Bristol Avenue

[dhf]

Does anyone know what has happened to the TVR factory,is it just sitting there full of all the old tooling,bits and pieces or has it been emptied and the wrecking ball sent in ?

[V8 GRF]

dhf said:

Does anyone know what has happened to the TVR factory,is it just sitting there full of all the old tooling,bits and pieces or has it been emptied and the wrecking ball sent in ?

It had been emptied of all TVR stuff quite some time ago.
Peter Wheeler was doing bits and pieces for a while. I now believe that half of it is being used for a 'self-storage' business and the other half is going to be let as business units.

[rfisher]

[V8 GRF]

rfisher said:

Better than being knocked down....

[SEN 18]

And don't forget the mice need a home too.

[Mick G Star]

Peter still has his Aston Martin in the race department, and its still full of all the race guys in the know, who set up my car too.

Edited by Mick G Star on Thursday 28th August 22:32

[dhf]

Thanks

[rfisher]

I prefer to remember it the way it was when I turned up in 1988 in my 1976 3000M.

I was in Blackpool visiting friends who were on holiday there.

I knew that the factory was around there somewhere so I asked local people in the street if they knew where it was - they all did and each time I stopped for directions I got involved in a conversation about TVRs and how proud the town was of its sports cars.

I stopped at the gates of the factory just around lunchtime to have a look from inside the car. Someone came out, opened the gates and waved me in. Within 5 minutes there was a crowd of TVR workers around the car. I was invited inside for a tour. I saw the fibreglass moulds, the engines on trolleys and 2 ladies making wiring looms by hand, winding wires around pins on a board.

20 years on and I still have a Bristol Avenue made TVR.

I'd love to think that I could be driving one in 20 years time - maybe a bit slower than I do today but in a convoy with all my kids driving their TVRs along with me.

It's great that the factory still exists - maybe it should be made into a museum dedicated to the story of Trevor Wilkinson and the TVR marque.

[Mick G Star]

rfisher said:

I prefer to remember it the way it was when I turned up in 1988 in my 1976 3000M.

I was in Blackpool visiting friends who were on holiday there.

I knew that the factory was around there somewhere so I asked local people in the street if they knew where it was - they all did and each time I stopped for directions I got involved in a conversation about TVRs and how proud the town was of its sports cars.

I stopped at the gates of the factory just around lunchtime to have a look from inside the car. Someone came out, opened the gates and waved me in. Within 5 minutes there was a crowd of TVR workers around the car. I was invited inside for a tour. I saw the fibreglass moulds, the engines on trolleys and 2 ladies making wiring looms by hand, winding wires around pins on a board.

20 years on and I still have a Bristol Avenue made TVR.

I'd love to think that I could be driving one in 20 years time - maybe a bit slower than I do today but in a convoy with all my kids driving their TVRs along with me.

It's great that the factory still exists - maybe it should be made into a museum dedicated to the story of Trevor Wilkinson and the TVR marque.

Fantastic reading! But although the race department is at the mo still there the factory is empty and in the way of the world due to our russian, do I have to say this "friend" Peter Wheeler will no doubt sell the rest of the land for ind units or housing. Just think.. Mr W is a business man that brought TVR back to life in his time its a shame that the British goverment allowed TVR to be sold abroad and lost for ever. You know the Italian goverment will not let Ferrari to be sold out of Italy. John G Star.

[caduceus]

Are there still going to be 'Back Home' events every year, even though the factory is no more? I hope so. Not been to one yet.

[glow worm]

The spray booths are still in use..... From the TVRCC committe meeting minutes , the IoM is on the cards for next year...

[Trickie Dickie]

rfisher said:

I prefer to remember it the way it was when I turned up in 1988 in my 1976 3000M.

I was in Blackpool visiting friends who were on holiday there.

I knew that the factory was around there somewhere so I asked local people in the street if they knew where it was - they all did and each time I stopped for directions I got involved in a conversation about TVRs and how proud the town was of its sports cars.

I stopped at the gates of the factory just around lunchtime to have a look from inside the car. Someone came out, opened the gates and waved me in. Within 5 minutes there was a crowd of TVR workers around the car. I was invited inside for a tour. I saw the fibreglass moulds, the engines on trolleys and 2 ladies making wiring looms by hand, winding wires around pins on a board.

20 years on and I still have a Bristol Avenue made TVR.

I'd love to think that I could be driving one in 20 years time - maybe a bit slower than I do today but in a convoy with all my kids driving their TVRs along with me.

It's great that the factory still exists - maybe it should be made into a museum dedicated to the story of Trevor Wilkinson and the TVR marque.

I went round the factory for the 1st time in about 1990/1
and very recently found the original negs which I have now
scanned (and also sent thru to Richard Sails - TVRCC Archivist)

They are here on my Photobucket if anyone wants to look

http://s228.photobucket.com/albums/ee168/TVR400SE/...

Hope you like

Cheers

Richard

[taimar78]

Like Richard, I made my first factory visit in July 1991 while in the UK on holiday from the States. I went to the reception area and asked about getting a tour and in a few minutes, a young gentleman came in and escorted me throughout the entire factory on a very nice guided tour. I got to see the entire operation including some interesting prototypes including the Speed Eight, the Griffith Speed Six, some race cars, and much more. They were also in the final stages of completing what I was told was probably the last 450SE to be built. I've been there three times since but that first tour will always be my favorite.

[markh1]

I would have loved the chance to look round the factory but I was still in the education system when it all came to an end and as a result TVR ownership seemed a long way of, even though it actually wasnt.