1971 Trident Clipper V8

This 1971-model Trident was found derelict, and minus its engine and gearbox, in a garage in 2013. Complete with a UK V5 registration document, where it is only listed as being a Trident Coupé, it is believed to have started life as a Venturer.

The chap who bought it clearly didn’t lack ambition because he decided to replace the missing components with a V8, restoring it as the more powerful Clipper. The car was worked on between 2013 and 2016, and then sold on. The car’s next owner enjoyed it for a year before selling it on again to a more serious collector.

He then spent three years effectively starting the work again, despite what had already been carried out, restoring it to his more exacting standards. Consequently, this V8-powered 'Clipper' is actually way, way better than the factory cars ever were.

It became a well-known car, and was invited to the London Concours’ Lost Marques class and was even driven there by James Elliott, the editor-in-chief of Octane who went on to write about it in the magazine.

It was subsequently bought by the current owner, our vendor, a little over two years ago. He has a small collection and was at first very intrigued by the Trident’s rarity and then equally impressed by the performance.

He’s taken it out on a few trips - including Goodwood events - and has kept it well fettled, but with an eye on future acquisitions, and a growing family, he wants to thin down his collection.

The bright red bodywork appears in very good order - the bonnet bulge and vents are not original but we think it looks better than the factory design. The coachwork was done by Clive Langley of Winchfield Cars in Finchampstead - clearly a very talented chap. There’s a small ding on the front nearside wheel arch, forward of the wheel but otherwise it’s a very well turned out car.

Shut lines are generally nice and tight, with maybe a little fettling needed on the passenger door to pull the bottom in, panels are straight and the scarlet paintwork is stunning - and by all accounts the car is fully watertight - not something that came as standard, even when new.

The sliding fabric/vinyl roof looks good and works well and the brightwork such as the bumpers appear free of any significant damage and have a good chrome finish.

The car sits on handbuilt wire wheels, which still appear like new and are fitted with matching Blockley tyres.

The interior was previously restored to an incredibly high standard - going well beyond original specifications - and remains very smartly presented in a pleasing combination of tan leather, wood veneer and black vinyl. The front seats have none of the sagging of old upholstery, having been built back up with new webbing, foam and leather. The rears fold down to give access to the boot - something the original design didn’t offer.

The varnished woodwork across the dash, centre console and the door fillets matches nicely and gives a very luxuriously classic feel to the cabin - complemented by the leather-trimmed Moto-Lita steering wheel and the correct but hard-to-find gear lever. A period Blaupunkt radio sits nicely below the auxiliary gauges and it works too. As far as we’ve been able to test, all the other interior electrics also work - such as the lights and surprisingly speedy windows.

The beige carpets and floor mats are beautifully fitted and edge-trimmed and present well, with a good underlay installed, and up above the headlining is taut and intact.

The front-hinged bonnet is well lined with insulation and the engine bay looks tidy and in good order, also with neat heat shielding fitted. This Clipper is powered by a Ford 289 cu-in (4.7L) engine mated to a Borg Warner T10 gearbox, the same specification that would have been fitted to a Clipper from new. The fuel pump flow rate has been matched to the greedy non-standard Edelbrock carburettor.

The undersides are generally good, some slight deterioration to the paint and underseal low down on the rear valance, but otherwise in fairly good order given the age of the car. The stainless exhaust is a bespoke unit, built by Powerflow, and is designed to have an Aston Martin-like note. By all accounts it is quieter than the original but still has the sort of attractive rasp we all want from our V8 supercars.

The boot, like the interior, is neatly carpeted and clean, and has been fitted with a roller blind load cover. That combined with the folding rear seat backs make it a very usable load space.

The Trident doesn’t have a current MOT certificate, its last having expired back in 2018. As an historic vehicle, it is of course exempt but we think an independent assessment of roadworthiness each year is worth having, should you ever be called upon to prove it.

The car’s history file includes a number of expired MOT certificates and a thick sheaf of invoices and bills to confirm the work that has been done to it over the years. Worth a few minutes paging through these to see the kind of money spent on parts alone.

There are also copies of the magazine articles it has featured in over the years, some spare badges, and a hand-written parts interchangeability list. There are also a few hand-written letters, some typed documentation, and a whole raft of the sort of miscellaneous paperwork a car accumulates when it’s owned by folk who understand how rare it is.

We think the Clipper is just wonderful. It starts on the button, drives beautifully, the gearbox feels great and the acceleration is magnificent. Overall a lovely car which doesn't appear to want for much. If you don’t believe us, get in touch to arrange to experience it for yourself.

But how do you put a value on a car like this Clipper? With so few built, they don’t come up very often – and even when they do, they are rarely in as superb a condition as this one, stuffed full of improvements, upgrades and insane attention to detail.

We think it will sell for between £30,000 and £40,000. When you pick that apart, it doesn’t seem too much for a classic ‘70s sports car - designed and developed to be TVR’s flagship model - with a thumping 250 bhp Cobra V8 and a kerb weight of around 1,200kg.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.