OT - front mid engined Options

[wonkipop]

interesting end to the afternoon yesterday.
we decided to roll the TVR out of its corner and start it up to turn the engine.
hasn't been started for a couple of years.

TVR grantura mk 111. delivered to australia in 1965. think its a 64 build. made in UK.
front mid engined layout. fibreglass body bonded to space frame ladder chassis similar to a lotus.

original cars ran a variety of 4 cylinder engines. often coventry climax similar to lotus or MGA or MGB engines depending on the years built.

this one is a bit unique. later in life in aus fitted with Leyland P76 V8 dating from the 1970s. 4.4 L aluminium engine. derived from the same engine as used in Rover 3500 and in Range Rovers. originally a Buick design that Rover bought from GM in the 1960s.
approx 190-200 hp. car weighs 800ib with engine. the engine weighs roughly the same as the heavy old 60s 4 bangers - so handling balance etc theoretically not compromised.





started up with no hesitation even after a a couple of years.
ran and idled sweet. warmed up to operating temp.

looks like might be next spare time workshop project to see if it can be put back on the road. been off the road since 86.

could be a bit of a challenge given the body and space frame construction.

its tiny. i'm 5 foot 11 and even i can hardly fit in it.

[mepstein]

800lbs - ?

kilos?

[Ninja]

Over here that was called the BOP V8 Buick/Oldsmobile/Pontiac.

In 62 it was one of the first cars to have a turbo in the Oldsmobile "Jetfire".

The turbo also had water/methanol injection from the factory.


My dad designed and helped build a Can-Am car that used one of these.

It was stroked/bored up to 5.0l and made north of 400hp in the early 70s.

The English (Rover I believe) bought the rights to it and put it in a bunch of stuff.

Neat little engine!

That would be WICKED to drive!

[bkrantz]

Cool. What's the max driver size?

I always felt that Colin Chapman had no use for guys like me (6-2 American, 188 cm). I remember barely squeezing into a Europa, and getting just part of one leg into an Elan.

Do TVRs work the same?

[wonkipop]

800lbs - ?

kilos?

yeah sorry (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[wonkipop]

Cool. What's the max driver size?

I always felt that Colin Chapman had no use for guys like me (6-2 American, 188 cm). I remember barely squeezing into a Europa, and getting just part of one leg into an Elan.

Do TVRs work the same?

pretty much. i have trouble fitting into a lotus elite and i am not exactly a big person at 5 11 tvr felt just like that.

[wonkipop]

Over here that was called the BOP V8 Buick/Oldsmobile/Pontiac.

In 62 it was one of the first cars to have a turbo in the Oldsmobile "Jetfire".

The turbo also had water/methanol injection from the factory.


My dad designed and helped build a Can-Am car that used one of these.

It was stroked/bored up to 5.0l and made north of 400hp in the early 70s.

The English (Rover I believe) bought the rights to it and put it in a bunch of stuff.

Neat little engine!

That would be WICKED to drive!

yeah @Ninja
when i said handling would not be theoretically compromised by beautiful buick derived V8 (and yes - magnificent engine) i said it with tongue in cheek and sphincter squeezed tight. it could be that chassis is overwhelmed? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
i suspect a delicate right foot might be required given the short wheelbase (but wide) and short squarish foot print.

i won't be driving it even if invited - unless its on a skid pan or somewhere you can't hit anything sideways. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) suspect it would be happy to get its tail out and then rotate - probably more than once.

however i would not mind working on it. i think its a very interesting little car.

[Ninja]

Wonki, one of my customers has a short wheelbase CJ5 jeep with a 500+ hp 6.2L SRT motor in it.

It's just STUPID!
Any throttle application past about 20% just lifts the right front wheel off the ground which makes it handle even WORSE than normal.

It's impossible to drive!

No fun at all...

Your little roller-skate would just spin.

It almost looks shorter than a Midget/Sprite!

It would probably do well in a burn out contest...

[Tdskip]

These actually drive quite well and are very nimble and feel surprisingly planted. Very well sorted out handling in my experience.

Keep in mind the Rover V8 didn’t really add any weight compared to there Triumph TR6 engine some of these came with.

[jd74914]

Very cool!

A 2500M is on my short list of cars to own...I think I might sell everything in my garage for one haha

[Root_Werks]

Neat little car, thanks for sharing the pictures.

[AZBanks]

There are some great videos of TVRs like that racing at Goodwood. Well sorted examples with a good driver are FAST!!

[Shivers]

Looks wild. Such a short wheel base for all that power. I did notice the meats he has on back. Rear view kind of reminds me of the old Henry J. But with that engine it would be closer to this one: