New TVR Parts launched...

[Gazzab]

So TVR have a new parts venture...

http://www.tvr-parts.com/

Edited by Gazzab on Friday 14th November 21:09

[Gazzab]

Ha ha just got the same email from TVR about 1/2 an hour after my post. Keep up TVR!

[Gazzab]

I think this is great news ie starts to cement the business plan. Also with racing green being relatively upmarket I think this gives clues as to how the 'new' tvr brand wants to position itself. Less about sheds, kit cars and the like and more like a premium sports car brand. Ok it was a bit like that in its last 6 or 7 years pre closing down but I suspect this brand wants to be a couple of steps further up the ladder. Lower volume of cars, premiumish price, higher quality, safety features etc but with the handful of dealers also able to make money from 'heritage' cars. Hopefully they won't sell watches, pens etc. Hopefully we'll see tvr at Le Mans - think it needs something like that...anyway I've gone off topic.

[Gazzab]

Does it matter if it is or isn't racing green? Does it matter that a director might or might not have an ownership stake?
Am sure all garages have their fans and their dissenters. I've had mixed experiences with RG but even so I think that regardless of how anyone feels about RG that this is good news and we should celebrate this as a milestone on the tvr rebirth journey.
Will be interesting to see how this and future events start to impact us eg will we see new tvr garages, will we see Power change, will we desist notices galore, when will we see the new model(s)...

[Gazzab]

TA14 said:

bluezeeland said:

If you don't like a choosen/prefered partner, you are still free to go somewhere else, surely?

Ah, that's the problem isn't it? This new venture has destroyed three parts suppliers in its creation.

Which ones ? RG, clever Trevor, race tech and powers performance are the main guys. RG and CT are already one co. So are all 3 destroyed?

[Gazzab]

I am now confused :-)
I thought Multipart were an existing parts supply chain co with big warehouses who struck a deal with TVR to supply parts to the likes of RG and Powers Perf etc? This being the case then I assume Multipart remain a sep co and not owned by TVR, unless the TVR side is a subsidiary that TVR Parts have bought up?
RG and TC are already one co and so TVR 'buying' them is really a purchase and rebrand exercise surely?
I assume Racetech and Powers Performance will be working with TVR Parts (and/or Multipart) to see how they continue to sell TVR parts. Would be good to have some competition as we dont want to see prices rise.

[Gazzab]

That all makes sense. Will be interesting to see how the other suppliers will be able to gain their TVR parts (assume that TVR Parts will also supply them but at a discounted price).

[Gazzab]

m4tti said:

And what happens to the supply of AP TVR parts, which exclusively go through TVR power. Does the TVR company now have the right to these and will again take supply back in house.

Suspect conversations have been had with AP.... Or maybe the new cars will use non-AP brakes and clutches. Suspect the clutches for "heritage" cars are a relatively good earner for Powers Performance but that for brakes there are lots of cheaper options than AP (albeit I went AP for disk upgrade recently).

[Gazzab]

m4tti said:

Gazzab said:

Suspect conversations have been had with AP.... Or maybe the new cars will use non-AP brakes and clutches. Suspect the clutches for "heritage" cars are a relatively good earner for Powers Performance but that for brakes there are lots of cheaper options than AP (albeit I went AP for disk upgrade recently).

The point is who will really have the exclusive rights to the supply of those parts for the cerbera or speed six cars going forward. Will the right to supply return to TVR.

All of the brakes and clutches for Cerberas and speed six cars were made by AP, its only recently that alternatives have been made available.

there have been alternative brakes for a a little while now eg 'non-tvr' size APs that you can buy from AP retailers (330mms), also HiSpec as an option and I'm sure other options...
Quite some time ago Raceproved did clutches (albeit I think they were actually used AP units reconditioned with their own spec of friction and tougher fingers. Yes relatively recently the helix option came from RG.
This muddies the water slightly but I think we can readily source non-TVR brake parts (eg Brummies discs) but the clutches will be AP or Helix (and so the question whether AP revert to supplying TVR-Parts only is key).

[Gazzab]

ThePrisoner said:

Good Grief, new born TVR are damned if they Don't and damned if they do. Words fail me.

People are generally supportive and pleased is how I read it.

[Gazzab]

m4tti said:

swisstoni said:

Don't think anyone is making a "fuss".

I think theres plenty of fuss on here...

glow worm said:

I think it's more than shunned .... The new TVR owner has already claimed the TVR Power name, next it will be the use of the name "TVR" and then negotiatated "sole" supply contacts with suppliers for TVR parts . They state on their website that new contacts are under negotiation.

No there isnt much 'fuss'. This seems on the whole to be very welcomed but with a few people showing concern re the wider impacts / knock-on's. A healthy debate and in the main very positive/constructive. But maybe thats my glass half full perspective of this one. Anyone who accepts any change without wider consideration should join the line of lemmings by the cliff :-)

[Gazzab]

Got an email this am from RG. They are moving premises and so are closed for servicing for a while, cars are traded on-line/by appointment and parts are online only. All looks like readiness for TVRs new launch.

[Gazzab]

Seem like the process is about the same as previous experiences pre the switch over....sounds good.