2003 TVR T440R - One of One

If you’re familiar with TVR’s back catalogue, you’ll immediately appreciate the extraordinary significance of this car. Much like the TVR Cerbera Speed 12 that created headlines when it sold with Iconic Auctioneers in 2023 for £601,500, we’re proud to present another truly unrepeatable piece of TVR history, the only fully-fledged production T440R that had been FIA-homologated.

Conceived in the early 2000s at the height of TVR’s ambition to conquer endurance racing, the T440R was born of a desire to see the marque return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans after a 40 year absence. The late 1990s saw the project begin under the codename Tuscan R, the R denoting 'Racing', with GT1-class homologation as the goal. TVR embarked on one of the most technically advanced engineering projects in its history building the T440R entirely by hand  in their in-house race department in Blackpool and developed using cutting-edge CAD/CAM software.

Hand-fabricated from seamless tubular steel, it featured a fully integrated, leather-trimmed roll cage and was constructed on the same jigs used to create the factory GT cars that competed at Spa, Sebring and Le Mans. To this, TVR bonded a resin-filled aluminium honeycomb floor, a separate carbon fibre tub, and finally the sculpted carbon-fibre bodywork. The result was a structure of immense stiffness and lightness, tipping the scales at just over 1,100kg and importantly, one that rivalled everything being developed by Ferrari or Porsche at the time.

Unlike its Typhon sister cars that were envisioned to have 4-litre supercharged engines and sequential gearboxes, the T440R was built with a naturally aspirated, race-derived 4.2-litre dry-sump straight-six mated to a 5-speed gearbox. It featured a gas-flowed cylinder head, steel crank and rods, a carbon fibre air box with six upper injectors (12 in total for the six cylinders), and bespoke exhaust headers. Most of the engine components were derived from the TVR race programme, but the road car's engine was detuned for road use and reliability yet still produces a staggering 440bhp. It features a large bore exhaust which points to the side in true TVR flamboyance, rather than on the nearside like the race cars. The engine note is remarkable, aggressive, pleasingly loud and certainly doesn’t sound like any other TVR.

The car's performance is remarkable with 0–60mph despatched in under four seconds on its way to over 200mph (215mph has been discussed) however, in true TVR fashion there is nothing to assist the driver other than the driver's right foot and bravery levels. There is no traction-control, stability-control, ABS, airbags or electronic assistance - you're on your own - and the on-road experience is visceral to say the least, as one would expect from a road-legal, wholeheartedly race-bred machine.

Aesthetically, the T440R is pure theatre. Its long, low nose, recessed headlamps, wide haunches and swooping roofline are reminiscent of the aerodynamic sports racers of the 1960s and 1970s but with a modern twist. An almost totally flat floor, front splitter and rear diffuser contribute to the car’s remarkably low 0.32 drag coefficient, while providing very good downforce at speed. The body’s curves are purposeful yet beautiful, with every line intended for speed.

T440 TVR is the only T440R completed to full FIA-specification, homologated and completed as a production car. The three other cars were either pre-production prototypes or blended into Typhons. T440 TVR was built and constructed for none other than Lawrence Tomlinson, the owner of LNT Racing, a key figure in British motorsport. A successful racing driver and team principal, Tomlinson was also the man behind Ginetta Cars and was deeply involved in TVR's motorsport efforts during the early 2000s. His intent was clear - this T440R was to be enjoyed as a high performance road car, while remaining closely aligned to the competition cars that bore his name on the grid at Spa, Sebring and Le Mans.

As the only example finished and prepared to this standard for road use, the car retained many of its race-bred features, while offering improved usability. When Tomlinson later wound down his TVR racing programme, the car was sold to a private enthusiast, a highly respected figure within the TVR community, known for her passionate stewardship of the marque and encyclopaedic knowledge of its rarer creations. Under her care, the T440R remained largely original but was entrusted to a comprehensive, no expense spared recommissioning programme with marque experts, Str8six.

That meticulous six-month process included a full cosmetic and mechanical refresh, restoring the car to its former glory. Of note is the bodywork, which underwent a complete bare-shell, glass-out respray in Spectraflair Titanium, a multi-layered, iridescent silver finish that perfectly complements the car’s dramatic surfacing carried out by the highly regarded Surface and Design. Every detail was considered, from the panel fit to the integrity of the carbon-fibre bonding, ensuring that the car presents in wonderful condition throughout.

In our vendor’s ownership the car has formed part of a significant collection of TVRs and has been meticulously maintained, cherished and enjoyed. To quash any generic rumours of a TVR’s lack of reliability, the car has been driven over 500 miles from Scotland to our Iconic HQ in Warwick without a fault or hitch, performing flawlessly throughout the seven hour drive.

The combination of having just two owners from new, under 27,000 miles covered, and 19-year long-term ownership means the history file makes very pleasant reading. There are TVR build sheets and DVLA communications from the TVR model registrar confirming T440 TVR as the only genuine, completed and registered T440R built as well as a plethora of bills and invoices for maintenance and servicing.

In recent years the car has been maintained, stored and serviced by marque experts TVR Ecosse, with bills and invoices totalling over £5,000 in the last 2 years purely to ensure the car remains in good order throughout. The paintwork is fabulous, very reminiscent of the Ferrari F40 by way of being able to clearly see the carbon weave through the paintwork. The interior presents very well and is an incredibly special place to be. It is in the usual bonkers TVR format with a 2 spoke steering wheel, dials and buttons that one can only work out via trial and error but with all electronics working as they should.

This T440R is one of the most special TVRs ever produced, offering a fabulous opportunity to any discerning collector or enthusiast. Not only does this car boast exceptional provenance and originality, but it is also the only T440R that ever made it to full production specification. To blend the uncompromising design and construction of Le Mans racers with a bespoke, road-usable finish is, quite simply, an unrepeatable proposition.