This mind-blowing British supercar can do 215mph with just 440hp!
TVR is about as famous as defunct British car companies get. But we bet you haven't heard of this one - the 440R. What is stunning about this car is that it could achieve a top speed of 215mph using only 440hp. Name a car that can get to that high a speed, with that low a power output?! Mike Fernie investigates this amazing piece of Blackpool engineering.
Check out the TVR 440R for sale here: drewwheeler.co.uk/listing/200...
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00:00 What is this car?
00:55 Why this isn't just a Tuscan
01:54 The history of the 440R
02:44 Clarkson driving the 440R
03:00 The 440R's design
03:59 The 440R's engine
04:46 Driving the 440R on the road
08:38 How it achieved 215mph
10:50 More DriveTribe
11:19 Why the 440R is a British legend
A massive thank you to Drew Wheeler Sports & Classics for allowing me to get up close to this amazing car. If you have the pennies, here it is for sale! - drewwheeler.co.uk/listing/2002-tvr-t440-r/
Mike, is that a PRX on your wrist? I smell Hammonds influence on your watch buying habits. Nice choice
Hi Mike, could you perhaps do a small collaboration with Chris Harris on an episode and chat about the Lancia Delta or the Lotus Carlton(twin turbo)?
Absolutely mental, the graphic designer at 2:38 is my dad, he worked for TVR for a few years in the late 90’s and sadly died in 2015.
Fab! Which models did he work on?
sure he did buddy
@@nonamesixx Why be mean? You could have asked for proof, for instance, instead of being jerky.
@@TheFatAndTheFurious cry about it buddy
@@nonamesixx Sure thing, buddy.
Went to a trackday and got to drive a TVR Tuscan, V10 M5 and Ferrari 430. The TVR was by FAR the most fun
Experience day….
Agreed, light weight, rwd, lots of na power, race car spec chassis/body construction= recipe for fun 👌
@@lmhmanninghotmailsame thing shush
Code Brown day was it?
Beautiful car
Absolutely drop dead gorgeous! Surprised it's "only" 220k, worth waaay more considering it's 1 of 1.
You would have thought!
Thought the same about the recent auction of the Speed 12. $750,000 USD seemed incredibly cheap for what it is.
Yeah, I ballparked "at least a million" for a 1 of 1
When a Ford Sierra RS 500 is worth more than a 1 of 1 TVR! I know what I'd prefer..........
True! Suprisingly cheap as for one off. Look how much people pay for 911.
Tvr did some of the best paints ever in the industry
There was the famous oil effect one. If you fancied it on a budget at the time Nissan offered something similar on the Micra and Primera
Cyanide-based paint according to Alfie Bow
@@josephlamanna1777 Alfie Boe is completely wrong. The two pack paint used on many cars including TVRs had isocyanates in it but that's got nothing to do with the poison cyanide. Two pack is really unpleasant stuff but it definitely doesn't contain cyanide.
*best colours. Their painting skills were pretty awful.
TVR were and still are ahead of their time. What a pity they never became established as they'd be so welcome in today's market.
They were established in the UK. A very common sight on UK roads especially the Griffith but also earlier and later models. Not so many these days though
@@robsmall6466 I wouldn't say very common, but certainly not hen's teeth by any stretch. 95% of what you see on the roads is a Griffith.
@@slartibartfast2649 Exactly, it's been a fair few years since I've seen one, I'll probably see one tomorrow now!
@@HalfdeadRider no you'll see two.
Maybe unkind but more of a dead end, Glass fibre, steel space frame, naturally aspirated engines, A high watermark for that tech in lightweights, but not the future that we got and that was known at the time.
The mass have little effect on the top speed. It affects the acceleration of the car but not the top speed
Usually yes, but that's often because light cars have little hp. Clearly this things lightweight is the reason it achieves it's top speed
I was just gonna say that. Mass makes a difference when G-force numbers matter. If you have speed, you got momentum. The hindrance in gaining more speed is drag, mechanical or aerodynamic. The aerodynamic drag increases with the square so the aero is way more of a factor than the mechanical drag. And if a drain cover makes your car go bang! The suspension is too stiff, most probably the high speed damping part. Not much to do with carbon fibre vs fibre glass. End of rant ❤
@@WhinedUp2004the laws of physics don’t do “usually”. Vehicle mass, within reason, has almost no effect on top speed. It’s all power and aero efficiency
@@WhinedUp2004 You're still wrong. At high speeds, all of the power goes toward fighting against wind resistance. Mass the of the car is irrelevant at 200+MPH.
@@uchinanchuu58that's right, although pushing a 1 ton car through 200+ is easier than a 2 ton car with the same power, if the speeds we were talking about were more like 300 mph, then at that point it won't matter as much, so mass still plays a small role in all of this.
Mike's first TVR is a one-of-one homologation special after a rebuild on a winters day. That is literally insane. That car was desperately trying to figure out how to get Mike through the Pearly Gates in the most brutal way possible. A normal TVR is angry, rage-filled beast at the best of times. A race car that never got to go racing is going to be just a ball of fury.
Mass doesn't affect top speed at all, just how quickly it will get there. What affects it will be aerodynamics, power and gearing.
True, but when the acceleration rate begins to slow down when reaching high numbers the mass will affect how much longer it takes to reach top speed. In the balancing act of weight/power/aero in performance cars, if there is too much bias towards weight, then the time taken to achieve top speed will be so great it becomes a "theoretical top speed". A 10 ton car with massive power could do 300mph, but would need so much strait road it becomes pointless. Mass doesn't affect top speed, but really hinders the process of getting there!
I don't think this accounts for friction and rolling resistance.
only in pure theory , cause mass will get you more rotational friction. My small car doesn't have the same top speed if I get in with 4 other people or alone.
@@brianbloomfield334As a mechanical engineer, I think this comment explains pretty well.
@@alexmurphy888 friction of the engine and transmission wouldn't be affected by weight is the car is at a constant speed. The only frictional loss that would change would be wheel bearings and tyres, which I suspect could be removed with higher tyre pressure.
Owned a Griffith 500 for 20 years ... still puts a smile on my face when I hit the 'go' pedal 😃
I imagine it puts a smile on your face even just looking at it. In my opinion one of the best looking cars ever.
and still a bargain whilst idiots prefer rusty escorts & slow bad handling 911s! £15k for a decent pre-cat Griff of which very few are left on the road is delusional They are smaller and lighter than an MX5! Have an engine capacity of double and are among the best sounding and looking cars available under £100k @@alxgu198
I hit my accelerator pedal on my 400SE once and the cable snapped.
In the First kit you get, his & hers neck braces!
@@leehighland5435 Cool story. Little known fact: I'm The Sultan of Brunei.
One of our mates got a Tuscan early 2000's. Went out for a hurl one day, and in 4th gear pressing on at a hundred and plenty, it was still spinning the wheels ! Scariest but best fun in a car.
I remember Jeremy driving this, and many other TVRs. So pretty this car is. ♥️
It is absolutely stunning!
Looks absolutely georgous and sounds glorious! It doesnt just look modern by today standards but actually looks futuristic like a protype car.
I'm from Puerto Rico and the first time I saw TVR car is in a Nintendo 64 game and I fell in love with TVR and now I still watching videos about those cars
TDU is the reason I fell in love with the TVRs, especially the Sagaris.
Closest car i can think of in terms terms of top speed with low power would be the Ruf yellow bird that did around the same speed 211-215 region that has roughly 480bhp
My thoughts exactly!
What a beauty! I always liked the TVRs, but this one is outstanding! Greetings from Germany
This is an epic car. I've been in love with TVR's since the late 90's when I worked at the TVR Dealership in Exeter in my late Teens. Fond memories 😊
The Wheeler TVRs are just so cool. In my dream garage for sure. E61 M5 for practical stuff, Tuscan or 350R or something like that for the weekend!
This channel keeps getting more exciting. Keep it up gents!!
And ladies! But we shall, thank you!
Thank you ladies! Can’t wait to see what’s next!
Extremely well produced video. Well done guys.
So much production value in these videos, love it Keep it up
Thank you, lots more to come!
Amazing film, once again! Always happy to see TVRs get more love on KZhead but seeing this one is extra special! This and the Typhon are probably my favourite TVRs of all time. That straight six just sounds insanely good! Btw, the original Ruf CTR did do 211mph with 460bhp.
I miss the TVR Factory so much, me and my Dad used to go up to Bispham and watch the new cars coming out the factory and on the to the transporters. Amazing cars and I will own a TVR one day.
Me too, used to ride past on my bike all the time
S3's are cheap and as much fun as a Caterham
What a machine. Absolutely stunning to see and hear.
Don’t often comment on KZhead videos but so I’m excited for this. I love TVR’s and excited that this is being featured 😍
I spent a load of time just researching this thing and the typhon last year, what a machine
Nice to see you driving this awesome car around my hometown 😀!
Please never stop being you! Love your fun and wrecklessness!
Superb video. Well done.
absolutely beautiful car, I really wish you guys were able to get access to a test track, that would be so cool!!
One of my favorite cars ever. Great showcase.
I fell in love with TVR when I was an exchange student in Chelmsford in 1998. I saw my first TVR's in real life at a car show there. Awesome!
Looking at them is one thing, owning one is another, best to just look in my opinion, unless you have bags of cash to keep it on the road and out of the garage.
@leehighland5435 for sure! Absolutely beautiful creations, but bespoke everything means you'll pay through your nose to maintain it. Now maybe we can get some high quality Soviet parts?😂
@@bryankotsch I owned a 400SE, so I know what they are like to maintain.
TVR is my favourite car manufacturer. My Dad had an S2 when I was younger, going to car shows and car club events with him in that awesome machine was amazing. The Cerbera speed 12 and the 440R are both absolute monsters. The Sagaris is my all time favourite car .
Thanks for a great video... I've been a fan of TVR since I was a teenager in the 1980's and have owned one for 25 years now (the same one) and I would not be without it. It turns heads on the road and puts a massive smile on my face every time I start it. The TVR Car Club and its members are also the best bunch of car enthusiasts out there in my opinion.
:) Griff 4.3 29 years so far, really hope to be oldest Griff pilot in years to come :)
Loving the TVR content recently!
The description of what it is, the essentials plus a nod to comfort, this sounds like the car that should have been the hero model for public sale.
Best looking tvr I’ve seen. Stunning.
TVR's of this era are so beautiful! I'd take one of these over almost any other 'super-car'
its got the same drag coefficient as a mk1 focus at 0.32.
And it's beaten by the old Vauxhall Calibra, which had a Cd of 0.26, and is as much likely to hit 215mph as this is (and I utterly adore TVR, but c'mon boys...... less of the clickbait nonsense - 215mph me hoop!!).
To be fair, as he said, these kind of cars need huge vents to get enough cooling. 0.32 is also the same as a McLaren f1
@@GarryMcGoverndidn't the Calibra have cooling issues due to the restricted airflow through the grill? So the 0.26vd only applies to the more restricted grille of the smaller 8v engine. Not the smartest engineering imo.
Great Video and Woody has made a fabulous job of rebuilding this car. I am lucky enough to have the only Sagaris RT (Road Track) prototype built by the factory; again 1 of 1. Similarly nuts like the T440R.
KEEP THIS KINDA STUFF UP! LOVE IT
How am I just learning about this? I guess was too busy day dreaming about the Sagaris to notice the 440R. Thanks for the proper introduction, Mike!
Love TVR and its bonkers history. The Cerbera Speed 12 is my favorite.
Truly an amazing piece of kit.
I find it funny that I’ve just gotten interested in tvr’s again and y’all just post a video on it. Great timing
Best episode I’ve seen on this channel
I always wanted one of those, the Tuscan, the Cerbera and the T350. Dream machines for real!l!
what a beauty.. its pretty seeing it drive by
Recognised those roads, used to live on that road outside Alton
Always loved and wanted the T440R since I first saw it 😍
Absolutely stunning car, one of my top fav's of all time. Always had a thing for TVR's since time began, Speed 12 but the original one that was at Birmingham NEC back in the 90's minus it's engine. Blows my mind how this little car can rocket to 215mph. Amazing car, wish i had 220k to burn as i don't have £2,20 at the minute lol..Nice job Mike, very envious lol :)
Great video as always… get The Stig in that motor! 😁
❤️ Love love love TVR. Do the Sagaris next, please 😍
My day just gets better the moment I see one of these videos! 😁
Our day gets better the moment we see comments like this! 😊
I love my TVR Tamora, my dream car realised last year. Id love to try a couple of the (even) more rare models but they live up to every expectation, even better actually... and the stereotypes are not all that accurate if you respect the car.
Fantastic video!
I love TVR, the styling, the mental power to weight and the no fcuks given attitude. I hope the new TVR comes out and keeps the old magic.
It still looks great today! Amazing styling i think if it ever did come back this would be the car to build, doesnt have to be as light or extreme but with the newer build technology, if it used parts from other cars to keep the costs down they could keep the style and feel using off the shelf parts on their own chassis and body and be fairly competitive
Top video!! such a fine Feline that 440R🐈⬛...... Just wondering like Hammond's Scooby, will you be rebuilding May's Evo???🤗
My husband and I had the opportunity to buy a beautifully restored TVR Tuscan last year (the owner was showing it at a car show we were showing our Lotus at) but we couldn’t make the cards line up and we missed it. The TVR Cerbrera Speed 12 is one of his dream cars. He likes to tell the story of “why TVR had the most beautiful paints in the business” (the trick is arsenic!)
You tried to lowball and he said no. Its called- " cards didnt line up"
I have always wanted one of these TVR's ever since i saw it at the motorshow then again on the TV
What a STUNNING car!!!😮
Considering that pretty much everything that Peter Wheeler said about TVR cars was BS, is there any proof that the T440R can actually hit 215 miles an hour? What would be really cool is if you guys can get your hands on a TVR Typhon. I’m pretty sure that there are a couple of those knocking around. Especially if there’s one that had that weird sequential gearbox that TVR was working on.
One of my neighbours used to collect TVRs as a kid. Always had 3 or 4 in mad colours. Didnt mind us having a little nosy when he was cleaning them as long as we kept our hands to ourselves.
Love TVR. My fave is the segaris, then the cebra. Tuscan was a nice motor as well. I wasn't as keen on the lines of the Griffith.
Mike is giving me Dani Pedrosa vibes with that Red Bull beanie. Epic video! Love the TVR’s!
I have seen a few of them in 2000s in London, lovely car. It was ahead of her time :( If I had moneys, I would buy one! Beautiful design, the shape is lovely!
By far my favorite TVR of all time, bring me some hard Test Drive Unlimited vibe !
Two words... Terrifyingly beautiful!!!
I've had the pleasure of meeting an ex TVR engineer, he now works for Northern Rail or did do a few years ago 😊
I miss the wonderful design of TVR both inside and out. So great to look at ... and listen too!
Great car. If only i could afford it. However... Mass only affects acceleration (how quickly you get to top speed) but not the absolute top speed.
There was a video a few years back where Martin Brundle thrashed an example around Donington (I believe). He seemed to like it, from what I can recall.
Every fiber of my being has loved TVR's my entire life, driven a couple, nearly bought one and regret not doing (maybe one day), adore the Ceberra 4.5 and this T440R is near TVR perfection. wish they were more mainstream. They were always ahead of their time.
One life - go live it!
One life - go live it!
Wow that is one gorgeous car
What was that classical music at the start? It was fantastic!!
I only ever drove a TVR Chimera 4l one of my ex girlfriends had, and I remember how raw it really was. Every time you drove it, it felt like an experience and the sound it made was brilliant... The Tuscan and the Sagaris were brilliant cars, at least to look at👌👍.
Your GIRLFRIEND had one?! Man, she was a keeper if I ever heard of one!
@@skylined5534 she was a lovely lady indeed, I was young... You live and learn hey 😂
I have always loved TVR, Just fun British sports cars. No nonsense.
I just love it when Mike reviews any slightly older british car. You just can tell how he stands with full heart and soul to each of theese beautiful machines. Greetings from Germany
He loves them! 😊
I can remember buying the TVR in Test Drive Unlimited as my first fast car, just because of the stats and the awesome looks. Then later flying past Ferrari's and Lamborghini's which my friends had to pay so much more for. What a great deal this car is (when it runs). Great engine, awesome looks, incredible performance.
That comment brought back childhood memories i always used to love the lightweight exige and tvr balancing the power and backend
Still looks fantastic today... Incredible.
I had a Tuscon R when they were brand new I jumped the que by buying a demonstrator, after my cerbera. Still have my 500 Griffith though.
This car was also in the first Forza Motorsport game in 2005 on the original Xbox. The only thing I like about the TVR cars is because of their fancy metallic and pearlescent paint jobs. Because they are very unique.
Lovely video
Still my dream car since the EVO magazine test some 15 years ago
I don’t think I’ll ever get to drive a TVR, so the closest I’ll ever get is stuff like Forza, and a quote from Clarkson I remember: “It seemed like TVR always used to find out how their cars handled after they started selling them. Usually after some bloke wrote in, complaining about how dead he was.”
I know the guys that re-built this car. Small TVR specialists called TVR101 located on the Surrey/Hampshire. Been following this re-build on their socials...it's been a long time coming!
I’ve always loved TVRs, I’m sure they used a rover V8 block in some. The Sagaris was/is always my favourite to look at, I have read so many horror stories with reliability but I guess that’s probably part of the reason why they are no more. Shame, some of the flip paints they did, just wow!
Whoa did I see a tease of the legendary Speed 12, W112 BHG? Seemed to be in the same place 🙂
One of my favorite cars ever since the first time I saw it in the Grand Turismo license tests lol.
I had a TVR Cerbera and unfortunately crashed it at 160mph at Croft circuit totally destroying it just leaving me with a subframe wheels and a engine and no track day insurance, expensive mistake 😢
Ouch... I had an old 350i and left in a hedge backwards (wet road + TVR + lack of talent) ... wrote it off, I was uninjured, but had insurance obviously being on the road. The car was bought at auction and to the best of my knowledge rebuilt and put back on the road.
At that stage, I'd say you're just lucky you survived it.
Absolutely beautiful. I wish these were plentiful and affordable.
Looks great, makes me smile. Much like a Sagaris. 😊
Yesss been waiting for this for ages!! Long live TVR! Sad about Ebbw Vale factory but Thruxton factory will do. Anything to keep it going at this point. Peace and love Ringo
Thruxton isn’t going to be a factory…
@martinlaver4707 What have I missed? I assumed they moved near to Thruxton race circuit because the circuit of Wales was shut down. What do you reckon?
@@EllieDe The press releases I’ve seen highlight that the Wales factory is being offered out to others and the Thruxton building is a “Technology Centre”, which I don’t think (and it certainly wasn’t apparent from the press release) that will amount to a car building operation.
Still one of my dream cars.This and the speed 12.
What a car. Hero status as you fly off the road at great speed.
Would love to see the TVR Trident concept car. There are no videos on it. If you have these gods in your contacts list. Thanks for the videos they are brilliant
Speed 12 and the Sagaris were my favourite TVRs
1958 Lotus Elite (Type 14) had a drag coefficient of 0.29. It was designed without the aid of a wind tunnel or computer modelling, just aero knowledge and slide rules.