TVR Grantura
Encyclopedia
The first of the Granturas used a fibreglass body moulded to a tubular steel backbone chassis and VW Beetle-based front and rear suspension. The car was designed around a 1,098 cc Coventry Climax type FWA engine but many different makes were fitted from 1,172 cc Ford side valve to 1600 cc BMC from the MGA
. The drum brakes originated on the Austin Healey 100 and the windscreen on the Ford Consul
.
Approximately 100 of the series I Grantura were built from 1958 to 1960.
A car with a 1600 cc MGA engine was tested by the British magazine The Motor
in 1961. It had a top speed of 98.4 mph (158.4 km/h) and could accelerate from zero to60 mph (96.6 km/h) in twelve seconds. Fuel consumption of 32.8 mpgimp was recorded. The test car cost £1,298 including taxes.
Approximately 400 of the series II Grantura were built.
The Series III and Series III 1800 used MG engines, either 1,622 or 1,798 cc respectively, although Ford or Coventry Climax units were also available for the earlier Series III model.
In 1964 the car became available as the 1800S with a cut off, square back (called a 'Manx tail' after the similarly tailless breed of cat
) and round rear light clusters from the Ford Cortina
. After a stop in production in 1965, under Martin Lilley's new ownership the car reappeared in 1966 as the longer MkIV. The MkIV also featured better trim and a larger gas tank.
Approximately 300 cars were built (estimated to be 60 of the Series III, 30 of the Series III 1800, 128 of the 1800S and 78 of the MkIV) before being replaced by the Vixen
.
The TVR Grantura is eligible for a wide range of historic racing and the smaller engined Series III cars (MG engined, 1622cc) built to 1962 specification are eligible to run in the prestigious bi-annual Classic Le Mans race for cars that competed in period at Le Mans.
MG MGA
The MGA is a sports car produced by MG division of the British Motor Corporation from 1955 to 1962.The MGA replaced the older T-type cars and represented a complete styling break from the older vehicles. The car was officially launched at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1955...
. The drum brakes originated on the Austin Healey 100 and the windscreen on the Ford Consul
Ford Consul
The Ford Consul is a car manufactured by Ford in Britain.Between 1951 and 1962 the Consul was the four-cylinder base model of the three-model Ford Zephyr range, comprising Consul, Zephyr and Zephyr Zodiac...
.
Approximately 100 of the series I Grantura were built from 1958 to 1960.
Series II
The Series II had MGA engines as standard but again customers could choose from a variety of power units. The IIA used the 1,622 cc MGA or Ford 1,340 cc engine and front disc brakes were standard. Rack and pinion steering was standardised.A car with a 1600 cc MGA engine was tested by the British magazine The Motor
The Motor (magazine)
The Motor was a British weekly car magazine founded on 28 January 1903....
in 1961. It had a top speed of 98.4 mph (158.4 km/h) and could accelerate from zero to60 mph (96.6 km/h) in twelve seconds. Fuel consumption of 32.8 mpgimp was recorded. The test car cost £1,298 including taxes.
Approximately 400 of the series II Grantura were built.
Series III, Series III 1800, 1800S and IV
The final series of cars had a new, longer and stiffer chassis and coil sprung independent suspension. This chassis was designed by John Thurner and would form the basis of the one used by TVR up to the launch of the 2500M cars in 1972.The Series III and Series III 1800 used MG engines, either 1,622 or 1,798 cc respectively, although Ford or Coventry Climax units were also available for the earlier Series III model.
In 1964 the car became available as the 1800S with a cut off, square back (called a 'Manx tail' after the similarly tailless breed of cat
Manx (cat)
The Manx cat , formerly often spelled Manks, is a breed of domestic cat originating on the Isle of Man, with a naturally occurring mutation that shortens the tail...
) and round rear light clusters from the Ford Cortina
Ford Cortina
As the 1960s dawned, BMC were revelling in the success of their new Mini – the first successful true minicar to be built in Britain in the postwar era...
. After a stop in production in 1965, under Martin Lilley's new ownership the car reappeared in 1966 as the longer MkIV. The MkIV also featured better trim and a larger gas tank.
Approximately 300 cars were built (estimated to be 60 of the Series III, 30 of the Series III 1800, 128 of the 1800S and 78 of the MkIV) before being replaced by the Vixen
TVR Vixen
The TVR Vixen is a hand-built sports car which was designed and built by TVR in Blackpool, England from 1967 until 1973. Ford-engined, it succeeded the MGB-engined TVR Grantura 1800S.-Design:...
.
TVR Grantura in pre-1966 Historic Racing
The Series III 1800, introduced in September 1963, is the rarest variant but by far the most popular model for pre-1966 historic racing as it was homologated with wider wheels than the original Series III as well as slightly larger carburettors and the option to use a limited slip differential. The Series II and the initial version of the Series III had their own distinct sets of homologation papers and, for racing purposes, many of the cars that were originally built as these models have been since modified to run to the later Series III 1800 specification.The TVR Grantura is eligible for a wide range of historic racing and the smaller engined Series III cars (MG engined, 1622cc) built to 1962 specification are eligible to run in the prestigious bi-annual Classic Le Mans race for cars that competed in period at Le Mans.