A pre-1960 TVR Grantura ?!?

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Richard Rawlinson writes about a very early TVR Grantura he recently has discovered. Grantura series production began in 1958 at chassis number 101. This car is chassis number 112 and the Grantura register shows only two earlier known cars. The chassis plate carries the name TVR Engineering Ltd, Trevor Wilkinson's original company, which was wound up at the end of 1958, so the car really does date from the very earliest days of the TVR marque.
It was bought by the last owner in 1971, minus its original Ford sidevalve engine and with the damaged bodywork removed. The story is that a previous owner had an accident driving back to Scotland from Blackpool and never repaired the car. It also explains why it now has the rear tub of a slightly later Mk2 car. He finally got around to restoring it in the late 80s, and fitted a Ford 109E (1340cc) pre-crossflow engine. Among many exciting features on the car is the rare original factory steering wheel, most of which were replaced straight away with something sportier. The car had been laid up for a while following the death of the owner but we have now recomissioned it and it is running well. This is a fascinating piece of early TVR history. Luckily the owner recorded the full story in a 20 page document before he died. More photos and details at Nadder Valley Classics     

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