Buying Guide
Great looks, noise and value? It can only be a TVR, and the S packs a punch, too. Here’s how to bag the best
TVR S Series
TVRs have always been about drama, and when it came to styling, performance, and a wonderful noise they almost always delivered. But as the 1980s progressed there were buyers out there who wanted a slice of that, only in a cheaper package and one that wasn’t quite so bombastically quick – an entry-level TVR if you will, and that’s where the S Series came in.
Launched in 1986, it came with neatly-styled, two-seater bodywork and if you flipped the big bonnet forward you’d discover Ford’s 2.8-litre V6 ‘Cologne’ powerplant. With 160bhp it still offered plenty of shove, that figure growing to 170bhp with the arrival of the 1988 Series 2, which got the larger 2.9-litre unit. The Series 3 came two years later and benefitted from an improved interior and slightly longer doors for improved access. And if properly rapid pace mattered, then the V8 S would’ve ticked that box courtesy of its 240bhp, 3.9-litre V8 (the S4C was essentially that car with V6 power). But even if you opt for the smaller motor you’ll hardly feel short-changed; weighing a smidge on under 1000kg a Series 1 can hit 60mph in a claimed 7.6 seconds, accompanied by a rorty exhaust note, but that isn’t the only talent in its repertoire. Thanks to almost perfect weight distribution – 51/49 percent front to rear for the record – the S handles well, too, with terrific grip in the dry.
A little more circumspection is required in the wet, but this is a properly entertaining drop-top that specialises in old-school thrills. It’s no wonder they have a strong following, even if being built to a budget limits their survival chances.
Still, £6k secures a usable V6 today – and that’s cracking value.
‘You won’t feel short-changed, even if you opt for the smaller motor’