From 20 Boxes to Trophy Winner: The Remarkable Restoration of Pete’s TVR Grantura Mk2A

Every so often, a restoration story comes along that reminds us exactly why the classic car community is so passionate. Our November 2025 Car Club Winner, Pete, has delivered one of those rare tales — transforming a 1961 TVR Grantura Mk2A (240WTD) from a pile of parts scattered across 20 boxes into a trophy-winning, magazine-featured classic.

A TVR Grantura with History

First registered at the Lancashire Records Office on 23 September 1961, Pete’s Grantura is believed to be the 61st Mk2A ever built. But when he first found it, the car had none of the elegance or purpose it now commands.

Instead, it had been stripped to pieces and abandoned for more than 12 years after being declared “uneconomical to repair.” Even the engine had been dismantled — its components boxed away like a mechanical jigsaw. To the business that left it behind, it was a liability.
To Pete, it looked like an opportunity.

As he puts it with a smile: “I don’t know if I was brave or stupid — but it saved me a fortune keeping me out of the pub!”

The Jigsaw Puzzle Begins

The first real task wasn’t rebuilding the car — it was simply sorting the chaos. With no detailed workshop manuals to rely on, Pete meticulously organised each part into groups: brakes, suspension, engine components and more.

Knowledge came not from books, but from the classic TVR community, whose shared expertise became an essential guide.

His son-in-law helped bring the boxes home — though Pete jokes that his wife was “not impressed” by what arrived.

A Restoration Built on Determination (and a Front Lawn)

With only a standard 7’6″ home garage, Pete had to get creative. The chassis and bodywork were refurbished on the front lawn, propped up on pallets. Even the household Dyson played a part — though, as Pete admits, “Don’t tell the wife about that!”

Fortunately, the chassis was in better shape than expected, with only surface rust to tackle. Pete treated it with:

• a wire brush in a drill

• Kurust

• POR-15 rust protection

• two coats of smooth Hammerite

Inside, the floors were scraped clean after decades of debris and collapsed underlay.

What followed was a patient, methodical 5½-year home restoration — a true DIY retirement project that brought the Grantura steadily back to life.

Recognition for a Labour of Love

The quality of the finished car speaks for itself. In 2023, the TVR Car Club awarded the restored 240WTD the prestigious:

🏆 Trevor Wilkinson Trophy
Awarded for the most comprehensive TVR restoration of the previous 12 months.

The project then earned national attention, appearing in the August 2023 issue of Practical Classics — a testament to Pete’s skill and perseverance.

Our November 2025 Winner