TVR is an English sports car brand which, despite its long history, has remained relatively unknown compared to brands such as Triumph, Aston Martin, Maserati or De Tomaso, despite several participations in Le Mans and an almost unmanageable range of models.
Between 1956 and 1981, TVR (and the companies that emerged from it and were discontinued) produced around 6,000 vehicles, an average of less than 200 per year. Despite this manageable production figure, there are around a dozen books dealing with the TVR brand. The first of these was penned by a certain Peter Filby, who wrote "TVR - Success Against the Odds" in 1976, a much-acclaimed work that is now in demand as a collector's item. At that time, of course, he could only cover the first 20 years, but the history of TVR naturally continued. Basically, three eras can be distinguished today:
- The early years with Trevor Wilkinson and the ups and downs up to 1966 (the Grantura and Griffith years)
- The "Martin Lilley" era from 1965 to 1981
- The "Peter Wheeler" era from 1981 until the nineties
The first era, which made up the main part of the original book, was reworked by Peter Filby in the book "TVR Volume One - The Early Years" published two years ago, while the second era has now been available for a few weeks in the book "TVR Volume Two - A Passion to Succeed - The Martin Lilley Era".
So what has now found its place in two books of 730 pages took up just 220 pages in 1976. This alone shows the rigor with which Filby went about his work. And he is already holding out the prospect of the third volume, which will then describe the cars with the V8 Rover engines (including Griffith/Chimaera), but also with the AJP six- and eight-cylinder engines developed by TVR itself (including Cerbera, Tamora, 350T, Tuscan, Sagaris, etc.).
Diversity in the Martin Lilley era
Things were not looking good at TVR when Martin Lilley took over the remnants of Grantura Engineering in 1965. What followed were some successes, but also some failures. Overall, however, TVR got by quite well and produced extremely successful models with the Vixen and the M series.
Historically reappraised
Like his predecessors, Peter Filby has organized his new 480-page work along the timeline. He goes forward year by year, describing development and sales milestones and not forgetting to document the racing events, which were mostly left to private drivers during this period. The book is supplemented by a foreword by Martin Lilley and a list of all models.
Richly illustrated
Peter Filby has compiled 680 photos and illustrations. The entire TVR community has helped him by donating both current and historical images, making this book an exceptionally complete documentation of the various TVR models. There are several photos of even the rarest models. The many photos taken on the occasion of the presentation at the Earls Court Motor Show in London are particularly exciting.
Sex does sell cars
It is no coincidence that an entire chapter is devoted to the not entirely unknown wisdom that sex can help sell cars. In fact, it was TVR who repeatedly ensured that their presentation at the motor shows did not get lost in the crowd with half-naked or completely naked models. Hard to imagine today, TVR even managed this PR coup twice, in 1970 and 1971. Numerous pictures, some of which have rarely been shown before, document the individual appearances in an impressive way.
Upswing with Vixen, Tuscan
The early years of the Lilley era were dominated by two models, the Tuscan, a reissued TVR Griffith with American V8 power, and the Vixen, the successor to the Grantura, so to speak. Thanks to these two models and their constant further development with different engines, TVR survived the six-cylinder years. The first 200 pages are mainly dedicated to these two models and their evolutionary forms.
The popular M series
The great success then came with the M series, which produced vehicles with displacements from 1.3 to 3.0 liters and even with a turbo. 32 years after the last open-top TVR, Martin Lilley even presented another roadster, the 3000 S, in 1978. And with the Taimar, there was a hatchback model for the first time. No wonder Filby devotes 170 pages to this model series. And the images include not only the results of the crash tests, but also a 1600 M blown up by the IRA.
SM/Zante
In addition to the well-known models, there is also a discussion of attempts and failed attempts, such as the SM from 1971, which was later called the Zante. The SM showed a clear departure from the usual TVR design of the time, as it was strongly wedge-shaped with a waistline that rose up to the rear. Despite many expressions of interest, even Lotus boss Colin Chapman sneaked around the car several times at the motor show, nothing came of this prototype. It was not until nine years later that TVR presented the Tasmin, a wedge-shaped sports car that was so provocative in terms of design that many TVR fans gave the brand the cold shoulder.
Anecdotes and stories in passing
Filby's book is brimming with anecdotes and side stories. He reports on Marin Lilley's plan to build Ferrari Daytona copies, as well as the idea of sales director Stewart Halstead, who wanted to launch a 3000 S Roadster with a Rover V8 heart at the beginning of the 1980s.
Not for everyone, but also not just for TVR owners
Who should buy this book? A work that leaves hardly a question unanswered and shows the ultimately not really numerous model variants in so many pictures? Well, this book is certainly a must for TVR fans. But readers with a general interest in the English small-series sports car industry should also read it. The nuanced history shows what the English niche manufacturers had to contend with and how they managed to survive.
At £60, the book is not a bargain, but it is well worth the price if you are really interested. It's not your typical coffee-table book, as the real appeal of the work is revealed when you read through it page by page. If you don't have the time or inclination, you should think twice about buying it. And, of course, the reader should have a good knowledge of English.
If you want to buy it, you should perhaps also order Volume 1, which is currently being sold at a reduced price of £30. The books are available from the publisher's website: www.tvrbooks.com.
The TVR models from 1956-1981
| Models | Year | Engine | Body | Prod. | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TVR Open Sports | 1956-1957 | Coventry Climax FWA | Barchetta | 4 | one went to the USA as Jomar |
| TVR Coupé | 1957 | Ford 100E, Coventry Climax, MG A | Coupé | 7 | 4 went to the USA as Jomar |
| TVR Grantura Mk 1 | 1958-1960 | Ford 100E, Coventry Climax, MG A | Coupé | 100 | around 25 went to the USA |
| TVR Grantura Mk 2 and Mk 2A | 1960-1962 | MG A, Coventry Climax, Ford 105E | Coupé | 400 | Around 150 were exported |
| TVR Grantura Mk 3 and Mk 3 1800 | 1962-1965 | MG A, MG B | Coupé | 90 | a significant proportion was exported |
| TVR Griffith Series 200 | 1964-1965 | Ford 289 V8 | Coupé | 192 | available with 195 or 2971 hp |
| TVR Griffith Series 400 | 1965 | Ford 289 V8 | Coupé | 109 | exactly 50 were built in USA, 40-50 in England |
| TVR Mk3 1800 S | 1964-1966 | MG B | Coupé | 130 | Builders were Grantura Engineering, TVR Engineering |
| TVR Mk4 1800 S | 1966-1967 | MG B | Coupé | 76 | aks 1800SE also with upgraded engine |
| TVR Griffith V8 | 1966-1967 | Ford 289 V8 | Coupé | 10 | only 4x built as RHD |
| TVR Tuscan V8 SWB | 1967 | Ford 289 V8 | Coupé | 24 | only minimally modified Griffith, number of units not exactly known |
| TVR Tuscan V8 LWB | 1967-1969 | Ford 289 V8 | Coupé | 24 | Body was screwed on in the later model instead of laminated in |
| TVR Vixen Series 1 | 1967-1968 | Ford Cortina GT, MG B | Coupé | 117 | |
| TVR Vixen Series 2 | 1968-1970 | Ford Cortina GT | Coupé | 438 | with longer wheelbase than S1 |
| TVR Tuscan V6 | 1969-1971 | Ford Essex V6 | Coupé | 101 | largely identical to Vixen S2, but with reinforced suspensions |
| TVR Tuscan V8 LWB Wide Body | 1970-1971 | Ford 289 and 302 V8 | Coupé | 10 | it is uncertain whether a BOSS 302 engine was ever really installed |
| TVR Vixen Series 3 | 1970-1972 | Ford Capri GT | Coupé | 165 | largely identical to S2, with the exception of the engine |
| TVR (Vixen) 2500 | 1971-1972 | Triumph R6 2.5 | Coupé | 385 | aimed at the American market |
| TVR 1300 | 1971-1972 | Triumph Spitfire | Coupé | 15 | no success, built with different chassis |
| TVR Vixen Series 4 | 1972 | Ford Capri GT 1600 | Coupé | 23 | Interim model, M chassis and Vixen bodywork |
| TVR 2500 M | 1972-1977 | Triumph R6 2.5 | Coupé | 947 | the start of the successful M-series, with improved chassis |
| TVR 1600 M | 1972-1973 | Ford Capri GT 1600 | Coupé | 148 | stood in the shadow of the 3000 M |
| TVR 3000 M | 1972-1979 | Ford Essex V6 | Coupé | 654 | the classic Englishman of the seventies |
| TVR 3000 M Turbo | 1976-1979 | Ford Essex V6 | coupé | 20 | Turbo from Broadspeed Engineering |
| TVR Martin (3000 M) | 1976 | Ford Essex V6 | Coupé | 12 | Special model in brown |
| TVR Taimar | 1976-1979 | Ford Essex V6 | Coupé with tailgate | 395 | technically identical to 3000 M, 30 models with turbo |
| TVR 3000 S | 1978-1979 | Ford Essex V6 | roadster | 258 | technically identical to 3000 M, 13 Turbo models |
| TVR SE Specification | 1978-1979 | Ford Essex V6 | Coupé / Roadster | 10 | exact production number unclear, much additional equipment |
| TVR Tasmin S1 | 1980-1981 | Ford Cologne V6 | Coupé with tailgate | 118 | The break with the past, straight into the wedge-shaped era |
| TVR 280i Convertible | 1980-1988 | Ford Cologne V6 | Convertible | 862 | |
| TVR Tasmin +2 | 1980-1985 | Ford Cologne V6 | Coupé | 47 | |
| TVR Tasmin S2 | 1981-1987 | Ford Cologne V6 | Coupé | 140 | |
| TVR Tasmin 200 | 1981-1984 | Ford Pinto 2 Liter | Coupé / Roadster | 61 | 45 convertibles, 16 coupés |
Comment: Table freely adapted from Peter Filby - TVR Volume One/Two
Bibliographical details of the book presented
- Title: TVR Volume Two - A Passion to Success - The Martin Lilley Era 1965-1981
- 480 pages, over 680 photos/illustrations, format 287mm x 230 mm, hardcover with slipcase
- Author: Peter Filby
- Published 2012
- Language: English
- Publisher: Autocraft Books, North Building, 1 Howard Road, Reigate, Surrey RH2 7JE
- ISBN 978 0 9545729 2 1
- Order on www.tvrbooks.com
