TVR 3000M 'Martin Edition'

Click Here for Full Screen Image - Click Here to Download Image

Launched in 1972, the 3000M sat at the top of TVR's new ‘M’ range of two seater sports coupes which were developed under the stewardship of Martin Lilley (hence the M) who, along with his father, had taken over TVR in November 1965.

Designed to appeal to a wider audience than previous more spartan models, the new car was more habitable than the outgoing Vixen/Tuscan range with improved luggage space, superior crash protection for the occupants and a 5-year guarantee against chassis corrosion. Three engine sizes were offered, 1.6 Ford Kent, 2.5 Triumph TR6 and 3.0 Ford Essex.

Underneath the bonnet of the 3000M sat the venerable Ford Capri 3.0 litre V6 engine, developing 138bhp which equated to a top speed of 125mph and a 0-60 dash of 7.7 seconds. Suspension was via double wishbones and coil springs front and rear, with Triumph TR6 disc/drum brakes and precise rack-and-pinion steering. The 3000M remained in production until 1979 when it was replaced by the new Tasmin model by which time just 694 examples had been sold making them a rare sight today.

Rarer still are the ten ‘Martin Edition’ 3000M cars that were produced to celebrate the first decade of Martin Lilley’s ownership of TVR. Individually numbered (‘Martin 1' to 'Martin 10’) they were all painted Rover Tobacco Leaf Gold with a Mexico Brown side stripe and a brown vinyl roof and had every available option including leather trim, ‘Sundym’ glass, fabric sunroof, overdrive gearbox and Wolfrace alloys.

The car you see here is Martin 4 which is believed to be one of only three of the ten still registered (Martin 7 belonging to another UK resident and one other residing in Germany where it has been converted to LHD). It is supplied with a vast history file showing that it was originally registered JMO 167P in June 1976 and was first owned by one Anthony Field of Hitchin, passing through another four owners before being acquired by the vendor back in August 1998.

During his 17-year ownership the car has been only sparingly used, clocking up some 3,000 miles, but has been subject to a process of continuing refurbishment and improvement which has resulted in the fine example you see today. The extent of the work carried out to date is too detailed to list in full here but is amply documented in many bills and photographs in the history file.

Highlights include a rebuilt engine with Quaife steel timing gear upgrade, unleaded heads, twin electric fans and electronic ignition; rebuilt overdrive gearbox with new clutch kit and upgraded hydraulics and concentric release bearing; rebuilt differential; all new braking system including calipers, discs, master cylinder and braided stainless steel hoses; all new suspension with Koni shock absorbers; all new bushes, ball joints, propshaft and driveshaft joints; full rewire with relayed lights, fans etc; stainless steel exhausts; full interior retrim including seats, dash, headlining and carpets; unmarked Wolfrace 14” alloys with good Yokohama tyres plus numerous other improvements.

In addition to the huge history file, it also comes with an original owner’s handbook, factory workshop manual, wiring diagram and much other technical literature relating to the model. With fewer than 83,000 miles on the clock and MOTd until March 2016 with no advisories recorded, the car is said to drive superbly and, quite apart from being ultra-rare ‘Martin Edition’, is surely as good an example of a 3000M as you could hope to find.