5 WAYS TO MAKE IT BETTER
1 GET IT CHECKED
While not especially complex compared to some classics, you probably won’t need us to tell you that TVRs have their little foibles. With that in mind, and before embarking on any upgrades, we’d advise spending a few hundred pounds with a recognised specialist and having the car thoroughly checked over. Starting with an example that’s fundamentally sound is always going to be the best bet.
2 STOP ‘N’ HANDLE
There’s plenty of scope for improvement when it comes to the brakes and suspension, and it needn’t cost a fortune. Stopping power can be boosted with upgraded front discs and pads – budget around £160 – while £300 will secure a full set of polyurethane bushes to sharpen up the suspension. Adjustable dampers will transform the handling, though a set of these, plus uprated springs, will cost in the region of £600.
3 PERFORM BETTER
It’s worth seeking advice from the club or specialists if you’re considering engine mods. The V6s don’t always respond to tuning as well as you’d hope, so you could spend a hefty sum for little reward, although the V8s are well-served here and a better starting point. A stainless steel exhaust system is well worth considering, though, and will set you back around £500.
4 STAY COOL
One area definitely ripe for improvement is the cooling system, and money spent here is never wasted. If the radiator is showing signs of corrosion it can be replaced with a modified Subaru Impreza item for less than £200, or go for an aftermarket aluminium item for around £500. Replace rusty pipework with stainless steel ones, and fit a set of silicone hoses for £170 or so.
5 VISION AND BELTS
A few little tweaks can make the ‘S’ easier to live with. Poorly-designed door mirrors can make rearward vision less than satisfactory. TVR specialists offer modifications to improve the situation, while mirror housings from a number of other makes can be fitted instead. The S4 used Citroën CX items, but these are hard to find now. You can prevent snagging of the inertia-reel seat belts with a mounting modification – specialists and the club can advise.