TVR's new Scamander amphibious prototype is road-legal against all odds
- The TVR Scamander prototype is the only one in the world
- The amphibious vehicle is back on the road after almost 12 years sitting in a barn
- The concept will be displayed in London later next month
Published on May 07, 2024 at 5:16 PM (UTC+4)
by Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
Last updated on May 09, 2024 at 6:24 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
After over a decade since it was shut in a barn and forgotten about, this unique and amphibious TVR Scamander prototype is back on the road – and it’s road-legal.
Ministry of Transport (MOT) certification wasn’t sought earlier after the creator and owner of TVR, Peter Wheeler died and the vehicle sat unused.
However, a new video shows it back on the road and en route to the MOT office driven by TVR fan and automotive enthusiast Harry Metcalfe, with Wheeler’s son Jo by his side.
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Both of them are aiming to get it on the road – and water again.
The versatile vehicle is capable of driving on roads and floating on water like a boat.
And being waterproof feels like a big theme for cars – and EVs in particular – currently.
This Cybertruck was seen passing through water so heavy that people couldn’t believe it.
Meanwhile, this EV launched in China can go ‘swimming’ and fully submerge.
The prototype has been dusted off and will be on display at the 2024 Concours event in the Honourable Artillery Company, London, England from 4-6 June.
While TVR has previously been noted for its cars’ speed, like the Sagaris or the Cerbera Speed 12 – dubbed the world’s most dangerous car – the TVR Scamander has an entirely different USP.
It’s amphibious and it’s now been declared road-legal and certified, despite some trouble with the initial testing facility.
The TVR Scamander was recently rediscovered a couple of months ago.
Metcalfe was struck by the epic feat of engineering of the Scamander and its almost entirely intact condition.
After its freshen-up by its new inheritor, mechanically everything seems in order.
It has new mirrors and lights and started up like a dream to drive the 40 miles to the testing facility.
A central driving position with in-built turn signals and other functions and six windows allows for optimal visibility and functionality.
The steering wheel flips up to make getting in and out easier.
Its design includes interchangeable rear layouts for carrying passengers or cargo.
The engine layout is rear-mounted behind the driver, with specific attention given to waterproofing due to its amphibious capabilities.
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All Supercar Blondie contributors undergo editorial review and fact-checking to ensure accuracy and authority in automotive journalism. After gaining her BA Hons in French and English at the University of Nottingham, Amelia embarked on a vocational diploma from the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ). This led to numerous opportunities, from interning at Vogue to being on the small team that launched Women’s Health magazine in the UK, which was named the PPA Consumer magazine of the year for three years running. As Health, Beauty and Fitness editor, Amelia personally received a Johnson & Johnson Award and was shortlisted for both PPA and BSME titles. Since then, Amelia has created content for numerous titles and brands, including the Telegraph, 111 Skin, Waitrose, Red magazine, Stylist, and Elle, as well as being Head of Content at Vitality and Editor in Chief at INLondon magazine. “My superpower is translating technical jargon about the mechanical workings of a supercar into a relatable story you’ll want to share with your friends after you’ve read it.” After joining the SB Media family as a senior journalist in September of 2023, Amelia’s role has evolved to see her heading up the SEO output of the editorial team. From researching the most ‘Google-able’ key terms to producing evergreen content - it’s been a time of hard work, growth, and success for the editorial team and the Supercar Blondie website. “I like to think of myself as a ‘method journalist’. In other words: I live and breathe whatever I am writing about. When writing about fitness, I trained as a personal trainer, and as a beauty editor, I completed an ‘expert’ in scent diploma with the Fragrance Foundation. “During my tenure at Supercar Blondie, however, I did something I never thought possible: I passed my driving test at the age of 36. One day I’d love to train as a mechanic to better understand what happens under the hood, too. “My sweet spot is providing readers with a ‘takeaway’ (read: something new they didn’t know before) after reading every one of my stories. While I don’t claim to be an expert in the automotive world, I know the experts and bodies in the field to rely on to provide our readers with an informative and thought-provoking story every time they visit the site.”
