TVR Tamora 3.6 Speed Six

TVR Tamora 3.6 Speed Six

The TVR Tamora, produced from 2001 to 2006, was positioned as the entry-level model in TVR's lineup during the Peter Wheeler era. However, 'entry-level' for TVR still meant 350 bhp from the in-house Speed Six engine, a kerb weight of just 1,100 kg, and performance that embarrassed far more expensive machinery.

The Tamora was designed as a more accessible alternative to the dramatic Tuscan. Its styling was smoother and more conventional, with a less extreme interpretation of TVR's organic design language. The convertible body featured a more practical hood arrangement than the Tuscan's targa roof, and the interior offered marginally more space and comfort.

Powered by the same 3.6-litre Speed Six engine as the Tuscan, the Tamora produced 350 bhp at 7,200 rpm. This remarkable engine, designed entirely in-house by TVR's engineering team, featured a flat-plane crankshaft that gave it a distinctive exhaust note quite different from the typical inline-six sound. Paired with the car's 1,100 kg kerb weight, performance was explosive: 0-60 mph in 4.2 seconds and a top speed of 170 mph.

The driving experience was classic TVR: raw, communicative, and deeply involving. The unassisted steering provided excellent feedback, the short-throw gearchange was precise, and the rear-wheel-drive chassis could be provoked into entertaining oversteer with relative ease. As with all TVRs of the era, there were no electronic safety aids — the driver was expected to manage the car's performance through skill alone.

The Tamora's name came from the character Tamora in Shakespeare's Titus Andronicus, continuing TVR's tradition of naming cars with the letter 'T' (Tuscan, Typhon, T350, Tamora). It served as the basis for the T350 coupe and targa models, which shared its shortened chassis.

Build quality was typical of the Peter Wheeler era: occasionally excellent, occasionally frustrating, and always requiring more attention than mainstream alternatives. The Speed Six engine could be problematic, but when properly maintained, it provided one of the most exciting driving experiences available.

The Tamora represents one of the more practical and liveable TVRs of its era, offering the full Speed Six experience in a package that was slightly less demanding and intimidating than the Tuscan or Sagaris.