S3 launch date

[Big Les]

When was the S3 launched (month and year) and what regsitration prefix would the first one's have?

[bugsy]

The oldest ones I have seen Les are 1990 and come to think of it H only started August 1990, so early ones could possibly be G plates.

[Big Les]

This is what I'm thinking!

[Heathyboy]

Hi Big Les,

I have a G reg S3 from July 1990. It must be one of the first as it has a weird dash/glove box that I have only seen once before and was changed for the later S's. Bonnet is S2, everything else S3!

[tvrgit]

mine is a G-reg S3C from May 1990 - and like heathyboy I have only seen one other with the same glove box arrangement (Johann's in Holland). Rest of the car looks standard S3 though.

[Pies]

I must admit i do prefer your cars layout to mine

[Ballistic Banana]

1990 was the year so sure a few G's might squeeze in there, Steve personally ESTIMATES in the bible in 1990 60% of S's were S3's.

I had a 1990 H S3 though

BB

[marz92]

My S3 is dated early July 1990 complete with no weird glove box!!! Beat that!! Over and out!!

[wonderland]

Ummm, my S2 is June 1990 from my memory (have to double check that). Were TVR making both at the same time then, or was mine one that was left in the car park and just not registered until a bit later?

[mycroft]

Heathyboy said:

Hi Big Les, I have a G reg S3 from July 1990. It must be one of the first as it has a weird dash/glove box that I have only seen once before and was changed for the later S's. Bonnet is S2, everything else S3

Sorry to be pedantic but if it has an S2 bonnet it would overlap the doors ! Do you mean it has no spot lights ? Mine doesn't. I thought only the S3C`s had the spot lights but this is TVR and any combination is possible, anyway quite a few cars probably haven`t got the original bonnets.
How is your car after your recent off?

[V8Smith]

AFAIK there is always a crossover of types with TVR thats why we have the S1 & S1.5! It seems that TVR made cars with what they had around at the time. There does seem to be the same transistion between the S2 and S3 although never heard anyone refer to a car as an S2.5...? The S3 had spot lights, longer doors, different dash layout and different wing mirrors.......! Although some were made without the spotlights and updated wing mirrors although these do seem to be early ones! So if you see an S3 dash but no spots or new mirros then it really is an S2.5 I guess.....?

Hope this clarifies some of it although with TVR as you say nothing is cut and dry........!

Mike

[Wildfire]

mycroft said:

Sorry to be pedantic but if it has an S2 bonnet it would overlap the doors ! Do you mean it has no spot lights ? Mine doesn't. I thought only the S3C`s had the spot lights but this is TVR and any combination is possible, anyway quite a few cars probably haven`t got the original bonnets. How is your car after your recent off?

My old S3 had Spots, but definitely wasn't an S3C.

[marz92]

Just can't bring my self to allow that, Mike!! Mine is an S3!!!
Minus the 'proper' remote wing mirrors and spots. However, I do have a pair of 'Halfwits' lookaliker spots which DO need changing!!

[KentishS2]

wonderland said:

Ummm, my S2 is June 1990 from my memory (have to double check that). Were TVR making both at the same time then, or was mine one that was left in the car park and just not registered until a bit later?

Mine's also a late (June/July IIRC) 1990 S2.

[Big Les]

Is there such a thing as an S3 body (complete with longer doors and spotlights) but with older door mirrors and S2 dash?

[V8Smith]

Big Les said:

Is there such a thing as an S3 body (complete with longer doors and spotlights) but with older door mirrors and S2 dash?

Not that I am aware of, its more likely to be S3 dash with no spots or mirrors?

Mike

[V8Smith]

marz92 said:

Just can't bring my self to allow that, Mike!! Mine is an S3!!! Minus the 'proper' remote wing mirrors and spots. However, I do have a pair of 'Halfwits' lookaliker spots which DO need changing!!

Yes its definitely an S3 just my take on things I guess trying to rationalise the TVR way of doing things.

Mike

[flinny]

Just to put a spanner in the works. Mine has updated mirrors but no spots!!!! It has the leather(ette) dash, but fake wooden trim on the doors. Still they are all individual.

[Heathyboy]

I thought the S3C had the S4 bonnet

[Podie]

Heathyboy said:

I thought the S3C had the S4 bonnet

S3c bonnet has forward facing scoop and driving lights…
S4 bonnet has no scoop, Chimaera style vents and driving lights...