Motoring News
Today, 03 June 2015Tempting TVRs from £5 to £50k - used car buying guide
The next chapter of the TVR story is about to begin, so we took a look back over some hard acts to follow from the previous-generation cars
Whether you like charming retro sports cars with Ford power, powerful 1980s wedges packing Rover V8 muscle or cartoon 1990s supercars with thunderclap soundtracks, there's a TVR for you. We look at some of the highlights from the past 30 years, and you could have them on your driveway from just £5k. TVR Chimaera1992-2003The Griffith commanded respect from even the most hardened sports car owners, but the Chimaera was viewed as a softer, easier prospect for those who wanted the noise and theatre in a more liveable package. That’s not to suggest that the Chim was soft per se. Although longer and bigger than the Griffith, they are very close relatives mechanically and have many of the same foibles. They could even be bought with the same 5.0-litre V8, although the 4.0-litre version is by far the most commonly seen. In price terms, Chimaeras have gone up considerably in the past few years, so are no longer the bargains they once were. Any form of paper trail from a specialist is a more desirable extra than a specific engine or trim option, but expect to pay a premium for 4.5 and 5.0-litre-engined cars. Prices are from below £10,000 for cars with issues, but £12k is a more realistic starting point for a clean 4.0-litre car. TVR S1/S2/S31987-1992The conspicuously retro-looking S models were designed to keep an affordable car in the line-up for enthusiasts who could not stretch to the expensive wedge models or, indeed, simply didn’t like the Buck Rogers st
read moreAt last, Gordon Murray's big idea is coming on stream
TVR could be the first of many niche manufacturers to use Gordon Murray's innovative iStream production process, and about time too
It has taken a long time, but the revelation that a reborn TVR will work with Gordon Murray on the first iStream manufacturing plant is as significant a moment as the announcement of the new TVR sports car itself.Murray’s vision has long been established, having come to him as long ago as 1999 and been launched as a business initiative as far back as 2009. However, turning his idea for a low-cost, simplified automotive manufacturing process into a production reality has been a hard slog.Industry sources have long said that Murray’s iStream idea is a sound one but that the established car manufacturers are too entrenched in their existing heavily industrialised methods for them to change course. Murray needs companies willing to disrupt convention – hence the interest by Yamaha, Shell and now TVR.It’s a small step, of course; TVR isn’t aiming to be a volume player and, consequently, isn’t using iStream to its full capability. It will, however, be vindication that the system works, and that will in turn – possibly – be enough to persuade other car makers to follow suit. Read more:TVR plans new sports car range for 2017
read moreCan TVR's new plan really work?
Plans to save TVR are nothing new, but something about this latest attempt gives me hope for the future
Those of us who love TVR have been wondering for nine years how the revival we knew was coming would pan out. There are many ways the new model range could have been botched, by being given an incorrect persona, or half-killing it with insufficient backing or hopelessly high production targets - or both.Things took a dramatic turn for the better when Les Edgar, John Chasey and their consortium partners bought the business two years ago, yet still we wondered about the car itself.These were successful businessmen, inexperienced in car manufacture. They had no illusions about that, but they did know - some as TVR owners - what the car should be like in performance and in use, and they set about finding partners who could help them hit their well-chosen targets.After planning and discussion, they chose two of the finest consultants in the UK, Gordon Murray Design and Cosworth, both experts at car creation and known for quality and reliable delivery.As BMW will tell you, choice of key suppliers is vital to a new model’s future. The way we see it, TVR has ‘done a BMW’ and deserves to reap the benefit.Read more:TVR plans new sports car family for 2017A brief history of TVR
read moreA brief history of TVR
As TVR's new management team shed more light on their sports car plans, we look back at the history of this British icon
As the new management team behind once-great TVR reveal plans to restore the company to its former glory, here's a brief history of the TVR brand.1946 - TVR starts life in Blackpool as Trevcar Motors, a car repair and engineering business founded by 23-year-old Trevor Wilkinson.1947 - Name changed to TVR Engineering.1949 - TVR builds its first original chassis for TVR One, a car with a 1172cc Ford engine.Early 1950s - Wilkinson and partner Jack Pickard launch a new chassis. With a glassfibre body, it becomes known as TVR Sports Saloon.1955-1958 - New semi-spaceframe chassis is produced. It uses a central backbone and has suspension from a VW Beetle. Aluminium-bodied cars sold in the US as Jomars.1958 - Better-looking fastback-bodied Jomar coupé develops into the first well-known TVR, the Grantura.1962 - TVR bankrupt after rising costs, expensive race programmes and low sales. Rescued by associate, Grantura Engineering.1963 - First TVR Griffith, with 4.7-litre Ford V8 and named after US importer Jack Griffith. Instant hit but import problems scupper US operation.1965 - TVR Trident appears with Ford V8 power and body by Fissore of Italy.1965-1968 - Martin Lilley takes control and stabilises TVR. Firm benefits from PR-grabbing race wins by Gerry Marshall; launches new Tuscan V8 and four-pot Vi
read moreReborn TVR plans new sports car family for 2017
Revitalised TVR will bring four new sports car to market, starting in 2017, with Cosworth V8 power and over 450bhp available
After a wait of nearly 10 years, the long-promised, all-new TVR sports car is uncovered today, designed by engineering guru Gordon Murray, powered by a unique, hugely powerful Cosworth V8 engine and backed by an ambitious and well-funded ownership team.In an exclusive meeting with Autocar a few days ago, the iconic sports car marque’s backers - fronted by computer gaming entrepreneur Les Edgar - spelled out the first details of a 10-year plan that will put at least four new TVRs on the road from 2017.The intention is to re-establish the marque in the same performance-minded, driver-centric territory from which it departed nine years ago, when production ceased at its former factory in Blackpool.Although radical in design and new in every detail, the reborn TVR car range is aimed both at the powerful and demanding band of existing TVR aficionados that has never gone away - not least because most members of the company’s backing consortium are members themselves - and a new generation seeking an affordable supercar that can be driven every day.Prices won’t be decided until much nearer launch date, but the intention is to “take up where the previous range left off”.Volume targets are also still being decided, but since the company plans to be guided by TVR’s numbers in its healthy years, an output of 1000 to 1500 units a year looks likely.“This is a unique opportunity to be part of the revival of a great British marque,” said TVR operations director John Chasey. “We are a well-funded, well-supported organisation that boa
read morePininfarina and Touring Superleggera coachbuilders seek more collaboration
Italian coachbuilding companies look to work with manufacturers to secure the futures of their companies
?Italian styling houses Pininfarina and Touring Superleggera believe that joint projects, rather than volume production, will ensure the future of coachbuilding companies.Piero Mancardi, boss of Touring Superleggera, said: “There is a definite market space for this kind of function. We take from the manufacturer all the fuss. We can take the idea, turn it into a design, or even make a prototype. It’s a turn-key project.“We would lose our DNA if we went to higher volumes. If we made 1000 cars, then it wouldn’t be so special. It doesn’t mean we’re not ready to co-operate in projects at that level, but we would be providing only design and engineering.”Paolo Pininfarina, boss of Pininfarina, takes a similar view. “Working as a partner generates progress,” he said. “We can explore solutions together and push innovation in production designs. The limited runs are the root of our company, though. This is really, to me, the spirit of the high- class coachbuilder and high- class design. We will never go into mass production again.”Both companies are also looking to make their limited- edition runs — independent or manufacturer-affiliated — more consistent and frequent.Get the latest car news, reviews and galleries from Autocar direct to your inbox every week. Enter your email address below:
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