‘I couldn’t replace it – it’s my ideal TVR!’

Dr Ian Forrester, Lancashire ‘I bought my Tuscan in 2008 with 28,000 miles,’ says Ian, whose car is photographed here. ‘It had one previous owner and has covered 68,000 miles since it was built in October 2002. It’s completely original, just a new clutch at 51,000 miles – which was the original. I think I’ve been lucky, but I do look after the car – I keep it garaged and religiously adhere to the warm-up procedure.

‘It’s one of the few downsides. When a small boy asks, “Can you show me the engine,” I can’t – and if he then asks, “Can you rev it for me,” he has to wait seven minutes for it to warm up at 2000rpm!

‘I love the beauty of its lines, and the power: the thrill of putting your foot down. It’s a fabulous engine with instant response to the throttle: it’s like being in control of a sports motorbike. The noise – especially in tunnels – is fantastic.’ Tony Catling, Buckingham ‘When I first saw one in a car park I thought it was a stunning car,’ says 2003 Tuscan owner Tony. ‘It took me a couple of years to save up: I bought it privately in 2005 with 8000 miles on it, and the first owner taught me the warm-up procedure – I’ve followed it religiously ever since and have had no engine issues. It’s a fantastic car, I love the power too and comparatively it’s very cheap to run.

‘It’s up to 29,000 miles now and is serviced annually by a TVR specialist. It does eat tyres, but the Toyos are not that expensive. It’s not particularly comfortable – it’s a racing car on the road – and there’s so much power you have to be very careful. I spend around £1000-£1200 annually on servicing and consumables, plus around £550 on tax and insurance. When you consider what it can do, and the looks, the sound and the price, there’s nothing to match it.’ Peter Reid, York ‘In 2008 I’d just finished sorting engine issues with my Chimaera 450, my fourth TVR in 17 years, when I came across a 2006 Tuscan convertible,’ explains Peter. “It was exactly how I would have specced a car, BMW Estoril Blue with full leather on Ferrari seats, the late dash with proper analogue dials, leather-trimmed roll bar, everything, and it was £40,000. It was the 2006 Motor Show car when TVR was owned by Nikolai Smolenski, and was retained by TVR. I just had to have it. ‘At 17,000 miles it’s just getting its first new brake pads; it’s on Pirelli P-zeros and has had new rears but the fronts are still fine.

‘I had the lifting bonnet conversion by Surface & Design after a throttle cable failed – my wife didn’t want to help lift the bonnet off again. It’s only cost me around £500 a year and I couldn’t replace it – it’s my ideal TVR!’