1993 TVR S2

Newly resprayed, fitted with retrimmed leather seats, and given a clean bill of health by the owner’s local mechanic, this TVR S2 comes with a comprehensive history file to support the odometer reading of 35,000 miles. 

The owner tells us that it “runs sweetly and drives brilliantly”, which is exactly what you’d expect of a car with such a provenance.

Recently imported from Guernsey where it had two previous owners, the current keeper of the TVR S2 has committed to registering it in the UK in the new owner’s name when the auction closes, as he has experience in these matters. (NOTE: all VAT and other duties have been paid, and it has an MOT, so it is only the registration that will occur - by doing it this way will reduce the number of UK owners on the logbook)

Recently painted and freshly valeted, the stunning white paintwork suits the car’s lines perfectly, allowing the inherent simplicity of the TVR S’s shape to shine through. There might be the odd minor blemish gained during a recent 200-mile cross-country dash that served double-duty as a shakedown run and driver entertainment, but we can’t see anything worth mentioning. 

Even the rubber trims on the quarter bumpers are still a glossy, deep black, which leads us to think that the car has probably spent most of its time in a garage, safely out of reach of the sun’s harmful rays. 

The dark blue fabric roof is also in very good condition, and remains completely weather-tight. It also folds and latches properly now thanks to some recent work to adjust the mechanism.

The original OZ alloy wheels are free of scuffs and other damage and are shod with matching performance tyres, all of which still have oodles of tread. (Do we need to remind you that matching tyres are one of the best indicators we know that the car has been owned and maintained by someone for whom skimping and shortcuts are anathema?) 

The blue leather seats have been recently refurbished and retrimmed. As you can see, they look fabulous and lift the feel of the whole interior. New matching overmats protect the carpet, and a recent professional valet has left the car looking like one that is only a few years old rather than one that has just passed its quarter century.

We do think the central bezels of the speedometer and rev counter could do with being refinished. Trivial jobs and only necessary because the rest of the interior looks so fresh. 

The Ford Granada’s 2.9-litre, Cologne V6 petrol engine might not be as clean as the rest of the car but it starts on the button and pulls powerfully and cleanly across the full rev range. The owner tells us that it “hasn’t missed a beat” during his time with the car and a recent 200-mile journey showed that the TVR has a “great gearchange and brakes” and that it “sounds great!” 

Nor does it overheat, a fault that can plague the model. In fact, the owner had his mechanic give the TVR the once over and he assures us that he isn’t aware of any mechanical faults with it. 

The owner also tells us that the same mechanic gave the chassis a clean bill of health. This leaves the engine bay as the weakest area of the car, and the only one we are aware of that needs any attention. We say “needs”, but the reality is that the problems it has are purely cosmetic and could be resolved with a deep clean and some minor detailing. It is not urgent and could be dealt with as and when time and money allow. Please feel free to use the Contact Seller button to arrange a viewing before auction end. 

The car comes with a current MOT, which runs out in August 2019.

It also has a stamped service history book, owner’s handbook, and a number of old invoices, bills and miscellaneous bits of paperwork. Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing where you can see photographs of these to verify our belief that this car has been maintained without regard to cost.

We think this TVR will sell for £8-10,000, which seems cheap to us but that’s where the market is at the moment; middle-aged TVRs like this still look good value when viewed against both their contemporaries and the later TVR models. 

This is good news if you’re in the market for one as there might be some scope to ride any future appreciation as the market eventually wakes up to the charms they offer. 

But, regardless of where the market ends up, spending less than five figures on a traditional front-engine, rear-wheel-drive British convertible sportscar like this one seems like a cracking idea to us. Especially when it’s had a recent respray and interior re-trim in addition to a series of loving owners over the years…

Viewing is always encouraged, and this car can be seen near Colchester in Essex; to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.

If needed, please remember we have a network of trusted suppliers we work with regularly and can recommend: Thames Valley Car Storage for storing your car, AnyVan for transporting it, and Footman James for classic car insurance.