Sometimes we find great cars for sale online that can be safe bets if you can afford them. For example, this Chevrolet Camaro SS 30th Anniversary Edition not really cheap, but if you bought it, the maintenance and repair probably won’t put you out of business. Yes, you will spend money on tires and brakes, but you will do the same with any performance car. On the other hand, this 1984 TVR 280i seems like a much riskier purchase. But why let that stop you?
In case you lost it:
Now for sale on Cars & Bid, this ’84 TVR has a lot going for it. It’s rear-wheel drive, manual, has a left-hand steering wheel, a brown interior, and has 600 miles on the odometer. It also looks great, and odds are you won’t see anyone else driving one other than the TVR meetup. It will also likely be a relatively cheap purchase as ’80s TVRs aren’t exactly the most desirable cars on the road.
And while the original V6 under the hood only makes about 145 hp and 150 lb-ft of torque, the seller says the car will get more power thanks to some Ford SVO engine modifications. Unfortunately, there is no dyno sheet to confirm exactly how much power it is currently generating. Still, it’s probably still enough to have a lot of fun. These aren’t exactly giant cars.
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But aside from the general risks of buying any TVR, such as the availability of questionable parts, the story behind this car is even more sketchy than you might expect. Allegedly, it was a show car for a TVR importer, and as of 2011 it had only clocked 41 miles on the odometer. It was then sold to a second owner, who eventually dropped it at the mechanic he brought in, and it lay there until the current owner bought it in 2022 for 371 miles. up there.
So for about a decade, it lay in the Arizona sun. At some point, thieves stole wheels, radios and gearshift levers. Oh, and even the windshield was broken. But don’t worry. It has been restored! The air conditioner even worked.
Is that the most responsible purchase you can make? Nothing. But come on. Let’s bet. Where is the joy in owning only reliable, dependable cars that have been meticulously maintained throughout their lives? This is your chance to own TVR. Isn’t that worth a bit of risk?
