TVR a legacy of Beauty in Motion

For those of us here in the states it is a shame that we miss out on a lot of the most amazing vehicles in the world due to US regulations. A car may be perfectly safe using the newest electric rack of the powersteering system and the most up to date safety equipment but if it doesn’t meet Cali emissions it ain’t getting in. This is a shame because cars like TVR fall into that category and they are some of the most stunning cars crated by man …or woman.

A few years ago TRV lost its backing and went the way to the dinosaur, so even for those of us lucky enough to have one there would be no more.  This week though, there is a flicker of life from the old girl yet. A brand new website that seems to be legit is offering TVR models as bespoke cars. This means that even though they will not be in full swing production there will be availability for those who want one. Well in Europe that is. TVR may be beautiful but to be honest they are never the most practical or even the safest.

TVR’s just slightly have a tendency to break down or bust into flames but for a car guy it is worth it. It is a true car guy who is willing to drive a car that basically could fall apart at any moment and would not stop a speeding geo headed your way. The Sagaris and the Tuscan have to be some of the most visually stunning cars not to mention TRV uses paint that changes color depending on the angle from which the car is seen. Combine this with stunning body lines, a V8 bellow that can shake the foundation the tallest buildings and intense acceleration to create what has to be the ultimate driver’s car. It is nice to see that in at least one way TVR will live on because even if they were gone for good they will always live on I the heart of the car crazy world or the petrol head. 

Buying a Car Modified by a Previous Owner

We all see cars that have been modified by their owners and now they are hitting the street with a for sale sign on it. Cars with a custom supercharger or turbocharger that has been installed to add power or lowered suspension to add that custom look. What may seem like a great buy at first can turn into a money pit and a huge headache.

There are plenty of tuner companies that sell tuned versions of cars like custom shops and other tuning houses but they all stand behind their work. What we are looking at is the tuned car that has been modified by someone in their garage and lets be honest not everyone does every install correctly. There are a few things to look for when purchasing a modified used car. The first step is to meet the previous owner, if they are a 50 year old man who is a car enthusiast and modified his BMW with all Dinan accessories you will probably be ok. Now on the other hand if the person selling the car is a 19 year old with a low budget and a thirst for speed than probably want to skip it.

Aftermarket performance parts are just like everything else and that is to say "ya get what ya pay for", cheap ebay parts are just that. Parts that have been built and tested with quality are more expensive not only because the look cool but the cost of building and testing them is high. Cheap parts are usually a low cost version of a quality part which means that materials are not as good and the build quality is lacking. Low build quality means reduced performance and shorter life of the part. The other factor to consider is the "cutting corners" of a cheap car build. Younger owners then to be do it yourselfers and they may not know how to do the installs correctly so all work down on a potential purchase will have to be looked over.

A modified car can be a great purchase especially if the car already has a bunch of modifications that are on the "To Do" list. It can be hard to resist the draw of a car that already has the parts you want. In the long run it may be better to pass and buy the basic car and add the parts yourself just cause you know it has been done right.