2002 TVR Tamora

Please note that the pictures were provided by the seller

Highlights

• 3.6-litre straight-six engine 

• Manual gearbox

• Recently serviced 

• Wheels refurbished

• Metallic paint

Overview

Titus Andronicus is one of Shakespeare’s lesser-performed plays, which reflects the changing tastes of audiences. 15th Century crowds eagerly lapped up its violence and gore, but such graphic scenes horrified the sensitivities of the later Victorian era. Tamora is the Queen of the Goths who vows revenge for being taken prisoner and made to marry the Roman Emperor, along with a host of other violent acts visited upon her family. 

So the TVR Tamora comes with a passionate backstory, and a powerful six-cylinder engine  with which to exact its revenge. The 345 bhp is sent to the rear wheels via a five-speed manual gearbox, and all this is mounted in a tubular chassis. TVR was a famously long-standing proponent of keeping chassis and bodies separate, here using their preferred combination of tubular steel chassis with a glass fibre body mounted on top. 

Back in October 2001 PistonHeads was given a chance to drive the press car, and our reporter was pleasantly surprised how well the car handled, describing it as ‘nimble’. It is ideally suited to country driving, with its light weight and excellent handling: ‘even at lowish speeds the chassis is an absolute delight encouraging you to plant the car for every corner, not just hoon it round’.

This particular example appears to have been well cared for. That metallic blue paint still sparkles brightly, and the body panels are all proudly flamboyant, with egregious use of vents and curves giving the car a decadent appeal. In short, it’s a quintessential TVR. We love it.

History and documentation

• Registered 22 Aug 2002

• Stamped service book showing the following services: Sep 2002 @1,006 miles, Feb 2003 @ 6,092 miles, Oct 2003 @ 11,366 miles, Nov 2004 @ 18,473 miles, new speedo Jul 2005 @ 19,500 miles, Aug 2006 @ 557 miles, another new speedo Nov 2006 @ 1,235 miles, Jul 2007 @ 3,395 miles, Apr 2007 @ 10,050 miles, Mar 2008 @ 7,780 miles, Apr 2010 @ 13,780 miles, Apr 2011 @ 15,900 miles, Apr 2012 @16,827 milesMar 2013 @ 20,347 miles, May 2014 @ 24,775 miles, 

• Collection of invoices showing services as follows: Apr 2009, Mar 2013 @ 20,341 miles, Apr 2014 @ 24,767 miles, Apr 2016 @ 27,455 miles, Jun 2017 @ 28,008 miles, Apr 2022 @ 29,468 miles, Oct 2025 @ 30,823 miles

• Original owner’s documents

• One key

• Current MOT expires 10 Nov 2026

• V5 present in owner’s name

• Private plate TB02JOB included in sale 

• HPI clear

• Note that with the speedo changes, the current mileage is 20,735 miles more than that showing on the odo, making 51578 in total

Interior

• Two-tone leather interior in good condition throughout 

• Brushed aluminium finish to the handbrake lever, gear know, and electrical switches

• Some creasing and wear to the driver’s seat upholstery 

• Manual seat adjusters

• Fitted, leather-trimmed carpets

• Alcantara trim on the door cards

• Leather-trimmed steering wheel

• The leather continues onto the dashboard and centre console 

• Analogue instruments with digital LCD subsidiary display

• Pioneer stereo

• The seller informs us that all the switches and controls work as they should do

• Luggage storage space behind the seats, with a little fading to the carpets

• Fully carpeted boot at the rear 

Exterior

• Low profile, sleek styling, and plenty of vents 

• The glass fibre body panels look good, with no obvious signs of damage that we could see

• The metallic blue paint is similarly well presented, with only a few small chips and scratches

• Good panel gaps 

• 18-inch alloy wheels

• Goodyear Eagle F1 tyres

• The wheels were refurbished in Aug 2024, finished in Gunmetal with gloss powder coating

• The seller tells us that the rear tyres will need to be replaced soon 

• A little paint has flaked off the ‘Tamora’ rear badge 

• Some light scratches to the headlight cowls, but no obvious chips or fading

• The soft top roof raises, and appears to fit snugly

• Twin-exit exhaust

Mechanical

• 3,605cc six-cylinder engine

• Produces 345 bhp, and 290 lb ft

• Top speed 170 mph, 0-60 mph in 4.2 seconds

• Five-speed manual gearbox

• Rear-wheel drive

• Tubular steel chassis

• Engine bay clean, with colour-matched cam cover

• The car received an overhaul in 2014, with work completed on the shock absorbers, ECU, wishbones, exhaust, rear brakes, and more

• The service in Oct 2025 included an engine oil and filter change, handbrake adjustment, and new passenger seatbelt

• The seller tells us that the car starts, runs, and stops as it should do

• No warning lights reported, and no mechanical issues 

Summary

A lesser-spotted member of the TVR range, the Tamora expertly combines a refined straight-six engine with decadent styling, and excellent handling. We think that any journey in it will be an event to be enjoyed. Get your bid in now.

To arrange a viewing, click the 'Book Viewing' button located under the 'Place Bid' button. Viewings can be booked up until the day before the auction ends, after which the option will change to 'Contact Seller' for further enquiries. This seller is located in Bembridge on the Isle of Wight.