The Rare Ascort TSV
The Thunder from Down Under
The Ascort TSV, produced between 1958 and 1960 by Continental Coachwork in Sydney, is a rare automobile. Numbering between 13 to 19 units, the Ascort TSV was constructed on a Volkswagen chassis with significant modifications and sported a fiberglass four-seat coupé body. The car aimed to rival European icons like the Porsche 356 and the Volkswagen Karmann Ghia. Powered by a 1.3L Volkswagen flat-four engine enhanced with Okrasa components, the Ascort TSV made a top speed of 96 mph and could accelerate from 0 to 50 mph in about 12 seconds. Or an eternity.
Though the Ascort TSV gained some initial traction with 57 pre-orders at the 1959 Melbourne Motor Display, full-scale production never materialized. Today, the car remains a coveted collector's item.
Originally conceived by Mirek Craney, a Czechoslovakian migrant, the Ascort TSV was a blend of his admiration for European sports cars and the innovative (at the time) use of materials like fiberglass. Craney wanted a vehicle that provided practicality for small families, but still held sports car credentials. And that’s what makes the Ascort TSV stand out as a fascinating piece of automotive history; primarily due to its unique position in the Australian car market. Its rarity and the story of its brief flourish followed by a premature demise add to its allure.
It’s quirky, it’s unique, and it has that unmistakable charm of something that was built with passion rather than a corporate blueprint – just don’t call it a kit car.
The 1959 Ascort TSV in the photos is powered by 1.6 liter Porsche 356 engine. It went up for auction by Collecting Cars at Belair, SA, Australia, but went unsold.
