TVR was named after its founder TreVoR Wilkinson and, in its early days, made plastic kit cars. These were not good credentials. When they first came out, they had ford engines and odd bodies which didn't have much appeal at all. And then things got worse. in the mid 80s, the Tasmin wandered onto the scene looking like it had been designed on an Etch-a-Sketch. It was all straight lines and points, and even thought it did have a 3.5-litre V8. It did look a little better when the convertible was launched, but it was still just a kit car. And that means lots of trouble. Some people do enjoy cars that don't work properly, this means that they have an excuse to spend a weekend on their backs, covered in grease with their fingers in holes that are much too small. Other people also like being on their backs, covered in grease and playing in holes, but prefer it if cars aren't involved. In 1981 Peter wheeler invested all his saving and bought the company. They then started building curvy two-seater convertibles which, on their own, would have been good enough to turn a few heads, but it was the noise that made people look. 

Engine V8 4185cc

BHP 350

Top Speed 170mph

0-60 4.6 secs

Cost £40,000