Armoured door handle plates - a couple of Q's

[kmpowell]

Probably been asked a million times, but the search doesn't bring up anything.  :embarassed:

1) Can somebody tell me if this were a factory/dealer retrofit on a 90 16valver, or are they after market? 
2) If a car doesn't have them fitted, I presume I won't need to remove anything to check to see if the handle has been 'punched' with a screwdriver?
3) Can these be easily retrofitted, and if so can I buy the bits from VW (I guess that will depend on the answer to Q1) or a specialist etc, and how much are they?

TIA
Kevin

[MarkS]

1) I don't think they came as standard. However I heard you can pick them up from VW or you can go to various parts shops such as GSF

2) If they're not fitted and the handle and surrounding area looks unmolested, you should be ok I think

3) Bit fiddly to fit with only one pair of hands but easily doable! Got mine from a motor factor for about 20quid I think, pretty shoddy fit though.
If they are available from VW, go for a set of them!

Hope this helps.

Completely off topic, but I noticed you owned a T350.
A car I'd love to own one day 
How did you find it?

[Wayne]

Probably been asked a million times, but the search doesn't bring up anything.  :embarassed:

1) Can somebody tell me if this were a factory/dealer retrofit on a 90 16valver, or are they after market? 
2) If a car doesn't have them fitted, I presume I won't need to remove anything to check to see if the handle has been 'punched' with a screwdriver?
3) Can these be easily retrofitted, and if so can I buy the bits from VW (I guess that will depend on the answer to Q1) or a specialist etc, and how much are they?

TIA
Kevin

1) aftermarket and were never offered as a dealer fit option.
2) correct
3) yes easy to fit but not sure who sells them now.

[kmpowell]

Cheers guys - much appreciated. As you will have seen by my other thread I have not had time to go and buy the grey one, and last night a Red one has come up that is a lot cheaper! It doesn't have the armoured plates, so I was curious as to their origins.

Good news that I won't have to take any trim off to check. Also good news that it appears that they can be retrofitted.

Completely off topic, but I noticed you owned a T350.
A car I'd love to own one day 
How did you find it?

One word.... 'Expensive'! I stupidly bought it brand new (I know I know, you don't need to tell me!), and with depreciation and running costs I lost £12k in the time I owned it. Having said that though, no other car I have owned has evoked so much love. It was a truly wonderful machine that made me grin EVERY time I got in it or even looked at her.

[MarkS]

Glad you've got the answers you need mate 


Lovely car!

I think I'd have to go for the Tamora just so I could hear the V8 even more 
With the T350 Headlight conversion I think
I think about cars I can't afford for at least a good 5 years way too much 

[kmpowell]

I think I'd have to go for the Tamora just so I could hear the V8 even more 

You'll have a job - Tamoras, T350s, Sagaris' etc all use a Straight 6, not a V8.
 

With the T350 Headlight conversion I think

Tis ok, but if I were to do a front end replacement on a Tam' it would have to be a Sag' front end like this one that was recently done:

[MarkS]

 
I always thought they came with Rover V8s!  :embarassed:
 


That Sag' front is amazing! 

[Wayne]

I always thought they came with Rover V8s!  :embarassed:
 


That Sag' front is amazing! 

They stopped using the Rover V8 from the Cerbera onwards, the V8 in that was Tvr's own (AJP8) they then switched to the 6cyl which was a badly designed engine and is one of the reasons Tvr went bust due to warranty costs.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TVR_Speed_Eight_engine

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TVR_Speed_Six_engine

[Daston]

Cheers guys - much appreciated. As you will have seen by my other thread I have not had time to go and buy the grey one, and last night a Red one has come up that is a lot cheaper! It doesn't have the armoured plates, so I was curious as to their origins.

Good news that I won't have to take any trim off to check. Also good news that it appears that they can be retrofitted.

Completely off topic, but I noticed you owned a T350.
A car I'd love to own one day 
How did you find it?

One word.... 'Expensive'! I stupidly bought it brand new (I know I know, you don't need to tell me!), and with depreciation and running costs I lost £12k in the time I owned it. Having said that though, no other car I have owned has evoked so much love. It was a truly wonderful machine that made me grin EVERY time I got in it or even looked at her.

Very nice chap was a close call between a T350 and the tuscan but I enjoy my topless fun

[MarkS]

I love how this has turned into a TVR appreciation thread