Tuscan V8 SE / MAL 002 - TMP 11 F
Discussion
Hello all,
I have been the owner of MAL 002 for half a year. The British registration number was TMP 11 F. The car has been in Germany since 1983 and has had two owners here. In late 1980’s it was decommissioned and spent more than 35 years in a garage. I bought the car last year and am currently completely rebuilding it.
The car is rated at 306 hp which seems realistic with the Shelby parts like Cobra Manifold, Shelby Mustang 350 Carburettor and long Tube Headers.
I am looking for information on the car from 1983 to 1968, I know David Fields owned the car and put it up for sale in 1983. After that the car came to Germany.
I am grateful for any information,
Michael
url=https://postimg.cc/hXcb0FVw]
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I have been the owner of MAL 002 for half a year. The British registration number was TMP 11 F. The car has been in Germany since 1983 and has had two owners here. In late 1980’s it was decommissioned and spent more than 35 years in a garage. I bought the car last year and am currently completely rebuilding it.
The car is rated at 306 hp which seems realistic with the Shelby parts like Cobra Manifold, Shelby Mustang 350 Carburettor and long Tube Headers.
I am looking for information on the car from 1983 to 1968, I know David Fields owned the car and put it up for sale in 1983. After that the car came to Germany.
I am grateful for any information,
Michael
url=https://postimg.cc/hXcb0FVw]
[/url]
Hi.
I believe that my Dad used to own the car from mid to late 70's. He says it was Blue from factory and it was tuned by Ian Richardson Racing in Amptill just before he bought it.
We looked about 10 years ago to see if this car was still around as the licence plate was still in his memory. Just by chance I looked now.
I'm sure he'd be willing to discuss more if this if the same car.
I believe that my Dad used to own the car from mid to late 70's. He says it was Blue from factory and it was tuned by Ian Richardson Racing in Amptill just before he bought it.
We looked about 10 years ago to see if this car was still around as the licence plate was still in his memory. Just by chance I looked now.
I'm sure he'd be willing to discuss more if this if the same car.
Hello David,
that's great news, thank you for getting in touch!
Yes, the car used to be blue (I'm having the paint removed). Perhaps your father can remember if his car had a sunroof and also those special seats as shown in the attached photo. Both are unique features that no other Tuscan V8 has, to my knowledge.
It would be nice to know more about the car, I don't have all the history before 1983 (except that David Field owned the car in the early 80s).
I am grateful for any information!
Best regards
Michael
that's great news, thank you for getting in touch!
Yes, the car used to be blue (I'm having the paint removed). Perhaps your father can remember if his car had a sunroof and also those special seats as shown in the attached photo. Both are unique features that no other Tuscan V8 has, to my knowledge.
It would be nice to know more about the car, I don't have all the history before 1983 (except that David Field owned the car in the early 80s).
I am grateful for any information!
Best regards
Michael
Sorry for slow response. Just joined to answer and can only post every 24hrs or something.
After some headscratching, my Dad, Mum and friend think that there wasn't a sunroof when he had it.
Regarding the seats, he has memory of bucket seats quite clearly, after looking at the pictures it is possible those are the seats, but the condition of them looks very good after all this time which makes me sceptical.
He's now kicking himself he doesn't have any photos of it.
I assume you and the car are still in Germany. He'd love to see it but I can't see him leaving the UK anytime.
After some headscratching, my Dad, Mum and friend think that there wasn't a sunroof when he had it.
Regarding the seats, he has memory of bucket seats quite clearly, after looking at the pictures it is possible those are the seats, but the condition of them looks very good after all this time which makes me sceptical.
He's now kicking himself he doesn't have any photos of it.
I assume you and the car are still in Germany. He'd love to see it but I can't see him leaving the UK anytime.
Hello Michael Paul here I owned the car you currently own a long time ago!
Your enquiry, generated by son Dave has stirred up some memories for me, peering however, through the mists of time, so some rather dim.
I (mis) spent my youth restoring a couple of cars, a 1952? Daimler Barker Super Sports (DB18), and then a 1936 MG SA 2 L saloon, during which I learned a hell of a lot. All mechanical knowledge gained "on the job" at the cost of many mistakes. Somebody offered me a good price on the MG so sold it around 66/67. Then a new friend got me involved speed hill climbing with Cooper 500`s which was also fun. After that chapter closed I saw an advert for a 1968 TVR Tuscan LWB I think circa 1973. I remember going with a friend to somewhere in east derbyshire, the test drive which impressed me instantly, and bringing it back to Newcastle Staffs where I lived.
The car was a mid metallic blue in colour and after some investigation found it was nowhere near "mint" but in generally good condition.
MY girlfriend at the time, now the wife, and My friend Bill the collection driver, cant remember the sunroof but I think I can. The bucket seats also look familiar so I think as bought by me. Had a lot of fun in that car, including racing it at one or two sprints and hillclimbs, including Weston Speed Trials which I still have the program for.
When I bought it I was told that the guy I bought it from (sorry cant remember the name) sent it to Ian Richardson Racing, Ampthill, Bedfordshire for some tweaking.
This included, again memory scraping, flywheel lightening, engine balancing, wider minilite wheels/tyres, boring it out to 4.9 litres, fitting an Edelbrock polished inlet manifold, and Holley 4 barrell "double pumper" carburetter.
I think I fitted 4 point harness for competition but no much else apart from tyres etc.
Fantastic car, I knew when I sold it I would never own anything quicker. I seem to remember Weston standing half kilometer was about 13 secs odd, and Gordon Bruce, writer for "Motor" mag, wrote an article early seventies
quoting top speed of around 160 mph. Gordon raced a Cooper at the time and I knew him slightly.
Fastest I had it was a bit less than 150 at 2.00 am on the M6 when I chickened out!
Sold it I think about mid `78 to buy my first house. Cant remember who to except vague memory buyer was from the West Midlands somewhere.
Great to think she will have another life eventually, send me some pics when she does if you can.
Your enquiry, generated by son Dave has stirred up some memories for me, peering however, through the mists of time, so some rather dim.
I (mis) spent my youth restoring a couple of cars, a 1952? Daimler Barker Super Sports (DB18), and then a 1936 MG SA 2 L saloon, during which I learned a hell of a lot. All mechanical knowledge gained "on the job" at the cost of many mistakes. Somebody offered me a good price on the MG so sold it around 66/67. Then a new friend got me involved speed hill climbing with Cooper 500`s which was also fun. After that chapter closed I saw an advert for a 1968 TVR Tuscan LWB I think circa 1973. I remember going with a friend to somewhere in east derbyshire, the test drive which impressed me instantly, and bringing it back to Newcastle Staffs where I lived.
The car was a mid metallic blue in colour and after some investigation found it was nowhere near "mint" but in generally good condition.
MY girlfriend at the time, now the wife, and My friend Bill the collection driver, cant remember the sunroof but I think I can. The bucket seats also look familiar so I think as bought by me. Had a lot of fun in that car, including racing it at one or two sprints and hillclimbs, including Weston Speed Trials which I still have the program for.
When I bought it I was told that the guy I bought it from (sorry cant remember the name) sent it to Ian Richardson Racing, Ampthill, Bedfordshire for some tweaking.
This included, again memory scraping, flywheel lightening, engine balancing, wider minilite wheels/tyres, boring it out to 4.9 litres, fitting an Edelbrock polished inlet manifold, and Holley 4 barrell "double pumper" carburetter.
I think I fitted 4 point harness for competition but no much else apart from tyres etc.
Fantastic car, I knew when I sold it I would never own anything quicker. I seem to remember Weston standing half kilometer was about 13 secs odd, and Gordon Bruce, writer for "Motor" mag, wrote an article early seventies
quoting top speed of around 160 mph. Gordon raced a Cooper at the time and I knew him slightly.
Fastest I had it was a bit less than 150 at 2.00 am on the M6 when I chickened out!
Sold it I think about mid `78 to buy my first house. Cant remember who to except vague memory buyer was from the West Midlands somewhere.
Great to think she will have another life eventually, send me some pics when she does if you can.
Hello Paul,
thank you very much for coming forward and being willing to share your car story!
The Tuscan was indeed once light blue with a silver roof. Not only the seats, but also the slots on the bonnet seem to be a special feature of this Tuscan. I haven't seen the steering wheel on any other Tuscan either, although I wouldn't rule out the possibility that this was fitted later.
In Peter Filby's book I found a photo of what may have been our car, so perhaps this looks familiar. This is the only car with slits in the bonnet that I have found in historic photos.
Your recollections about the engine correspond in some parts to what I have found. These are: Aluminium Manifold, Holley 715 / 4118S Carburettor, etc. This combined with the header manifolds does exactly match the 1965-67 Shelby GT 350 engines. In the records I have, the car is listed as 306 hp, which is exactly the Shelby configuration too.
Attached are a few photos showing the special features. Perhaps you can think of one or two more. For example the sticker at the rear window …. I look forward to hearing more memories,
Best regards
Michael
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|https://thumbsnap.com/AomLWnPM[/url][url]
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|https://thumbsnap.com/W9Ecfn3T[/url]
thank you very much for coming forward and being willing to share your car story!
The Tuscan was indeed once light blue with a silver roof. Not only the seats, but also the slots on the bonnet seem to be a special feature of this Tuscan. I haven't seen the steering wheel on any other Tuscan either, although I wouldn't rule out the possibility that this was fitted later.
In Peter Filby's book I found a photo of what may have been our car, so perhaps this looks familiar. This is the only car with slits in the bonnet that I have found in historic photos.
Your recollections about the engine correspond in some parts to what I have found. These are: Aluminium Manifold, Holley 715 / 4118S Carburettor, etc. This combined with the header manifolds does exactly match the 1965-67 Shelby GT 350 engines. In the records I have, the car is listed as 306 hp, which is exactly the Shelby configuration too.
Attached are a few photos showing the special features. Perhaps you can think of one or two more. For example the sticker at the rear window …. I look forward to hearing more memories,
Best regards
Michael
[url]|https://thumbsnap.com/AomLWnPM[/url][url]|https://thumbsnap.com/wusbAKLs[/url][url]|https://thumbsnap.com/W9Ecfn3T[/url]Hi Michael, interseresting I`ll have another think and see if I can recall anything else. The rear window sticker I`ve never seen before, not guilty.
Also I notice its got an tubular anti roll cage? Did`nt have that in my day, was enough of a struggle getting the spare in as it was. Luggage was also quite a challenge!
Also I notice its got an tubular anti roll cage? Did`nt have that in my day, was enough of a struggle getting the spare in as it was. Luggage was also quite a challenge!
Hi again, my girlfriend (now wife) and best buddy dont remember the sunroof so really dont know either way. Certainly the whole car was one blue colour so no idea where the silver came from.
a couple of memories emerged maybe of slight interest -
During the first few weeks of ownership on a number of occasions, when up to temp, when booting it fairly hard it suddenly cut out dead with no warning.
This happened quite a few times before I realised the radiator pressure cap was blowing hot water onto the coil which the cut out obviously, but by the time I`d got out and lifted the bonnet it had dried up! A small length of plastic pipe fitted to the radiator relief stub cured it.
a couple of memories emerged maybe of slight interest -
During the first few weeks of ownership on a number of occasions, when up to temp, when booting it fairly hard it suddenly cut out dead with no warning.
This happened quite a few times before I realised the radiator pressure cap was blowing hot water onto the coil which the cut out obviously, but by the time I`d got out and lifted the bonnet it had dried up! A small length of plastic pipe fitted to the radiator relief stub cured it.
Hi again, the bonnet slots. I cannot be absolutely sure but my feeling is that they were present in the bonnet as I seem to remember being a bit worried when i was washing the car that water was running into the engine compartment but never seemed to be a problem.
Another thing that surfaced (sorry its in dribbles only excuse is my age 76) is I once had a suspension pin fail during hard cornering which became a challenge! The failure was nearside rear, bottom long pin attaching the front and rear spring/damper units to the rear hub carrier. I remember I drove home slowly wallowing a lot, and inspecting next day discovered the near side wheelarch was showing heat discolouration and crazing due to the tyre contacting the inside of the wheelarch. The suspension pin was a big challenge to press out and took days in a 10 ton press and some heat carefully applied. Thats probably exhausted my memory but if anything else occurs I`ll let you know.
It would be very interesting to hear progress and see photos when you get somewhere Michael best of luck with the project.
Another thing that surfaced (sorry its in dribbles only excuse is my age 76) is I once had a suspension pin fail during hard cornering which became a challenge! The failure was nearside rear, bottom long pin attaching the front and rear spring/damper units to the rear hub carrier. I remember I drove home slowly wallowing a lot, and inspecting next day discovered the near side wheelarch was showing heat discolouration and crazing due to the tyre contacting the inside of the wheelarch. The suspension pin was a big challenge to press out and took days in a 10 ton press and some heat carefully applied. Thats probably exhausted my memory but if anything else occurs I`ll let you know.
It would be very interesting to hear progress and see photos when you get somewhere Michael best of luck with the project.
Edited by PoloBran on Monday 31st July 10:11
Yes thanks Michael that sounds right. Another memory popped up, when returning up the M5 from Weston Speed Trials, at Weston Super Mare, which I still have a program from, we had a rear puncture at fairly respectable speed,
luckily partly due to alloy wheels and part to centrifugal force the tyre did not collapse untill 20mph or so on the hard shoulder.
I think she must have liked me as she looked after me that day!
Good luck with the rebuild.
luckily partly due to alloy wheels and part to centrifugal force the tyre did not collapse untill 20mph or so on the hard shoulder.
I think she must have liked me as she looked after me that day!
Good luck with the rebuild.
Hi Michael the only images I could find, Weston Speed Trials, where I ran the car and a mate of mine Bill Smith (they got his name wrong) ran as well. Memory is from a long time ago I managed something around low 15 secs at the best. Previous year I think I was 3rd in class, but then a lightened racing Tuscan appeared, and a chap with a McClaren M10B 7 litre CanAm car so did`nt do so well! It was a fun event, but a year or two later it stopped never to run again.
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