The engine was appallingly unreliable when new, although most will have had their issues fixed by now. Complicated and uncompromising but always involving, the Sagaris is an expensive car to run.
An odd name for an even odder-looking car, but the Grantura set the template to which TVR subscribed until its last days: simple chassis, short wheelbase, front engine, rear drive, glassfibre body panels and somewhat sub-Porsche construction standards.
Early Granturas allowed owners to choose which engine to slot under the bonnet, but later cars were increasingly MG-powered. Surprisingly fast thanks to their extreme light weight, good fun and less scary to drive than they look, Granturas make excellent recreational road cars and even quite competitive historic racers.
Too many to mention by name individually, cars such as the M, M and Taimar provided TVR with a new direction and added a much-needed dash of practicality to the TVR product offering. The cars were better built and more spacious and civilised than any that had gone before, yet with very little deterioration in driver appeal. The series was notable for the introduction of the Taimar Turbo in The Tam-what? Despite being one of the later TVRs, the Tamora is also one of the more obscure.
Engine issues aside, its biggest problem was that it looked odd. On the road, it was perhaps the nicest of all the later TVRs to drive, thanks to almost sensible suspension and a power output somewhere close to the capabilities of the chassis. Advertisement Back to top 7. Gearboxes are strong and rarely give trouble — check that all gears select smoothly and that the clutch is sound. Listen for layshaft wear by dipping the clutch in neutral. Suspension wear is common and will affect your enjoyment of the car — budget for fresh dampers and full bush changes, and possibly a steering rack.
Brakes should be adequate on cars with rear drums, excellent on those with discs all round — slave cylinders and caliper pistons are often seized, especially on cars that spend a lot of their time sitting idle.
I also retrimmed the gearlever and handbrake gaiters and the steering-wheel cowl with leather and made a bespoke armrest. It drives well, corners well, has great acceleration and with no power steering you feel the road more. Beware chassis and wishbone rot, accident damage, modifications and electrical faults. Watch for steel and alloy corrosion. Distinctive to look at, well engineered and simple to work on, without the complex electronics that plague later TVR models, the S range is currently good value for the fun the cars offer.
Starter classics: 14 great cars for a first-timer. Skip to main navigation. By Malcolm McKay. Images: James Mann. TVR S-Series: what to look for. Bodywork See above for trouble spots. Brake lines will probably have been upgraded by now. Check the front splitter for grounding damage.
Electric windows and door locks can be troublesome; damp is often the cause. Roof seals were poor from day one. Heater controls can have a mind of their own.
Engine going west? Consider a rebuild by a specialist such as Power Performance. Mostly cars with around 50, miles. TVR Tuscan 4. TVR says work to start soon on new Welsh factory. TVR factory construction delayed by EU rules. Related articles. Latest Drives.
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