The Grantura was the first production TVR.

Debuting in 1958, it went through a series of developments, starting with the Mark I through to the Mark IV and 1800S models, the last of which were made in late 1967.

These coupés were hand-built at the TVR factory in Blackpool, England with varying mechanical specifications and could also be ordered in kit form.

All featured a dizzying cocktail of Austin-Healey brakes, VW Beetle or Triumph suspension parts and BMC rear axles.

These days it’s easy to forget the extent to which TVRs were raced back in the 1950s and 1960s.

More often than not, competition cars were bought in kit form to avoid the dreaded Purchase Tax, the seemingly endless variations of mechanical components meaning it was a prolific and frequent entrant in club racing.

By 1960, TVR’s enthusiastic customers had firmly established the marque as a force in competition, usually favouring the Coventry-Climax-powered Grantura.



Mechanically the MkII was identical to its pre...