TVR Grantura

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TVR Grantura
Production period: 1958-1967
Class : Sports car
Body versions : Coupe
Successor: TVR Vixen

The TVR Grantura is a two-seater British sports car that was manufactured in succession by several companies in the northern English port of Blackpool from 1958 to 1967 , each of which was sold under the TVR brand . A distinction is usually made between four or five series, some of which are further subdivided. The common design feature of all series was a lattice frame and a plastic body. The Granturas were optionally available as complete vehicles or as a kit and could be equipped with engines from various British manufacturers. For the North American market, from 1963 to 1966, a few versions with eight-cylinder engines by Ford USA were made, which were sold as Griffith 200 and Griffith 400 . The TVR Grantura was the first mass-produced sports car from the TVR brand and shaped its image well into the 1970s.

History of origin

Trevor Wilkinson has headed TVR Engineering, named after him, in Blackpool since 1946. In the 1950s, TVR had built a few open sports cars that remained one-offs. From 1955, on the initiative of the American car dealer Ray Saidel, the TVR Open Sports and the TVR Coupé with notchback were produced in small series. Saidel sold a hatchback version derived from it in 1958 in the USA under the name Jomar . Only about 10 copies of the Jomar were made. After the relationship with Saidel ended, TVR Engineering was insolvent and was liquidated at the end of 1958. Wilkinson then founded Layton Sports Cars , the name of which referred to Blackpool's Layton district, in which the TVR plant was located. Layton Sports Cars was renamed TVR Cars in 1961. These companies produced a revised version of the Jomar for the British market from 1959. It was given the name Grantura, an onomatopoeic modification of the term Grand Tourer . After Layton / TVR Cars went bankrupt at the end of 1962, Grantura Engineering took over the production of the sports car, which also came to a standstill in 1965 due to bankruptcy. TVR Engineering, newly founded by Martin Lilley, resumed production of the Grantura at the beginning of 1966 and continued it until 1967. Then the Grantura was replaced by the Vixen , an improved version of the Grantura tailored to Ford technology.

The individual series

Grantura Mark I.

Grantura Mark I.
TVR Grantura

TVR Grantura
Production period: 1958-1960
Body versions : Coupe
Engines:
Petrol engines : 1.1-1.6 liters
(26.5-62.5 kW)
Length: 3467 mm
Width: 1664 mm
Height: 1194 mm
Wheelbase : 2121 mm
Empty weight : 657 kg

The first series of the Grantura (retroactively referred to as the Mark I in the English-speaking world ) was built by Layton Sports Cars in Blackpool from 1959 to 1960. A total of around 100 vehicles in this series were built.

technology

The Grantura Mark I has a tubular space frame , which is composed of steel tubes with different diameters. It largely corresponds to the construction already used in the Jomar. Viewed from above, the frame has the shape of a Y, the fork of which is closed by the cross member of the front axle. The front third of the frame carries the engine and the front suspension, the rear third the differential and the rear suspension. On this basic structure there are further beams that hold the body and connecting pipes. The crank arms of the VW Beetle were used for the chassis . The British press described the suspension of the Grantura as "Porsche Type". The drum brakes came from the Austin-Healey 100 , the steering gear was a spindle steering from Burman and Sons , as it was also used in the Ford Anglia .

body

Like all subsequent series, the body of the first Grantura is made of fiberglass-reinforced plastic . While the superstructures of the first TVR models were still sourced from suppliers such as RGS , Layton Sports Cars and TVR manufactured the Grantura bodies in-house. Apart from that, many of the supplier parts come from British mass production. The windshield, for example, is that of the contemporary Ford Zodiac .

In terms of style, the structure is characterized by a long bonnet and a very short passenger compartment. The bonnet is hinged at the front and folds forward in one piece. The doors are very narrow and restrict access to the interior. The tight passenger cell and the short wheelbase of 2.1 m make the vehicle appear compact and “stubby”. At the rear end of the Grantura has a plastic panorama window , which became a permanent feature of all TVR coupés up to and including the M series of the 1970s. The rear window cannot be opened; there is also no trunk lid. The storage area and the spare wheel behind the seats can only be reached via the passenger compartment. A stylistic feature that only the Grantura Mark I has are the sloping rear fenders. They correspond to those of the TVR Coupé produced before the Grantura, the fenders of which are based on the body shape of the Microplas Mistral .

Engines

The Grantura Mark I could be equipped with different engines of British origin:

  • The most common was the 1.2 liter FWE four-cylinder engine from Coventry Climax , which developed 80 bhp (60 kW). The FWA engine with a displacement of 1.1 liters was also available.
  • Some Mark I received a 1.6 liter four cylinder engine from the B-series from BMC with 78 bhp (58 kW). These engines were also available in the MGA .
  • By Ford of Britain outdated four-cylinder engines could Ford Anglia 100E 100E 1.2 liter engine, vertical valves (27 kW; 36 hp) and a power of 35 bhp or the new, equally large Kent engine of Anglia 105E with overhead valves are used.

Grantura Mark II and Grantura IIa

Grantura Mark II
TVR Grantura Mk. II

TVR Grantura Mk. II
Production period: 1960–1962
Body versions : Coupe
Engines: Petrol engines :
1.2–1.6 liters
(40–61 kW)
Length: 3467 mm
Width: 1664 mm
Height: 1194 mm
Wheelbase : 2121 mm
Empty weight : 657 kg

In July 1960, the first revised version of the Grantura appeared, which was called the Mark II. The cars continued to be produced by Layton Sports Cars, which operated as TVR Cars from 1961. The production of the Mark II and its variant Mark IIa ended in 1962 with the bankruptcy of TVR Cars. Up to then a total of around 400 Mark II and IIa had been created. The second series was by far the most successful of the entire series.

Mark II

Outwardly, the Mark II differs mainly through the modified rear end. Instead of the round sloping cladding of the first Grantura, the Mark II has small rear wings in which small round lights are embedded. The stylistic revision of the bonnet mainly affects the front air intake, which is slightly narrower and lower. Apart from that, the design of the Grantura remained unchanged. There were hardly any technical changes either. TVR equipped the Grantura Mark II with the 1.6-liter B-Series four-cylinder of the MGA as standard; that affected about 70 percent of the entire series. However, engines from Ford or Coventry Climax could still be installed.

A Grantura Mark II with the 1.6 liter MGA engine was tested by The Motor magazine in 1961. It reached a top speed of 158 km / h and an acceleration of 0-100 km / h in 12.0 s. A fuel consumption of 8.61 l / 100 km was determined.

In 1960 a complete vehicle cost £ 1,188 and the following year £ 1,298 including tax. For a kit, however, a price of £ 888 was asked in 1960.

Mark IIa

In 1961, a version called the Mark IIa appeared in the literature, which differed from the previous Mark II primarily in the serial installation of front disc brakes . The brakes came from Girling and corresponded to the units that were installed on the Austin-Healey 3000 .

Grantura Mark III

Grantura Mark III
Grantura Mark III (1962)

Grantura Mark III (1962)
Production period: 1962-1963
Body versions : Coupe
Engines:
Otto engines : 1.2–1.8 liters
(40–70 kW)
Length: 3505 mm
Width: 1626 mm
Height: 122 mm
Wheelbase : 2171 mm
Empty weight : 811 kg

In April 1962 the Grantura Mark III appeared. The cars of the third series were initially produced by TVR Cars Ltd. After their bankruptcy in October 1962, the independent company Grantura Engineering, which had already been a supplier for TVR Cars, took over production. In November 1964, the Mark III was replaced by the 1800S. Until then, depending on the source, between 60 and 90 Mark III were created. The chassis and body of the Mark III was the basis for the (TVR) Griffith 200.

technology

The third series of cars has a new chassis designed by John Thurner. It basically follows the previous Grantura chassis in terms of design, but is longer and wider. Numerous additional cross struts make it more torsion-resistant than the earlier constructions. The chassis and with it the wheelbase of the car have been stretched by 4 cm; as a result, the interior space is slightly larger. Thurner's chassis is 9 kg heavier than that of the two previous Grantura versions. The suspension is also new. . The front suspension with double wishbones was adopted almost unchanged from the Triumph Herald , while the rear suspension is TVR's own design, also with double wishbones and coil springs. Compared to previous Grantura versions, the Mark III is more comfortable and precise to drive.

body

The body of the Mark III, apart from the slight elongation of the passenger cell, which corresponds to the extended wheelbase, corresponds to that of the Mark II. The doors are unchanged.

Engines

Initially, the Mark III was again available with the engines from BMC (MG), Coventry Climax or Ford known from its predecessor. When, after a few months, the supply of Ford and Coventry Climax engines was exhausted, the factory limited the supply to BMC four-cylinder engines. First, the 1.6 liter four-cylinder from the MGA was installed. At the turn of the year 1962/63, TVR then took over the version of this B-series engine, which had been introduced in the MGB shortly before , and was enlarged to 1.8 liters. Their output was about 94 bhp (70 kw, 95 hp). The 1.8 liter engine became standard in the Grantura in the years that followed.

1800 p

1800 p

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Production period: 1963-1965
Body versions : Coupe
Engines: Gasoline engine : 1.8 liters
Length: 3505 mm
Width: 1626 mm
Height: 122 mm
Wheelbase : 2171 mm
Empty weight : 811 kg

In November 1964, the 1800 S, a further developed version of the Grantura, was presented. The nomenclature is inconsistent for this model. Sometimes it is referred to as Grantura 1800 S, sometimes as Mark III 1800 S without the addition Grantura, sometimes only as TVR 1800 S. The information in the advertising brochures is also inconsistent. The model was made by Grantura Engineering like the direct predecessor. According to most sources, around 130 vehicles were built by the time production was discontinued due to bankruptcy in autumn 1965, according to other sources only 90. The body and chassis of the 1800 S were the basis for the TVR Griffith 400.

The TVR 1800 S corresponds technically to its predecessor Mark III. The factory also built in the 1.8 liter four-cylinder from the BMC-B series as standard. The main difference to the predecessor concerns the design of the rear end. Instead of the previous round rear with the indicated wings, the car has a crested rear . A small tear-off edge is incorporated at the upper end of the end. The short and cut-off-looking tail of this model is named Manx Tail after the tailless cat breed Manx in the British-speaking region . Also new were the round, one-piece rear lights from the Ford Cortina , which are jokingly referred to in Great Britain as Ban The Bomb Lights because they are reminiscent of the logo of the British peace initiative “Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament”. Other changes affect the rear panoramic window, which is now larger, and the side bulges above the rear wheel cutout.

Grantura Mark IV

Grantura 1800 Mark IV
TVR Grantura Mark IV

TVR Grantura Mark IV
Production period: 1966-1967
Body versions : Coupe
Engines: Gasoline engine : 1.8 liters
Length: 3505 mm
Width: 1626 mm
Height: 122 mm
Wheelbase : 2171 mm
Empty weight : 811 kg

The last variant is the Grantura Mark IV, which is alternatively referred to as 1800 Mark IV (with and without the addition of Grantura). It is the first model of the Martin Lilley era, which began at the end of 1965 when Martin Lilley took over the production rights and transferred them to the newly founded company TVR Engineering. The Mark IV served as a transitional model that was kept in the program until the introduction of the new TVR Vixen. There are different details about the production scope of the Mark IV. In the literature, they range from 38 to 76 copies, the British brand club assumes 78 vehicles.

The Mark IV is technically and externally almost completely the same as the previous 1800 S. It is still powered by the 1.8 liter inline four-cylinder BMC-B series and, like its predecessor, has the Manx rear with the round taillights of the Ford Cortina. The new management, headed by Martin Lilley, tried to reduce the number of complaints and warranty cases by improving quality and thus increasing profitability. The Mark IV therefore underwent some detailed modifications, due to which it is considered an improved 1800 S. He also got a larger gas tank.

Prices were £ 1,000 for a kit and £ 1,300 for a factory assembled car.

A few Griffith 400s were built based on the Mark IV chassis.

Eight cylinder versions (TVR) Griffith 200 and 400

Griffith 400

The TVR Griffith 200 (1963 to 1964) and its successor Griffith 400 (1964 to 1967) were parallel models of the Grantura, which were primarily intended for the US market. They used the chassis and body of the Grantura Mark III (Griffith 200) or the 1800S / Mark IV (Griffith 400), but had a 4.7 liter eight-cylinder V-engine from Ford USA. They were commissioned by Griffith Motors from Hicksville ( New York ) and competed against the similarly designed AC Cobra and Sunbeam Tiger sports cars . The versions of the two eight-cylinder models sold in Great Britain, however, were sold under the TVR brand and were uniformly called the TVR Griffith 200.

The TVR Grantura in motorsport

In 1962, TVR Cars took part in the 12-hour races of Sebring and Le Mans with a works team and several Granturas . Mark Donohue and Jay Signore finished the race at Sebring in 25th place overall, at Le Mans Peter Bolton and Ninian Sanderson dropped out after just three laps.

literature

  • David Culshaw, Peter Horrobin: The Complete Catalog of British Cars 1895-1975. Veloce Publishing plc., Dorchester 1997, ISBN 1-874105-93-6 .
  • Ralph Dodds: TVR. Cars Of The Peter Wheeler Era , The Crowood Press, Ramsburg 2015, ISBN 978-1847979971
  • John Tipler: TVR , Sutton Publishing Ltd., Strout, 1998, ISBN 0-7509-1766-0
  • Matthew Vale: TVR 1946-1982. The Trevor Wilkinson and Martin Lilley Years , The Crowood Press, Ramsbury 2017, ISBN 978-1785003516

Web links

Commons : TVR Grantura  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ^ John Tipler: TVR , Sutton Publishing Ltd., Strout, 1998, ISBN 0-7509-1766-0 , p. 13.
  2. ^ David Lillywhite, Halwart Schrader: Classic automobiles . Motorbuch-Verlag, Stuttgart 2005, ISBN 3-613-02552-3 .
  3. ^ A b c Matthew Vale: TVR 1946−1982. The Trevor Wilkinson and Martin Lilley Years, The Crowood Press, Ramsbury 2017, ISBN 978-1785003516 , p. 58.
  4. ^ A b Graham Robson: AZ of British Cars 1945–1980. Herridge & Sons, Devon 2006, ISBN 0-9541063-9-3 .
  5. ^ Matthew Vale: TVR 1946−1982. The Trevor Wilkinson and Martin Lilley Years ,, The Crowood Press, Ramsbury 2017, ISBN 978-1785003516 , p. 43.
  6. ^ Matthew Vale: TVR 1946−1982. The Trevor Wilkinson and Martin Lilley Years, The Crowood Press, Ramsbury 2017, ISBN 978-1785003516 , p. 54.
  7. ↑ M. Sedgewick, M. Gillies: AZ of Cars 1945-1970. Bay View Books, Devon 1986, ISBN 1-870979-39-7 .
  8. ↑ https://www.smallfordspares.co.uk/plates/123-105e-steering-gear Exploded view of the steering gear
  9. ^ A b Matthew Vale: TVR 1946−1982. The Trevor Wilkinson and Martin Lilley Years, The Crowood Press, Ramsbury 2017, ISBN 978-1785003516 , p. 44.
  10. ↑ a b c N.N .: The TVR Grantura. In: The Motor. March 29, 1961.
  11. ↑ a b c Ralph Dodds: TVR. Cars Of The Peter Wheeler Era, The Crowood Press, Ramsburg 2015, ISBN 978-1847979971 , p. 12.
  12. ^ Matthew Vale: TVR 1946−1982. The Trevor Wilkinson and Martin Lilley Years, The Crowood Press, Ramsbury 2017, ISBN 978-1785003516 , p. 47.
  13. ^ Matthew Vale: TVR 1946−1982. The Trevor Wilkinson and Martin Lilley Years, The Crowood Press, Ramsbury 2017, ISBN 978-1785003516 , p. 51.
  14. ↑ a b c d Rainer W. Schlegelmilch, Hartmut Lehbrink: English sports cars . Könemann, Cologne 2001. ISBN 3-8290-7449-2 , p. 386.
  15. ↑ a b c d Overview of the history of Grantura on the TVR Owners Club website (accessed April 12, 2019).
  16. ^ A b c d e Matthew Vale: TVR 1946−1982. The Trevor Wilkinson and Martin Lilley Years , The Crowood Press, Ramsbury 2017, ISBN 978-1785003516 , p. 62.
  17. ^ A b Matthew Vale: TVR 1946−1982. The Trevor Wilkinson and Martin Lilley Years , The Crowood Press, Ramsbury 2017, ISBN 978-1785003516 , p. 66.
  18. ↑ Mike Lawrence: AZ of Sports Cars 1945-1990. Bay View Books, Bideford, Devon 1991, ISBN 1-870979-81-8 .
  19. ↑ Kevin Brazendale: Encyclopedia of automobiles from Alfa Romeo to Zagato . Augsburg (Weltbild Verlag) 2000, ISBN 3-8289-5384-0 , p. 612.
  20. ^ Frank Oleski, Hartmut Lehbrink: Series sports car . Könemann, Cologne 1993, ISBN 3-89508-000-4 , p. 168.
  21. ^ Matthew Vale: TVR 1946−1982. The Trevor Wilkinson and Martin Lilley Years , The Crowood Press, Ramsbury 2017, ISBN 978-1785003516 , p. 72.
  22. ↑ a b Ralph Dodds: TVR. Cars Of The Peter Wheeler Era , The Crowood Press, Ramsburg 2015, ISBN 978-1847979971 , p. 13.
  23. ^ Matthew Vale: TVR 1946−1982. The Trevor Wilkinson and Martin Lilley Years , The Crowood Press, Ramsbury 2017, ISBN 978-1785003516 , p. 90.