Another written off TVR
Discussion
Went up to NEC today and saw what was left of a TVR on the slip road from M50 onto M5 north. Hope you are ok fella. Not much of the bodywork left but the main tub seemed to be in one piece. Don't know if any other vehicle was involved. Only the highways chaps there when I saw it about 10.45am. It had been foggy and the temp was reading 3 c so it had been frosty as well. Anyone from here?
Charlie
Charlie
Hi Guys
Wow, doesn't news travel fast!
I'm afraid that was my pride and joy - sadly no more!
Well, what happened I hear you say..........it goes like this.
Travelling up from Cardiff to Birmingham, Left Newport at 7.30am after picking up a collegue. Travelling along the M50 towards jct8 of the M5, going slowly because of fog. slowed at the roundabout, 2 vehicles in front, a car and a car pulling a caravan. They both moved off, I stopped at the roundabout - all clear, and pulled off. THe car and car pulling the caravan were in the inside lane going up the slip road towards the M5, I indicated, nothing behind, pulled out and accelerated past them, looked in my mirror about 50m past the vehicles, decided to pull into the inside lane for a breakfast at the services and .........whoopps!
Everything until we stopped is a bit of a blur, I can remember the back end flipping out, and fighting it, loosing it, trying a 180 to catch it again, no luck, then bang! Think I hit the barriers going backwards to demolish the boot (apparently the back end submarined under the barriers scrubbing off some speed), slid along the barriers on the drivers side, flipped out and back in onto the front nearside wheel, shearing wheel from spokes ending up on the inside lane facing backwards. The wheel finished 100m up the slip road balanced on the inside lane.
Thankfully passenger compartment was undamaged so myself and my passenger were unhurt (except for a few bruises and aching muscles).
In talking to the guys from the incident support unit afterwards, they told me this was a bad stretch of road. One officer travelled to work on the same route that morning (motorbike), he noticed ice on the road in patches, and he was travelling through freezing fog. He pointed out that the slip road runs south to north from a lower level and was in the shaddow of the M5. The slip road does not see the sun until midday at least. He suggested I had hit a patch of ice or maybe accelerated over wet white lines. What I am certain of was that I was being quite careful. I did not expect it, and it happened so quickly.
To end it all I would like to say A BIG THANKYOU to David Godfrey (Thanks Dave) for ringing me so swiftly after he found out (less than 1 hour!!!) and giving my so much assistance. A VERY BIG THANKYOU goes to Ray at Pistonheads Accident Aftercare (Thanks Ray) You could do no more, you were great. Helped out in every detail, very, very professional and personal service - just when I needed it. Also THANKYOU Sean Davies of The Davies Motor Company for being so accommodating - the car's final resting place?
Is it repairable? we shall see - I will keep you posted.
Art
Wow, doesn't news travel fast!
I'm afraid that was my pride and joy - sadly no more!
Well, what happened I hear you say..........it goes like this.
Travelling up from Cardiff to Birmingham, Left Newport at 7.30am after picking up a collegue. Travelling along the M50 towards jct8 of the M5, going slowly because of fog. slowed at the roundabout, 2 vehicles in front, a car and a car pulling a caravan. They both moved off, I stopped at the roundabout - all clear, and pulled off. THe car and car pulling the caravan were in the inside lane going up the slip road towards the M5, I indicated, nothing behind, pulled out and accelerated past them, looked in my mirror about 50m past the vehicles, decided to pull into the inside lane for a breakfast at the services and .........whoopps!
Everything until we stopped is a bit of a blur, I can remember the back end flipping out, and fighting it, loosing it, trying a 180 to catch it again, no luck, then bang! Think I hit the barriers going backwards to demolish the boot (apparently the back end submarined under the barriers scrubbing off some speed), slid along the barriers on the drivers side, flipped out and back in onto the front nearside wheel, shearing wheel from spokes ending up on the inside lane facing backwards. The wheel finished 100m up the slip road balanced on the inside lane.
Thankfully passenger compartment was undamaged so myself and my passenger were unhurt (except for a few bruises and aching muscles).
In talking to the guys from the incident support unit afterwards, they told me this was a bad stretch of road. One officer travelled to work on the same route that morning (motorbike), he noticed ice on the road in patches, and he was travelling through freezing fog. He pointed out that the slip road runs south to north from a lower level and was in the shaddow of the M5. The slip road does not see the sun until midday at least. He suggested I had hit a patch of ice or maybe accelerated over wet white lines. What I am certain of was that I was being quite careful. I did not expect it, and it happened so quickly.
To end it all I would like to say A BIG THANKYOU to David Godfrey (Thanks Dave) for ringing me so swiftly after he found out (less than 1 hour!!!) and giving my so much assistance. A VERY BIG THANKYOU goes to Ray at Pistonheads Accident Aftercare (Thanks Ray) You could do no more, you were great. Helped out in every detail, very, very professional and personal service - just when I needed it. Also THANKYOU Sean Davies of The Davies Motor Company for being so accommodating - the car's final resting place?
Is it repairable? we shall see - I will keep you posted.
Art
Glad you are both OK. My heart always sinks a bit when you see a class motor in that condition. When I saw it on the slip road I didn't think it would be repairable! Were you still with the car then? It looked like only the highways chappies, no BiBs about.
Earl Grey. Commercial Vehicle show was on at the NEC. (lorries and stuff)
Earl Grey. Commercial Vehicle show was on at the NEC. (lorries and stuff)
broadslide said:
Glad you are both OK. My heart always sinks a bit when you see a class motor in that condition. When I saw it on the slip road I didn't think it would be repairable! Were you still with the car then? It looked like only the highways chappies, no BiBs about.
Earl Grey. Commercial Vehicle show was on at the NEC. (lorries and stuff)
Hi Broadside, and thanks. Could have been worse than a few bruises.Earl Grey. Commercial Vehicle show was on at the NEC. (lorries and stuff)
At 10.45am we would have been still there. We would have been seen by the police by that time (not interested in the slightest) and the paramedics whose investigation went along the lines of:
are you OK?
yes, I think so!
Very good - bye.
The Amey repair guys were fantastic, we were probably in their truck trying to get warm!
The RAC were very poor. Considering the accident happened at 8.45am, the RAC turned up at 11.15am (with the wrong equipment). We had it partially loaded and taken to strensham services by 12.30pm where it took them another 2 hours to position it safely on the flat-bed. We got back to Cardiff about 4.30pm - a long day.
I agree, a sad end to a fantastic car - I do not hold out much hope on it being repaired. It was in top class condition as well, having been exhibited at the PH show in the NEC last December.
Art
The good thing is that you seem to have come out of that with your sense of humour intact, which in my opinion is the best remedy for dealing with these situations 
And just think how entertained the grandkids will be when you're older and reminiscing about all the crazy driving you got up in that car, and lived to tell the tale!!!
And just think how entertained the grandkids will be when you're older and reminiscing about all the crazy driving you got up in that car, and lived to tell the tale!!!
Hi Guys
Thanks for the support - a saggy, yes thought about that before - shame you can't take the roof off though! with a car like that, I think it's a must.
Get in the saddle again - yep, just what the doctor ordered - going to co-pilot David Godfrey in the run-out on Sunday in his TVR Tamora (gulp!).
I must say that I was already considering "upgrading" to a Tuscan2. Saw one at the PH Show last December and thought it was a great improvement - although they are both unique in their own right.
Can I ask some advice here.
I have been speaking to John McGurk, McGurk Performance Cars who has told me he will give me all the support I need for valuations etc with the insurance company (many thanks John), he has also recommended to me that regardless of what the engineer says - I should write it off.
If it is written off, and knowing the scarcity of parts I was thinking of buying the car back from the insurance company to split for parts. Problem is I do not have space to store the car so I was thinking of selling it on to a garage who deals in splitting damaged TVR's for parts - does anyone know of any such garage? I think there's one in Bristol or Bath although I don't know of the exact details.
I imagine the salvagable parts are - engine, gearbox, interior trim, instrumentation, possibly doors and roof.
Thanks
art
Thanks for the support - a saggy, yes thought about that before - shame you can't take the roof off though! with a car like that, I think it's a must.
Get in the saddle again - yep, just what the doctor ordered - going to co-pilot David Godfrey in the run-out on Sunday in his TVR Tamora (gulp!).
I must say that I was already considering "upgrading" to a Tuscan2. Saw one at the PH Show last December and thought it was a great improvement - although they are both unique in their own right.
Can I ask some advice here.
I have been speaking to John McGurk, McGurk Performance Cars who has told me he will give me all the support I need for valuations etc with the insurance company (many thanks John), he has also recommended to me that regardless of what the engineer says - I should write it off.
If it is written off, and knowing the scarcity of parts I was thinking of buying the car back from the insurance company to split for parts. Problem is I do not have space to store the car so I was thinking of selling it on to a garage who deals in splitting damaged TVR's for parts - does anyone know of any such garage? I think there's one in Bristol or Bath although I don't know of the exact details.
I imagine the salvagable parts are - engine, gearbox, interior trim, instrumentation, possibly doors and roof.
Thanks
art
Glad your ok Art, unlucky mate.
The people in Bath your thinking of are http://www.bellhillgarage.com
and another good one is http://www.douglasvalley.co.uk but they are in Lancashire.
I would have thought they would only want to offer you the insurance Co's sell to you figure so unless you want to get involved stripping and selling I'd be inclined to leave it to the insurance Co to move on to a breaker directly.
The people in Bath your thinking of are http://www.bellhillgarage.com
and another good one is http://www.douglasvalley.co.uk but they are in Lancashire.
I would have thought they would only want to offer you the insurance Co's sell to you figure so unless you want to get involved stripping and selling I'd be inclined to leave it to the insurance Co to move on to a breaker directly.
S2 said:
Glad your ok Art, unlucky mate.
The people in Bath your thinking of are http://www.bellhillgarage.com
and another good one is http://www.douglasvalley.co.uk but they are in Lancashire.
I would have thought they would only want to offer you the insurance Co's sell to you figure so unless you want to get involved stripping and selling I'd be inclined to leave it to the insurance Co to move on to a breaker directly.
I agree with that unless you are able to do it yourself.The people in Bath your thinking of are http://www.bellhillgarage.com
and another good one is http://www.douglasvalley.co.uk but they are in Lancashire.
I would have thought they would only want to offer you the insurance Co's sell to you figure so unless you want to get involved stripping and selling I'd be inclined to leave it to the insurance Co to move on to a breaker directly.
Thanks S2 and AR
I did want to strip it myself, yet I don't have the necessary garage facilities.
Thought it would help me gain an understanding of how Tuscan's are built and contribute a bit more detail/photos to PH forums. Thought I would enjoy it also!
My main concern, with TVR's getting scarcer is that the "remains" would just be crushed and lost forever if left to the insurance company. Having just spent £2,500 rebuilding the engine (less than 1000 miles ago) it would be a shame to see it lost.
How's that for a carbon footprint!
Art
I did want to strip it myself, yet I don't have the necessary garage facilities.
Thought it would help me gain an understanding of how Tuscan's are built and contribute a bit more detail/photos to PH forums. Thought I would enjoy it also!
My main concern, with TVR's getting scarcer is that the "remains" would just be crushed and lost forever if left to the insurance company. Having just spent £2,500 rebuilding the engine (less than 1000 miles ago) it would be a shame to see it lost.
How's that for a carbon footprint!
Art
Art!
Just got your email - have been away in Budapest for the week and when I got back and saw this I couldn't believe it!
Glad you're ok though as it looks and sounds like it was a pretty nasty accident. I feel for you man
The main thing is that you weren't badly hurt. It really goes to show how easily our cars can be lost when the weather conditions are even slightly against us.
Hope it all goes well mate. If you need a hand with anything, just shout.
J
Just got your email - have been away in Budapest for the week and when I got back and saw this I couldn't believe it!
Glad you're ok though as it looks and sounds like it was a pretty nasty accident. I feel for you man
The main thing is that you weren't badly hurt. It really goes to show how easily our cars can be lost when the weather conditions are even slightly against us.
Hope it all goes well mate. If you need a hand with anything, just shout.
J
BigJL said:
Art!
Just got your email - have been away in Budapest for the week and when I got back and saw this I couldn't believe it!
Glad you're ok though as it looks and sounds like it was a pretty nasty accident. I feel for you man
The main thing is that you weren't badly hurt. It really goes to show how easily our cars can be lost when the weather conditions are even slightly against us.
Hope it all goes well mate. If you need a hand with anything, just shout.
J
Thanks J - Yes, it was quite exciting!!Just got your email - have been away in Budapest for the week and when I got back and saw this I couldn't believe it!
Glad you're ok though as it looks and sounds like it was a pretty nasty accident. I feel for you man
The main thing is that you weren't badly hurt. It really goes to show how easily our cars can be lost when the weather conditions are even slightly against us.
Hope it all goes well mate. If you need a hand with anything, just shout.
J
Apart from my shoulder which took quite a clout on the side of the car, just aches and sprains.
I must say the chassis really held together and protected us. I think it was probably better than a traditional metal monocoque design? However I do not want to test this theory.
Other than that, had a peek at your web site - ab fab mate. Well done.
Art
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