get different treatment to the Sag, and I do push the back out on that frequently...

Good move to get what you want and yes no gremlins, and if cars do have spirits this one will love you for rescuing it so guess all good then...

Think a bit light on the budget though.

J

[smithyl23]

Maybe I am being a bit optimistic with the pricing. Funny how you convince and talk your self into believing something when you want it so badly, hehe! Call me sad, but I'm on the classifieds a few times a day looking - even though the stock is almost always the same! My loan on the 535d is coming to an end soon and the tvr bug / itch / obsession is building day by day.

Smithy

[chris watton]

I think that, realistically, to do the jobs you want and to get the car looking and running as well as you want, you are looking at £25k, not £15k. £15k would be swallowed up by the engine upgrade and re-trim. There may be a good chance the clutch needs replacing (or would be silly not to while the engine's out is not quite new), perhaps a new rad and other ancillaries to compliment the engine rebuild - these things add up - I know...

However, when complete, you would still have one of the best looking (and sorted) cars on the road. For a little over £30k, that's still quite a bargain.

[QBee]

General rule of thumb with TVRs, I have discovered - it costs more to sort a car the way you want it than to buy one that is already sorted.
Or, to put it another way, you never recover what you spend on upgrades, so buy one that has already been upgraded.

Here's a frinstance:

http://www.tonygilbertcars.co.uk/?page=viewcar&amp...

Already had a TVR Power rebuild and £6000 spent on it. 42,000 miles, £16,495 with dealer warranty. I saw the car last month in Tony's garage - looked immaculate.

Or if you fancy a real head turner:

http://www.tonygilbertcars.co.uk/?page=viewcar&amp...

Granted they are not 4.3s.....

[m3coupe]

I can see your idea and have had the same idea myself. The thought of rescuing a car from being broken for parts really appeals to me and also the idea of having it completely sorted mechanically, with the colour and interior you want.

I want to do it with a cerbera, just can't justify (the wife won't let me) buying one at the moment. If you are able to do a lot of it yourself, even the stripping it down could save you a lot of money. Appreciated there will be hidden costs here and there and you'd probably get other things done while you're at it but just think if the car you'd have at the end of it.

[Dave PORTER]

I have spent a few years on and off repairing this cat c Tuscan , it only had front corner damage and I changed the colour to Nissan pearl white, It has taken a while but has made a nice one owner low mileage car with a factory engine rebuild 6 thousand miles ago, car was purchased from a friend so I know the history from day one, will be in the PH classifieds shortly and all the mods will be listed

[AM78]

smithyl23 said:

Looking at getting back into the TVR fold shortly and wanted to hear people's opinion and thoughts on the following idea.

Buying the cat C Tuscan and throwing a good 15k+ at her? Would be looking at the following work:

- 4.0 or 4.3 from power or Str8six
- Full chassis + body repair including respray.
- All new suspension and wheels as required.
- Interior retrim
- 3.73 diff

This would be a car I would keep for a very long time.

Am I nuts? Not really fussed at what it would be worth at the other end, but my thinking is struggle to find car with that spec for 20k and added bonus of being able to customise it as I go.

What do you think?

Had a t350 for 5 years with a Str8six 4L rr and 3.73 diff, but had to sell to fund my 1st house. I'm 31 and this car could likely be taken to my grave!

Smithy

Edited by smithyl23 on Monday 3rd February 19:04

Or you could just buy mine that is HPI clear !

[AM78]

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/t...

[Dischordant]

If my car had been written off I was planning to buy yours as it seems great value - best of luck with the sale and the new business!

[smithyl23]

AM78 said:

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/t...

Ha, yes keeping a close eye on yours, but really don't mean to offend, the colour is what is putting me off! The rest of the car is perfect and genuinely think it's one of the most sorted tvr's on the classifieds at the moment!

Smithy