Patrick suggested we swap cars and compare. I was all for the idea, as I wanted to try out the Sabre anyway. The comparison is very interesting, as both cars have the same engine and similar mechanics.

The mechanical construction is very similar, both are spaceframe and GRP bodies, both share Cortina front suspension, although the TVR (theoretically) benefits from independent rear suspension and all round discs, whereas the Sabre uses a solid axle.

TVRs of this period are much like kit cars in any case, many parts being standard from a variety of manufacturers with a few TVR special items.

Having built two kits myself and helped in several others, I knew that the Sabre was a good quality kit. I expected the vehicles to be closely matched when I considered it.

The 2.8 Cologne was Ford's Essex (3.0) V6 replacement, and arrived in UK in about 1980. The Essex dates from somewhere around 1967 (?).

The Essex powered earlier TVRs (as originally my Tuscan V6), but it was relatively heavy, rough, gruff, gas-guzzler, and not very clean on emissions. The 2.8 was lighter and cleaner but turned out to be low on torque so the Essex soldiered on in the Capri until the 2.8i turned up.

In UK, Kits used the Essex until the Colognes got old enough to be cheap, but now appear widely, in both carb and injection varieties.

It was indeed a brilliant day. Patrick and I did the petrolhead small talk and got on with it.

Driving Impressions Sabre

It's too small!! I have nowhere to put my left foot. I can't put it in the tunnel as it fits under the wide brake pedal. The seat is as far back as the rails will go. Not Enough!! Oh well, I can live with it for a while.

I admit I don't fit within the normal driver size criteria, so I accept that I am sitting too high, which makes the window seem too low, and my shoulders hit the side glass.

The steering wheel sits a bit low too.

OK - well, if I was building it, it would be back to Alex to see how to get the seat at least 50mm (preferably 75 or more) lower, and at least 100mm further back. I think there is scope for rearward movement with the right seat shape, and it looks like this seat is on spacers - Good - I could probably fit in with the right setup.

Hmm.. Front visibility is poorer than Tas, but I'm too high so this exaggerates the effect. Windscreen top doesn't come as far in as Tas either.

Turn Starter for that auto-only clatter of the driveplate. Hey - I'm surprised by how quiet it is. (yeah some tappet rattle from engine - this doesn't count !)

Andrew on the Tasmin Likes Rear and all round view is excellent. Brakes excellent but can feel a bit 'dead' on the pedal Has excellent grin factor. Handling is excellent. Very strong spaceframe. Looks, always turns heads. Performance is OK (I really want a V8 version !), but can still mix it up with most hot hatches. It's actually quite good on gas. It's big enough for me to be comfortable. One of the simplest and effective hood designs I have ever seen. Parts (relatively) easily available Brilliant door mechanical design - no sagging Excellent design means no wind buffeting with hood down, even at 120 Kph. Dislikes Ugly with the lights up (aren't they all) Heater is appalling, and de-mister a waste of time. GRP moulding finish not nearly as good as the Sabre, but is probably thicker Build Quality is average to poor Instruments too small and very difficult to read. Not enough ground clearance. Steering is heavy at low speeds (Power Steering an option I am considering) Centre pod design makes switches difficult to find. Can get reflection problems on screen and instruments. Cooling flow poor - tends to overheat. (fixed in V8 models)

Moment of panic as Patrick engages reverse in front of me. I am about to scream but he realises quickly. (I DID tell him it's four speed, but not where reverse was)

Patrick moves off - a jerk or two, but yes the Tas clutch IS heavy - and the steering too. Engage 'D' and hit throttle. Hmm, auto a bit slow on pickup and also get a jumpy start. Throttle response seems very sluggish, but checking speedo reveals it actually isn't.

Again surprised by smoothness and quietness overall. Steering response is too bloody good, and poor feel of the road. Ford power steering - I don't like it. It makes the Sabre seem very light.

So - chasing the Tasmin is an unusual experience. I can hear the Tasmin's exhaust over the Sabre's - wow I didn't realise it was THAT noisy.

Nice seats, even in this small cabin - Hmm - must ask Patrick where they come from, they're better than the Tasmin's.

Dash is nice, although obviously Cortina. This isn't all bad, Ford are good at readable instruments and intelligent layout. Engine seems to turn too fast for road speed, although quieter than I thought. (Patrick is still using the 2.3 gearing and auto box - suspect higher rear diff will do well in light car, and it may help the shifts, which also seem too early).

When Patrick accelerates away, it's obvious that the Tasmin has better 'punch' than the Sabre, but it doesn't take very long to catch up, so there isn't a big performance difference, just the slushbox makes progress deceptive. Chasing a quick corner reveals some body roll, and it doesn't feel as secure as Tasmin, but I admit that's probably my unfamiliarity with the power steering. Hitting throttle in corner increases roll slightly and then get slight creep of rear to oversteer - Good - seems very stable. Agree with Patrick that for road use is probably as good as Tasmin.

Very good at speed, little wind buffeting, (even with me too high) although the bonnet corners shake. A short bumpy stretch near home does reveal a few creaks and a very slight hop from the rear with power on, but nothing alarming.

Hmm.... wonder what it's like with a tuned V8 ?

Interior Sabre

As I said, Sabre seems small by comparison with Tasmin, even after trying to ignore seating position. Footwells seem shorter, and cabin narrower. This is probably down the wonderful curves of the body. The dash is tidy but not quite as classic as the Tasmins', but hey I can read the gauges ! (Tasmin's are awful). Also, plastic can be repaired a lot more cheaply than cracked wood veneer.

The Sabre's trim all fits neatly and looks a professional job. The Tasmin's is old and apart from showing its age, was not too good in the first place. Agree totally with Patrick's comment about the doors...

Exterior Sabre

The profile as in the photos isn't much different in size, but couldn't be more different in shape !! The Tasmin is definitely dated by its angular wedge design (actually quite a few people never liked it). I wanted a Lotus Elan too - until I got to sit in one -that is until I tried to sit in one - just how tall was Colin Chapman? Later on I heard about their reliability, and that clinched my decision. I still want to drive a TR8 though - Just to see what it's like.

It's interesting to note that even TVR went back to the curve style after the wedge series, and it was immediately popular. After a few years refining with the 'S' series, they produced the truly stunning Griffith and Chimaera bodies. The Sabre doesn't have the gorgeous lines of these cars, but it sits well alongside modern designs. In fact I could even say it's not very individual in this company, which is a small negative.

For some strange reason, Joe Public always associates TVR with Triumph. It's probably confusion with the TR range, but it's one of life little irritations. In UK, driving is fun in a TVR wedge as most drivers think they are all super fast V8s and simply move over. Doesn't happen here unfortunately!

I don't think anyone could confuse the Tasmin with a Viper ... I'll let Patrick enjoy that one.

Anyway - I think both cars have some ugly angles and some good ones. The Sabre scores best here in my opinion, its curves are good. Both cars look nasty with the hood up - the TVR even more so from the back, although the hood is visible on the Sabre from the front, whereas it isn't on the Tasmin.

And the Winner IS...

I didn't have a clear idea of the better car like Patrick. I like the Tasmin, but would like to try a Sabre with lower and more rearward seats. I prefer more road feel and a manual box, and the Sabre could be built this way.

I was generally impressed by the Sabre, its quietness and supple ride with no creaks or groans, no wind noise at speed, good roadholding. It does feel lighter than Tasmin, but with more roll - Patrick admits he used softer springs for better ride - I would have stayed with harder ones, although the Tasmin can 'crash' into bumps sometimes. I suspect the Sabre won't match the Tasmin's handling at the limits (it's also what TVR designs excel at), but I could be wrong.

Some niggles in the Tasmin are down to its age, some creaks and stuff that needs fixing, whereas the Sabre is "new" by comparison.

The Sabre with a manual box would be closer in performance and might prove quicker at some points as it is lighter, I haven't a clue if it's slipperier than the Tasmin, there's probably not much in it. I have driven the Tasmin at 125mph in UK (on a closed road of course) and it still felt rock solid on the road. I would be interested what the Sabre is like at these speeds.

Patrick compares the $120,000 dollars for a TVR to the Sabre - Hmm... I don't see it that way, as for this money today you can buy a much newer model, which will blow away the Sabre in performance and handling (and the V8 Sabres too I think). There was a Griffith 500 for sale last year in Wellington for $90,000. This has the 350hp 5.0 Rover V8 and 0-60mph in 4.3 secs. (!!!)

Second hand Tasmins are around 4-5000 pounds, and the V8 versions 5-7000 for pre 86 models like mine. For NZ this means the Tasmin comes in at er.... 4 grand times exchange rate plus carriage ..... that's 12 - no 13 - no 14 grand (and counting) plus $4,000? to transport it and register for road. So anyone could get a 2.8 Tasmin for let's say 20,000 dollars and a 3.5/4.0 V8 for around 30,000.

My final verdict is (as expected) the Tasmin, probably because it's shape is so unique and it fits me.

But there isn't much in it.

Perhaps we'll try again when Patrick has the P76 lump in his, and I've got the Commodore V6 in the Tasmin ....or I might turbo charge it ..dream on ....

And lastly, it's not THAT hard to get parts for the engines ! You can order through Ford dealers here, there's just a time delay to deal with. Just try getting hold of the top ball joint for the TVR Vixens and Tasmins ... (They are from a 1950 David Brown tractor apparently)