TVR 280S

1989 TVR S1 280S

Offered by Brightwells | Leominster, U.K. | March 2024

Photo – Brightwells

The TVR S Series was produced from 1987 through 1994 and was kind of the gap car between the company’s wedges and their “modern” line of cars that consisted of the Griffith, Chimaera, Cerbera, and Tuscan.

The first S car was the S1, or the 280S. It is powered by a 2.8-liter Ford Cologne V6 that made 160 horsepower. The car could hit 60 in eight seconds on its way to a 128-mph top end.

This was the first new TVR product under director Peter Wheeler, and about 605 S1 cars were built before it gave way to the S2, etc. This one has been repainted blue and has an estimate of $7,700-$10,000. More info can be found here.

TVR Vixen

1969 TVR Vixen S2

Offered by Iconic Auctioneers | Silverstone, U.K. | August 26, 2023

Photo – Iconic Auctioneers

Well look at that, Silverstone Auctions changed their name. Now they are “Iconic Auctioneers,” which is a tad self congratulatory. But anyway, they are still offering some pretty cool cars, including this TVR Vixen.

All early TVRs pretty much look the same, and the Vixen was the company’s four-cylinder (and later six-cylinder) car. It replaced the similar-looking Grantura in 1967 and was offered across four series and a few sub-models. V8-powered cars were called the Tuscan.

This S2 is one of 438 such cars built and is powered by a 1.6-liter Ford Kent crossflow inline-four. The body is fiberglass and the whole package is pretty light. They’re quick, but not quite as insane as a Tuscan. This one has been owned by the same guy for 50 years and should sell for between $22,000-$30,000. Click here for more info.

Update: Sold $20,144.

TVR 1600M

1976 TVR 1600M

Offered by Brightwells | August 2023

Photo – Brightwells

TVR replaced the Vixen and Tuscan with their M Series line of cars beginning in 1972. The first model launched was this, the 1600M. The cars rode on a steel backbone chassis, and every M Series car shared pretty much identical fiberglass bodywork.

The 1600M drew power from a 1.6-liter Ford Kent inline-four sourced from the Ford Capri. It made 86 horsepower, which was enough for the car to attain 105 mph. TVR axed the 1600M after a year of production, but brought it back in 1975, and it continued on until 1977.

Just 148 were produced, and about half are thought to survive. This one was re-done in the 1990s and was recently returned to roadworthiness. It now has an estimate of $18,000-$21,000. Click here for more info.

Update: Not sold.

Cerbera Speed 12

2000 TVR Cerbera Speed 12

Offered by Silverstone Auctions | Sywell, England | May 20, 2023

Photo – Silverstone Auctions

Holy grail territory right here. As far as 1990s (and early 2000s) unobtanium supercars go, they don’t get much harder to come by than this. And that’s because it is the only one ever completed. The basic road-going Cerbera is already a pretty outlandish car. But TVR turned it up to 11… er 12, with this one.

The idea for this car first surfaced in 1996 with the Project 7/12 concept. It was aimed at GT1 competition. By 1998, the first race car was ready. Now called the Speed 12, the car competed in a few British GT Championship races. In 2000, a GT2 racer was completed, and TVR started taking orders for the road-going version.

Then Peter Wheeler, the head of TVR, drove one of the prototypes and realized it was too insane – even for TVR – to sell to the public. That’s because the car was powered by a 7.7-liter V12 that made around 840 horsepower. TVR’s with fewer cylinders and much less power are known to be handfuls.

So TVR dismantled all of the prototypes, except one. Over the next few years it was upgraded with all of their racing know-how, including the engine. It was purchased by the current owner in 2010 and has been kept in ready-to-go condition by a former TVR mechanic. Silverstone hasn’t put an estimate on it, but you can read more here.

Update: Sold $736,235.

TVR 3000M

1977 TVR 3000M

Offered by Historics Auctioneers | London, U.K. | February 25, 2023

Photo – Historics Auctioneers

TVR‘s M-Series of cars defined the marque for the 1970s. They launched in 1972 with the 1600M. The 3000M debuted in October 1972, and just 654 were built, although mechanically identical variants such as the hatchback Taimar and the drop-top 3000S would add to that total, as would a small number of turbocharged cars.

Power in the 3000M is provided by a 3.0-liter Ford V6 rated at 138 horsepower. The body is fiberglass, which is finished in blue over an off-white leather interior here.

These are relatively affordable old sports cars that will make onlookers do a double-take, especially in the U.S. but in Europe as well, as these are not a common sight anywhere. The pre-sale estimate here is $15,000-$20,000. Click here for more info.

Update: Not sold.

TVR Tuscan Challenge

1999 TVR Tuscan Challenge

Offered by Silverstone Auctions | Silverstone, U.K. | August 26-27, 2022

Photo – Silverstone Auctions

The first TVR Tuscan was a car built in the 1960s. It was essentially a V8- (or V6)-powered version of the Grantura. The name was reused on the somehow more-wild Tuscan Speed Six of 1999-2006. In the intervening years, a Tuscan Challenge one-marque racing series took place.

Beginning in 1989, the Tuscan Challenge spec race car ran in a single-make series put on by TVR. The last season was around 2006. The cars resembled the early-1990s Griffith and Chimaera but actually debuted before either car. It’s somewhat unclear how many race cars were built in 1989 and later updated and modified, or how many they continued to build new over the next decade. This one was built new by TVR in 1999.

It’s powered by a either a 4.4-liter or 4.5-liter V8. Race wins for this chassis totaled four in the 1999 season and three the following year in which it took second in the championship. It now has an estimate of $79,000-$91,000. Click here for more info.

Update: Not sold.

TVR 350i

1985 TVR 350i Convertible

Offered by Brightwells | Leominster, U.K. | December 4-9, 2021

Photo – Brightwells

In late 1983, the TVR Tasmin 280i was upgraded with a bigger engine and renamed the Tasmin 350i. In 1984, the Tasmin name was dropped and the model became known simply as the 350i. It was offered as a coupe and convertible.

The engine is a 3.5-liter Rover V8 that made 190 horsepower when new, enough to scoot this little wedge to 130 mph. Over 1,000 350is were built, so they aren’t incredibly rare, but the relatively low entry point (price-wise) hasn’t likely leant itself to a spectacular survival rate.

But this one looks pretty nice and benefits from an engine rebuild about 2,000 miles ago. And, yes, it kind of looks like an FC RX-7. It now carries a pre-sale estimate of $12,000-$15,000. Click here for more info and here for more from this sale.

Update: Sold $10,089.

TVR 290S

1992 TVR S3 290S

Offered by Brightwells | Leominster, U.K. | March 27-April 1, 2021

Photo – Brightwells

TVR produced an “S” series of cars between 1986 and 1994. They were the transition between the wedge-shaped TVRs of the 1980s and the insanity of the 1990s. There were four “S” cars powered by V6s, and there was the V8S.

The S2, S3, and S4 all shared the same 168-horsepower, 2.9-liter Ford V6. The changes between the series were mostly cosmetic (or emissions-related), and the S3 was launched in 1990. It got a stiffer chassis than earlier cars as well as longer doors and an interior redesign.

Only 887 examples of the S3 were built through 1992, making it the most common of the S cars. But, uh, they are still not common at all. This is a cheap way into TVR ownership (though there is nothing saying that TVR ownership will remain cheap). The pre-sale estimate is just $8,700-$10,000. Click here for more info and here for more from this sale.

Update: Sold $8,524.

Chimaera 4.5

1999 TVR Chimaera 4.5

Offered by Brightwells | Online | December 10, 2020

Photo – Brightwells

The Chimaera was TVR’s “tourer.” It was intended for long-distance cruising and was sold between 1992 and 2003. Now, TVRs don’t have the world’s greatest reputation for reliability (so take “long-distance” with a grain of salt), but the intent was still there. Also, who cares. TVRs are awesome. And this one has over 90,000 miles, so take that, reliability skeptics.

There were a number of different power levels of Chimaera offered. We’ve featured a 4.0-liter example previously, and this one is two steps up. The 4.5 is powered by a 4.5-liter Rover V8 rated at 285 horsepower. Top speed was supposed to be 160 mph.

All Chimaeras were drop-tops, and only one model was slotted in above the 4.5. This example is finished in Canyon Red over Biscuit leather. It is expected to sell for between $13,500-$16,000. Click here for more info and here for more from this sale.

Update: Sold $14,903

TVR Grantura

1961 TVR Grantura Series II

Offered by RM Sotheby’s | Online/Somewhere in Europe | June 3-11, 2020

Photo Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

Remember the Griffith? That insane short-wheelbase coupe powered by a huge Ford V8? Well, this is the AC Ace to the Griffith’s Cobra. TVR’s Grantura was built in a number of series between 1958 and 1967. No V8s here – these were all four-cylinder-powered.

Series II cars were built between 1960 and 1962, and like other Granturas, they feature a fiberglass body and mechanical parts from other cars on sale at the time. Some cars used bits from Volkswagens, MGs, Triumphs, or Austin-Healeys. This car is powered by a 1.6-liter inline-four from an MGA. That was a factory option.

With this engine, which produced 79 horsepower in the MGA, the Grantura was capable of 98 mph. Approximately 400 Series II cars were built, making it the most popular of all Granturas. This right-hand-drive example should bring between $27,000-$38,000 when it sells at no reserve. Click here for more info and here for more from this sale.

Update: Sold $19,743.