Rare, surviving homologation special now available for purchase at a high cost.
It is highly unlikely that a new TVR will be seen anytime soon, as the Griffith revival has yet to make an appearance even after six years. In its prime, the British sports car brand produced some captivating vehicles, and the impressive T440 R is a testament to that. As a homologation model and the sole remaining unit, this rear-wheel-drive beauty has undergone a complete restoration and is now available for purchase.
At theThe core of the sleek sports car inspired by the Tuscan was its unfussed 4.4-liter six-cylinder engine, producing an impressive output of 440 horsepower and nearly 400 pound-feet (542 Nm) of torque. TVR boasted a maximum speed of 215 mph (346 km/h), a feat usually accomplished by significantly more potent vehicles. So how did this car achieve such staggering performance? The answer lies in its lightweight structure, tipping the scales at a mere 1,050 kilograms (2,315 pounds), which is roughly equivalent to that of a Miata ND.
In order to maintain a reasonable weight, the car was constructed with a complete carbon fiber frame and a carbon monocoque equipped with a built-in roll bar. Although mass does not directly influence top speed, it does have a detrimental effect on acceleration, requiring a longer stretch of road to reach the advertised top speed.
The engineers were able to reduce the drag coefficient to 0.32 for this road-legal car in the early 2000s, thanks to its sleek body design. This achievement was quite impressive. Furthermore, the gearing also played a crucial role in achieving high speeds, and TVR made sure to fine-tune the transmission specifically for this model.
Drivetribe was given a unique chance to examine the former press car, formerly owned by TVR. The vehicle was famously driven by Jeremy Clarkson in 2002 for his No Limits video, which was later released on VHS and DVD. Originally dubbed the Tuscan R, it had aspirations of competing in endurance racing’s GT1 class with hopes of earning approval from the FIA. Unfortunately, those plans never came to fruition.
Drew Wheeler Sports & Classics is offering the lesser-known TVR model for sale at a steep price of £240,000. Surprisingly, this car does not include standard safety features such as ABS and traction control, but it does come with power steering. With current exchange rates, this equates to approximately $306,000. For the same amount, one could purchase a brand-new premium sports car from a more well-known manufacturer. However, there has always been a certain allure to TVRs, and this particular T440 R boasts a newly built engine and custom exhaust system, making it a desirable option.
Sources: Drew Wheeler Sports & Classics, Drivetribe / YouTube
