Thursday 2nd June 2005

TVR to buy MG?

Rumours of a rescue bid continue to swirl

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TVRs outside the Blackpool factory -- will they have 'Made in Birmingham' stamped on them in 2006?

Rumours continue to abound regarding the future of MG. Among the less likely is one suggesting that TVR owner Nikolai Smolensky is plotting to take over MG.

According to Auto Express, the scuttlebutt is that the move would involve TVR upping stakes and moving production out of Blackpool entirely to Longbridge in Brum. Speculation maybe, but the report suggests that one senior bod within MG has confirmed it.

Smolensky has spoken of the need to move out of the present factory, where TVR has been for most of its history, but his last statement on the issue suggested that the company would be staying in Blackpool. Moving would of course mean that a new workforce -- presuming that most would be unlikely to swap Lancashire for Birmingham -- would need to be trained in using GRP and in the very hands-on process that TVR has always used to build its cars. It's very unlike the automated, tooled-up factory in Longbridge.

PistonHeads asked TVR's PR man Phil James for the company's response. He said that he could not comment.

He said, "If TVR were to about to buy MG, it would not be commenting publicly until the deal was done. If not, then there's nothing to comment on."

We'll update this story if we hear any more today, so watch this space.

[ianf]

A marriage made in heaven! Cant wait for the MG Typhon. With TVR's S6 engine and MG's residual values should be able to pick one up in a few years for under £5k.....

[Big Al.]

Already running see here

www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=13&t=183269