TVR PHOENIX - aka TVR 2008.....
Discussion
Follow this link if you are interested in the possible rebirth of TVR cars
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Lone Granger said:
V8 GRF said:
Lone Granger said:
V8 GRF said:
V8 GRF said:
Lone Granger said:
V8 GRF said:
Lone Granger said:
V8 GRF said:
Lone Granger said:
V8 GRF said:
Lone Granger said:
V8 GRF said:
Lone Granger said:
V8 GRF said:
Yes, thes a big fan base, 7,000 members of the TVR Car Club and countless others here on PH. But how many existing Wedge, S series, Griff, Cerb and Chim owners do you really think are out there today ABLE to throw 50 - 60 odd grand at such a car? Come on... best guess... No idea? Me neither but it's not many and not nearly enough upon which to base a sales forcast.
Then who do you have in mind to take that on? Ford? GM? Who wants it? Because of it's chequered history and truly dreadfiul public reputatation to overcome, this is almost harder than starting with a clean sheet of paper. Nick.
nikman said:
Lone Granger said:
V8 GRF said:
Lone Granger said:
V8 GRF said:
Yes, thes a big fan base, 7,000 members of the TVR Car Club and countless others here on PH. But how many existing Wedge, S series, Griff, Cerb and Chim owners do you really think are out there today ABLE to throw 50 - 60 odd grand at such a car? Come on... best guess... No idea? Me neither but it's not many and not nearly enough upon which to base a sales forcast.
Then who do you have in mind to take that on? Ford? GM? Who wants it? Because of it's chequered history and truly dreadfiul public reputatation to overcome, this is almost harder than starting with a clean sheet of paper. Nick.
One of the major problems with the re-bith of TVR as an international car company is the fact that the dollar is worthless so the hopes of the USA as a major market were way, way off. There was little hope of funds to pay for the de-facto new engine from Ricardo.
The costs for producng an all new car in today's legislation-heavy environment is phenominal. The LNT method of starting with a car that's already in production and modifying it is probably the only way of going without the support of a major car company. TVR as we know it is probably dead. I can't see any way it could even get up to the levels of pre-Griff days. 5000pa is just silly.
I was at the Top Gear place with the big Porsche (£300,000?) and the McLaren/Mercedes SLR (a bit more). The best interior of the new cars there was the Sagaris pre-production prototype. Mind you, the best one of all cars there was the Cerbera. Really stylish and quite breathtaking. What other manufacturer came near the quality, let alone at the price? I would have thought there would be a market for something like that, but that said, other similar low-volume car manufacturers are going under.
The best thing going for TVR was the expertise of the staff, not to mention their apparent willingness to work in conditions which would not be allowed under current H&S legislation. The was the question of less than reliable pay dates as well. But that's gone and with it a lot of the spirit of TVR.
Still, if someone came up with that badge on the bonnet, a shoehorned-in American V8, and an interior full of tasteful bling, wouldn't there be a lot of interest? Enough for a hundred or so each year for the beginning maybe.
Or maybe to start with lower aspirations, say and M-Type, a 3-litre coupe.
We can but hope.
The costs for producng an all new car in today's legislation-heavy environment is phenominal. The LNT method of starting with a car that's already in production and modifying it is probably the only way of going without the support of a major car company. TVR as we know it is probably dead. I can't see any way it could even get up to the levels of pre-Griff days. 5000pa is just silly.
I was at the Top Gear place with the big Porsche (£300,000?) and the McLaren/Mercedes SLR (a bit more). The best interior of the new cars there was the Sagaris pre-production prototype. Mind you, the best one of all cars there was the Cerbera. Really stylish and quite breathtaking. What other manufacturer came near the quality, let alone at the price? I would have thought there would be a market for something like that, but that said, other similar low-volume car manufacturers are going under.
The best thing going for TVR was the expertise of the staff, not to mention their apparent willingness to work in conditions which would not be allowed under current H&S legislation. The was the question of less than reliable pay dates as well. But that's gone and with it a lot of the spirit of TVR.
Still, if someone came up with that badge on the bonnet, a shoehorned-in American V8, and an interior full of tasteful bling, wouldn't there be a lot of interest? Enough for a hundred or so each year for the beginning maybe.
Or maybe to start with lower aspirations, say and M-Type, a 3-litre coupe.
We can but hope.
SLOWER said:
Derek Smith said:
One of the major problems with the re-bith of TVR as an international car company is the fact that the dollar is worthless so the hopes of the USA as a major market were way, way off. There was little hope of funds to pay for the de-facto new engine from Ricardo.
The costs for producng an all new car in today's legislation-heavy environment is phenominal. The LNT method of starting with a car that's already in production and modifying it is probably the only way of going without the support of a major car company. TVR as we know it is probably dead. I can't see any way it could even get up to the levels of pre-Griff days. 5000pa is just silly.
I was at the Top Gear place with the big Porsche (£300,000?) and the McLaren/Mercedes SLR (a bit more). The best interior of the new cars there was the Sagaris pre-production prototype. Mind you, the best one of all cars there was the Cerbera. Really stylish and quite breathtaking. What other manufacturer came near the quality, let alone at the price? I would have thought there would be a market for something like that, but that said, other similar low-volume car manufacturers are going under.
The best thing going for TVR was the expertise of the staff, not to mention their apparent willingness to work in conditions which would not be allowed under current H&S legislation. The was the question of less than reliable pay dates as well. But that's gone and with it a lot of the spirit of TVR.
Still, if someone came up with that badge on the bonnet, a shoehorned-in American V8, and an interior full of tasteful bling, wouldn't there be a lot of interest? Enough for a hundred or so each year for the beginning maybe.
Or maybe to start with lower aspirations, say and M-Type, a 3-litre coupe.
We can but hope.
Good post Derek, agree with all you have said.The costs for producng an all new car in today's legislation-heavy environment is phenominal. The LNT method of starting with a car that's already in production and modifying it is probably the only way of going without the support of a major car company. TVR as we know it is probably dead. I can't see any way it could even get up to the levels of pre-Griff days. 5000pa is just silly.
I was at the Top Gear place with the big Porsche (£300,000?) and the McLaren/Mercedes SLR (a bit more). The best interior of the new cars there was the Sagaris pre-production prototype. Mind you, the best one of all cars there was the Cerbera. Really stylish and quite breathtaking. What other manufacturer came near the quality, let alone at the price? I would have thought there would be a market for something like that, but that said, other similar low-volume car manufacturers are going under.
The best thing going for TVR was the expertise of the staff, not to mention their apparent willingness to work in conditions which would not be allowed under current H&S legislation. The was the question of less than reliable pay dates as well. But that's gone and with it a lot of the spirit of TVR.
Still, if someone came up with that badge on the bonnet, a shoehorned-in American V8, and an interior full of tasteful bling, wouldn't there be a lot of interest? Enough for a hundred or so each year for the beginning maybe.
Or maybe to start with lower aspirations, say and M-Type, a 3-litre coupe.
We can but hope.
Shame on you Derek, shame on you
Ive always said that an entry level TVR would be nice, but the cost of producing such a vehicle probably wouldnt hold any financial viability...admittedly, not from my calculations, but from the opinions and calculations of numerous members of PH, some of which have been with TVR for a long time.
The idea of everyone coming together with positive thoughts for TVR is very nice, and when the factory was in trouble, the majority of us stood proud saying that TVR would never die and sadly, both the workers and the enthusiasts were shit upon due to the complete and utter incompitence of one little Russian
As long as TVR has enthusiasts, the name and the spirit will never die, but as a company...its dead and burried for the immediate future unless someone with a whole shitload of cash and I do mean a shitload, comes along any negociates a deal with Smallendski...which, at the moment, I cant see happening because hes like a spoilt child with a dead pet frog....he just keeps holding on, squeezing tighter and tighter because he doesnt want to let go!
The financial commitment alone to get TVR back on its feet as a manufacturer again, is absolutely immense:
money to buy factory, rights and name, plus purchase equipment, employ staff, develop new car or even evolution of older car (lets face it, they cant churn out any old car and expect the public to buy it, it would need to be improved, altered to gain interest) then the money to market etc...it all adds up
My only thought is how would TVR survive if they came back as a low volume (I mean, sub 200 cars per year) complete kit manufacturer much like the old days or moreso, like Ultima are now????
The young naive Russian has spunked a heap of his Daddy's cash and has surrounded himself with the most accomplished, worthless bum kissers of TVR past. His only interest in TVR now is in recouping his estimated 50m. The fact is that he never will; and he will therefore take the rights he still owns to the grave or drag them through the mud some more. The only thing he possesses right now that might be worth more than £20 is the brand name 'TVR'. The unfortunate thing is that he will never be seen to be the loser that he is (50m!). I will personally bare my 4rse in Burtons window if that halfwit ever recoups that amount of money. Game over.
Spend your time and money on a new venture in the spirit of TVR and call it something else. What are you passionate about, what the brand stood for or the three letters in the name?
Spend your time and money on a new venture in the spirit of TVR and call it something else. What are you passionate about, what the brand stood for or the three letters in the name?
Gassing Station | General TVR Stuff & Gossip | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff