2001 TVR Tuscan S

The car that The Market at Bonhams are delighted to offer is a rare 2001 TVR Tuscan S Mk1. This is no ordinary Tuscan… that’s because it is a top of the line “S” model, which is considered by some aficionados to be the holy grail of the Tuscan Mk1 model range. That extra letter at the end of the model name gave the 4.0 litre Speed Six engine a brow beating 390BHP and 310lb ft of torque at 5,250rpm and a 0-60 time of around 4 seconds. Which means it as an analog bruiser!

This particular TVR Tuscan S Mk1 is finished in stunning Rolex Blue Pearlescent which makes the cars gorgeous curves ever more mouth watering. The rich blue exterior is offset by a cream interior with blue inserts in the seat bases. It really is a lovely colour scheme.

Remarkably this Tuscan S has covered just 9,800 miles from new, which equates to a mere 466 miles a year over 21 years. Let those numbers just sink in for a moment.

The car was bought in September 2001 by its long term owner Michael. Like many a movie watching petrolhead back then, he was simply blown away by how the TVR Tuscan looked in the blockbuster Hollywood movie Swordfish. Then one day whilst getting his Morgan Plus 8 serviced, he spotted the dealerships new Tuscan S demonstrator. He decided he had to have it there and then! It has been in his possession ever since.

TVR’s of this era are known for sporting some very nice colours indeed and this Tuscan S presents rather lovely in its deep blue. The seemingly endless curves still look great today and the styling exudes beauty and menace in a simply stunning package.

Michael describes the paint as being in good condition with some marks present in a few areas. One is a rub mark on the left side A pillar which is caused when the passenger side window is closed with the door closed. There is a small paint rub in the engine bay where the bonnet closes on the inner wing and a section on the bonnet edge close to the windscreen edge which has a crack. There are also some scratches evident on the top of the right front wing. The paint has recently been machine polished and has come up very well for the photos.

The alloy wheels are the original ones that came with the Tuscan and Michael states they have not been restored. They present well with some evidence of kerb rash on the front rims. Michael notes that while the tyres are in good condition and have plenty of thread left, they are 8 years old.

The rear of the Tuscan is as good looking as the front and as this is an S model, it has an additional boot spoiler which was not fitted to the standard Tuscan. Michael adds that he believes the exhaust pots are carbon fibre, with the rest of the system being stainless.

The wonderful exterior curves of the Tuscan continue on the inside with what seems like acres of curves and lashings of leather that combine with a complimentary mix of analog and digital instruments. The aluminium and brass controls look as good today as they did when the car was launched and have a chunky feel that matches the Tuscan’s muscular image.

The interior looks to be in really nice shape with the seats, carpet and headliner and steering wheel presenting very well indeed. There are some small areas of wear on the drivers seat and in the corners where the leather rubs when the seat back is flipped forward to gain access to the rear parcel shelf.

The Tuscan’s seats actually came with lumbar support from the factory, which the driver could adjust using a manual hand pump. The rubber balloon for the hand pump is damaged on the drivers side which is shown in one of the photos.

The seller notes that the Tuscan’s Pioneer stereo was installed by the dealership, who also installed the Pioneer steering wheel control module. These are said to work well as do the rest of the cars gauges, switchgear and air conditioning.

One of the photos shows an EFI warning on the digital dashboard. The Tuscan recently had a new battery installed and this warning can occur during a battery swap and is a common occurrence with TVR’s. A reset would likely address this, however buyers would need to make their own enquiries.

Beneath the curvy bonnet of the Tuscan resides the mighty TVR Speed Six engine which was celebrated for its bags of torque and rapid overtaking abilities. Michael states that the engine runs well and has benefited from a recent service. It pulls strongly through all the gears and drives down the road like a Tuscan S should. He notes that the gearbox was rebuilt approximately 2 years into his ownership, after it developed difficulty engaging 3rd gear. This rebuild was carried out around 2003 by then specialist Waldonway in Kent. Michael has misplaced the invoice for the rebuild but he adds that the car has covered over 6,000 miles since the rebuild without issue.

On the underside the Tuscan looks to be in good condition with some evidence of surface corrosion on the tubular chassis in a few spots. Most TVR’s of this era, especially those that have racked up considerably more miles, have had their chassis either replaced or restored by this point. The lack of use has certainly spared this cars chassis from the worst of the elements.

A recent service and recommission of the Tuscan noted that the shock absorber units are heavily corroded. After 21 years they will likely need a rebuild. The seller states that the suspension feels good with no knocks or bangs and the non ABS brakes stop the car well. The Tuscan’s recent MOT noted that the Nearside Rear hub oil seal and Offside Front hub oil seal are leaking leaking, which the new owner may want to address in the future.

Technically the TVR Tuscan is a 2 owner car as it was first registered in May 2001 to the dealership that Michael purchased the car from. He states that the Tuscan was used by the owner of the dealership and also as a demonstrator and had covered approximately 1,500 miles when it was sold in September 2001. Michael adds that the majority of the cars miles were added in its early years up to around 2004, when it had done under 8,000 miles. It has covered less than 2,000 miles since.

In that time Michael states that he has kept the car in storage and has started it up periodically to keep everything circulating. In March this year he had the Tuscan taken out of storage and treated to a service and recommission at Taylor TVR Ltd in Kent. They carried out a 12k service, an MOT and installed a new battery and alternator. They also fitted a new ethanol proof fuel hose from the tank to the fuel pump and fitted a new fuel level sensor. It has a valid MOT certificate until 15th March 2023.

Finding a TVR Tuscan S with a mere 9,800 miles on the clock and just 2 owners from new is very rare indeed. The fact that this is a Tuscan S Mk1 makes it even more special. TVR were never known for keeping particularly accurate build records, however the Tuscan S models were built in low numbers. What is certain is that the Tuscan S is a very rare beast on UK roads and the chances of meeting another outside of a club meet are very slim indeed. Michael has loved owning his Tuscan but after 21 years feels it is time to pass it on to a new custodian.

This TVR Tuscan S is a certain must own for the avid TVR collector and its low ownership, miles and specification are unlikely to be repeated. With an estimate of £28,000 - £35,000 it is going to attract a lot of attention.

Viewing is always encouraged. This particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; we are open weekdays between 9am-5pm, 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’.