One of One: 1988 TVR “White Elephant” Prototype

Some cars write their own stories. This TVR prototype could fill a book. Crafted in 1988 as a precursor to TVR’s 1990s evolution, the production version never hit the ground; TVR instead shed the wedge idiom in favor of organic curves, à la the Chimaera and the Cerbera. But for a few years, TVR Chairman Peter Wheeler adopted the White Elephant as his daily driver. He put more than 27,000 miles on the car, riding companionably with his dog, Ned. Ned had his own “seat” in the rear of the car, alongside whatever shotgun was carried that day in service of hunting. Of course, no car story is worthwhile without the near-miss associated with profound neglect: after tacking away from the wedge shape, TVR consigned the White Elephant to its rear yard for years, where it duly deteriorated. TVR enthusiast Howard Bryan bought the car from Wheeler in 2004, embarking on a thorough restoration. Today, it is offered from the third owner’s portfolio; the seller aspires to a price in excess of £100,000. Thanks to PRA4SNW for spotting this unicorn for us!

Situated on a 420 SEAC chassis and running a front-mounted, 16-valve, Group A Holden “Walkinshaw” 5.0-liter V8, this prototype was more race car than road car. Initial experimentation with anti-sway bars made the car nearly untractable. Disconnecting the rear bar improved the handling. A cooling issue also arose, as Wheeler wanted the radiator to lie as flat as possible to enable that slopey profile; I’d want to tool around in traffic to see what’s up with the thermostat. The car is equipped with a Borg-Warner T5, a good match for the 440 hp mill. Braking is via discs at all fours, inboard at the rear. Top speed is estimated at 170 mph; the car was clocked at about 4 seconds to 60 mph.

Prospective buyers should note that Peter Wheeler was 6’6″ tall. The seating set-up was customized to his frame. That’s a long reach to the pedals. If you are 5’6″ like yours truly, better hire a specialist to reconfigure the interior. Ned, too, didn’t take to his cubbyhole in the rear; like all dogs, he preferred to sit up front with his owner. Outside of the dimensions, the car is appropriately luxe inside, with piped green leather upholstery, wool carpets, and walnut dash trim.

John Ravenscroft designed the body, engineering it to fit the SEAC chassis and that V8 engine. The nose was 420-esque, other body panels were reminiscent of the Tasmin. The result is unlike anything you’ll ever see on the road, and whether it’s graceful or brilliant is certainly open for debate. Though the White Elephant proved to be an evolutionary dead-end, we can applaud its salvation from complete destruction.