1980 TVR Tasmin 280i

TVR Tasmin and 280i (Coupe/Convertible), 1980-1987

The TVR Tasmin was in production from 1980 until 1984, at which point it was renamed the 280i and lasted to 1987. Styled in house by Oliver Winterbottom, it is a front-engine, rear wheel drive GT range seating two adults and sometimes two children.

The Tasmin was the last model introduced by Martin Lilley, underlining his somewhat daring time at the helm of the company. Not only should the new car look modern, but it should be easy to bring into compliance with safety and emissions legislation. The name was a portmanteau blend of the Australian Tasman racing series and the female name Tamsin, believed to have been the name of a very attractive girl Lilley knew. At launch, the engine fitted was the 2.8 litre Ford Cologne, borrowed from the Ford Granada, while under the skin lay bits of Cortina, Granada, and Jaguar XJ-S among others. Minor trim items also came from the Ford and BL parts bins.

A desire to sell a budget variant led to the launch of the Tasmin 200 in 1982, using the Pinto from mid range Ford Capris. Just 61 were built owing to the car's lack of desirability, but it did mean that an entry level TVR could be had for under £10,000. In 1984, TVR chose to rename its range using numbers - and the Tasmin 280i became the 280i, the 200 being dropped completely. While officially the first of the Rover V8 cars were Tasmin 350is, we will cover those separately alongside the rest of the V8 Wedge family.

Of course, a V8 Wedge would be an admirable alternative to a Tasmin - as would the Taimar and 3000M which preceded it. If you like the idea but want a different badge, consider the Lotus Eclat as another well trimmed British plastic sportscar, or the Reliant Scimitar if you simply must have a Cologne under the bonnet. If you're happy with the mainstream consider a Ford Capri, especially something interesting like a Turbo Technics conversion or a Tickford - the latter offering performance and the sort of trim TVR man had come to expect.