Brave pill - Mk1 Tuscan S
Discussion
I remember reading a Brave Pill article on here from June 2019 about the purchase of a CAT C TVR Tuscan. At the time I thought that it was indeed a ballsy buy but admired both the bravery and the car itself.
I was TVR-less at the time, having sold my first, a lovely Cooper green V8S, years earlier, when I needed the money for a house move. Then kids came along, then another house move, plus a series of cheaper weekend cars, none of which gave me what the TVR did and I had always hankered for another.
I wasn t really in a position to buy another TVR for a while, but when the chance came again I ceased on a lovely Monza red 1998 Griffith 500. I had always said if I came back to TVR one day it would be in a Griff, and so it was.
Here it is:
The Griff was a fine example and treated me very well in my short ownership. I revelled in the gutsy torque and grin inducing acceleration. Oh, and that V8 noise. What a fabulous noise!
You ll notice I said short ownership . This was not the intention. I could have stuck with that car long term, but I am terrible at always thinking about what might come next and although I loved the Griff I had an itch for a Tuscan which was proving very difficult to resist scratching!
Many years ago, well before the Brave Pill article and not long after the Mk1 Tuscan was released, I purchased a 1/18 scale diecast model of a Tuscan S, in black. It has sat on a shelf in my living room ever since. Even in model form the styling demands attention. It is like nothing else. Now the thought of a full size one gracing my driveway was starting to get the better of me.
It was while the Griff was in for its annual MOT and routine servicing that I mentioned to my friendly local TVR specialist that I would like to try a Tuscan one day. I didn t think much more of it for a while, but as talk goes around within TVR circles quickly I soon received a message from a well-respected trader in the area, the same one who found my Griff for me, saying that he had heard I was looking. I quickly played it down saying that maybe one day, but not yet, as the Griff was still doing sterling work.
A couple more weeks passed and another message from said trader dropped into my WhatsApp inbox. This time saying he knew of a nice, low mileage, low ownership Mk1 Tuscan S, in Moonraker black, with engine rebuild and great chassis, same owner last 20+ years, which might be available. Wait, an S , in black, just like the model on my shelf, just like the S6 TUS press car I remember VBH and others raving about. Surely I couldn t afford an S? I was thinking a standard car would be what I would buy when the time came. He had my attention now and there followed many more messages, much deep thought and copious amounts of man maths!
So a Tuscan is a brave purchase at any time. They are well known for being, of a delicate nature shall we say, and that Speed Six has (or had) a reputation that I ll not go into now, but I am sure most reading this will be aware of. This is the part then where I take not just one brave pill, but the whole damned bottle! I will not go into all the gory details, but suffice to say the Tuscan was bought, in a not-to-be-recommended unorthodox manner, and the Griff went in part-exchange at what I considered to be very good price.
So now I own a Mk1 Tuscan S and it would appear to be a good one, thank god! And what a machine it is. Thrilling, raw, intoxicating, analogue, scary at times and ruddy fast. It is so involving, so connected and immediately responsive to every minute input. I love it.
I have had a few bits done already, including a 12k service with valve clearances and a full chassis clean and protection. I have a list of jobs to do going forward. Mostly non-essential, nice-to-haves, or seeking minor improvements in the handling department. Some I will tackle myself, others will be entrusted to my friendly local TVR guy. If I remember and if I find time I will update this thread periodically. Don t hold your breath though. I am not quick at getting things done. That and I will be spending most of my spare time doing what you re supposed to do. Driving the thing!
Here are some pics to be going on with:
I was TVR-less at the time, having sold my first, a lovely Cooper green V8S, years earlier, when I needed the money for a house move. Then kids came along, then another house move, plus a series of cheaper weekend cars, none of which gave me what the TVR did and I had always hankered for another.
I wasn t really in a position to buy another TVR for a while, but when the chance came again I ceased on a lovely Monza red 1998 Griffith 500. I had always said if I came back to TVR one day it would be in a Griff, and so it was.
Here it is:
The Griff was a fine example and treated me very well in my short ownership. I revelled in the gutsy torque and grin inducing acceleration. Oh, and that V8 noise. What a fabulous noise!
You ll notice I said short ownership . This was not the intention. I could have stuck with that car long term, but I am terrible at always thinking about what might come next and although I loved the Griff I had an itch for a Tuscan which was proving very difficult to resist scratching!
Many years ago, well before the Brave Pill article and not long after the Mk1 Tuscan was released, I purchased a 1/18 scale diecast model of a Tuscan S, in black. It has sat on a shelf in my living room ever since. Even in model form the styling demands attention. It is like nothing else. Now the thought of a full size one gracing my driveway was starting to get the better of me.
It was while the Griff was in for its annual MOT and routine servicing that I mentioned to my friendly local TVR specialist that I would like to try a Tuscan one day. I didn t think much more of it for a while, but as talk goes around within TVR circles quickly I soon received a message from a well-respected trader in the area, the same one who found my Griff for me, saying that he had heard I was looking. I quickly played it down saying that maybe one day, but not yet, as the Griff was still doing sterling work.
A couple more weeks passed and another message from said trader dropped into my WhatsApp inbox. This time saying he knew of a nice, low mileage, low ownership Mk1 Tuscan S, in Moonraker black, with engine rebuild and great chassis, same owner last 20+ years, which might be available. Wait, an S , in black, just like the model on my shelf, just like the S6 TUS press car I remember VBH and others raving about. Surely I couldn t afford an S? I was thinking a standard car would be what I would buy when the time came. He had my attention now and there followed many more messages, much deep thought and copious amounts of man maths!
So a Tuscan is a brave purchase at any time. They are well known for being, of a delicate nature shall we say, and that Speed Six has (or had) a reputation that I ll not go into now, but I am sure most reading this will be aware of. This is the part then where I take not just one brave pill, but the whole damned bottle! I will not go into all the gory details, but suffice to say the Tuscan was bought, in a not-to-be-recommended unorthodox manner, and the Griff went in part-exchange at what I considered to be very good price.
So now I own a Mk1 Tuscan S and it would appear to be a good one, thank god! And what a machine it is. Thrilling, raw, intoxicating, analogue, scary at times and ruddy fast. It is so involving, so connected and immediately responsive to every minute input. I love it.
I have had a few bits done already, including a 12k service with valve clearances and a full chassis clean and protection. I have a list of jobs to do going forward. Mostly non-essential, nice-to-haves, or seeking minor improvements in the handling department. Some I will tackle myself, others will be entrusted to my friendly local TVR guy. If I remember and if I find time I will update this thread periodically. Don t hold your breath though. I am not quick at getting things done. That and I will be spending most of my spare time doing what you re supposed to do. Driving the thing!
Here are some pics to be going on with:
Edited by pstruck on Monday 17th August 12:55
Awesome choice. I had 2, a 4.0 and then a 3.6. The first car should have put me off the Tuscan for ever, as it was a problem car, but the second was everything I hoped it would be.
Carbon can exhaust on mine was hilarious - I’d still rate the sound as being as good as my Capristo 360! Enjoy the car!
Carbon can exhaust on mine was hilarious - I’d still rate the sound as being as good as my Capristo 360! Enjoy the car!
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