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• Auction House:
  Mossgreen
• Sale Name:
  Collectors’ Cars, Motorcycles & Automobilia
• Sale Date:
  27 Nov 2016 ~ 2.30pm
• Lot #:
  80
• Lot Description:
  1974 TVR 3000M FACTORY OPEN-TAILGATE SPECIAL
  Chassis no: 3893 FM; Engine no: D 7698 11
• Notes:
  In 1947, Trevor Wilkinson and Jack Pickard started TVR Engineering, the acronym TVR being derived from Trevor's name. Building one-off 'specials' until 1953, the Mk I or Grantura production series was introduced in 1954. With a fiberglass body over a tubular steel frame, their concept for a limited volume, lightweight, high-powered sports car was born. In the challenge of competition, a BMC powered TVR competed in the 1962 24 Hours of Le Mans but it was all over on the 4th lap. By 1965, the founding partners had broken their ties with the company which was on the brink of financial disaster. Martin Lilley then took the reins until 1981, resetting the clock for this struggling enterprise and turned it in to a pedigree road-going sports car. The 1970's M designated series was built from a combination of the Vixen and Wide Bodied Tuscan on an all new chassis with production of this model running from 1972 to 1979. This range consisted of one fastback body and three engine options; the 1600M powered by a 1600cc Ford straight 4; a 2500M powered by a 2500cc Triumph straight 6 and the 3000M powered by a 3000cc Ford Essex V6. This production run concluded in 1980 with three body styles; the 3000M Taimar; a 3000M with a hatchback and the 3000S convertible, all of which utilising the 3-litre Ford V6 engine. Sixty-three cars built with the Broadspeed derived 230bhp Turbo engines were included in this series. The 3000M fixed head coupe made its debut at the October 1972 Earl's Court Motor Show in London. Based on TVR's established fibreglass body on chassis concept, the cast iron, pushrod operated, 2994cc Ford Essex V6 engine was aspirated by a single twin-choke Webber carburettor and fitted with a four speed gearbox. It was purported to have a top speed of 130 mph, with a 0-60 mph time of 7.5 secs. It had four-wheel coil spring independent suspension and servo-assisted brakes with discs at the front and drums at the rear. A Laycock de Normanville overdrive was offered as an optional extra. This car was the top of the original M-Series range at the time and took over from the obsolete US version of the 2500M. It was discontinued in 1979. The ML variant was produced for just one year. A combined total of 654 units of both 3000M versions were built. A hatchback version of the 3000M, badged TVR Taimar, was launched at the 1976 International Motor Show in London. At this point, a comparison will be drawn between the Taimar and the 3000M as this car for auction is a modified 3000M, made to special order for Mr. Vic Kaye, the Australian distributor of TVR and Morgan at the time. His specific order was to modify a 3000M with an opening tailgate. It is believed that it is this car that led Martin Lilly to develop the Taimar model. The Taimar was mechanically identical to the 3000M with the benefit of a spacious boot which transformed the car by creating easily accessible luggage space. This outstanding feature consequently went in to production as the Taimar which outsold the 3000M in its first year of production. When production ended in 1979, a total of 395 Taimars had been built. This unique TVR V6 was imported when new by the Australia distributor and importer of TVR and Morgan cars, Mr Vic Kaye, in the 1970s. Kaye kept this as his personal car for 41 years until 2015. As mentioned earlier, the design of the hatch back was done especially by the TVR factory at Mr Kaye's request and later became a factory modification on the Taimar model. This car also has a sunroof. Recently, the engine was tuned, oil and filters renewed; screens re-sealed; a new water pump and hoses fitted and the electrical system rectified. It is most impressive in its silver livery with the original interior trim and sports its original TVR 14" wheels. This rare car has, until recently, been in single ownership for 41 years. It offers a TVR enthusiast a rare and tantalising chance to acquire a most collectable car that has an undeniably unique and interesting history. This vehicle will be sold unregistered
• Estimate:
  A$25,000 - 35,000
• Realised Price:
  *****
  

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• Category:
  Automobiles & Accessories

This Sale has been held and this item is no longer available. Details are provided for information purposes only.