
The story
The M-series put TVR on a firm footing after years of near-collapse. A strong tubular chassis sat under a long-nosed glassfibre body. It was quick, noisy and fun, and could be bought ready-made or as a kit.
Inside
You sit low and far back, with a tall centre tunnel beside you and a dash full of dials.
In period colours
Tap a colour to respray the drawing.
The M stands for Martin Lilley, who ran the company with his father.
Meanwhile, in 1972
A miners' strike brought power cuts across the country.
Best-selling single of 1972: Amazing Grace by The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards Band
Before you buy a 1970s car
- Rust is common in sills, wheel arches, front panels and the bottom of the doors.
- Check the wiring and electrics carefully, as they age badly.
- Many volume-selling cars still have good parts support, but badge-engineered and low-volume models can be harder to source.
General notes, not specific to this model. Check the model's own history before buying.
Rivals of its day
Picked automatically: cars on sale at the same time with similar size, speed and price.
See the real thing
These open in a new tab: the car on Wikimedia Commons, the interior and the badge as Google image searches.
Today's money: the launch price adjusted for inflation to 2026, using the Office for National Statistics price index.