1970 TVR Tuscan LWB V8

The Tuscan was introduced in 1967, produced at TVR’s factory in Blackpool, England essentially as the genesis of the Griffith, a popular car that was plagued with a reputation for poor reliability. The ethos of TVR was to create small-scale, hand-built sports cars with the emphasis on performance and simplicity. The Tuscan came in two guises, the V6 and the V8, both being aimed at different markets, with the V6 model targeting more practical use, whilst the V8 was focused on high performance, especially for motorsports and enthusiasts. In TVR terms, the car was relatively popular, building 173 examples in total, but in grander terms the cars are extremely rare.

The Tuscan V6 was powered by a 3-litre Ford Essex V6 offering between 138bhp-150bhp and when combined with a weight of around 900kg, it was a sporty little car, but the V8 is where the numbers become really impressive. The Tuscan V8s were predominantly fitted with Ford 302ci Windsor V8s, although some received Chevrolet small block V8s, pushing out between 270-350bhp depending on engine specification, offering 0-60mph in five seconds and a top speed in excess of 150mph, it really was a lightweight rocket ship and still is today! Just like the V6, the Tuscan used a fibreglass body on a steel frame, with the V8 version being slightly heavier due to the larger engine. Typically, the V8s were mated to a 4-speed manual transmission, but some were equipped with different gearboxes depending on customer preferences. From a racing perspective the Tuscan V8 was a popular choice in the late 1960s and early 1970s, especially in privateer hands. Its combination of brute power and light weight made it competitive in most racing series.

The TVR Tuscan was known for its raw, visceral driving experience, with no driver aids like power steering or traction control. The light body, powerful engine and rear-wheel drive made the car extremely agile but also quite challenging to handle, with minimalistic interiors and almost no focus on luxury or safety. The interiors were functional, with basic controls and gauges, the emphasis was entirely on performance.

UPY 777J is arguably the best condition Tuscan in the world. Our vendor is a TVR fanatic, having owned 27 of them over the years and planned to enjoy this particular car in his retirement by competing in the occasional hillclimb or sprint. UPY 777J is a well known car within the TVR and hillclimb circles having competed very successfully for decades, with lots of class wins and hill records to its name. It came out of the factory as a V6 but was changed to the Ford V8 early on in its life.

It was bought as a complete running and driving car, with the idea being to tidy it up before competing in it, so the car was given to a company in Scotland who started the teardown and rebuild process. After having the car for three years, our vendor simply wasn’t impressed by the quality of the work being done so pulled the plug and gave it to respected TVR gurus, Nigel and Duncan Reuben, to start again. Due to our vendor changing locations internationally and the influence of COVID, it took six years going through and doing everything imaginable to the car to make it perfect, including a brand new body. A new period Ford 289 4.7-litre V8 was sourced, built in the US and shipped over costing c.£20,000. Internally the engine has forged diamond pistons, Eagle conrods, performance cams and an Edlebrock carb. The gearbox is a 5-speed from a TVR Tuscan Challenge car and the differential has been fully overhauled with new internals. Period FIA brakes, discs front and rear are fitted as are the correct Koni adjustable shocks originally from Mike Whittaker’s BFR 400B, costing £1,200 each and there’s six of them. All required parts were from Nigel Reuben Racing and car was built by Duncan Reuben (TVR Classics). An FIA foam fire extinguisher and all the other mandatory safety equipment has been fitted.

The end result is incredible, costing well in excess of £100,000 to complete and the quality is evident making this car surely one of, if not the, best presenting and competitive Tuscans in the world.

Our vendor, having looked at his shiny new racer and the associated build cost, has decided that the car is essentially ‘too nice’ to use, particularly as his passion for going flat-out up narrow hills has diminished in favour of European tours. Having had shakedown testing and a handful of road miles, the car has stayed in the heated garage and never turned a wheel in anger.

There are around 1,000 photos documenting the restoration, detailing everything. The specification is phenomenal, with the very best TVR names on it. From a racing perspective, it’s never had FIA papers but, in terms of eligibility, it can do CSCC Swinging Sixties, HSCC Historic Roadsports, 1970s Road Sports and a plethora of others and achieving FIA papers shouldn’t be difficult if a higher tier of motorsport is the aim.

Any Tuscan is a great looking car but this striking example, finished in Old English White, really does stand out from the crowd for all the right reasons. Expected to be fiercely competitive and a definite handful to drive, it's time for the car to find its next custodian to enjoy and continue its legacy.