Highlights
- Early 3litre M-car in very presentable and usable condition
- Smart refurbished interior
- MOT and tax exempt
- Recently recommissioned after hibernation
- Light, torquey and very entertaining low volume British sports car
The Appeal
Perhaps it was the naked women on the Motor Show stand or perhaps it was the new backbone chassis, but TVR’s new M-cars quickly delivered what new owner Martin Lilley hoped: sales. Top of the tree was the 3litre Ford ‘Essex’ equipped V6 which, combined with that new chassis and low weight delivered performance and thrills to match anything available on the British sports car scene.
Just 654 3000Ms were built and this is one of the earliest. Recently recommissioned from hibernation it is in very presentable but eminently usable condition, making it ready to exploit and enjoy.
The History and Paperwork
- First registered on 23rd October 1972
- 2 sets of keys
- The vendor says that there is lots of history which includes old invoices
- Vendor states that the brakes have been overhauled
- Older respray with some marks visible
- We understand that the dashboard and trim have been reconditioned
- There is no MOT history but the car is MOT and tax exempt
- Vehicle handbook supplied with car
- The M-cars were named after Martin Lilley and featured a new backbone chassis with revised Vixen-influenced bodywork
- The vendor tells us that the original engine was replaced with a Ford V8 during the car’s life
- The car is now back with a correct Ford ‘Essex’ V6 3litre engine
The Interior
- The interior is generally in very good condition and we understand the dashboard and trim have been refurbished
- Appears to be factory standard including the door cards and dashboard
- Original Smiths dials with clear faces and some marks to black rims
- Black carpets with matching over mats piped in red
- Carpets would benefit from a clean to further improve the interior appearance
- Original headlining in good condition
- Folding sunroof looks well kept and workable with clear aluminium trims
- Pioneer aftermarket stereo fitted
- Centre console trim well preserved with no visible scuffs or rips
- Dashboard in similar condition with clean top and fascia
- Aluminium gear knob
- Rear load area continues the sense of preservation being very presentable
- Some marks on the door cards but not unsightly and there are no rips
The Exterior
- Attractive dark blue metallic paintwork appears to be an older restoration that has held up well
- There are some marks around the car including stone chips, edge chips and scuffs to the vulnerable lower areas under the front and rear
- The black painted bumpers are generally good but with small scratches on two of the ends
- Glasswork and lights are complete and appear undamaged and with clear lenses
- Stylish TVR-branded alloy wheels are very presentable but with age-related marks and deterioration
- Underside appears to be in good condition with solid structures and some flaking of underseal and surface corrosion visible
The Mechanics
- 2,994cc Ford ‘Essex’ V6 engine but not the original factory supplied unit
- 4spd manual gearbox
- Backbone chassis with perimeter tubes
- Lightweight, weighing only 950kg
- 0-60mph in 7.7seconds
- We are told that the brakes have been overhauled
- The car was in storage for some time and has been recently recommissioned
Summary
TVR established its reputation with lightweight cars that maximised the potential of their relatively small engines. With the 3000M, TVR moved into a new era that retained the light weight but added the option of much bigger engines.
This early 3000M is factory standard and recently recommissioned after hibernation. It is smart and presentable but not immaculate, so you can really use and enjoy it. Which is surely what these great cars were built for.
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