Pete Richardson – 1961 TVR Grantura Mk 2a

The owner says that it was helping out on the TVR Car Club stand at a Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show that led to the purchase of his terrific TVR, so it’s certainly exciting to see this British classic here.

“I worked in the motor industry from the age of sixteen and didn’t own a classic until I was in my early sixties, and chose a TVR.” That first car was a Tasmin, but a few years later a chance meeting on the club stand led to the purchase of the car you see here, and it was just the sort of project Pete was looking for.

The Grantura had been dismantled and the then-owner had run out of money, so it was ready for a new home. It was going to be quite a task as there was just a bare bodyshell and around twenty boxes containing all of the other components. After acquiring the car in 2016 the restoration started almost immediately and took around five years.

Apart from the painting, gearbox and axle rebuilds and some of the interior trim the owner carried out all of the work himself, and the quest for originality meant referring to period magazine road tests to help get the details just right.

Pete says that it took time to establish the correct parts needed as TVR used components from many different marques, and the task of reinstating the missing heater needed some ingenuity. A local exhaust maker formed some sections while the heater motor was based on a boat’s bilge pump!

He doesn’t use the car all that much at present and is still getting used to it before going on longer journeys, but we think he’s done an amazing job and one TVR fans are sure to appreciate.