TVR Tina Coupé Concept by Fissore: The Prototype That Returned to Life

Revived Rarity - In an era when compact European sports cars were gaining personality, few prototypes captured the hopeful energy of the 1960s quite like the TVR Tina Coupé. Its story began when Martin Lilley took over a struggling TVR in 1965 and immediately sought a fresh direction that could broaden the brand’s appeal. He envisioned a smaller, more affordable model built around the mechanicals of the Hillman Imp Sport, and he turned to designer Trevor Fiore to create an all-steel body that would embody this new philosophy. Fiore produced both a convertible and a fixed-head coupé, the latter ultimately constructed in Italy by Fissore shortly after the cabriolet made its first appearance at the 1966 Turin Motor Show. 

The 1966 TVR Tina Coupé Concept was envisioned by Martin Lilley as a smaller, more affordable TVR built on Hillman Imp Sport mechanicals, with an all-steel body designed by Trevor Fiore. (Picture from: IconicAuctioneers)

The naming of the car became part of its charm. Lilley wanted something quickly, and since racing driver Gerry Marshall—an important figure at the Barnet Motor Company—was closely involved, the team chose to name it after his daughter, Tina. The long-standing anecdote claims they simply trimmed “Cor” off a Ford Cortina badge to create the emblem. The name also fit naturally beside the TVR Trident, which shared a subtle family resemblance. The early Tina prototypes attracted notable attention, and despite their modest Hillman-based underpinnings, they presented a stylish, compact 2+2 package powered by a twin-carburetor Imp engine producing around 55 bhp, dressed in pale gold paint with red leather trim. 

The 1966 TVR Tina Convertible Concept was the companion model to the Coupé, built by Fissore at Martin Lilley’s request for joint display at the 1966 London Motor Show. (Picture from: Autoevolution)

However, early feedback pushed the project into further refinement. The front design of the Tina faced criticism for failing to satisfy the increasingly strict American regulations—an important consideration given that the U.S. market was essential for the car’s profitability. Fissore reworked the coupé’s design while completing the fixed-head version, and Lilley insisted that both the coupé and convertible appear at the October 1966 London Motor Show to signal TVR’s renewed confidence. The decision paid off: visitors were so enthusiastic that potential buyers offered blank cheques simply to secure a place on a future waiting list, and TVR’s factory phones rang nonstop afterward.

The 1966 TVR Tina Coupé Concept faced criticism over U.S. safety regulations, prompting Fissore to revise its front design, yet the compact 2+2 still drew strong attention. (Picture from: IconicAuctioneers)

Enthusiasm alone couldn’t solve the manufacturing challenges, as TVR lacked the capacity to build the Tina cheaply and in high volumes. The company explored partnerships with Rootes, Jensen, and Aston Martin to put the car into production. Rootes had the facilities but would have faced internal competition with its Alpine; Jensen, though skilled in body construction, doubted the Tina could reach the sales volume needed—especially in the American market; Aston Martin, meanwhile, faced financial constraints that ruled out participation. Complicating matters further, the plan to bond a fiberglass body to the Imp’s steel subframe proved impractical, while a full metal body would have been too heavy for the intended engine.

The 1966 TVR Tina Coupé Concept presented a stylish, compact 2+2 layout highlighted by red leather trim on the seats and door panels. (Picture from: IconicAuctioneers)

Despite these obstacles, TVR continued to push the concept. Only the Tina Coupé appeared at the 1967 Turin Motor Show, accompanied by optimistic claims that production would begin in early 1968 with a price of £998 including taxes. Yet every attempt to make the project viable eventually collapsed under the combined weight of cost issues, capacity limitations, and doubts about market suitability. As a result, the Tina never progressed beyond its two prototypes, which gradually faded from public view even though they had briefly served as showstoppers that helped portray TVR as an ambitious and forward-moving company. 

The 1966 TVR Tina Coupé Concept was adorned with an elegant pale gold exterior that emphasized its refined yet understated 1960s character. (Picture from: IconicAuctioneers)

One of the prototypes resurfaced years later in the hands of Gerry Marshall, who acquired a neglected coupé in 1989 with the intention of restoring it. But his long and successful racing career left little free time, and the car remained untouched until his daughter Tina inherited it in 2005. Motivated by childhood memories, she began an extensive restoration effort that involved gathering archival photographs, researching technical details, and reconnecting with individuals who had worked on the original build—including David Hives, one of the craftsmen involved in constructing the first car. 

The 1966 TVR Tina Coupé Concept was powered by a twin-carburetor Hillman Imp engine producing around 55 bhp. (Picture from: IconicAuctioneers)

Through years of patient and meticulous work, Tina managed to revive the car that once bore her name. Restored in its original pale gold finish with red leather interior and running on its twin-carburetor Imp engine, the car is now fully road-legal. Today, it occasionally appears at major automotive events, such as its recent presence alongside the new Griffith at Goodwood—an appearance that echoed TVR’s tradition of pairing its latest models with memorable, eye-catching companions. Even next to a modern, muscular TVR, the petite and elegant Tina still holds its own.

The 1966 TVR Tina Coupé Concept remains especially meaningful as a near-realized path for TVR, reflecting the brand’s creative ambition and renewed momentum in the late 1960s despite never reaching production. (Picture from: IconicAuctioneers)

The survival of the TVR Tina Coupé feels especially meaningful now because it represents a path TVR nearly pursued but never fully realized. Although the car never reached production, it demonstrated the company’s creative ambition during a pivotal moment and helped project an image of renewed vitality in the late 1960s. Through its restoration, the Tina has regained not just its physical form but also its place in the brand’s narrative—a small, charming reminder of what TVR once dreamed of becoming. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | CARROZZIERI-ITALIANI | AUTOEVOLUTION | ICONICAUCTIONEERS | CLASSIC CARS & CONCEPT CARS IN FACEBOOK ]

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