Driving the TVR's "Test Track" in the Tuscan Speed Six | Henry Catchpole - The Driver’s Seat
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- čas přidán 9. 04. 2024
- The TVR Tuscan Speed Six is 25 years old, so early cars are now eligible for import in the USA. And that seemed like a very good excuse to take one on a trip around some roads that should feel very familiar to it. TVR didn’t have a test track like Weissach, Nardo or the Nurburgring Nordschleife on its doorstep, so it used the roads near the factory in Blackpool (the UK’s answer to Las Vegas). Luckily there are some great stretches of tarmac in Lancashire.
To really celebrate the full scope of the Tuscan, we also brought together the bookends of the Speed Six story at the very impressive Hilton and Moss facility near London. At one end of the scale is an early, red, 2000 Tuscan with its distinctive pierced grille and steampunk, bimetallic interior. At the other chronological end is a Tuscan 2 Convertible with a wavy dash and slightly more aero exterior. The latter also has some of TVR’s distinctive and expensive Reflex flip paint.
As the Tuscan Speed Six generally got better to drive throughout its life, we picked the later, 2005, Convertible to take on the journey (the Red car also has less than 10,000miles on the clock!). It has a 3.6-litre version of the Speed Six engine with 360bhp and 318lb ft of torque. The straight-six is not known as the most reliable engine, but Hilton and Moss’s engineers had an interesting perspective on how it should be approached.
Nobody is quite sure what the future holds for the TVR badge in 2024. There has obviously been the promise of a Cosworth-powered car with a Gordon Murray chassis, but equally there has been talk of an EV. The new factory in Wales doesn’t seem to be an option any more and they are reportedly now headquartered at Donington, but ways of contacting them are thin on the ground.
However, whether there is a new TVR or not, cars from the company’s past - like the Tuscan Speed Six - seem somehow more relevant than ever. The very analogue nature of the cars combined with interiors that seem even more impressive in the current restomod era, means that they have a surprisingly timeless quality to them.
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The Driver's Seat with Henry Catchpole
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Hope you all enjoy the film. It was great fun piecing it all together - many thanks to all those that helped. The first TVR I ever drove was a late Tuscan Convertible just like this one (on a group test in Germany on the roads around the Nurburgring as it happens) and all the memories from 20 years ago came flooding back as soon as I drove this car.
Thank you for allowing us to be a part of this project! An honour after over 20 years of working with TVRs.
Thank you Henry and Team for a wonderful video.
I had to remove my rose tinted glasses to wipe away a tear...
I certainly did enjoy the film. I have always loved the Tuscan. Thank you!
It was nice meeting you out the front of the old factory when you were filming. Even if I was a tad too intereaged as to what was going on🤣😅
I find these Herny Catchpole videos such a pleasure to watch. Well-written and filmed like old school Top Gear, but much more refined. Always looking forward to the next installment.
These and Camisa's are the only things worth watching on Hagerty's channel - the mechanical trades videos have shown their in-house team shouldn't be allowed to turn spanners on anything.
Better than most of the 2000s era Top Gear. Some segments were great, but there's so much better content nowadays. This kind of videos were never the TG forté, but I can't deny they had quality content similar to this. I much prefer it to saying funny things and do skids on a track
TVR's of that era, are some of the most gorgeous vehicles ever produced!
I have to agree. They're so unique. Very alien and strikingly beautiful, especially with that paint they used.
Henry’s presenting style is probably one of my favourites of all. Just so easy to watch and without the gimmicks of other presenters. Would love to see more of him. Great work and lovely car ❤
Honestly, in what seems to increasingly be an echo chamber on CZcams of people clamouring to agree on the next best thing, Henry your videos are always unique and beautifully put together; the music, the shots the story behind it and the details on the cars are just splendid. Don't stop doing this stuff, it's an absolute pleasure to watch!
This video made me fall in love with cars all over again. Thank you Mr. Catchpole.
I have always loved TVRs, I'm just about 32 so growing up here in the UK you would quite often spot and hear one on the road, and almost always see them at local car meets and shows. I would love to be able to afford one, one day.
The price for S series and Wedges is pretty reasonable for how much fun you get out of it.
@@otavionovaes5865 Yeah i have been looking at ways into TVR ownership
Mr Catchpole is a simply sublime presenter, easily my favourite person to watch talk cars on here
He is very relaxing to listen to,Harry Metcalf fron Harry's garage is great too😊
@@johnnyboy1586 Harry is another great! Might listen to him right now since you've mentioned him! Jason Cammisa also on Hagerty is pretty good too, for a yank haha, those might in fact make up my top three
@@co9221 I think the best American reviewer is matt ferrah of smoking tyre by far also his side kick can't remember his name
As a Griffith 500 owner during 96/97 I can confirm not only some of the downsides of TVR ownership, but the absolutely magical upside of these machines.
A magical video Henry and plese compliment the videographer for some simply outstanding work. The prose, as usual, spot on.
The essence of TVR captured perfectly.....Cheers 🥂
I had my Chimera from about 97 until roughly 2012. On many occasions we sat on the side of the road deep in conversation. I never told anyone that she’d let me down but I was just getting to know her better! I think I’ve scanned the ads every day since lusting after a Griff or 4.5 Cerb. I still miss her to this day.😭
This is one of those cars that just seems like a raw adventure every time you drive it
Yeap because you'll never know where it'll leave you stranded.
Bought my Tuscan 5 years ago. Still can help but smile when I see it on the drive. Its a keeper.
Pretty much every turn-of-the-millennium TVR can be summed up as a British Dodge Viper. They're charming as hell, and for all the same reasons the Viper was.
Today they kinda remind me of indie films and games. Rough around the edges in some ways, but full of soul that modern cars can only simulate.
Fabulous car in fabulous Lancashire scenery in fabulous 21:9 ! - Keep it up guys!
TVRs are some of my favourite cars. Lovely design, engineering, handling, and you can’t beat that sound! And they have what modern cars lack- CHARACTER
Best cars ever. Never owned one, but boy did they 'stick their hand down your trousers and have a good rummage' in every road test throughout the 90's. Thanks Henry. 👍
Henry, you look 12 years old without the mutton chops!
I'll have a Tuscan one day, always loved them.
Love your work 👍 🍻
I dont think theres any brand I love more than TVR - so much so that im planning to restart my TVR restoration business after a 4 year break. Magical cars. Increasingly relevant
Great review of what is an incredibly rare unicorn, i've had the pleasure of owning a 2006 Tuscan S Convertible for 10 years now and I must admit, what you said about warming up the engine like a race car, maintaining it like a race car and being prepared for costs of a race derrived engine, then that is exactly what you have. A dry sumped, 6 cylinder, 4 litre race engine and boy what a sound it makes, i liken it to a old Spitfire Jet burbling and popping by. The later cars really were very well put together and mine has never been rebuilt nor had any issues, i'd better go touch some wood lol. A very well put together and great review of what is a dying breed of automobile. Well done Henry 👍
The Trough of Bowland - my backyard! A wonderful road, running through to Clitheroe. Narrow, full of short straights and tight bends, hidden dips and blind crests. Our very own red rose Nordschliefe! And there’s a cracking sausage shop in Clitheroe (Cowmans Butchers).
My backyard too.Stoneyhurst loop is another great drive once the daytime traffic has died down although the a59 around Clitheroe sounds like a racetrack all hours these days with the PCP poppers out and about going God knows where!
@@tommychuckles7199 Stoneyhurst is lovely. Apparently, JRR Tolkien was a teacher at the posh school there, and was inspired by the countryside to base ‘The Shire’ on its landscape. Allegedly!
@@MrAjjm65 Indeed he did.Great view driving up the drive to the college and one I’ve experienced for decades.Must get the car into the trough this weekend if the weather ever improves.
@@tommychuckles7199 good luck with that one! If you see an F Type, grounding on some dips, that’s me! The front lip on my car is a bit worn..!
@@MrAjjm65 Ha! will do and likewise my black RF.The F type has been on my radar recently I must say.Cracking car.
Lived in Leeds back in the day and a guy called 'Hugh' who lived on our street bought a Griffith. I could hear him coming from the end of the road and that was a few hundred metres away. It was a BRG bellowing bruiser of a car and I'll never forget it. Don't know what happened to Hugh, but my god he had good taste.
I don't know about rollering my coaster but the cars shown certainly tickles my pickle. I have a vehicle I am going to be painting back red and I think I'm going to check out some TVR factory paints because they absolutely nailed their colors. I wish we had gotten them in the US.
Another great video Henry. That closing line that the Tuscan captures the mood of what enthusiasts want today is a great observation. Excellent work 👍👌
I went to university in Lancaster, so spent a lot of time driving these amazing roads in little underpowered hatchbacks, great memories!
Watching this very emotional video I feel proud of carrying the heritage of TVR with my restored Tuscan Mk1 3.6 🙏🏻 thanks for the video! Just hat two nice rides the last days. Now its in for service and some fixings to be done 😉👍🏻
The first time I seen a Tuscan Speed 6 was on Grand Turismo 2 and I fell in love them! If I had the money to import one, without a doubt, I would have one! No matter the issues and maintenance requirements!
TVR Speed Six - one of the best sounding engines ever. So enjoyable to watch a well produced piece, as always with Henry Catchpole. First time I've ever heard TVR associated with Rolex.
Excellent video and what a treat it is to see my local roads on film!
Playing Gran Turismo as a kid I had always thought they got the names of the colors wrong in the TVR section.
Same here with me. When driving the TVRS and battling against the Jaguars, Aston Martins, and Lotuses. The colors on the TVRS are all Metallic and Pearlescent. Which they were all unique and a very fancy look to them.
I can't be the only one watching this video , sighing and then heading off to the classifieds to see if there are any for sale. There really were wonderful infuriating cars - damm I miss them
The star of the video is for sale in our showroom! 1 passionate owner from new.
@@HiltonandMoss you should be ashamed of yourselves tempting old vulnerable men like me ,, get behind me you evil wonderful people!
God I'd buy that car in a heartbeat what a beautiful car have to stick with what I have
Never saw this review coming! Always loved the tuscan
Brilliant video in homage to this wonderful British sports car.
Surely one of the best sounding in line six cylinder engines ever produced for a road car.
Great Video henry that brought back so many memories i owned two wheeler era TVRs a 1985 350i wedge and a 1995 Chimaera 400 although only 10 years apart they were night and day , the chimaera still looks fresh today and was a brilliant car with the range rover V8 you had none of the race engine worries and it still went like stink and sounded fantastic . we used to meet at the factory each year for a "back home" event and drove out to the Trough of Bowland on those very roads ..
happy days ..
Henry, you're still crushing it. I am so glad you are with Hagerty and making these happen. Please keep them coming. Rubber side down buddy.
I grew up on that hill, half a mile or so from Jubilee Tower. Spent a lot of time cycling all those lanes and latterly walking the fells thereabouts. I had posters of the Tuscan on my wall as a kid, never realising that our house was literally on TVR's test route. I know every inch of that road.
Beautifully filmed! Stunning visuals, subtle and captivating music, and the gentile nature of Henry's review style.
A TVR has never looked or sounded so good on CZcams.
That last shot was absolutely stunning...The UK has some amazing geography that is very slept on.
Absolutely stunning vehicle and video, well done TVR, well done to all involved
I seent a speed 12 in beverly hills this last summer… I fan girled so hard and my kids were baffled…
Gran turismo got me to love these car years ago
Unlikely, There was only one speed 12 ever made and it’s privately owned in the UK somewhere.
Superb. A friend had one of these. Quite a beast (if/when it started).
Knowing those roads well, the test drivers must have had some alarming moments with sheep in the middle of them!
brilliant film , wonderful car and great scenery. fantastic styling on those cars.
I've idolized these cars since Gran Turismo 2, though my first TVR love was the Cerbera. Can't imagine actually getting to drive one for real.
My favourite and best looking modern (post 2000) cars, beats everything else all the super/hyper car brands out there.
What a wonderfully put together piece of film making. Superbly shot and the narration captivating. Fantastic effort. Best piece of motoring journalism I've seen for a while. Bravo!!
Great to see Henry. Smashing example credit to the owner 👌
In the mid-80's I was at a car show in a park in my hometown. Among the usual suspects, there was this oddity. Bronze, with a black vinyl top, looking almost toylike among the Corvettes and muscle cars. It was a 3000M, and the owner graciously let me sit behind the wheel. It was then that I fell for TVR. Few months later, found a copy of Automotive Quarterly with two stories on TVR; it's still in my bookcase. I've always had a fondness for these cars, all the way through the Tuscan and Cerbera
A stunning piece as always Henry. As an American, TVR hadn't entered my vocabulary until I saw one in the 1999 Movie Swordfish. I was mesmerized by how sexy and cool the car was. I could only describe it as a steam/future punk version of a Jaguar E-Type with that long phallic hood and the low slung grill. It's a pity they're so high maintenance because I'd love to own one, but I don't think I could deal with it, especially not being able to find parts in country.
Beautiful car, wonderful sound, interesting history! Thanx !
As always a Great Video, like a stick of Blackpool Rock if you cut me in half I will have TVR through the middle. Loved TVR cars from being a young boy in Fleetwood although I am now based many miles away in Manila still very much a TVR fan. I have two in the UK, which Henry you were only meters away when you parked outside Lawfield engineering, one a rare surviving 3000s bootless prototype and one restomod TAIMAR, my third car is a restomod TVR Griffith 430BV here in Manila ex Martin Lilley. In the 90's and naughties would visit friends each year at the factory and was shown the first Tuscan's ready to go out to the dealers, looked amazing then and still do now. Those test roads of TVR, my wife would be given the opportunity to chosea car during our visits and would go out with a TVR driver and when asked if she enjoyed the answer was she screamed a lot! My cars in the UK are of course with Hagerty who have been brilliant. Love the MK3 Tuscan convertibles...mmm....very tempted. Sorry you did not hear back from TVR, I know Les and the team are working very hard on getting the latest Griffith on the road. An incredible car of Gordon Murray design & engineering, we may not all be able to afford a T33 or T50 and a Griffith will be able to enjoy an affordable amazing car to own and drive.
Thank you for the wonderful film. It brought back memories.
Had a Chimaera from 1999 to 2006. Crude and quirky in many ways but such a blast to drive. Replaced it with the marvellous 993 turbo X50. Quicker, refined and reliable, but not as much fun as the TVR (when on good behaviour). Still miss it.
Motoring journalism at its finest. Definitely about the journey, narrated impeccably.
That TVR is shaped like a Jaguar. Beautifully made. And fast . Thanks for sharing!
💯👍👊
One of the most beautiful cars I’ve ever seen in person. Wish someone big had mass produced this beauty.
Him: _"...25 years old."_
Me: _"Pretty sharp for a 1960s car."_
Him: _"...1999..."_
Me: 😢
Brilliant soulful piece 🙏🏻
That red tuscan look incredible!
Great review as always and I love the widescreen format :)
Gorgeous film, thank you Henry!
Makes a man want one
Beautiful scenery
The one I loved the most was the Sagaris, it was stuning
Fabulous film as ever Henry, bravo.
Man that paint on the convertible. Magic
Great video stunning car
Thankyou Henry.
For once, thank God, a proper opinion piece by a proper journalist who knows the reality and doesn't just spout the myths spewed out by bloggers and wannabe CZcams 'stars'
I oicked up an immaculate Griffith 500 last November amd its truly wonderful. The TVR community is engaging and welcoming and im lookong forward to many memorane miles. Fantastic review which encapsulates the TVR workd perfectly
I saw a reflex blue TVR Tuscan with a in Riverside California back in the early 2000’s as a small child. I was pretty surprised as i’d only ever seen one in Gran Turismo 3.
Beautiful, really enjoyed watching this. You've inspired me to make the pilgrimage to Blackpool, and look for some of these roads to enjoy. It will be good to return the cars to what is hallowed ground.
I'll always remember this car for its appearance in Swordfish, and how the car was never available here in the USA.
I believe it was the spy car in Looney Tunes back in action too.
Great vid. My first sportscar was a TVR Taimar followed by a Taimar Turbo (rare) that was the first turbo sportscar produced in the UK . It even predated and "outperformed" the 911 Turbo according to contemporary reports. All TVRs get under your skin and ownership is a love hate relationship however almost always the charms of the cars, win over their failings. Not however for the faint hearted or financially challenged!
Good vid. Such a great looking car.
So calm & soothing it was✨✨
These never seem to age. They look great
Wonderful car and of course the video was very well produced, filmed and presented.
A truly unique English shed built car , still looks absolutely amazing 😍😍🇦🇺
Another great one Henry, keep up with great work 😅😊❤
Amazing cars! One of my ultimate dream cars is a Sagaris.
I remember seeing the Tuscan speed six in ‘Swordfish’ and being in awe of its design aesthetic. Now 40 years old I own a Lotus Elise SC and absolutely love it. Yet I still crave to own a sorted Tuscan speed six one day for its raw power and British sports car heritage
I've always wanted a TVR. What a magnificent thing, and such a British car! Eccentric, beautiful but ultimately unreliable. Yet perfect in the right moment.
Love this video. Moved away from Lancashire over a decade ago and really miss those roads. The one over to Lancaster from the Trough of Bowland was always great fun and very challenging to drive quickly.
Peter Wheeler
looking down on us all still enjoying his Creations, The thing he loved to do was to just build things .
Thank you Peter for what you created and the emotion every time i turn the key.
RIP PW.
I remember seeing Swordfish, that genuinely rubbish Travolta/Jackman movie and a mate of mine asked me afterwards 'was it any good?' 'Well' I replied 'the bits with TVR Tuscan in a car chase were pretty cool!' completely neglecting to mention the bit where Halle Berry got her top off. Kinda says a lot about how much attention this car gets!
elegant car indeed. Also true is how gorgeous that little corner of the world is. fairy tail indeed, again
I always enjoy Henry's videos. Great stuff, Henry. Makes me want to buy one or two of them.
Such a great looking car, hasn't aged a day in my eyes. Fabulous film.
If you grew up in the era when you actually had to drive a car, the Speed Six is appealing retirement present that will be invigorating and alive in your hands.
If you grew up in the era of legislated ABS, TCS, CAS, etc etc in Front Wheel Drive everything, then the entire TVR Tuscan range is a dangerously steep learning curve.
With that 25 year rule, there's going to be a lot less TVR's as yank drivers end up sideways, backwards and upside down in the trees.
It's funny. While I, of course, have respected TVR for being the little engine that could, I always saw it as a cottage industry, almost, kit car that didn't have a great deal of polish. Raw and agricultural.
Now that EV's are invading the planet, my appreciation for these types of vintage ICE vehicles has risen exponentially. I find myself completely bored with any new EV review (I am in no way anti EV, I just can't get excited).
Given all of the cross pollination going on, even in the ICE world (see Supra with Z4 engine and switch gear), I also suddenly found myself feeling a great deal more respect for TVR because they designed and built their own engines.
I have always been one to look forward but, at least in the world of cars, I am suddenly finding myself looking back, with yearning , which I never thought I would do.
Hats off Henry and Hagerty.
Bucket list car, the Tuscan. You'd feel the dog's driving it. I love the styling of the series 1; to me it is TVR's greatest hit. There's a rakishness and supremacy to it that instills in me a sense of British pride, much like a top of the line big block Corvette must've done for an American. I respect hugely Astons and Jaguars, but there's a blue collar savageness to a TVR that puts it in another league of acceptability for me.
Great job Henry! I liked this a lot. 1 point that was missed but quite pertinent was the fact the speed six is and probably will always be the most powerful naturally aspirated straight 6 engine every. That's a bit of motoring history right there and should be lorded ! Especially if we are all going to try hawking our Tuscans to the Yanks. ; P
Back in the 90s I had 6 TVRs on the trot…roll forward 21 years since I sold my last Tuscan targa, and I have just bought a 2006 Tuscan S convertible. People talk about the Russian chaps involvement but he put an awful lot right with the cars and the Russian era cars are so much better built, it’s just pure fun, I love it and it feels like coming home.
Bloody hell Henry, don’t go telling everyone the secret, the prices will skyrocket.
Hand made little monsters, with more character than almost anything outside of 70/80’s Italy.
That was my daily commute road from Clitheroe to two mins from the old factory for six months. Absolute heaven to drive that route on the daily
I had a lotus blue red rose one. Loved it. And hated it. I loved driving it, hanging back out, the sound..the mental handling (adjustable shocks fitted and a must), and did high speed run at airfield..at 170 it was still going strong but felt like the backend was going to go airborne....the bad..needed a total engine rebuild at 20k miles, sometimes headlights wouldn't work unless you turned on wipers..battery would go flat whenever it felt like it..
Once managed to blag a test drive on a Tamora. Same issue getting in the car and then getting out (no door handles). The Tamora was the "baby" TVR... Yet, one wide open throttle stretch later, all my chest hair had migrated to my back!
The car sounded intimidating and it revved fast. It felt almost dangerous. But a brisk cruise on a twisty little B road was heavenly... Still on my must have list, 20 years later...
Preach brother! :D My Sagaris is amazing - hopefully will keep using it for many years.
These are my local backroads! That big, long straight on the way to Pilling from Lancaster and the road through the Trough from Lancaster to Clitheroe. I didn't realise these were the TVR 'test tracks' but it makes sense. I've hooned along these roads in all of the fun cars I've owned..........including a 4.5 Cerbera.
Owned a Griffith 500 many years ago. Expired in a cloud of steam in front of the Grand Hotel Brighton as I was trying to impress my colleagues lol. I recall I was living in Harrogate at the time, so it had done well to get that far.
I still miss my Tuscan S which I bought new 22 years ago.. Luckily I still have the photos of the factory tour where I got to sign the bodywork of my car!
Loved the video!
I remember seeing the 450SEAC when it came out and being awestruck. These looked like spaceships after those early wedge cars.
Can't help but reminisce the Jaguar E-type, after watching and hearing it driven by someone as original as Henry Catchpole.