A review of the TVR 350SE and 390SE sports cars, covering the development, important features and technical data of this classic car.
From classic to modern
The TVR 350SE
Having finished production of the best-selling TVR 350i in 1989, the company decided to produce a limited edition of 25 units of a specially prepared 350 to mark the end of an era, being the last 350 to leave the factory.
Over a seven-year period, more than 1,000 350i’s were built.
Launched in 1990, the commemorative car was designated the TVR 350SE, with each unit receiving, as a future record, a unique number which was set in a frame of gold laurels and placed on the wings and rear.
A “350SE” logo also appeared on the front spoiler, rear end and sills. The car was powered by an all aluminum 3.9 liter Rover V8 engine and fitted with multi-spoke polished alloy wheels and adjustable Koni shock absorbers.
Using a hot wire Mass Air Flow (MAF) fuel injection system, fitted by North Coventry Kawasaki, the engine developed 240 bhp and 235 ft/lbs of torque.
This produced a top speed of 140 mph, with a 0-60 mph time of 6.0 seconds and a 0-100 mph time of 15.9 seconds. This model was considered to be the pinnacle of the 350i in terms of performance and appeal.
Production of the TVR 350SE ended in 1991.
The TVR 390SE
In October 1984, a year after the introduction of the 350i, the next high-performance series sports car to be introduced was the TVR 390SE.
It was powered by a standard 3.5 liter Rover V8 engine, which had been bored out to 3.9 litres, and which had been modified as follows:
- Addition of high lift camshafts
- Gas-flow cylinder heads with larger valves
- Cosworth lightweight pistons
- higher compression ratio
- A free-flow exhaust system
The engine now developed 275bhp and 270ft/lbs of torque and produced a top speed of 143mph, with a 0-60mph time of 5.7 seconds.
Other refinements included a stronger clutch to handle the increased power, a limited-slip differential, and wider tires. The result was a variant that would give a vintage Porsche 911 Carrera a definite run for its money.
The wedge-shaped body style received a deeper front air dam, an underbody rear spoiler, flared wheel arches, and modified sills to create a more aggressive profile.
The rear suspension was heavily modified to reduce body roll and it came with ventilated front disc brakes, along with wider 15-inch wheels to provide more grip.
In 1988 the 390SE Series 2 was introduced and its most striking styling change was the adoption of a rounder nose section. Also that year, the engine capacity was increased to 3,948 cc, when the car was redesignated the TVR 400SE.
As North Coventry Kawasaki was instrumental in modifying engines for various TVR models, it was duly taken over by the company and renamed TVR Power.
Production of the TVR 390SE ended in 1988, by which time around 100 units had been built. This marks the end of my review of the TVR 350SE and 390SE sports car.