Wheels: Classic Cars

Wednesday, August 24, 2005

Shows/events • Weekly Cruise Nights

BY BRIAN BEAULIEU
Journal Staff Writer

If the name and the shape of this British sports coupe aren't familiar, it's because only 24 were made in a three-year span and just 12 of those found their way to the United States.

But the engine is the famous Ford 289 cubic-inch V8, hooked up to a high-output Mustang five-speed gearbox -- the same setup Carroll Shelby installed in his first little Cobras.

The TVR company -- the initials are for the founder -- began building kit cars in 1947 and has weathered many ownerships. It is still making cars and has just been bought by a Russian businessman.

Owner Jorgen Mortensen of Rehoboth used to race Austins and Minis and is one of the many British car aficionados in the area. He had another TVR, which he sold last year, and bought this one because he wanted a V8.

Because it's hand-made by an independent manufacturer, the TVR uses almost any available powerplant. Some models have Triumph inline six-cylinders, some have four cylinders and Ford V6s. One model had an 800-hp V12, but it was quickly replaced when it was found to be too powerful. This one makes 300 hp.

The fiberglass body is light, and it sits on a tubular frame. The Tuscan, made from 1967-70, is on a 95-inch wheelbase, so it doesn't need a monster engine.

"It was way ahead of its time," says Mortensen, a plant manager in Fall River. "It has independent suspension, a live rear axle and height-adjustable shocks." He added Recarro racing seats, a roll bar and a fire retardation system after he did a ground-up restoration three years ago. And the 16-inch wheels are not stock.

Mortensen takes the TVR to special events and to time trials at area race tracks. "I've had it up to 130," he says.

ENGINE/TRANSMISSION: 289-hp cubic-inch Ford V8; five-speed manual.

COLOR: British racing green.

MILEAGE: 80,000 on rebuild.

PLATE: 2966 HV

CAN BE SEEN: Fridays at Scituate gazebo.

CONDITION: Pristine restoration.

If you have a classic car you wish to be considered for this feature, please e-mail bbeaulie@projo.com with details.

Shows/events • Weekly Cruise Nights

AUGUST

Aug, 25 -- Inside Scoop, 1105 Scituate Ave., Cranston, 5:30-dusk.

Aug. 27 -- Clement's Market, Route 138, Portsmouth, 11-3.

Aug. 27, 28 -- Military vehicle show, Quonset Air Museum, North Kingstown, 10-4.

Aug. 27, 28 -- Mopar show and swap meet, Golf Land, Route 83, Vernon, Conn. Saturday 9-3, Sunday 8-4.

Aug. 28 -- Show and flea market, Somerset Middle School, 1141 Brayton Ave., Somerset, 10-5.

Aug. 28 -- Plainfield School, Route 14A, Plainfield, Conn., 8-4.

Aug. 28 -- Buick show, Quality Inn, Route 20, Vernon, Conn., 8-3.

Aug. 28 -- Vintage Ford day, includes Lincolns and Mercurys, pre-1970, Museum of Transportation, Newton Street, Brookline, Mass., 10-3.

Aug. 31 -- American Legion post, Route 79, south of Route 140, Berkley, Mass., 5-dusk.

SEPTEMBER

Sept. 1 -- Regional High School, Route 106, South Easton, Mass., 6-9.

Sept. 2 -- Mattapoisett wharf, Mattapoisett, Mass., 5-9.

Sept. 2-5 -- Vintage Festival, Lime Rock Park, 497 Lime Rock Rd., Lakeville, Conn., 9-6 each day.

Sept. 3 -- Market Place Plaza, 1160 Stafford Rd., Tiverton, 4-dusk.

Sept. 4 -- All-makes show, St. Angelo Buick-Pontiac-GMC, 500 Taunton Ave., East Providence, 8-4. Postponed from May 15.

Sept. 4 -- Fort Getty, Jamestown, 9-3.

Sept. 5 -- Labor Day show, Lodge of Elks, Attleboro, 9:30-3.

Sept. 8 -- Inside Scoop, 1105 Scituate Ave., Cranston, 5:30-dusk.

Sept. 9 -- St. Mary's Church, Dartmouth Street, Dartmouth, Mass., 5-9.

Sept. 10 -- Mustang show, Tasca Ford, 1300 Pontiac Ave., Cranston, 10-4.

Sept. 10 -- Porsche day, Museum of Transportation, Newton Street, Brookline, Mass., 10-3.

Sept. 11 -- Lions Club show, LaSalette Shrine, Attleboro, 8-3.

Sept. 11 -- Green Room, 145 Clifford St., Providence, 1964 and older cars only, 8-on.

Sept. 11 -- Mercedes-Benz day, Museum of Transportation, Newton Street, Brookline, Mass., 10-3.

Sept. 11 -- Invitation only, Prowse Farm, off Routes 128 and 138, Canton, Mass., 10-3.

Sept. 16 -- Shawmut Diner, Hathaway Road, Exit 3 off Route 140, New Bedford, 5-9.

Sept. 17 -- Middletown Rotary show, Fort Adams State Park, Newport, 10-3. Sept. 17 -- Heritage Invitational, Heritage Museum, 67 Grove St., Sandwich, Mass., 10-2.

Sept. 18 -- Cars and motorcycles, Dexter Street, Central Falls, 9-6.

Sept. 18 -- Brockton Fair grounds, Route 123, Brockton, Mass., 9-3.

Sept. 20 -- West Greenwich Plaza, 780 Victory Highway, West Greenwich, 6-dusk.

Sept. 24 -- Glen Park, Route 138, Portsmouth, 9-3.

Sept. 24 -- Briarcliff Manor, 49 Old Pocasset Rd., Johnston, 11-3.

Sept. 24 -- Pontiac GTO day, Museum of Transportation, Newton Street, Brookline, Mass., 10-3.

Sept. 25 -- Antique equipment, trucks and cars, Boro Sand & Stone, 192 Plain St., North Attleboro, 8-4.

Sept. 25 -- DeSantis Chevrolet, all makes show, Route 28, Brockton, Mass.,m 9-4.

Sept. 25 -- Corvette show, Heritage Museum, 67 Grove St., Sandwich, Mass., 10-2.

Sept. 25 -- Volkswagen Van day, Museum of Transportation, Newton Street, Brookline, Mass., 10-3.

Sam's Club, Route 6, Seekonk, 5-dusk.

Big River Inn, 809 Nooseneck Hill Rd., Route 3, West Greenwich, 5-8.

Burger King-Krispy Kreme lot, Sockanosset Road and Pontiac Avenue, Cranston, 6-9.

Seekonk Speedway, Route 6, Seekonk, 6-dusk.

Middle of Nowhere diner, 223 Nooseneck Hill Rd., Route 3, Exeter, cars and motorcycles, 5-8:30.

Appetites Restaurant, 473 Tiogue Ave., Coventry, 5-8.

Towne Pizza, Plum Corner, off Route 105, Rochester, Mass., 5-9.

Motorcycles, Chan's Restaurant, 267 Main St., Woonsocket, 5:30-8:30.

A&W, Route 44, Smithfield, 6-9.

Oakland Beach, Warwick, 5-9.

Jukebox Diner, Route 6, Somerset, 5-9.

Slater Park, Pawtucket, 5-9.

Patriot's Bar and Grille, Routes 140 and 126, Bellingham, Mass., 6-9.

Motorcycles, Suzy Q's Place, 208 Plainfield Pike, Scituate, 5-9.

Brooks Pharmacy plaza, Washington Street, Canton, Mass., 5:30-dusk.

Warwick Mall, food court entrance, Route 2, Warwick, 6-9.

Denny's, Exit 7 off Route 95, Coventry, 6-9.

Main Street, Woonsocket, 5:30-8:30.

Club Raymond, 1084 Charles St., North Providence, 5-9.

CAP auto store, Fortune Boulevard, Milford, Mass., 6-dusk.

Mohegan Sun, roof of Riverview garage, Uncasville, Conn., 6-9. Begins tonight.

Scrambler's diner, off Route 122, Woonsocket, 5-9.

Star Drive-In, exit 10 off Route 140, Taunton, 5-9.

TGI Fridays, Routes 117 and 2, Warwick, 5-dusk. .

Paddy's Bayside, 159 Atlantic Ave. Misquamicut Beach, Westerly, 5:30-dusk.

McDonald's, Stop & Shop plaza, Route 122, Cumberland, 6-9.

Firestone tire store, Post Road, Route 1, Warwick, 6-9.

Gazebo at the Village Green, Route 116, North Scituate, 5-dusk. British cars and others.

Milk Bottle restaurant, Route 138, Raynham, 5:30-7:30.

Bangma's dairy bar, West Hartford Street, Uxbridge, Mass., 6-9.

Carousel at Crescent Park Drive, Riverside, 5-8. Gold cruise, Gold's gym, Route 109, Millis, Mass. 6-9.

Gold cruise, Gold's gym, Route 109, Millis, Mass. 6-9.

To list an event, e-mail information to Bbeaulie [at] projo.com, phone (401) 277-7179, fax (401) 277-8175 or write to Brian Beaulieu, Journal Features Department, 75 Fountain St., Providence, RI 02902.