TVR Tasmin
| TVR Tasmin TVR 280i |
|
|---|---|
.jpg) |
|
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | TVR |
| Production | 1980 - 1984 (Tasmin) 1984 - 1987 (280i) |
| Designer | Oliver Winterbottom |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Sports car |
| Body style | 2-dr coupé 2-dr convertible |
| Layout | FR layout |
| Platform | TVR Wedges |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 2.8L Ford Cologne V6 2.0L Ford Pinto Straight 4 |
| Transmission | 4/5-spd MT 3-spd AT |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | TVR 3000M/Taimar |
| Successor | TVR 350i |
The TVR Tasmin (later known as the TVR 280i) is a sports car designed by TVR and built in the United Kingdom by that company from 1980 to 1987. It was the first of TVR's "Wedge"-series which formed the basis of its 1980's model range. The Tasmin/280i was available as a 2-seater coupé, as a 2+2 coupé and as a 2-seater convertible.
The Tasmin was the first production car in the world to have both a bonded windscreen and also to incorporate the aerial in the rear screen heater element. As with all TVRs, the running gear was located in a tubular spaceframe steel chassis which was powder coated for extra corrosion resistance. Much of the running gear was sourced from Fords of the period. The suspension and steering was sourced from the Ford Cortina, with TVR engineered rear wishbones. Gearboxes were from the Cortina, Granada, and Sierra. Brakes were discs all round, with the front units from the Granada. The differential (and rear brakes) was from the Jaguar XJ-S.
The engine was the Ford 2.8 Cologne V6 with Bosch fuel injection producing 160 bhp (119 kW; 162 PS). An automatic gearbox was available, making it the first TVR to have this as an option. While the styling of the car was by Oliver Winterbottom who had previously styled the Lotus Elite S2, it bears a striking resemblance to 1971 Ital Design concept car, the Alfa Romeo Caimano, from the waist rail down being mistakable for the same car. Beside the Cologne V6 engine the Tasmin was also available with a 2.0 litre Ford Pinto. This car, presented in late 1981, was called the Tasmin 200 and was an attempt to make a car cheaper than the standard Tasmin 280i. It was priced at under £10,000, but with an engine producing only about 100 bhp (75 kW; 101 PS) it wasn't a big success. Only 16 Tasmin 200 coupes and 45 convertibles were made in total.
...
Wikipedia