1971 TVR Tuscan

The TVR Tuscan V-6 is a two-seater coupe produced from 1969 to 1971.

The TVR Tuscan V-6 combined the GRP body shell, front disc brakes, independent double coil and wishbones with telescopic dampers fore and aft and the tubular chassis of the TVR Vixen with the Salisbury differential of the Tuscan V-8. Unlike its more powerful stablemate, the rear brakes were via drums and power was from a Ford 3-litre engine.

When the Tuscan V-6 was launched in mid-1969 its purpose was to provide a higher-powered alternative to the Vixen rather than to be an ultra-fast racer in the Tuscan V-8/Griffith 200-400 mould. A top speed of 125mph with 0-60 in 8.3 seconds was still very rapid by the standards of the day, however. A Car magazine test of September 1970 praised the excellence of the TVR’s road holding and ‘sheer cornering power’. The price ranged from £1,492 for the Tuscan in ‘component form’ to £1,930 for the fully built model and extras included an overdrive and leather upholstery.

US emissions regulations meant that the V-6 could not be sold in the States and only 101 examples were made, most of them in right-hand-drive form. Production ceased in 1971 when the Tuscan was replaced by the TVR 2500M.

The TVR Tuscan’s engine was the ‘Essex’ 2,994cc OHV V-6 unit with a single Weber carburettor and the transmission was a four-speed manual box.

For all of the Tuscan V-6’s foibles – the cabin is compact, luggage access can be a challenge and interior ventilation is very limited – this is more than compensated by its road manners and sheer responsiveness.

Potential buyers should beware of both badly maintained or poor previous repairs to the fibreglass coachwork, as these can prove to be very expensive. The Tuscan’s electrical system can also prove to be problematic as can worn dampers.

Many TVR enthusiasts regarded the Tuscan V-6 as one of the finest early examples of the marque, combining looks and engineering with speed and exhilarating handling.

Rivals included other British cars with Ford V-6 power, including the Gilbern Invader, the Marcos 3-Litre and the Reliant Scimitar, in addition to the Lotus Elan Plus 2.