Legacy Metrics

1978 TVR 3000M

4256FMroadUnited Kingdom
Engine
3.0L inline-six

A TVR 3000M, one of 654 naturally aspirated examples built between 1972 and 1979, this car has been transformed into a purpose-built competition vehicle. Powered by a Ford Essex V6 rebuilt by John Smirthwaite with triple Weber 42DCNF carburettors and modified heads, cams, and exhaust system, it produces a documented 240bhp. Prepared professionally by Ian Daniels Motorsport for UK and European rallying, the car features a full roll cage, Wilwood brakes, adjustable suspension, Sparco seating, and comprehensive safety equipment.

Ownership

  1. 2025-08-22Auction sale
    Sold £16,521.7 (≈ $21K)

    Iconic Auctioneers catalogue lot →

  2. 2015 →Acquisition unknown
    Current vendor
    partial documentation

    The car was professionally prepared for rallying during this owner's tenure, with competition build work carried out by Ian Daniels Motorsport and the engine by John Smirthwaite.

Competition

No competition history extracted from the catalogue.

Maintenance & restoration

  1. Restoration
    Ian Daniels Motorsport

    Full competition build undertaken for UK and European rallying, including a professionally built high-output engine, complete rewiring, roll cage installation, Wilwood brake fitment, adjustable suspension, polybushes throughout, and a full suite of competition interior equipment including custom dash, navigator aids, Sparco seats and harnesses, fire suppression, and safety cut-offs.

    Engine internals built by John Smirthwaite; dynamometer sheet showing 240bhp is present in the history file. Engine based on the original V6 block with modified heads, camshafts, followers, and triple Weber 42DCNF carburettors.

Are you the owner of this car?

This car's public record is built from its auction and competition history. Register your ownership and privately add your own records to make it a verified Legacy Metrics passport — provenance that backs your car's value at sale and gives your insurer evidence to price against. Roy reviews and verifies every registration personally.

Each chassis record is compiled from public auction archives and links to its source material. Ownership, competition and maintenance entries are extracted from those catalogue listings by an LLM, which can make mistakes — please contact us with any corrections. The summary is Legacy Metrics’ own writing; we do not reproduce catalogue text.

“Full” and “partial” documentation labels indicate how well each entry is corroborated in the underlying sources, not an audit of the car’s physical paperwork. Names of recent or living owners are withheld for privacy.