Other Cars (British & British-Inspired)

In case you guys didn't see it in our racecar forum... this is one impressive automobile!

Michael Zappa's 1969 TVR Tuscan Racecar (62 photos)

(teaser photos)




Enjoy!

Odd that it has Webers.
With all that on it I'd have expected fuel injection - or does the class it's in preclude that?

I find vintage racing rules horribly hard to comprehend... especially for the less common cars. This TVR is basically set up to run in Sportscar Vintage Racing Association races, and their policy is very generally that cars should (a) meet SCCA's 1972 general competition rules plus (b) comply with SVRA's own supplemental regulations specific to the make and model. The "supplemental" for TVR's can be read here: [www.svra.com]

Even the most cursory look will reveal a big problem with this supplemental: it's a one page document that covers ten different TVR models with up to seventeen different engine options and various displacements. 1216cc Coventry Climax engines all the way to Ford 289's! The supplemental doesn't mention fuel injection at all, but it does mention Weber carbs. My belief is fuel injection probably wouldn't be allowed unless the racer could prove someone's Tuscan V6 was raced with fuel injection prior to 1972.

It is way too heavy.

Hey Jon, would you mind "spewing" somewhwere else ? roverman.

NO, I don't see this as over stepping any mark. You don't RACE do you? These thing is built for racing (Yes it is nicely prepped (shiney with a great engine)), so should be way ligher than a ton. 220 - 300+ pounds in US money. >10-15% over is Massive. Mind maybe with and engine of tha spec he can afford to run Fat. These run at 1870lbs in the UK.

Jon,

1.) Remember that this is an M. 1870 is 330 Lb less than road. Between removing bits and then adding bits back in including a proper safety structure (9pt cage), suspension reinforcements, big brakes, fire suppression system, ... you'd have to subtantially lighten the body to pull 330 out.

2.) I would love to see this car driven by John Simpson and I would love to see Chris drive John's car and have each of them give us their impressions. It would be a big thrill for me to see track time comparisons between these two cars but that big pond...

3.) Just in the event that it's not actually 2200, do you give away all of your secrets? ;~)

B

FI was certainaly available for the Essex, I have seen Teclament Jackson setups in capris, so they may well have found their way ontoTVRs, Im fairly certain the Fergusion 4wd Capris were Lucas injected too, of course in the search for the magic displacment, I assume you know the Essex is/was available in South Africa in 3.4 guise from the factory

That is some engine.

Mate is building a 3000M for racing - would be the best Essex based lump you could pop in it! Would have to be just +060 though for rules over here.

Would be fun to race this black car in my TR6.

Jon,

Have you had your TR6 on the track with Martin's Mild MOOOVER? AKA John's 3000M? Result?

Over here in the UK, we have a engine builder who lives and breathes Essex V6s, he would probably know of any injected Essex TVRs
[www.ricwood.com]

I guess to clear things up, the weight that is quoted is with me (190 lbs) in the car with 8 gallons of fuel. If you want to get the car by itself it's approx 2025-2050. Further, we went a little over on the cage building process (9pt. cage), but I'll take safety over a less weight

I would like to talk to jellison about his setup, however. We've compeltly changed things around since the Jefferson 500 at Summit Point to Mid-Ohio and the car was 3rd quickest of 38, less than 1.7 seconds off the quickest. Changed the cross weights quite a bit and added more camber to it, however I feel it still needs more castor (highspeed instability). jellison, please respond or feel free to send me an email at christopher.zappa@gmail.com

Re: radically modified TVR Tuscan
new
Posted by: slow_M
Date: August 20, 2010 01:59PM


Jon,

Have you had your TR6 on the track with Martin's Mild MOOOVER? AKA John's 3000M? Result?

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Bernard - no not raced John in his 3000M - he races it in the TVR series (I have surggested he come and race in the ThoroughbredSportscar series as he'd be mid grid or higher (I could not run round inthe TVR series getting lapped by cars with double the power). Maybe he will come an do a few iwth us next year.

I did check how Johns times comepared to mine at the same track under similar condition (dry) a month or so a part. The 6 was faster buy about 1.5 sec over a 1.1 mile Twisty Brands. But really unless in the same race on the same day I would not draw to much from that.

I'll mail Chris Z (I did a few months back after finding their website) but no reply (saying how much I liked the Tuscan view a view to picking their brains on the interesting rollbars).