The TVR 350i was the car that gave the Tasmin wedge the engine it deserved. Appearing in August 1983 as the Tasmin 350i, it replaced the Cologne V6 of the 280i with a 3.5-litre Rover V8, and its stretched chassis went on to carry almost every TVR of the following decade.
TVR 350i at a glance
| Maker | TVR Engineering, Blackpool |
|---|---|
| Production | 1983–1989 |
| First shown as | Tasmin 350i, August 1983 |
| Engine | 3.5 L Rover V8 |
| Power | 197 hp (147 kW) at 5,280 rpm |
| Torque | 220 lb·ft (298 N·m) at 4,000 rpm |
| 0–60 mph | 6.3–6.5 seconds |
| Top speed | 130–135 mph (the handbook claimed 146 mph for the coupé) |
| Wheels and body | same chassis and body as the Tasmin, with minor changes |
| Built | over 1,000 |
| Final version | 350SE of 1990–91, 25 cars with a 3.9-litre engine |
Based on one source: the English Wikipedia article on the TVR 350i.
History of the TVR 350i
When Peter Wheeler took over TVR in 1982 he wanted more power than the Cologne V6 of the Tasmin 280i could give, so the existing car was fitted with a 3.5-litre Rover V8. The result appeared in August 1983 as the Tasmin 350i; after a year the Tasmin part of the name was dropped and the car became simply the TVR 350i. The chassis and body carried over with only minor changes, and the Rover engine had the useful side effect of making the car saleable in Arab countries, where Ford products met political resistance.
The V8 produced 197 hp at 5,280 rpm and 220 lb·ft of torque at 4,000 rpm, enough for 0–60 mph in about six and a half seconds and a top speed of 130–135 mph. TVR claimed the coupé was 10 mph faster than the convertible, and the owner’s handbook went further with a figure of 146 mph. A handful of dealer-built cars went beyond the factory specification: the Northern TVR Centre made a Sprintex-supercharged 350SX and an even bigger-hearted 400SX in the mid-1980s, with nine and two cars respectively thought to have been built and about 260 bhp usually quoted for the 350SX.
The 350i mattered less for what it was than for what was built on it. Its chassis, itself a stretched version of the M-series frame, was the starting point for the 390SE first seen at the Birmingham Motor Show in October 1984, for the 420 and 450 SEAC, for the S-series and for the later Griffith. Once the 400/450SE and the SEAC cars arrived the range was rationalised, and the least powerful 350i was dropped in 1989. The end of the run was marked by the 350SE of 1990–91, a 3.9-litre limited edition of just 25 cars.
Design and features
- Rover V8: 197 hp from 3.5 litres, a big step up from the 280i’s V6.
- Proven wedge shape: the Tasmin body and chassis, lightly modified.
- Two body styles: the coupé was quoted as the faster car, with a 146 mph handbook figure.
- Dealer specials: the supercharged 350SX and 400SX from the Northern TVR Centre.
TVR 350i versions
- Tasmin 350i (1983–84): the original name, dropped after a year.
- 350i (1984–89): the standard production car.
- 350SX / 400SX: non-factory supercharged cars, nine and two built.
- 350SE (1990–91): 25 cars with a 3.9-litre engine.
The 350i was followed by the 390SE and sits in the wedge line that began with the Tasmin; its chassis also went into the S-series. More cars are in the TVR collection.
Video: TVR 350i, 350SE, 400SE – Drag races, Revs & Accelerations! – 1080p HD
Video by Gumbal on YouTube.
Sources
- TVR 350i, English Wikipedia: history, engine, performance, production
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