TVR T350 cat c to buy or not to buy help please!

[bubblebobble]

Hi,
this is my first post.
Basically Iam looking at purchasing a t350 from the bay advertised as a Cat C write off.
Now i have had emails flowing to and from the seller. Here are the main points that i have established.
1) Car has bodywork damage to rear and scrapes to the front.
2) rear diffuser missing
3) rear screen needed
4) rear light needed.
5) dash ECU neede and alarm black box needed, he has tracked down another EM ECU.
The body panel repair isnt a real problem, iam very confident in my abilities to repair that as I work in the industry.
6) the car is painted in "spectralite" paint apparantly so i have concerns about the availability of the paint itself.
Item number on ebay is as follows : 200238176646
I have received a lower purchase price which i will discuss with posters privality so as not to betray the sellers confidence.
Ive costed the parts so have an idea of the replacement bits.
I would love all your opinions as this will be my first TVR purchase.

[rev-erend]

Price looks high .. you could take you pick of s/h cars for about 18K..(cash)

Paint is available from Brown Brothers for about £250 / litre

Minimum 1 litre (no halfs..)

Hope that helps.

[dc53]

It'll be spectraflair paint

[bubblebobble]

thanks guys,
so price seems high?....ok he said he would drop it too £12500.
Spectraflair, thanks for that, no wonder i couldnt find any reference too spectralite, although it sounds like a cool name for a paint!

[V8 GRF]

Nice looking T350 on Autotrader with 12k miles no damage FSH

£15,995 makes that Cat C look expensive.
Diference of £3,500, you'll probably spend that doing the other one up and it'll still be a Cat C

Edited by V8 GRF on Wednesday 16th July 15:57

[bubblebobble]

Iam going to view the said vehicle tomorrow, I have rebuilt several vehicles before from collisions including esprit S2 and my fave a Ferrari 308 GTB QV, however while Iam confident in my ability to assess the obvious of damage, is their anything I should specifically looking at on the 350? something that wouldnt be obvious to a non TVR owner?
thanks

[Moulder]

I would establish the availability of all parts required to complete prior to purchase, especially the glass.

[bubblebobble]

sourced all the parts, including the glass ( which was difficult, you obviously know something i dont), found a S/H one, dash ecu is no prob, as the alarm bits,diffuser expensive but found,light cluster/lens found.
Not sure what else is needed as i havnt viewed the vehicle which is why Iam asking if their is anything particular to the t350 i need to be aware of?

[tobeee]

Any history on the car prior to crash? Engine rebuild or new clutch? Both desirable, especially if the mileage is more than, say, 25K. Generally accepted that later models are better (Mid-2004 onwards... cos mine is 54 reg!). These snippets might give you something to consider when haggling the price!

[bubblebobble]

the vehicle has apparantly done 11k, not sure on the history but its somewhat explained on the ad on ebay....i will ask and post more detail.

[V8 GRF]

bubblebobble said:

Iam going to view the said vehicle tomorrow, I have rebuilt several vehicles before from collisions including esprit S2 and my fave a Ferrari 308 GTB QV, however while Iam confident in my ability to assess the obvious of damage, is their anything I should specifically looking at on the 350? something that wouldnt be obvious to a non TVR owner?
thanks

As you said you've repaired an Esprit in the past I guess you're familiar with the characteristics of fibreglass and the fact that cracks can continue to grow unless completly dug out and that there can be damge other than in the obvious impact areas such as around openings and chassis location points for example.

[Moulder]

bubblebobble said:

dash ecu is no prob

Changing the dash ECU will change the displayed mileage, which if you have no history to back up the mileage may create a problem come resale time.

[bubblebobble]

hi moulder, thanks for that, that really hadnt crossed my mind but gives food for thought.
I may just offer a low low price considering one exactly the same, 04 plate with tvrfsh and in beautiful condition just sold for a fraction over 16k on ebay.....someone got a bargain I feel.