10k: 1985 TVR Tasmin 280i Convertible
TVR is a foreign name to our American ears, the last imports from Blackpool, England being the Tasmin 280i in 1987. TVR does have a long history on the other side of the Altantic and built all of its cars on a tubular space frame and as of July 2012 has officially ceased its efforts to build and produce automobiles – a shame since its formula of mounting common parts on a bespoke handbuilt body is all but dead. But you can relive the glory days with this 1985 TVR Tasmin 280i, currently for sale on ebay for $8,250 OBO in Sussex, WI.
The Tasmin was styled by noted Lotus Elite/Eclat designer Oliver Winterbottom – but your cheeks won’t be frosty in this red convertible. Winterbottom must have had a thing for door stops as most of his designs had a noticeable wedge shape, but we think the Tasmin is equal in aesthetics to anything from Italy from the same time period.
The 280i is powered by the Ford Cologne V6 – displacing 2.8 liters and putting 160 horsepower into a 5 speed manual gearbox. Keen eyed readers will recognize the Cologne name from the Ford Taunus V4 powering all sorts of front-wheel-drive SAABs and remember that it was produced in some fashion through 2010 in the Ford Mustang.
We really can’t get over how nice a condition this TVR looks to be in – and with only 32k miles on the odometer this car seems to have been taken care of nicely. Sure, it won’t be the fastest thing on the road, but for $8k, it makes one heck of a conversation piece!
See another Winterbottom design for sale? email us here: tips@dailyturismo.com
Wow. I never knew the Triumph TR7 had a separated-at-birth twin. The shape of things to come!
classiccar.co.uk/images/carpict/00002485/Red-Triumph–2485.jpg
time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1658545_1658533_1658040,00.html
Loved these growing up in Britain, knew a guy just down the road with one, although his was a slate grey that made it almost look executive.
Eh? TR7.
Every sports car looked like this at the time. Lotus, Ferrari, Fiero, Lambo, even Supra …
This was my actual car and my photos. It definitely was in extremely nice condition. These cars a good bang for the buck as far as exotics go. Too bad about the Ford V6. I imagine the value of these would be much higher if they came like the 350i (3.5L Rover aluminum V8).
This was my actual car and my photos. It definitely was in extremely nice condition. These cars a good bang for the buck as far as exotics go. Too bad about the Ford V6. I imagine the value of these would be much higher if they came like the 350i (3.5L Rover aluminum V8).