Sports Cars
Britain
1960s 1970s

TVR Tuscan V8  

TVR Tuscan V6 and V8 car history

Manufacturer

TVR

Production

1967 to 1971

Assembly

Blackpool, England

Class

Sports car

Layout

FR layout

Engines

V6 and V8

Wheel base

90 in, 2,286 mm

Overall length

145.50 in, 3,696 mm

Overall height

48 in, 1,219 mm

Dry weight

2,128 1b, 965 kg 

 

The TVR Tuscan V8 was a front engine, rear wheel drive sports car built by TVR from 1967 to 1971.

History

The car was made available in both a V8 and a V6 built in the company's Blackpool, England factory with a total of 174 cars built between the two available engine formats. It replaced the Griffith 400 on the US market and the TVR Griffith 200 in Europe. 

In 1967, the first Tuscans were made available with only the V8 motor. The motor was a 4727cc Ford V8 with cast iron block and head, similar to the motor available in early Ford Mustangs with compression ratio of 11. The motor was equipped with a Ford 4-barrel carburettor, made 271 hp, and was capable of propelling the car to a top speed of 155 mph. Stopping power came from disc brakes in the front and drums in the rear the chassis type as integral with tubular backbone structure, the distribution of weight at 52% to the front axle, and 48% at rear axle. From the 1970s an updated wide body version was also built. The front suspension was independent, wishbones, coil springs and anti-roll bar with telescopic dampers at the rear also independent, wishbones, 4 coil springs and 4 telescopic dampers.

Production of the V8 models dwindled after the release of the V6, and was discontinued altogether in 1970. In total, 73 cars were sold by TVR with a V8.

Tuscan V8 : Largely identical to the Griffith 400. A total of 24 examples.
Tuscan V8 LWB : Extended wheelbase model; The basis is the new chassis of the TVR Vixen S2. Again 24 copies.
Tuscan V8 LWB Wide Body : widened version with the front end of the new TVR M-series .

PERFORMANCE: V8

  • engine capacity 288.44 cu in, 4,727 cu cm
  • fuel consumption 22 m/imp gal, 18.4 ml US gal
  • max speed 175 mph, 281.7 km/h
  • max power (SAE): 306 hp at 6,000 rpm
  • max torque (SAE): 314 1b ft, 43.4 kg m at 3,400 rpm
  • max engine rpm: 7,000
  • specific power: 64.7 hp/l
  • power-weight ratio: 6.8 lb/hp, 3.1 kg/hp
  • acceleration: 0-50 mph (0-80 km/h) 3 sec

 

Related items
TVR Tuscan | Britain 1970s | Britain 1960s | Vehicles launched in 1967 | British Sports cars | Essex V6 engine | Fibreglass cars | Sports Cars

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Technical

Service

  • TVR Tuscan V8 Maintenance and Service Guide (1967-1971)

    V8 ENGINE
    fuel: 100 oct petrol
    engine oil change: 6.50 imp pt. 7.82 US pt. 3.71, SAE 20 (winter) 30 (summer), change every 2,000 miles, 3,200 km
    cooling system capacity: 20 imp pt, 24.10 US
    gearbox oil: 2.25 imp pt. 2.75 US pt. 1.31. SAE 20 (winter) 30 (summer), change every 4,000 miles, 6,400 km
    final drive oil: 2.50 imp pt, 2.96 US pt, 1.4 1, SAE 20 (winter) 30 (summer), change every 4,000 miles, 6,400 km
    greasing: every 3,000 miles' 4.800 km, 13 points
    tappet clearances: inlet 0.018 in, 0.46 mm hot, exhaust 0.018 im 0.46 mm hot
    valve timing: inlet opens 34°30' before tdc and closes 91°30' after bdc, exhaust opens 78°30' before bdc and closes 40°30' after tdc
    normal tyre pressure: front 26 psi, 1.8 atm, rear 28 psi, 2 atm.
    width of rims: 5"
    tyres: 185 x 15
    fuel tank capacity: 15 imp gal, 17.9 US gal
    carrying capacity: 353 1b, 160 kg

     

    © Motor car History

Technical

  • TVR Tuscan V8 Technical details and specifications (1967-1971)


    ENGINE:V8
    location front 4 stroke
    Cylinders 8 vee slanted at 90°
    bore and stroke 4x2.87 in, 101.6 x 72.9 mm
    engine capacity: 288.44 cu in, 4,727 cu cm
    compression ratio: 11
    cylinder block: cast iron
    cylinder head: cast iron
    crankshaft bearings: 5
    valves: 2 per cylinder, overhead, in line, push-rods and rockers
    camshafts: 1, at centre of Vee
    lubrication: rotary pump, full flow filter
    lubricating system capacity: 6.50 imp pt. 7.82
    fuel feed electric pump
    cooling system: water

    TRANSMISSION
    driving wheels: rear
    clutch: single dry plate
    gearbox: mechanical; gears: 4 + reverse
    synchromesh gears: all
    gearbox ratios V8: 1st 2.360, 2nd 1.780, 3rd 1.410, 4th 1, rev 2.360
    gear lever location: central
    final drive: hypoid bevel
    axle ratio: 3.070.


    CHASSIS
    type integral, tubular backbone

    front suspension: independent, wishbones, coil springs, anti-roll bar, telescopic dampers
    rear suspension: independent, wishbones, 4 coil springs, 4 telescopic dampers.

    STEERING
    rack-and-pinion
    turns of steering wheel lock to lock: 3.50.
    turning circle (between walls): 27 ft, 7.9 m

    BRAKES
    front disc, rear drum, servo.

    ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
    voltage: 12 V
    battery: 57 Ah
    generator type: alternator 

    DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT
    wheel base: 90 in, 2,286 mm
    front track: 52.50 in. 1,333 mm
    rear track: 53.50 in, 1,359 mm
    overall length: 145.50 in, 3,696 mm
    overall width: 64 in, 1,626 mm
    overall height: 48 in, 1,219 mm
    ground clearance: 5 in, 127 mm
    dry weight: 2,128 1b, 965 kg
    distribution of weight: 52% front axle, 48% rear axle

    © Motor car History