TVR Car Club
  • Home
    • Join
  • News
  • Shop
    • Enter Shop
    • Memberships
    • Events
    • Clothing >
      • 60th Anniversary Range
      • Jackets
      • Hoodies
      • T-shirts & Polo Shirts
      • Headwear
      • Ladies & Junior Clothing
      • Sale
    • Bags
    • Mugs
    • Gifts
    • Posters
    • Fire Safety Sticks
    • Garage Products
    • Official TVR Branded
    • TVRs for sale
  • Events
  • Find out about:
    • The TVRCC
    • Why you should join
    • TVR
    • Regions >
      • UK Regions
      • International Regions
      • Region Details update
    • The TVR Models >
      • Early TVRs
      • TVR Grantura
      • TVR Vixen
      • TVR Griffith (early)
      • TVR Tuscan (early)
      • TVR M series
      • TVR Tasmin / Wedges
      • TVR S Series
      • TVR Tuscan Racer
      • TVR Griffith
      • TVR Chimaera
      • TVR Cerbera
      • TVR Speed 12
      • TVR Tuscan
      • TVR Tamora
      • TVR T350
      • TVR Sagaris
      • TVR Typhon / T400 / T440
      • TVR Prototypes
      • TVR Griffith LE 2017
    • Sprint Magazine >
      • In Sprint
      • Photo Competition Winners
      • Photo Competition
    • Monthly eNewsletter
    • TVR Motorsport
    • TVR Motorsport History
    • TVR Colours
    • Classifieds
  • Members Area:
    • TVRCC Forums
    • National Members Events >
      • Millbrook 2025
      • NEC Classic & Sportscar Show
    • TVRs in print
    • Digital Sprint Magazines
    • Archives >
      • Archives - Brochures
      • Archives - Factory
      • Archives - Pre M
      • Archives - M Series
      • Archives - Tasmin Wedge
      • Archives - Tuscan Racer
      • Archives - S Series
      • Archives - Griffith
      • Archives - Cerbera
      • Archives - Chimaera
      • Archives - T350
      • Archives - Tamora
      • Archives - Tuscan
      • Archives - Sagaris
      • Archives - Prototypes
      • Archives - Rover V8
      • Archives - Miscellaneous
      • Add to Archives
    • Technical >
      • Technical - Pre-M Series
      • Technical - M Series
      • Technical - Wedges
      • Technical - S Series
      • Technical - Chimaera
      • Technical - Griffith
      • Technical - Cerbera
      • Technical - Sagaris
      • Technical - Speed Six
      • Technical - T350
      • Technical - Tuscan
      • Technical - Tamora
    • Committee >
      • Minutes & accounts
      • Chairman
      • Secretary
      • Treasurer
      • Editor
      • Deputy Editor
      • Archivist
      • Model Registrar
      • Events Manager
      • Events Team
      • Competition Secretary
      • RO Co-ordinator
      • Sales Manager
      • Marketing Communications
      • Office Manager
      • Website Designer
      • Magazine Designer
    • Travel Tours >
      • Scenic and Continental Car Tours
      • Drive Espana
      • Fast Track Tours
      • Organise Your Own Tour
    • Benefits
    • Insurance
    • Valuations
    • Trade links >
      • TVR Dealers
      • Bodywork Servicing Repairs
    • RO Resources >
      • Organised Runs
      • RO handbook
      • Regional Websites & Emails
      • Region website update request
      • Forum Rules & Guidelines
      • Naming and shaming policy
      • Authorised Logos
      • Region Details Change Request
      • Region Events Form
      • Region Business Card Order Form
    • Logout
  • Contact Us
Picture

Grantura

In production: 1962 -1967
​Models: MkI, MkII, MkIIa, MkIII, 1800, 1800S, MkIV
TVR No2

History

1958 - In late 1958 TVR became Layton Sports Cars (a district of Blackpool) and a separate company was formed called Grantura Engineering. Things were looking up and Motor even road tested one of the early Grantura cars in 1959. The car became the MkII and MkIIa with MGA engine options. At this time Trevor left the company. 

The company name changed, again, TVR Cars, and John Thurner improved the chassis with coil springs replacing the torsion bars of the old car. Grantura Engineering rescued the Car Company and the Mk3 Grantura went to Le Mans, failing within the hour. Meanwhile in the USA an importer Dich Monnich and his friend Gerry Sagermann visited a Long Island Ford dealer called Jack Griffith. Mike Mooney tells the story in his recent book (The Griffith Years) of how a Ford 289ci V8 was matched to a Grantura Mk3 to produce a Cobra beater. Some of these Anglo-American hybrids were sold in the UK, including one to a young man called Martin Lilley. Again the old problem of over optimism returned and a USA Dockers strike killed the Griffith project and the Grantura Company.
​
TVR Griffith prototype
TVR Grantura
1961 - The MkII Grantura was available with an MGA engine as standard, although various other engines were offered to clients who wanted something else. In this year you could buy a MkII for £1,298 inc tax.

The MkIII Grantura was produced with a new longer and  more well braced chassis and independent coil spring suspension all round. This chassis would be used in various forms up to the 1972 2500M .

1964 - the 1800S was released with a manx tail and the now famous 'ban the bomb' rear lights from the Ford Cortina.

1966 - the MkIV was produced as a slightly longer model with improved trim and bigger fuel tank.

The early 1960s were a hard time for TVR with multiple financial failures and it was after one of these in 1965 that Griffith owner Martin Lilley together with his father Arthur took over the company and renamed it TVR Engineering. The Lilleys undertook to facelift the cars renaming the Grantura as the 1800S MkIV and the Griffith as the Tuscan. Mechanically the two models were very similar to their predecessor models but the new cars were bettered trimmed and finished.

Technical Specifications

TVR Grantura MkII
Engine: MGA
Capacity (cc):  1588cc
Power: 79 bhp @ 5,300rpm
Torque: 87lbft @ 3,800rpm
Performance: 0-60mph 12 seconds
Max speed: 98mph

TVR 1800S MkIV
Engine: MGB
Capacity (cc):  1798cc
Power:95 bhp @ 5,400rpm
Torque: 110lbft @ 3,000rpm
Performance: 0-60mph 10.9 seconds
Max speed: 108mph

Production Numbers:
MkI - approx 100
MkII - approx 400
MkIII - approx 60
1800 - 30
1800S - 128
MkIV - 78

Picture
ARCHIVES
​Find out more in the 
Pre-M Series Archives
(Members Only)
Picture
TECHNICAL
​Find out more on the 
Pre-M Series Technical Page
(Members Only)

Details or adverts from the period

Photos, additions or changes to this page - did we get anything wrong or do you have anything we could add? 
We would love to hear from you
Additions to the TVRCC website

Useful Links

TVR Grantura Wikipedia entry
Picture
If you are looking for TVR - www.tvr.co.uk
​• Best Contribution to Charity 2022
• ​Star of the future 2021
• Car Club of the Year 2017
​• Best Magazine 2016
• Car Club of the Year 2015
• Best website 2012
• Club Personality 2011
• Best Selection of Cars 2007
​
• Best Website 2007
• Best Event 2006
• Club Personality 2005
• Best Magazine 2004
• Car Club of the Year 2000 ​​
Picture
Multiple Award Winners

HOME
News

Shop
Events
​Subscribe to eNews
Contact Us

FIND OUT
​About The TVRCC
Why Join 
About TVR
UK Regions
​International Regions
​
Region Update Form
Sprint Magazine
In Sprint
​Picture this winners
Picture this Competition
TVR Motorsport
​​TVR Motorsport History​
​TVR Colours
TVR MODELS
Early TVRs
​Grantura
Vixen
Griffith (early)
Tuscan (early)
M Series
Tasmin/Wedges
S Series
Tuscan Racer
Griffith
Chimaera
Speed 12
​​Cerbera
Tuscan
Tamora
T350
Sagaris
Typhon/T400/T440
​Prototypes
Griffith LE 2017​
MEMBERS AREA
TVRs in print
​Annual Events
> Le Mans Classic
> Pre-80's Extravaganza
> Classic Car Show NEC
​
Archives
Digital Sprint
Committee
​
Committee Minutes
Travel Tours
Members offers
Insurance
​
TRADE LINKS
>TVR Dealers
>Bodywork, Servicing & Repairs

​
TECHNICAL
Pre M
M Series
Tasmin/Wedges
S Series
​
Griffith
Chimaera
Cerbera
Tuscan
T350
Tamora
Sagaris

ARCHIVES

Factory
Pre M
M Series
Tasmin/Wedges
Tuscan Racer
S Series
Griffith
Chimaera
Tuscan
Prototypes
Rover V8 engine
DISCUSSION FORUMS
​
General forum
Model Areas
Suggestions
Regional forums

​
RO RESOURCES
Regional Organisers Resources
Handbook
Organised Runs
Regional Websites & Emails
​Region website update request
Forum Rules & Guidelines
Naming & Shaming Policy 
Authorised TVRCC  logos
Region contact change form
Region event form
​Business card order

POLICIES
Data Policy
Safeguarding Policy
​Cookies Policy

TVR Car Club
The TVR Car Club Ltd
Suite 5, Nova House, Audley Avenue Enterprise Park
Newport, Shropshire
​TF10 7DW
United Kingdom
Telephone: 01952 822126

email: [email protected] 
© The TVR Car Club 1999-2025
​unless otherwise stated
​All contributions to this website are the personal opinions of the individual members concerned and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Club or its committee unless specifically stated. The TVRCC accepts no responsibility for advice or information given on this website or by its members.

​Website design and hosted by Treble3  since 1999
  • Home
    • Join
  • News
  • Shop
    • Enter Shop
    • Memberships
    • Events
    • Clothing >
      • 60th Anniversary Range
      • Jackets
      • Hoodies
      • T-shirts & Polo Shirts
      • Headwear
      • Ladies & Junior Clothing
      • Sale
    • Bags
    • Mugs
    • Gifts
    • Posters
    • Fire Safety Sticks
    • Garage Products
    • Official TVR Branded
    • TVRs for sale
  • Events
  • Find out about:
    • The TVRCC
    • Why you should join
    • TVR
    • Regions >
      • UK Regions
      • International Regions
      • Region Details update
    • The TVR Models >
      • Early TVRs
      • TVR Grantura
      • TVR Vixen
      • TVR Griffith (early)
      • TVR Tuscan (early)
      • TVR M series
      • TVR Tasmin / Wedges
      • TVR S Series
      • TVR Tuscan Racer
      • TVR Griffith
      • TVR Chimaera
      • TVR Cerbera
      • TVR Speed 12
      • TVR Tuscan
      • TVR Tamora
      • TVR T350
      • TVR Sagaris
      • TVR Typhon / T400 / T440
      • TVR Prototypes
      • TVR Griffith LE 2017
    • Sprint Magazine >
      • In Sprint
      • Photo Competition Winners
      • Photo Competition
    • Monthly eNewsletter
    • TVR Motorsport
    • TVR Motorsport History
    • TVR Colours
    • Classifieds
  • Members Area:
    • TVRCC Forums
    • National Members Events >
      • Millbrook 2025
      • NEC Classic & Sportscar Show
    • TVRs in print
    • Digital Sprint Magazines
    • Archives >
      • Archives - Brochures
      • Archives - Factory
      • Archives - Pre M
      • Archives - M Series
      • Archives - Tasmin Wedge
      • Archives - Tuscan Racer
      • Archives - S Series
      • Archives - Griffith
      • Archives - Cerbera
      • Archives - Chimaera
      • Archives - T350
      • Archives - Tamora
      • Archives - Tuscan
      • Archives - Sagaris
      • Archives - Prototypes
      • Archives - Rover V8
      • Archives - Miscellaneous
      • Add to Archives
    • Technical >
      • Technical - Pre-M Series
      • Technical - M Series
      • Technical - Wedges
      • Technical - S Series
      • Technical - Chimaera
      • Technical - Griffith
      • Technical - Cerbera
      • Technical - Sagaris
      • Technical - Speed Six
      • Technical - T350
      • Technical - Tuscan
      • Technical - Tamora
    • Committee >
      • Minutes & accounts
      • Chairman
      • Secretary
      • Treasurer
      • Editor
      • Deputy Editor
      • Archivist
      • Model Registrar
      • Events Manager
      • Events Team
      • Competition Secretary
      • RO Co-ordinator
      • Sales Manager
      • Marketing Communications
      • Office Manager
      • Website Designer
      • Magazine Designer
    • Travel Tours >
      • Scenic and Continental Car Tours
      • Drive Espana
      • Fast Track Tours
      • Organise Your Own Tour
    • Benefits
    • Insurance
    • Valuations
    • Trade links >
      • TVR Dealers
      • Bodywork Servicing Repairs
    • RO Resources >
      • Organised Runs
      • RO handbook
      • Regional Websites & Emails
      • Region website update request
      • Forum Rules & Guidelines
      • Naming and shaming policy
      • Authorised Logos
      • Region Details Change Request
      • Region Events Form
      • Region Business Card Order Form
    • Logout
  • Contact Us