TVR no longer maker of cheap British crap. Now makes cheap "European" crap.

[Coventrysucks]

Originally Posted by TVR press release

Staff at TVR’s Blackpool factory have been informed today that the company is planning to outsource all production.

Agreements are being finalised for the 2007 run of Tuscan, Tuscan Convertible and Sagaris to be produced in Europe while fully built powertrains – straight six, four-litre TVR engines including clutch and gearbox – are due to be produced in the UK.

TVR owner Nikolai Smolenski said: “We are extremely sorry that, after a period of uncertainty and raised hopes that we could continue production ourselves in Blackpool, we have had to make this decision.

“We need to secure the future of the company and move it forward. I am afraid we see no other way to do so.”

Consultation has begun with staff and the Transport & General Workers Union on redundancy and counselling support is being put in place.

TVR plans to continue with all current arrangements for the supply of cars and parts. Discussions are being held with key suppliers about future relationships.

Mr Smolenski continued: “We are acutely aware of the shock and distress this will cause for our staff and their families. We will ensure that we meet all our responsibilities towards them over the coming months.

“We would also like to express our gratitude to all those who have worked with us over the past months to try to maintain the company in Blackpool.

“We shall be making further announcements in due course about our plans which we believe represent a major advance for the proud name of TVR. But for the time being we are concentrating on our staff in Blackpool and the consultation process.”

What can you say?

[Clivey]

Originally Posted by Coventrysucks

What can you say?

Time to take a contract out on Smolenski? Bastard. Where in Eurpoe is he planning to assemble the cars?

[Mr.Tiv]

Originally Posted by Clivey

Time to take a contract out on Smolenski? Bastard. Where in Eurpoe is he planning to assemble the cars?

I'll do it myself. What a jackass, he is going to kill TVR. TVR belongs in blackpool! The oldest independent British car maker-gone, dead, European! Peoples jobs will cease to exist and if he is so determined to secure the future of the company and move it forward he may mechanize production. This is a sad day.
I HOPE THAT RUSSIAN BURNS IN HELL! (not that I have anything against Russians)

[kigango123]

sad day indeed, on the other hand i cant wait to see how tvr will "euro" their cars

[VtecMini]

A fiver says it's a bluff to try and convince Blackpool borough council in to subsidising a new factory.

[Mr.Tiv]

Originally Posted by VtecMini

A fiver says it's a bluff to try and convince Blackpool borough council in to subsidising a new factory.

We can only hope that you are right. All I can say is that I hope this European location doesn't mean moving south of the channel.

[go.pawel]

Originally Posted by Mr.Tiv

The oldest independent British car maker-gone, dead, European!

The oldest independent British car manufacturer is AC. They've been in business 50 years longer than TVR.

Originally Posted by Clivey

Where in Eurpoe is he planning to assemble the cars?

My bet would be one of the companies that live out of making bodies for big manufacturers. Like Pininfarina (Brera, Pajero Pinin, Colt Cabrio, Focus CC), Valmet (Boxster, Cayman), Karmann (A4 Cabrio, CLK Cabrio), Magna Steyr (X3, Voyager, Grand Cherokee, G, E, 9-3 Cabrio).

[Mr.Tiv]

Originally Posted by go.pawel

The oldest independent British car manufacturer is AC. They've been in business 50 years longer than TVR.

Really? 1897?

[go.pawel]

Originally Posted by Mr.Tiv

Really? 1897?

No, 1904. First TVR cars appeared in 1954.

[Coventrysucks]

Originally Posted by VtecMini

A fiver says it's a bluff to try and convince Blackpool borough council in to subsidising a new factory.

They bluffing to the Transport & General Workers union too?

Originally Posted by Mr.Tiv

All I can say is that I hope this European location doesn't mean moving south of the channel.

Holland? Denmark? Poland? N. Germany?

Originally Posted by go.pawel

The oldest independent British car manufacturer is AC. They've been in business 50 years longer than TVR.

TVR is actually a car company, though, not just a fancy name...

Originally Posted by go.pawel

My bet would be one of the companies that live out of making bodies for big manufacturers. Like Pininfarina, Valmet, Karmann, Magna Steyr.

None of whom normally use tubular steel chassis & GRP...

[go.pawel]

Originally Posted by Coventrysucks

TVR is actually a car company, though, not just a fancy name...

I'm afraid I don't understand. AC is also a car manufacturer afaik.

[Delboy]

Another nail in the coffin for the British car industry.

RIP

[Coventrysucks]

Originally Posted by go.pawel

I'm afraid I don't understand. AC is also a car manufacturer afaik.

The company that was "AC" went bust around 2002/2003.

Someone bought the name, and since then there hasn't really been much in the way of actual cars being built by anyone.

The latest news about AC is that Project Kimber have managed to gain license of the name. If you consider some Welsh people building Smart Roadsters with an AC badge on the nose to be an "AC" then, maybe.

TVR has been through a few iterations in its time, but the company that exists today is pretty much descended directly from Trevor Wilkinson's TVR.

[go.pawel]

Originally Posted by Coventrysucks

The company that was "AC" went bust around 2002/2003.

If you're looking at it this way, then the original AC went bust in 1984. It's name went to AC Scotland, later to Autocraft, which was bought by Ford. I could continue the story, but that's not the point. The point is that as long as the name is alive, it doesn't matter who owns it.

Originally Posted by Coventrysucks

Someone bought the name, and since then there hasn't really been much in the way of actual cars being built by anyone.

Let's see... In 2003 they made 20 cars. In 2005 they introduced new Cobra MkV (manufactured at Malta) and Ace Classic which is being sold in the US.

Originally Posted by Coventrysucks

The latest news about AC is that Project Kimber have managed to gain license of the name.

I know, I started the thread about it.

But if you're not happy with AC, then the next one is Morgan. Thay've been making cars since 1910. Furthermore, Morgan still belongs to the family of its founder.

[Mr.Tiv]

Originally Posted by Coventrysucks

Holland? Denmark? Poland? N. Germany?

I meant directly... to France. That would ruin it for me-Frenchmen know how to make a proper hatch, but something like a TVR has no place being made in France. Germany is ate the top of my list, the make the European car that is most notably, in my mind, similar to a TVR, even if it is more refined, the Weissman.

At any rate, I don't see production going to another company as mentioned above. It is more likely that it will go wherever they can get their facilities built and have the cheapest labor possible. I'm sure it will remain independent, it just won't be the same, it won't be English.