The TVR story began in 1949 when a young engineer, Trevor Wilkinson, built the first TVR with its own chassis and a Ford engine. However, it took nearly 10 years for the company to be well known, and that was achieved by the Grantura, a short wheelbase sports car sold in kit car form and accepted various engines and running gears. The chassis was a tubular spaceframe, covered by a glass fiber body like Lotus.
However, it was the ’63 Griffith that established the principle for today’s TVR - a powerful engine and lightening performance. It was fundamentally a Grantura with a Ford V8 which had been using in GT-40 and the Mustang Shelby. 271hp pushing the lightweight body gave it a performance nearly matching the mighty AC Cobra.
After a series of bankruptcies and change hands, TVR was stablised in the hands of Lilleys. The Grantura and Griffith were evolved into Tuscan.
In the 70’s, the Grantura-based models were eventually replaced by a new one, M series, whose Lotus-inspired tubular backbone chassis still serves today’s TVRs. Again, various engines could be fitted, such as Ford V6, Triumph’s straight six and even a turbocharged version of the Ford V6.
The current boss, Peter Wheeler, took over TVR in 1982. That decade saw a new series of V8 cars, starting from 350i, then 390i, 420 SEAC and 450 SEAC. An ex-Lotus designer created a wedge-shaped body like the contemporary Lotus Elite and Eclat. The V8 came from Rover but modified or enlarged by TVR itself. The top model’s 4.5-litre unit output 324hp and was faster than a 911 turbo. Later, a smaller model, S, was born.
The 2-car line up was replaced by a trio in the 90’s. First came the new Griffith, with a stylish smooth body and Rover V8. A more civilised variant, Chimaera, was added soon, then followed by a much modified derivative called Cerbera. The Cerbera has stronger chassis and better handling, also the first TVR engine - a high-revving AJP-V8 designed by engine expert Al Melling. A 24-valve straight six was added in 1998. Based on the Speed Six, a 800hp 7.7-litre V12 appeared in 1999.
