TVR 450 SE 1989 - (4.8 John Eales true 316bhp/335lbft + other mods)

One of the 35 (ish) 450SEs built and now it's 1 of 1 due to the mods but it's a great 1!

1989 Car. Mileage 78K (current engine 17K)

As for the upgrades, probably the most interesting bit for a prospective purchaser is the engine which if you were to spec today would cost you circa £15K plus all the labour and serpentine ancillaries.

John Eales 4.8 Serpentine.

quad 48 IDF Webers.

Cross-bolted cylinder block

94mm Omega forged pistons

Medium valved polished & ported heads

218 camshaft and hydraulic lifters

Heavy duty bearings

Baffled sump and pick-up pope

Cloyes timing chain

Couple of bits of data

Engine provides >300lbft from 2650rpm through to 5000rpm

Compared with the original 4.5 engine (showing TVR were somewhat 'fibbing' with their quoted figures of 320bhp and 310lbft) which was 265lbft at 4500rpm (only over 230lbft from circa 3600rpm and 252bhp at 5600rpm)

Other mods:

Rollcentre rollcage

Ex-race Tuscan wheels 16" wearing 245/45/16 at rear and 225/45/16 at front (fronts brand new this week)

Custom made full exhaust system by Top Cats Racing (2013) with centre box replaced with EMP Performance Exhausts custom made in 2024

Hi-Spec upgrade/enlarged brakes (300mm vented cross drilled) & cooling air ducting.

Twin red-top fuel pumps (one replaced last year) with separate switches on the dashboard

GAZ gold dampers & springs (Top Cats Racing) 2013

Race seat with 5 point harnesses (original available)

Modified bonnet to clear and feed air filters

All relevant engine bay mods for serpentine engine including power-steering, manifolds, cooling, wiring etc

Those who know the car from the trackdays it's been used for over the years, will know it's a quick car which handles well yet at the same time is pretty forgiving.

I've not added many miles in recent years but car always starts first time and run well on the trackdays it's been used on and on the road to and from tracks as well as the road days it's had.

The full MOT history (at least from 2006 but I've got it filed from before that) is online so not much need to repeat here except to say anything causing a fail over the years has been fixed but most failures have been on emissions usually resolved simply by getting car hot by doing a spirited run before being tested!

Condition-wise, as you'd expect, paint work has blemishes and some touch ups from some stone chips etc but on the whole pretty good with trailing edge of boot spoiler the worst part of the paint currently. The interior could do with smartening up with dash needing new veneer (if that's what a new owner likes) and carpets in at least the footwells. The original drivers seat is included in the sale

I have recently refurbished/repolished the wheels. Over the years, most of the money (far too many thousands) has been spent ensuring all the mechanical bits work well and doing the upgrades etc. Chassis is good. Full file of all receipts and work from the near 29 years. Most recent works include recent new swirl pot between fuel tanks plus all new hosing around tanks.

With the exception of a just a few days here and there it's always been garaged in my ownership.

£19750 or near offers

Registration not included but can be discussed. Original plate G reg (1989).

Original OZ wheels (need refurb) available too as are centre caps/plates