Rubbish Cars We Love: TVR Tasmin – Sleeping Satellite
Then buzz it up
April 7th, 2006 at 15:30 by Chris Laverty
Before the Russians came the Tasmin. Cut like stone and built like paper, it did one thing very well…
Go Very Fast:
Not more than a cult overseas (as yet), the TVR name will forever hold a special place in islander’s hearts.
It’s likely to say this is not down to the quality of the cars themselves – apparently more debatable than a BMW Mini Clubman - but more of a semblance thing. You take a risk with a TVR, and we like risks over here at hecklerspray. We like noise too - and TVR’s do that even better than breaking down.
The TVR Tasmin stands as one of the firm’s most contested efforts. While many could appreciate its apologetically simple approach to sports car embodiment (we get the impression TVR’s engineers moaned every time someone so much as uttered the word ‘brakes’), a handful of boringly sensible, more married people felt it was an overpowered heap of junk.
It was, and still is, a little bruiser of a car. A stripped down, angry borstal boy with no friends and a multitude of casual sex partners. An inverse Japanese roadster; the moody Tasmin brought a whole new meaning to the phrase ‘starts every time’.
You Lookin’ At My Bird?:
TVR’s ‘Wedge’ Tasmin was first introduced in 1980 and stayed in production for eight years; first as a fixed head, then as a convertible. Neither were that special to look at. Aggressive, obviously, right-angled with a whiff of Mandate, only the convertible can be deemed interesting enough to impress your mates today.
Ford were on hand to help cobble the Tasmin together from various bits and pieces of their parts bin. Such as it was for TVR, they were building a car to kick your arse, not cosset it through the declining years.
Angry Engine:
Due to the aforementioned Ford connection - specifically their related problems in the Middle East - TVR were not in a position to export the Tasmin with their standard 2.8 litre powerplant (as borrowed from a Granada). Lateral thinking ensured and they decided to fit Rover’s gorgeous, wonderful, historically magical V8 instead.
With UK approval, the Tasmin V8 worked a charm on punters. Before we all gave a monkey’s about warmer winters and recycling our socks, proper men purchased cars that actively polluted the atmosphere as much as possible. A Tasmin done the job nicely, thank you very much.
Oh, and that famous ‘Rover’ V8 once belonged inside a big fat Buick - not vehicles known for their environmental pedigree, or ability to move from A to B without drinking an entire tank of Shell’s most expensive either. But do we care..?
Low:
If the outside of a Tasmin does not convince you it occupies a different age, the inside certainly will. Don’t jump to conclusions, we love this car like a lottery-winning ex-girlfriend, but that doesn’t mean we don’t recognise its absurdity.
Yes, the transmission tunnel is wider than a tree trunk. Yes, TVR are in the habit of just leaving bits of trim they do not consider necessary to finish (see: doors, floors, footwells, visors that don’t fall in your lap like emergency oxygen masks) and, finally, yes, the convertible’s targa top did have more in common with a tressle table than a roof. Rolls Royce did not have any kind of vested interest in TVR and that was abundantly clear for many, many years.
Freaky-Deaky:
From our understanding, driving a Tasmin is an amazing experience. Responsive, fast, firm and entirely terrifying to bring to a standstill in the wet. This is what safety features are all about. Forget your ‘active this’ and ‘adjustable that’, just pay a bit more attention in a car that should rightly be fitted with wings and you will surely get home for the night.
We want a go and it’s on our list, so if anybody is willing we would be as chuffed and grateful as a porn star that doesn’t have to wear nappies to have a ride.
Treasure:
If you can find one, an operational Tasmin could, theoretically, be bought for less than £3,000. We would not recommend this though. With a car as crudely constructed as a TVR, you should spend as much money as possible.
Try eBay for memorabilia however. They’ve got loads of cool stuff.
Whimsically dated and still a bit too much of an old Vauxhall saloon from the rear, the Tasmin could yet make a convincing retro recovery.
[story by Chris Laverty]
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April 9th, 2006 at 11:09 pm
It’s not often I come across an article written about the Tasmin outside of committed TVR circles (and here in the UK, us owners are pretty fanatical). I’ve had mine for ten years and am still looking forward to the day I get it running just right. Temptingly affordable to buy, esp on ebay, but maintenance costs are not for the faint hearted. Deep devotion, a sense of humour and a large overdraft are always needed.
The original V6 model was never renowned for it’s performance. Contemporary press reviews raved about the way it drove but the asking price was steep it arrived on the market just in time for the wedge shape to become history. However, Ford later evolved the engine and an early 90s Granada Cosworth unit makes for an interesting conversion. This has been carried out on my car . . . if you’re ever in London let me know!
(Incidentally I previously owned another car you’ve written about, the VW Scirocco Mk2. It did everything right except that I couldn’t comfortably fit in it. Thought I’d get used to it but after three years, I still couldn’t fit).
June 15th, 2006 at 10:06 pm
While the 2.8 was available in the Granada, that engine was used throughout the Ford empire and was used in Ford’s Super Touring efforts at the time, and thus speed parts were easy to come by, which made it desirable for those small builders, what Enzo dismissed as the “Assembliatore”, because they didn’t make their own engine.
Nice Buick picture, but the alloy-block V-8 never appeared in that sled. Originally called the B-O-P V-8, it was to be used in the new 1961 Olds F-85, Buick Special and Pontiac Tempest. GM was very adventurous: the F-85 had a turbo option, and the Pontiac Tempest had a unique 1-piece curved driveshaft and a rear automatic transaxle.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:19 am
i actually own one of these beasts, is is the only hardtop that i know of in western australia, where i live. i also have experienced firsthand the mechanical abominations that go on under the bonnet, so much so that in the near future i am feplacing the tired old V6 with a 5-liter ford V8.
If anyone has any info that can help me with this conversion, it would be much appreciated.
March 25th, 2008 at 5:31 pm
I have been a TVR wedge driver for many years - in fact I have driven over 1/2 million km; 345,000km in a 2.8 litre V6 Tasmin convertible, and 240,000km in a 350i Rover V8 engineed Fixed head coupe.
I have driven in all weather, and have enjoyed most of it. I have been hit by a tanker truck at highway speed and although the car was a bit of a mess, I wasn’t (this is one of the times I didn’t enjoy it).
I read a lot about poor brakes - mine have all been properly maintained, and have been fine. In fact unless you are doing fast track use I would suggest updates aren’t required - but moving up to larger brakes never hurts.
The trim is not very refined, and does not have the (dreadful) plastic, but precise fit of common production cars; nor does it have the accurate hand crafted fit of the more exotic - it sits in the middle.
The handling is a little odd, primarily in the rear, and required a mod to make it “fairly good”, but certainly never will be excellent. The key here is it is safe if you treat it with respect, and it is certainly fun. No ABS and no traction control, and rear wheel drive - lots of fun to drive.
A little curious on the article’s comment on the Clubman; as that is what my wife drives - and although early in it’s life, it appears very well built, and so different from TVR in every respect that drawing them in to any comparison is meaningless.
Cheers,
Rob
It’s likely to say this is not down to the quality of the cars themselves – apparently more debatable than a BMW Mini Clubman - but more of a semblance thing.
June 14th, 2008 at 6:36 pm
I have a 1987 280i, probably the last one imported to the States. I enjoy the car’s ride, especially the cornering; but the brakes are weak.
Currently I am doing a major overhaul - replacing all the tacky vinyl finish with real tan leather; then redoing the exhaust system. I would do the brakes if I could find a solution.
Wilf.