Models · TVR
TVR Tuscan, Sagaris, Tamora and T350 buying guide
TVR's Speed Six cars, built from 1999 to 2006: the Tuscan, the Tamora roadster, the T350 coupé and targa, and the track-focused Sagaris, all with TVR's own dry-sump straight six and a five-speed manual gearbox.
The versions
- Tuscan (1999 on): Speed Six 3.6 (350bhp) or 4.0 (360bhp), Red Rose 4.0 (380bhp) and 4.0 S (390bhp, 400bhp in Mk2 form); Mk2 from 2004 added a convertible
- Tamora: 3,605cc Speed Six, 350bhp
- T350: Speed Six, 350bhp, coupé or targa
- Sagaris (2005 to 2006, 211 built): 3,996cc Speed Six, 406hp (as given by PistonHeads)
- Borg-Warner T5 five-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
What to check on a Speed Six TVR
3 model-specific things to look at when you view one. They're a starting point, not the full inspection.
Valvegear and valve clearances
What to look for: With the engine warm, listen at the top of the engine for a tappety, clattering noise. Wipe inside the exhaust tips for oily deposits. Look in the history for valve clearance checks every 12,000 miles, and for new steel finger followers on early cars.
Why it matters: Early Speed Six engines, Mk1 Tuscans and early Tamoras especially, suffered rapid wear of the finger followers where they meet the cam lobes. Better replacement parts fixed it, and the problem had been addressed by the time of the T350 and Sagaris. Clearances that drift out can still damage the camshafts if checks are skipped, and over-revving on a missed downshift is another risk.
Warm-up and engine history
What to look for: Arrive before the engine has been started. Watch how the seller drives: the oil should reach at least 70 degrees before the engine is worked hard, which can take up to 15 miles. Ask for paperwork from a known Speed Six specialist for servicing every 6,000 miles and any rebuild.
Why it matters: The dry-sump engine takes a long time to warm through, and revving it hard from cold is a sign of an owner who didn't know the car. Faults usually show in an engine's first 20,000 miles, and many engines have been rebuilt by specialists with warranties. The T350 engine uses oil, around a litre per 2,000 miles, so regular topping up is normal.
Clutch, slave cylinder and gearbox
What to look for: Feel for a spongy clutch pedal or a biting point close to the floor, and for slip or judder on the drive. Look under the gearbox for fluid leaks. Check that fifth gear engages smoothly, and note any baulking into first or reverse.
Why it matters: A spongy pedal usually means worn slave cylinder seals, and slave cylinders leak; replacing one means removing the gearbox, so a new clutch is often fitted at the same time. Clutches last roughly 15,000 to 30,000 miles depending on use. On the Tuscan, difficulty engaging fifth usually means a worn circlip in the T5 gearbox. Reverse has no synchro, so selecting fifth first helps it go in.
Also in the full guide
- Heat damage under the car
- The cold start, test drive and paperwork checks for the exact version you're viewing
The full guide to the Speed Six TVR
The CrankSight guide walks you round the car on your phone at the viewing, with every check for the exact version you're looking at: what to look for, where to find it, and what anything you find is likely to cost. As you go it builds an assessment of that car, and if you view more than one, it lines them up side by side.
£29 for the model, used on as many cars as you like, delivered within 72 hours or your money back.
General points for the model, last checked October 2026. Every car is different, so treat this as a guide to what to look at, not a verdict on any car. CrankSight is independent and has no connection with TVR.