I bought myself 4200 GT

giorgio01

Member
Messages
223
Hello everyone,
Some of you may know already from previous posts regarding my Maserati engined TVR.
This time I bought myself not just the engine but entire car and I'm planning to share a thing or two asto what I will do with it.
It's a 04 plate 4200 with manual transmission and 51k mls. on the clock. Obviously it needs some work but I must admit I was expecting a lot more to do then what it turns out ( I guess Im a bit lucky here so far anyway)
First impressions : I did allowed my friend who owns a 2006 4200CC with also 53k mls to test drive it and his words was " I think it's quicker/more powerful then mine" so I'm really pleased with that.
I can only compare it to my TVR so the 4200 is like a (and don't get me wrong here) normal but powerful car that I can use every day (which I like btw), and I say that because my TVR I like a very powerful go-cart that's trying to kill you every time you don't use the driving aids with respect ( read - power steering, arms and foots)
Anyway things I've done already :
  • cleaned and tide up interior
  • sticky vents
  • cleaned and tide up engine bay
Things on the list for the next couple of weeks:
  • engine oil and filter (including copper washers)
  • gearbox oil and filter ( including copper washers)
  • pollen filter
  • air filter
  • adjust handbrake
  • make it louder
  • clean underside and wheel arches ( on initial inspection not even surface rust on the subframes but I will tackle if necessary)
  • new battery and c-tek
Things to do later in the summer
  • hid or led conversion
  • Sticky buttons
  • refurbish the clutch ( no need yet as it's not slipping so just a precaution)
  • lube/check/adjust gear links
  • possibly new brakes
  • wheels back to original colourIMG_20210312_160827.jpgIMG_20210312_160840.jpgIMG_20210312_175546.jpgIMG_20210313_102247.jpgIMG_20210313_103226.jpgIMG_20210308_105057.jpgIMG_20210308_135210.jpgIMG_20210306_154555.jpgIMG_20210312_160816.jpg
I think that's it for now
Some pictures before and after
 
Last edited:

FIFTY

Member
Messages
3,100
Awesome, congrats on the new purchase

I have been in a few convoys with TVRs while driving my 4200 and I see what you mean they are so low and small in comparison they must feel miles appart
 

FIFTY

Member
Messages
3,100
I just realised that this is the green one at auction that seemed to have been neglected a bit by the previous owner(s) and left standing.

Glad you picked it up in the end as you will turn the car around nicely I am sure. Also pleased to read that it did not turn out to be as bad as the description/photos may have suggested on the auction site
 

giorgio01

Member
Messages
223
Awesome, congrats on the new purchase

I have been in a few convoys with TVRs while driving my 4200 and I see what you mean they are so low and small in comparison they must feel miles appart
Bare in mind that mine is fitted with Maserati 4.7 pushing 480hp in a car that weighs less than 1300kg and no driving aids except for power steering and arms/foots
 

giorgio01

Member
Messages
223
I just realised that this is the green one at auction that seemed to have been neglected a bit by the previous owner(s) and left standing.

Glad you picked it up in the end as you will turn the car around nicely I am sure. Also pleased to read that it did not turn out to be as bad as the description/photos may have suggested on the auction site
Yes I was expecting a lot worse, but it actually is in very good shape surprisingly
 

Chimaera500

Member
Messages
189
Looking good!

I have had quite a few TVRs including an early Cerbera 4.5. One of my all time favorite cars and one of the quickest I have owned, and that was with with standard AJP V8 engine. Bet yours is pretty special to drive!
Proper TVR color as well! Mine was Raspberry Metallic with Blue leather.
 

FIFTY

Member
Messages
3,100
Did you work out the source of the mildew they mentioned on the advert?

Have you checked the heater matrix?
 

giorgio01

Member
Messages
223
Did you work out the source of the mildew they mentioned on the advert?

Have you checked the heater matrix?
The smell from the carpet suggest that it might/was leaking sometime in the past. Saying that the carpet is bone dry, no misting on the windscreen, fan and heating working as they should, car is not overheating, coolant level normal and I've done about 150mls in it. All that suggest that it might have been done but I'm planning to replace it anyway next winter.
As for mildew looks to me as it was caused by condensation from a long storage in unheated garage (same thing happened to my friends BMW) as there are no signs of the car being stored outside (like green window and door seals, some "mud" in hard to get to places) just a few leaves and dusted and the mildew itself was just surface no bad smell and it came off very easy. Now it's all cleaned I've used AUTOGLYM IMG_20210308_101700.jpg
 

FIFTY

Member
Messages
3,100
@giorgio01 it would need to be a pretty bad failure for it to soak the carpets (heater matrix) the carpets could have been soaked by the detritus in the drain holes/pollen filters or the AC drain getting blocked and backing up causing it to excrete into the passenger footwell.

The heater matrix tends to be more sinister in the way it fails. Often it will only be a small drip onto the wiring loom directly underneath the heater matrix. The wiring loom will distribute the coolant the the front of the footwells slowly... How to check is by removing the kick plate for the fuse boxes in the passenger footwell and potentially the cover for the side of the transmission tunnel (I cannot recall if the latter is in the way) and reach behind the centre of the dashboard feel around the floor and loom for dampness and the tell tale sweet taste of coolant
 

giorgio01

Member
Messages
223
@giorgio01 it would need to be a pretty bad failure for it to soak the carpets (heater matrix) the carpets could have been soaked by the detritus in the drain holes/pollen filters or the AC drain getting blocked and backing up causing it to excrete into the passenger footwell.

The heater matrix tends to be more sinister in the way it fails. Often it will only be a small drip onto the wiring loom directly underneath the heater matrix. The wiring loom will distribute the coolant the the front of the footwells slowly... How to check is by removing the kick plate for the fuse boxes in the passenger footwell and potentially the cover for the side of the transmission tunnel (I cannot recall if the latter is in the way) and reach behind the centre of the dashboard feel around the floor and loom for dampness and the tell tale sweet taste of coolant
Thanks for the advice, I'll check it.
 

EnzoMC

Member
Messages
1,998
congrats and very nice, I like the interior colour very much and looking good

old work friend has a TVR and planning on driving round EU later this year, covid permitting. Sounds like he is really looking forward. They have a great sound and are the English muscle cars.

oh and welcome to the forum, lot of good people on here always willing to help, but subject threads will change - so be prepared :)