Introduced at the 1986 British Motor Show, the S1 was the first TVR to be developed under the leadership of Peter Wheeler, who had acquired the Blackpool-based sports car maker earlier that year.
It was an unashamedly retro piece of design, with front-end styling reminiscent of the Vixen and Grantura models of old and a traditional rear-wheel-drive layout, with fibreglass bodywork and a tubular steel chassis.
Power came courtesy of Ford’s fuel-injected Cologne V6 as found in the Capri 2.8i Injection Special, with 160bhp and a five-speed manual gearbox. That may sound like a modest output, but in the lightweight S1 it made it a seriously quick car.
This example has been enthusiast-owned for most of its life and comes with a massive folder full of service invoices and past receipts. It has been repainted and re-trimmed at some stage in its 35-year life and looks the part, while the chassis is said to be in great condition.
The History and Paperwork
UK V5C
MOT September 2024, passed with no advisories
A4 lever-arch file containing invoices and service receipts going right back to 1991
Handwritten breakdown of substantial work carried out to the car in 2015
Clearly well-loved and maintained by previous keepers
The Condition
Solid red bodywork in good overall condition
Some craze marks in the fibreglass upper finish
Chassis said to be very solid and appears to be in sound order
Some minor marks to body, near roof surround and door shut areas, but nothing of any major note
Small amount of overspray on door mirrors and seals
Original factory alloy wheels in excellent condition
All trim and badges present and correct
New hood fitted in 2015
Lift out targa-style roof panels
Superb condition rear screen
Seats retrimmed in red leather
All dials and controls work as they ought to
Generally good inside with one loose speaker grille and a few minor areas of wear
Modern stereo upgrade
Four-spoke sports steering wheel
The Mechanics
2.8-litre fuel-injected Ford V6
Five-speed manual transmission
160bhp – 0-60mph in 6.8 secs and a top speed of 135mph
Sports exhaust system – sounds great!
Silicon HT leads
New brake master cylinder and new pads all-round
Recent coolant flush and new starter solenoid
Starts and runs well, holds a steady temperature and shows good oil pressure
BEFORE YOU BUY
This sale is subject to the Car & Classic Terms and Conditions. By bidding and/or making an offer, you also agree to the following:
✓ If the seller is registered as a private seller, consumer rights stemming from EU consumer protection law do not apply. Car & Classic’s return policy applies.
✓ A non-refundable deposit will be payable if you are the winning bidder at auction or if your offer is accepted, refer to FAQs and T&Cs for details.
✓ This vehicle is “Sold As Seen”, on an “As Is, Where Is’ basis and without warranty. A full inspection of the vehicle prior to purchase and bidding is highly recommended. Photos and descriptions are for guidance purposes only.
✓ VAT is included in the buyer's deposit. VAT may or may not be included in the final bid or offer price, as specified in the listing.
✓ UK-registered cars and motorbikes on Car & Classic are run through an online HPI check, to verify that they show no insurance database markers for damage or theft, and have no finance owing.
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