TVR S Series

The TVR S Series was announced at the 1986 British International Motor Show. Due to a massive positive response, the car went into production in less than 12 months, with 250 pre-manufacture orders. This was Peter Wheeler's first major development since buying the company from Martin Lilley, and the turning point in TVR's fortunes.

Between 1986 and 1994 2,604 S Series cars were made; 410 of these were of the V8S variety.

A 1989 TVR S2 was restored on the UK television series Wheeler Dealers, first shown on the Discovery Realtime channel on 3 November 2009. Series 6, Episodes 15 and 16.

A TVR S2 was used in the classic British Sports cars challenge of Top Gear in series 15 Episode 6, bought by James May. It lapped the Lotus test track in 2:15.09 minutes.

The V6 S Series cars used Ford's Cologne V6 in 2.8 L, 160 hp (S1) and 2.9 L, 170 hp (S2-S4) forms. The early "S" cars are often referred to as "S1"s, to distinguish them from later iterations.

The S3 and S4 received longer doors, although some late S2's were also thus equipped.

Vehicle models ending with "C" were used to denote vehicles which were fitted with a catalytic converter. Only the S3 and S4 were fitted with catalysts. Cat standard in the UK was only introduced in August 1992, at "K" registration, catalyzed earlier cars were intended for export to markets with tighter emissions standards.

The standard specification of the V8S included ½ hide leather interior, walnut trim, mohair hood, OZ alloy wheels, driving lamps, electric windows and door mirrors.

The V8S contains a 4.0 L fuel-injected Rover V8 engine, with gas-flowed cylinder heads, higher lift camshaft, compression ratio upped to 10:5:1, revised manifold, new chip for the engine management system and a limited slip differential. The result is 240 bhp (180 kW) at 5250 rpm and 270 lb·ft (366 N·m) of torque at 3000 rpm.

The V8S has a number of cosmetic differences over the V6. The bonnet has a large hump - created to house the Italian specification supercharger but carried over to all V8S models.

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Wikipedia