Used TVRs to tempt you from £5k to £50k - used car buying guide

TVR Griffith - 1991-2002

The car that transformed the fortunes of the TVR in the UK was the Griffith. Clever use of GRP masked the kit-car door gaps of earlier models beneath stunning supercar bodywork which offered new-car looks for used supercar cash. There was no shortage of performance, either. Five-litre versions were capable of 4.1sec runs to 60mph, but all versions were capable of sub-five-second sprints and 150mph. The fact they still look great today and that they are well into cherished car territory means minimum money for a healthy Griffith is £15k, but exceptional cars are from £20k-plus. Keep it well and it will never be worth less. And you’ll never get bored of the noise.

TVR Sagaris - 2005-2008

The tail end of TVR’s recent history was littered with sad stories of political struggles, but one of the high points from the era was the cartoonish Sagaris. Underneath, it shared a lot of components with the T350, including the straight six TVR engine, but it was designed with endurance motorsport in mind. Autocar was effusive in its praise, particularly how much more settled it was mid-corner than other TVRs, how much more comfortable and just plain better to drive it was, and all while retaining breathtakingly rapidity. Rarity and desirability keeps prices buoyant so you’ll need a spare £50k to get involved.

TVR Tasmin/280i/350i/390i - 1979-1987

The archetypical 1980s TVR is the Tasmin, with razor-sharp lines rising from the nose, hence them being christened 'wedges'. Launched in 1980, the Tasmin was available in coupé, two-plus-two coupé and soft-top versions, with a choice of 2.0-litre four-pot and 2.8-litre V6. Four-cylinder versions are rare and the V6 models make up the majority of sales. The Tasmin name was dropped in 1984 after the first Rover V8s were introduced, but the angular body remained, albeit renamed depending on what was under the bonnet, so either 280i, 350i or, later on, 390i. The first eight-pots were roughly 50bhp more powerful and only 80kg heavier thanks to the relative light weight of the aluminium V8 compared to Ford's cast-iron V6. In terms of what to buy today, however, condition is far more important. Don't fret about scruffy interiors – they’re standard. The humdrum mechanicals are easy to bolt back together but do be wary of chassis rot and GRP damage, as this can push project cars into untenable territory. Five grand buys something that works, but projects are yours for far less.

TVR 400SE/450SE - 1988-91

The final ‘wedges’ previewed the performance of the curvy next-gen TVRs in a softened version of the Tasmin’s angular bodyshell. In truth, the 4.0-litre version’s 268bhp has more than enough poke for all but the most hairy chested, given the car’s 1150kg kerb weight. It's recognisable by softer lines, a deeper front spoiler and prominent skirts over the other wedges, along with a price tag that heads into five figures.

TVR Cerbera - 1996-2003