1984 TVR 280i Convertible

The abbreviation TVR stems from the name of the company's owner Trevor Wilkinson, his first garage sporting the letters T, V and R.  In 1946, he purchased an old wheelwright's workshop in Beverley Grove, Blackpool to start an engineering business that he named Trevcar Motors.  Initially, the company performed general engineering work, (not always automobile related), and would also refresh and service cars and trucks.  In 1947, local auto enthusiast Jack Pickard joined the company.  Trevcar Motors was subsequently renamed to TVR Engineering, (dropping several letters from Wilkinson's first name), and it continued to find general mechanical engineering work through the following years.

Lovingly known as the wedge design, this consignment can change personalities with the drop of the top, (or a reconfiguration), as you have the full top up, a targa style top, or a full top-down convertible.  With an amateur restoration performed over the course of the last 2 years on this former North Carolina ride you can rest assured that things are nearly tip top on this very aero skate.  The Ford Cologne 2.8 Liter V6 now has a much more reliable carburetor in place of the former Bosch mechanical fuel injection, most of the wiring was replaced and a new convertible top was installed among many other upgrades.   It's showing in the North hall in a very nice light red metallic.  A somewhat rare example with few built and fewer surviving, it's time to step out of the norm and enjoy some sports car fun 2 seater style.

Exterior
Oliver Winterbottom, (what a great British name, cheerio pip pip and all that rot!), was the designer of record and some of his inspiration came from a previous design of the Lotus Elise.  Although many say that the car looks like an Alfa Romeo Caimano concept car.  Either way we have the wedge.  Pointy front, hidden headlights, integrated black bumpers and some inlet on the hood it retains its original look.  Straight steel with well minded gaps are throughout, and this car is draped in light red metallic that presents well but does have its fair share of inclusions and tiger striping in the finish.  Some black accenting in the form of a thin pinstripe runs the gamut of the sides of this car at the beltline.  On the back the high trunk line hovers above Triumph-esque horizontal tail lighting, and a black ribbed bumper below.  Dual exhaust tips peek out from underneath the bumper.  The new black top is in fine condition with a clear plastic rear window and can be left up on the chilly days, have the center targa section removed or this writer's favorite look, or folded down and going completely topless.  Body color matching snowflake styled wheels with shiny lips are wrapped by like new rubber on all 4 corners.

Interior
A swing of the burl accented doors and we see smooth black vinyl mixing with some wood for the door pulls.  Seats are smooth black bolsters and black tufted inserts and these conform nicely to nearly any body style.  A few areas of seam separation and slight wear are noted in the driver's bucket.  Square and rectangle design right out of 1984 abounds inside for the dash which has some nice restained burl and blackface gauges lined up neatly in front of the driver.  Just above the center console is a padded covered black vinyl box that houses the temp sliders and an aftermarket AM/FM/CD radio.  On the console is the shift lever, parking brake and window toggles, along with a storage tray.  Behind the two buckets is a small carpeted storage area and this carpet flows down to float the interior.  Clean and like new is the phrase for the carpeting and that's because it is!  A shout out to the trunk which is lined with black carpeting in good condition, and a black vinyl wrapped spare tire.

Drivetrain
Under the hood is a gaggle of wiring and hoses and directly in the center is a Ford Cologne 2.8 Liter V6 but now being fed by a single 2bbl carburetor in place of the somewhat cantankerous Bosch fuel injection.  A 4-speed manual transmission on back.  The entire engine bay is clean with supple hoses and well sorted wiring.

Undercarriage
A powder coated tubular space frame is underneath, and clean floor pans showing just some light patina abound.  Independent coil springs are on front, and independent suspension with MacPherson struts are on back.  Power disc brakes are noted all around, and most of the suspension bushings were replaced in August of 2022.

Drive-Ability
We went targa style for the test drive, and after a quick firing up and warm up we were off!  Great acceleration, good handling, and a steady straight stopper on the panic stop all was well.  I did notice the speedometer and fuel gauge are not working and the A/C is not blowing cold because it isn't hooked up.  Also, the driver's headlight wouldn't pop up.

Convertible, targa, or full on top down this car can be used year round thanks to a careful restoration by our TVR enthusiast consignor.  The iconic wedge shape popularized in the mid 1980's, red metallic snowflake wheels, and snappy black interior, a seldom seen example here in the good old USA.

Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special interest automobile showroom, featuring over 650 vehicles for sale with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle barn find collection is on display.
This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.