Derby-based Mulholland Automotive (www.mulhollandautomotive.com), part of the Mulholland Group, which has been supplying Formula One and top level motorsport, along with the vast majority of the world’s super car manufacturers, for more than 20 years, is using its unrivalled heritage to produce a two-seater sports car of its own.

The super-lightweight V8-powered car has been designed and developed by Mulholland Automotive as a pure “drivers’ car” that will “produce both thrilling performance and a tactile class-leading experience”. According to Mulholland Automotive’s owner Graham Mulholland, the order books are now open.

The Legend 480 — the 480 reflecting the car’s HP power output — follows the blueprint of the classic British sports car; it is lightweight with an engine in the front, has a rear wheel drive, a manual transmission and is stylishly designed and assembled.

Mr Mulholland said: “As one of Europe’s leading advanced component engineering manufacturers, we have been a specialist supplier to the most high-profile motor racing teams along with practically every premium branded niche-vehicle manufacturer, which we will continue to supply.”

“The Legend 480 however, enables us to showcase our technology, expertise and capabilities to a much larger global audience, plus it enables us to celebrate the combustion engine before moving to emerging technology, which we want to help co-develop. We want these new vehicles to be a halo for our group activities.”

He added: “I am an ex-TVR owner and I count myself privileged to say I worked with the famed previous owner Peter Wheeler. To me, the marque excelled by true principles of what a sports car should be and delivered a truly, exhilarating driving experience.

“The Legend 480 as our first vehicle will replicate a proven formula, but we will be using the latest advanced manufacturing know-how and a world-class supply chain, to achieve an expected quality and ownership experience.”