The Tuscan V8 grew out of an American experiment. Jack Griffith had fitted a Cobra-spec Ford V8 into the TVR Grantura and the result, the Griffith 200 and 400, was sold almost entirely in the United States. It was undone by cooling problems, poor quality and a long dock strike. With Griffith out of the picture, Martin Lilley, newly at the helm of TVR, took the idea back to TVR’s home in Blackpool and created a V8 version of the Vixen. He launched it as the Tuscan V8 at Earl’s Court in 1967.

Underneath was a modified Grantura/Vixen tubular steel chassis, with independent front and rear suspension, front disc brakes and a front-mid-mounted engine for near-ideal weight distribution. The lightweight fibreglass body, unusual for its day, was a two-door, two-seat shape with minimal luggage space. It was never a grand tourer. It was a car you could drive to a circuit, win your class and drive home in.

Power came from Ford’s 289 cu in (4,727cc) V8, the engine used in the Mustang and early Shelby Cobras. In SWB form, with a four-barrel carburettor and tubular headers, it made 271 bhp. That was enough for 0-60 mph in the mid-5-second range and an estimated 155 mph. Motor magazine recorded 0-100 mph in 13.8 seconds in 1967, the quickest production car it had tested at the time.

Three versions followed:

SWB (short wheelbase): an 85-inch wheelbase, built for only a few months.

LWB (long wheelbase): launched later in 1967 on the Vixen S2 body, with 4.5 inches added to the chassis. The cabin and doors were larger, American drivers were better accommodated and handling and high-speed stability improved.

LWB SE (special equipment): added equipment and a limited-slip differential.

The TVR Car Club estimate that just 26 Tuscan SE LWBs were built with chassis numbers beginning “LW” (not to be confused with the later wider bodied “MAL” chassis numbered cars), with perhaps only 12 in RHD.

This fantastic example was subject to a complete nut and bolt restoration. This covered a brand new tubular chassis from renowned TVR chassis builder Keith Ticer, engine, transmission, suspension, braking, electrical, fuel and exhaust systems, wheels, tyres, body work and interior, which was completed in 2022. A period correct “crate” Ford 289 cu.in V8 engine was shipped in from Five Star Engines of Glendale, Arizona, with the original engine, Magnesium Minilite wheels and original radiator kept, which will come with the car.

The restoration is to a very high standard, with invoices exceeding £60,000, excluding the many hundreds of unrecorded labour hours and the bodywork preparation and repainting, which was carried out at the then owner’s South London coachworks business.

While eligible for historic racing, including HSCC Historic Road Sports, the car has so far been used for local shows and TVR events, allowing a proper post-restoration shakedown and covering just over 1,640 miles since completion.

Beautifully restored, correctly detailed and supplied with its original major components and an extensive history file, this is a collector-quality example with genuine provenance, considerable rarity and enormous road presence.

At a Glance

1968 TVR Tuscan V8 SE LWB, one of only 26 “LW” chassis-numbered cars recorded as built and thought to be one of 12 in RHD
Ford Olympic Blue with a Silver Fox roof
Restoration completed in 2022, with invoices exceeding £60,000 excluding unrecorded labour and painting costs
New tubular chassis by Keith Ticer (“The TVR Chassis Man”), converted from conventional bonded to chassis to bolt-on body mounting, for ease of body and chassis separation
New Ford 289 cubic-inch / 4.7-litre V8 crate engine with performance alloy head and 4-barrel Edelbrock carburettor
Tubular manifolds and custom stainless steel exhaust system
New front and rear suspension and complete brake system
Fully refurbished original Borg Warner T10 H1 gearbox and Salisbury differential fully rebuilt
Full professional leather interior retrim in the correct style
Original engine, radiator and original magnesium knock-on Minilite wheels retained with the car
Substantial history file with restoration documentation and photos
Just over 1,640 miles covered since restoration
Please note that the car has been assigned the age related registration number of HMB 880F and will not come with the registration number featured in the photographs.