UK AUTO Articles TVR TASMIN Robert Stewart

Rob Stewart lives just north of Toronto, but has a weekend escape in the smaller than Wellington Village of Milford here on the Quinte Isle.

Last year Rob bought a very clean 1961 Vauxhall Victor Super 4-door sedan and asked me to appraise the car. Since I'm in Toronto on a weekly basis all year round I have a large number of clients who ask me to appraise their vehicles - some foreign, some American.

One evening we got together and appraised and drove this rare little GM import that fell from grace after the Firenza episode. This is a shame really as Vauxhall had produced and still does produce, and excellent little vehicle on the most part. Rob is also a keen enthusiast who owns a Jaguar and Rover, and now thanks to Old Autos, owns a very nice 1981 TVR Tasmin. This convertible is powered by a reliable Ford six cylinder, 2.8-litre engine with just over 80,800 kilometers on the clock.

The striking, silver wedge shaped TVR with blue striping came to Rob's attention after seeing it mentioned in my Foreign Affairs column on TVRs recently. After reading the column Rob visited John Wadman at TVR's North American headquarters and purchased the Tasmin.

A Summer Day in Prince Edward County

His 1981 example had been repainted an original factory silver approximately five years ago and still looked fresh with excellent lustre. Sure there are a couple of minor chips on door edges that have been touched-up and a few stoner chips, nicks, and minor flaking, but overall the paint is still very good. a blue accent stripe sets off the angular fiberglass wedge. Apart from some minor surface crazing the fiberglass body remains in excellent condition and the engine comparment is painted and detailed fo factory specs. The original 2.8 litre, six cylinder Ford engine showed no signs of oil leaks, and proved very energetic when I test drove the car. The TVRs overall fine condition was directly the result of having been carefully and regualrly maintained since new by its North America Distributor.

Before John Wadman sold the Tasmin he had the clutch repaced and fitted fresh brakes. The original chassis/tubular frame remained soled and clean and is still wearing its factory paint. The only sign of rust (Yes, it happens on fiberglass cars too!) was surface only, on drivetrain, front end, and steering components.

By the way, there is very little chrome on a Tasmin - just the trunk hinges and door handles. The factory TVR mag/aluminium wheels with black paint/chrome nuts take a bit of getting used to. At first Rob was ready to pitch them, but after a few days he felt they really suited the TVR's sexy looks.

The interioris striking in design and colour. The conservatively styled leather navy dash pad, console and analog gauges are complimened by a traditional walnut. The seats have aluxury rather than asporty look to them. They are blue vinyl with velour panels, as are the oritnal velour door panels. The sun has faded the velour turning it into almost a shade of mauve. The luxury look continues with a strip of rich, matchine wood on the door4s, the fitting of a premium soudn system in the form of a Kenwood AM/FM Cassette/CD stereo (installed by Rob) and Panasonic/ Jensen speakers, and the standard factory installed power windows and antenna.

The original navy blue carpet was still in good condition, but Rob has decided to make that one of his first replacement projects.

The convertible top on a TVR is unlike most British cars in that you don't have to be a contortionist to work it. The top had been replaced in 1994 by John Wadman who fitted a factory "Double Duck" navy clother, combination folding soft top and covered fiberglass panel. Very custom looking with it's velour lining. When ain Targa form with the fiberglass panel removed the rigid pillars of the hood act as a roll bar. The Tasmin ws a limited production model, even in TVR terms. Less than 200 Tasmins were built in the Blackpool factory in 1981. Production dipped even futher the following year to a model low of 121. During its five model year lifespan the Tasmins reached a high in 1985 of 472 units. Introduced late in 1979 the Tasmin first came in Coupe form. Only six were built that year with production reaching 148 units in 1980. The introduction of the convertible after only 18 months after the Coupe lead to increased production. This TVR model carried on in V-8 form, but was no longer known as the Tasmin, but by number desination based on the V-8's continualy increasing cubic inches.

TVRs handle well and much of the credit has to go to the Jaguar components used in the suspension. The performance and handling were impressive on the two sunny days I got to drvie Rob's Tasmin. Power disc brakes gave excellent stopping power and the ride was one notch better than most British sports car, although I've never complained much. The TVR has a great throaty exhaust sound that brings smiles rather than grimaces to both passenger and driver. The top speed accoring to the road tests of the day was 130 mph. Acceleration times came in at a 0-60 in 8.2 seconds with a 1/4 mile time in just over 16 seconds. Typically the Tasmin will return 24 miles to the gallon which is particularly appreciated in a "driver's car".

Malcolm Admires the TVR

The low production, hand build, TVR Tasmin is a very viable alternative to buying a high volume sports car such as the popular TR6, or slightly less expensive MGB. The older, more familiar shaped TVR2500M or Taimar Coupes run around the same price, but if you want top-down motoring a 3000M convertible is in the showroom now at $25,000 plus.

This article gives a good over view of the car, a few minor inaccuracies exist, such as the handling credit being misdirected towards Jaguar. The rear end is primarily TVR specific, but it utilizes the same differential and brakes as many Jaguars. [inboard brakes as on early XJS and XJ6/12] The front end is Ford based, with different springs and dampers.

Since the article was written the car has been repainted by TVR North America, the bumpers have been changed to silver, and the stripes to black - the workmanship is superb. The car has been recarpeted, new Dunlops, then Pirellis, and now Kumhos have been installed, and several other updates and repairs have been made. In the nearly four years I have owned the car the mileage has increased from 80,800 up to 300,000km - proof that TVRs can be reliable daily drivers. It was also stated that the clutch was new - in fact I have just replaced the clutch

I have also moved away from North of Toronto, and now reside to the East.

[...and don't worry - I never planned on ditching the rims, I was however considering a second set in a different style...]