1972 TVR Vixen-V8 Tuscan Homage Fast Road/Race

The fourth generation of TVR’s Vixen, the S4, was an interim model that used the TVR M Series chassis with the Vixen body shell. Apart from the chassis, there were no significant mechanical or cosmetic changes between the S3 and S4. The 1300 model arrived in late 1971 and was built in an attempt to fill an 'economy' market segment for sports cars. It was powered by a 1,296cc Standard SC four-cylinder from the Triumph Spitfire generating a less than exciting 63bhp and performance was a little lacklustre. Only 15 were built, mostly in 1972 and the final six of these cars were built on the M-Series chassis.

The Tuscan was the second car developed by TVR during the Martin Lilley era and was available in V8 or latterly V6 format with a total production run of just 174 examples across the two engine formats. Production of the V8 models dwindled after the release of the V6 and was discontinued altogether in 1970, with just 73 V8-engined cars sold. The first 24 of these were built on a SWB chassis before the LWB chassis from the Vixen S2 was adopted. Due to the rarity of original Tuscans, many lesser TVRs have since morphed into one of these desirable models with the majority of enhanced examples built around a Vixen S2/3/4 utilising the same style of bodywork and chassis configuration.

The car offered here started life as a 1300 Spitfire-engine S4 Vixen and we believe was one of the final six built around the stronger M-Series chassis. It was later fitted with a 2-litre Pinto engine and there are photographs of it racing in period in that guise. It was still fitted with the 2-litre when our vendor approached Project Heaven, the Peterborough-based Classic and Sports Car Restoration Specialists to discuss the possibility of converting the Vixen into a V8-powered Tuscan-style road racer that would be suitable for fast road work but could also be used on a circuit or possibly sprints and hill climbs etc.

The conversion to well beyond standard Tuscan V8-spec started with a stripdown to the bare chassis (see images), fitting a 289ci V8 engine upgraded with new steel crank and rods, forged pistons, big-valve alloy heads, sports cam, alloy water pump, light flywheel, new alloy radiator, new Super T10 gearbox, rebuilt Salisbury 4HU diff, new Bailey Morris upgraded driveshafts, new rear uprights, new coil-overs all round, new vented brake discs and calipers operated by twin adjustable-bias master cylinders, custom made roll cage, Sparco competition seats and Sabelt harnesses, GPS speedo, new wiring loom, bespoke alloy dashboard to accommodate the wider transmission tunnel and the relevant race gauges and switches and Turrino polished alloy-rim tubeless wire wheels. Project Heaven have confirmed that the current cost to replicate this amazing TVR would be over £150,000.

'TVR – the complete motoring experience' is a phrase that was often used in period TVR advertising and we suggest that this particular example ticks all those boxes providing various options depending on your requirements, be that out on the open road or with minor alterations depending on the regulations, out on the circuit. With only shake-down mileage covered since the build was completed, we suggest that an element of running-in will be beneficial to achieve the very best from this revered TVR. Your early inspection is welcomed and encouraged to fully appreciate the opportunity on offer.