Marque: TVR - Company History & Models - Cars By Brand

TVR

It is more than 60 years since, what was effectively, the very first TVR was built by talented engineer Trevor Wilkinson. He produced a lightweight special using an Alvis Firebird chassis as the basis. However, it was not until two years later that the first car carrying the TVR name (derived from ‘Trevor’) was built, using a purpose-designed chassis. This model was powered by a Ford 1172cc…

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TVR M Models

RATING:

8 / 10

PRICE: £2000-£7000

Fast Facts

Produced:
1972-80
Bodywork:
Two-door fixed-head coupé three-door hatchback two-door convertible
Engine:
Overhead valve V6 2994cc 142bhp (Turbo 265bhp)
0-60 mph:
7.5 sec (Turbo 6+ sec)
Top Speed:
125 mph (Turbo 130+ mph)
MPG:
18-25

PAST: Introduced in 1972, M stood for Martin, Christian name of owner Martin Lilley, using familiar Vixen-style shape and format. Running up to 1979 the range comprised of the 3500M using TR6-power, 3000M donating its Ford Capri V6 engine and the smallest seller, the Cortina GT powered 1600M which was intended to replace the Vixen. Both it and the 2500M were dropped in 1977, two years after a V6 Turbo was introduced. Taimar hatch came in ’76 with a convertible during ’78.

PRESENT: Good old school TVRs with power to match, although TR6 engine only rated at 106bhp. Nice to drive with classic RWD handling and well appointed but not as refined as they first appear.

FUTURE: Thanks to GRP construction, there’s low attrition rate and more than half still survive. Mechanicals prove few problems. Inexpensive, shatteringly fast Turbos and ultra rare ’Martin’ special edition models most valued.

TVR 350I/390SE

RATING:

6 / 10

PRICE: £4000-£13,000

Fast Facts

Produced:
1983-92
Bodywork:
Two-door fixedhead coupé two-door convertible
Engine:
Overhead valve V8 350i 3528cc 190bhp; 390SE 3950cc 275-300bhp 4550cc 324bhp
0-60 mph:
350i 6 sec; 390SE 5.5+ sec
Top Speed:
350i 135+ mph; 390SE 145 mph 420SE 160+
MPG:
18-24

PAST: Spawn from the Tasmin family the V8 range became a stand alone line up in its own right with the 350i. Introduced in 1993, the Rover unit was the 3.5 but in 190bhp Vitesse EFI tune. These coupes and convertibles are more aggressively styled over the Tasmin and better appointed as well. 420 SEAC for ’85 (initials for body make-up) had 300bhp, topped by the mighty 450SE at the turn of the decade the latter
providing 324bhp.

PRESENT: Tasmin by another name but these later models offer serious cred thanks to their raw power although the 80’s power-dressing look won’t appeal to everybody. The 420 hits 160mph but even the 350s are more than quick enough plus can return over 20mpg. One of the roomiest and accommodating TVRs.

FUTURE: If any Tasmin is going to make the financial
grade it is these later cars. Good value still.

TVR Carbera

RATING:

8 / 10

PRICE: £13,000-£28,000+

Fast Facts

Produced:
1993-2006
Bodywork:
Two-door fixedhead two-plus-two coupé
Engine:
Speed Six Twin overhead camshaft straight six-cylinder 3996cc 350bhp; Overhead valve V8 4.0: 3947cc 240bhp; Speed Eight Twin overhead camshaft V8 4.2 4185cc
360bhp; 4.5 4475cc 420bhp
0-60 mph:
Speed Six 4+ sec 4.0: 4.5+ sec; Speed Eight 4.2 4.2 sec 4.5 4+ sec
Top Speed:
Speed Six 160 mph 4.0: 150+ mph; Speed Eight 4.2 160 mph. 4.5 180 mph
MPG:
15-23

PAST: A hard top take on Chimaera with more usability from a larger 2+2 body. Launched in 1996 and produced till 2006 (three years after Chimaera), Cerbera boasts TVR’s own ‘Speed Six’ and AJP8 twin cam engines. Originally a 4.2 V8 (360bhp), in July ‘97 came the ultimate 4.5 litre (420bhp) with the entry model Speed Six following in Spring 1998. The six is a traditional straight pot, the AJ unit a V8. Revisions as per Chimaera.

PRESENT: A crushingly powerful coupe, there’s little to touch a Cerbera even if it is bigger and heavier than the ‘Griff’. Shorn of ABS and any driver aids, it is as serious as they get. The rear seats are kid’s stuff only and while the cabin looks plush and inviting, is no relaxing tourer.

FUTURE: Will become a classic certainly but buy the best you can as these TVR-made engines can be horrendously unreliable and expensive to fix while many cars have been stuffed into the barriers on track days!

TVR Chimaera

RATING:

7 / 10

PRICE: £8000-£16,000

Fast Facts

Produced:
1993-2003
Bodywork:
Two-door fixedhead coupé two-door convertible
Engine:
Overhead valve V8 4.0 3947cc 240bhp; 4.5 4550cc 285bhp; 5.0 4997cc 320 bhp
0-60 mph:
4.0 4.5+ sec; 4.5 4.5+ sec, 5.0 4+ sec
Top Speed:
4.0 150+ mph; 4.5 160 mph, 5.0 165+ mph
MPG:
4.0: 15-23; 4.5 11-18+; 5.0 10-18

PAST: Chimaera was arguably the first ‘popularist’ TVR. A ‘softer’ alternative to the similar Griffith, it was larger and more practical. Rover V8-powered of course (4.0/240bhp), but in 1994 the Rover gearbox was replaced by a B/W T5 unit. By the close of that year the engine option had stretched to 5-litre (325bhp) and at one time the choice was 4.0, 4.5 and 5-litres. The shape remained largely unchanged save for minor revisions, the most important being when the headlamps were faired in and the seats improved.

PRESENT: In essence, Chimaera is the modern Healey personified. Performance is terrific whatever engine you choose with the 4-litre being the most usable. The power steering is well geared and the handling is predictable and neutral – except in the wet.

FUTURE: They are as cheap as they’ll ever be and the market recognises this. TVR engines differ from normal V8 but parts supply and support remains good.

TVR Grifith

RATING:

8 / 10

PRICE: £8000-£18,000

Fast Facts

Produced:
1991-1997
Bodywork:
Two-door fixedhead convertible
Engine:
Overhead valve V8 3950cc 240bhp; Overhead valve V8 4998cc 350bhp (TVR Power/Rover)
0-60 mph:
4-5 sec
Top Speed:
150-160mph
MPG:
19-25

PAST: First of the genuine Peter Wheeler-inspired TVRs, the brutish Griffith was introduced in 1991 and ran until 1997. If the Chimaera is a modern Healey then arguably Griffith is a cut-price Cobra. Basis of car is a 450SEAC Tuscan. Originally Rover motivated (Rover/TVR tuned) later cars feature TVR’s own ‘Speed Six’. Limited run ‘500’ was 5-litre stop-gap model before AJP engine could be installed. SE was latter take on car representing last 100 made and can be as recent as 2002 reg.

PRESENT: Perhaps the purest modern TVR of them all, even power steering was optional, the Griffith is lovely old school he-man super-car stuff with awesome performance and handling. Cockpit is surprisingly luxurious for such a raw road burner and still one of TVR best efforts.

FUTURE: So long as you buy a good one Griffiths are superb value, starting comfortably under £10K. Rover V8 models cheapest and easily the simplest to look after.

TVR S/V8S

RATING:

8 / 10

PRICE: £4000-£9000

Fast Facts

Produced:
1986-94
Bodywork:
Two-door fixedhead convertible
Engine:
Overhead valve Ford V6 2792cc 160bhp; Overhead valve Ford V6 2.9-litre 170bhp; Overhead valve V8 3950cc 240bhp
0-60 mph:
7-8 sec
Top Speed:
130+ mph
MPG:
19-25

PAST: TVR re-invented the M with the S to appeal to traditionalists back in the mid 80s. Tasmin-derived, but convertible only, it used Ford power (2.8/160bhp, then 2.9/170bhp for ‘89 (S2)) or the 3.9-litre Rover V8. In 1990 the S3 was introduced with modified doors for easier entry and egress.

PRESENT: An unsung hero in TVR circles, it combined the looks of the much loved M with the improvements dialled into the Tasmin. All are strong performers with good handling, although as with all TVRs the drive quality depends on how the car has been looked after; tired ones can feel floppy. Naturally V8S best but V6 will suffice for many, particularly less asthmatic 2.9.

FUTURE: This modern retro is both cheap and yet a good bet for the future. Amazingly given a healthy production run, they are quite thin on the ground, but being relatively modern parts supply is fine.

TVR Tasmin

RATING:

5 / 10

PRICE: £1500-£6000

Fast Facts

Produced:
1980-87
Bodywork:
Two-door fixedhead coupé ‘two-plus-two’ convertible
Engine:
Overhead camshaft 1998cc 100bhp; Overhead valve V6 2792cc 160bhp; Overhead valve V8 3528cc 190bhp; Overhead valve V8 3950cc 275bhp
0-60 mph:
7-10 sec
Top Speed:
110-130 mph
MPG:
19-25

PAST: Replacement for the attractive M models was the very 80s wedge-styled Tasmin, designed by Oliver Winterbotton (who penned the futuristic Lotus Elite) based upon a modified M chassis. Initially a fastback when launched in 1980, a 2+2 cabrio followed. Original engine was Ford’s 2.8V6. In ’81 the 200 was launched with Cortina 2-litre power as an entry model. Not popular so for ’83 TVR went the other way and slotted in the evergreen Rover V8; 190bhp initially then a 3.9-litre 275bhp unit for ‘84. Series 2 cars featured a tidier look and V8s up to 4.5 litres.

PRESENT: Driving much better than they look, Tasmins are serious sports cars, especially the V8s where up to 425bhp is offered in the end. Ex-Lotus chassis man Ian Jones made the handling good and up for V8 grunt.

FUTURE: More than 2500 were made so there’s plenty around and still absurdly cheap; £6000 buys the best, although the bad ones can be truly tatty. Prices will rise say experts but all the same be choosy.

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