2003 TVR T350C
The T350C is a coupe based on the running gear of the universally acclaimed Tamora. The concept is to apply TVRs expertise gained in Motorsport to a road car, and both shape and engineering owe much to TVR’s racing programme. It is intended to form the basis of a racing car for the new GT Cup class of the British GT Championship as well as for a number of overseas one-make race series.
This car is available in two forms – the T350C, where C stands for coupe, and the T350T, for targa, which is the version with two removable carbonfibre panels overhead.
The T350 enjoys the performance its looks promise. It is propelled by the same 350 bhp version of TVR’s Speed Six engine that has helped the Tamora to such critical and sales success already.
In the case of the T350, acceleration, top speed and handling have been helped by its aerodynamically superb shape as well as its lower weight and centre of gravity.
Now in production for five years, the Speed Six is a tried and tested unit and has performed admirably in the hothouse environment of GT endurance racing including the Spa 24 hour race in 2002. In all variants, TVR’s own engine has been designed with responsiveness in mind which is the reason for it having individual throttle butterflies per cylinder and a race-type twin plate clutch and small flywheel.
Function dominates form with the T350 and its Motorsport application determines the way the car looks. As a result, every effort has been made to maximise downforce while minimising drag. The frontal area is very smooth without a central radiator intake which helps it punch through the air easily while the sharply cut off tail punctuates the airflow sharply to reduce drag.
The sloping roofline at the back has been very precisely profiled to ensure that the airflow remains attached to the car in order to negate lift. Allied to a diffuser under the exhausts and a splitter at the front, the T350’s shape has been optimised aerodynamically in a way that is simply impossible with a two-seater convertible.
Story by TVR Engineering Ltd
In Detail
| submitted by | Richard Owen |
| engine | Tuscan Inline-6 |
| position | Front Longitudinal |
| aspiration | Natural |
| valvetrain | 4 Valves per Cyl |
| displacement | 3605 cc / 220.0 in³ |
| compression | 11.0:1 |
| power | 261.0 kw / 350.0 bhp @ 7200 rpm |
| specific output | 97.09 bhp per litre |
| bhp/weight | 330.19 bhp per tonne |
| torque | 393.19 nm / 290 ft lbs @ 5500 rpm |
| redline | 7500 |
| body / frame | Composite Bodywork over Tubular Steel Chassis |
| driven wheels | RWD |
| front tires | Avon ZZ3 225/50 ZR16 |
| rear tires | Avon ZZ3 225/50 ZR16 |
| front brakes | Cross Drilled & Ventilated Discs w/4-Piston Calipers |
| f brake size | x 304 mm / x 12.0 in |
| rear brakes | Cross Drilled & Ventilated Discs w/4-Piston Calipers |
| r brake size | x 282 mm / x 11.1 in |
| front wheels | F 40.6 x 19.0 cm / 16.0 x 7.5 in |
| rear wheels | R 40.6 x 19.0 cm / 16 x 7.5 in |
| steering | Rack & Pinion w/Power Assist |
| f suspension | Double Wishbones w/Coil Springs over Gas Dampers, Anti-Roll Bar |
| r suspension | Double Wishbones w/Coil Springs over Gas Dampers, Anti-Roll Bar |
| wheelbase | 2361 mm / 93.0 in |
| length | 3925 mm / 154.5 in |
| width | 1715 mm / 67.5 in |
| transmission | 5-Speed Manual |
| gear ratios | 3.73:1, 2.95:1, 1.95:1, 1.34:1, 1.00:1, 0.80:1, :1 |
| top speed | ~281.6 kph / 175.0 mph |
| 0 – 60 mph | ~4.4 seconds |
| 0 – 100 mph | ~9.5 seconds |
