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!
I think assuming you've bought a decent one it will be a lot less 'brave pill' than everyone says. The engine rebuild is the only thing that's actually genuinely expensive, and you shouldn't need one if you buy right. Also found mine remarkably tame and compliant... though it was on nitrons!
I miss mine every day. Though I do know if I had another I'd always be paranod about it going up in flames again....
I miss mine every day. Though I do know if I had another I'd always be paranod about it going up in flames again....
Oh I like that. Never been a big fan of the Tuscan but I must say it's starting to take me in a bit.
As above, big name YouTubers are starting to pick them up. ChrisFix has got his stored with AutoAlex pending the 25 year rule expiring at a guess. The price of these, especially the Swordfish ones, will explode in short order.
As above, big name YouTubers are starting to pick them up. ChrisFix has got his stored with AutoAlex pending the 25 year rule expiring at a guess. The price of these, especially the Swordfish ones, will explode in short order.
Thanks for all the positive comments folks. It is a car I cannot help but turn around for another look at when I walk away after parking.
My first diy job on the car was removing the old PPF on the front end. Judging by the way this had crazed I would say it may even have been on there from new. It was not nice so had to go.
This was NOT a fun job and I would not recommend it to anyone. Hours and hours sat on the garage floor with a steamer and plastic blades got the bulk of the film off, tiny bit by tiny bit! It also left behind a horrible sticky residue which took many more hours to remove with same plastic blades and a bottle of sticky stuff remover.
The end result is mostly good. The paint was protected on the whole. A couple of larger stone dings got through and chipped or cracked the paint. I hope to enlist the help of a local body shop to do some localised repairs to these rather than a complete front end respray. Personally I would rather keep as much of the original paint as possible.
My next job was to be fitting the popular Allan Howell bonnet conversion. I have the nice quality looking kit ready to go this weekend, but the car clearly has other ideas having decided to start dripping oil on the garage floor after a run.
The oil leak is not terrible, but I need to sort it before driving much more. From what I read the oil pressure sender is one possible cause and seemingly a fairly straightforward swap for a new one. I’ll get a closer look at the weekend and try to diagnose it before buying any parts.
My first diy job on the car was removing the old PPF on the front end. Judging by the way this had crazed I would say it may even have been on there from new. It was not nice so had to go.
This was NOT a fun job and I would not recommend it to anyone. Hours and hours sat on the garage floor with a steamer and plastic blades got the bulk of the film off, tiny bit by tiny bit! It also left behind a horrible sticky residue which took many more hours to remove with same plastic blades and a bottle of sticky stuff remover.
The end result is mostly good. The paint was protected on the whole. A couple of larger stone dings got through and chipped or cracked the paint. I hope to enlist the help of a local body shop to do some localised repairs to these rather than a complete front end respray. Personally I would rather keep as much of the original paint as possible.
My next job was to be fitting the popular Allan Howell bonnet conversion. I have the nice quality looking kit ready to go this weekend, but the car clearly has other ideas having decided to start dripping oil on the garage floor after a run.
The oil leak is not terrible, but I need to sort it before driving much more. From what I read the oil pressure sender is one possible cause and seemingly a fairly straightforward swap for a new one. I’ll get a closer look at the weekend and try to diagnose it before buying any parts.
The exhaust looks very restrained by Tuscan standards. Is the plan to keep it? Or go for something you can lose a small child in? 
This beaut was at our local TVR monthly meeting a few months back. Full sized can for scale ...
It looks like a great car. I hope it keeps a big smile on your face like a good TVR should.
This beaut was at our local TVR monthly meeting a few months back. Full sized can for scale ...It looks like a great car. I hope it keeps a big smile on your face like a good TVR should.
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