is there any hope
Discussion
It would be possible and has been discussed at length before. However, very deep pockets would be needed to right TVR's reliability and build reputation, and to win significant numbers of new customers.
TVR would need to up the performance of their cars further still. Porsches, Ferraris and Lamborghinis are now almost as fast, if not faster in some cases than top end TVR's.
TVR's best selling point in my opinion was that they could wipe the the floor (straight line anyway)with Stuttgart, Modena and St. Agata's best for a fraction of the price, whilst still having equally, if not more head turning looks and sounds.
It's a very difficult set of criteria to meet for what people currently expect to pay for a TVR.
IMO, the business plan should be something along these lines:
1. Sort the perceived and actual build and reliability gremlins/reputation out.
2. Final build should be in the UK, regardless of where the drive train, bodies, interiors and chassis are made.
3. Offer sorted Speed 6 and Speed 8 engines (note TVR's own engines!) in various capacities/states of tune across a simplified range (coupe, convertable, 2+2).
4. All models must be equipped with switchable ABS and TC as well as airbags and belt pre-tensioners as standard. It's cheap to fit and expected in this day and age, regardless.
5. Get some (hopefully successful) factory backed cars into a high profile race series.
6. Pull off a few media coups along the lines of the Cerbera completely out dragging all sorts of exotica. Get caught enduro testing a prototype around the Nurburgring and leak its sub 8 minute lap time. Get a really good Autocar 0-100-0 time. Etc.
7. Don't expect to sell thousands right away. Keep demand higher than supply (minimum 4-6 month waiting list). This will keep prices firm and a small factory and workforce busy.
The customers and dealers will find their own way to your door willing to pay realistic prices. Remember, people will pay for an honest quality product.
TVR would need to up the performance of their cars further still. Porsches, Ferraris and Lamborghinis are now almost as fast, if not faster in some cases than top end TVR's.
TVR's best selling point in my opinion was that they could wipe the the floor (straight line anyway)with Stuttgart, Modena and St. Agata's best for a fraction of the price, whilst still having equally, if not more head turning looks and sounds.
It's a very difficult set of criteria to meet for what people currently expect to pay for a TVR.
IMO, the business plan should be something along these lines:
1. Sort the perceived and actual build and reliability gremlins/reputation out.
2. Final build should be in the UK, regardless of where the drive train, bodies, interiors and chassis are made.
3. Offer sorted Speed 6 and Speed 8 engines (note TVR's own engines!) in various capacities/states of tune across a simplified range (coupe, convertable, 2+2).
4. All models must be equipped with switchable ABS and TC as well as airbags and belt pre-tensioners as standard. It's cheap to fit and expected in this day and age, regardless.
5. Get some (hopefully successful) factory backed cars into a high profile race series.
6. Pull off a few media coups along the lines of the Cerbera completely out dragging all sorts of exotica. Get caught enduro testing a prototype around the Nurburgring and leak its sub 8 minute lap time. Get a really good Autocar 0-100-0 time. Etc.
7. Don't expect to sell thousands right away. Keep demand higher than supply (minimum 4-6 month waiting list). This will keep prices firm and a small factory and workforce busy.
The customers and dealers will find their own way to your door willing to pay realistic prices. Remember, people will pay for an honest quality product.
Edited by dvs_dave on Sunday 27th May 18:35
i like your thinking,there is no point getting hold of a name like tvr and changing everything that it is famous for,british production is also a must,my way of thinking would be to pick up where pete wheeler left off , maybe introduce a new model along the lines of the speed 12 with t/c and a new susspension/chassis setup to make it stick to the track. tvr have the power and looks all they need is better handling and an improvement in reliability-maybe take a leaf out of the lotus handling book.
does anyone know what tvr is currently worth ?
does anyone know what tvr is currently worth ?
Mr Smolenski will want to get his money back one way or another so you're looking at anywhere from £25m to £40m as being the price he'd want for an outright purchase.
That's why he's done his deal with AB and others to buy the rights for various areas with no doubt a royalty payment per car....
That's why he's done his deal with AB and others to buy the rights for various areas with no doubt a royalty payment per car....
tuscandom said:
was that 2 million or 40 million for whats left of tvr !!
He reportedly paid £2m to the receivers for assets valued at £2.5m but as a company of his was owed about £22.3m by TVR he got a large proportion of that money back. TVR went into receivership owing some £33m with some 5p in the £ paid back it means he got £1.1m back
So it cost him £900k to buy it back.
He'll now want the £22.3m back along with the reported £15m he paid PW.
Edited by V8 GRF on Sunday 27th May 18:25
this is all v interesting and much more complex than i first thought when you start to scrach the surface,but with the right management and money behind it is a very bright prospect,perhaps a government grant or some lottery cash might help...!!!dont hold yer breath...
when you look at the basics tvr was a small company making cars to outperform the top marques on the planet,if those criteria remained in a new tvr company the prospects can only be positive....
when you look at the basics tvr was a small company making cars to outperform the top marques on the planet,if those criteria remained in a new tvr company the prospects can only be positive....
0to60 said:
if it wasnt for NS there wud have been no TVR anyway, the companyw as about to go bankrupt before he took it over, at least now there is still some hope
There were a number of other serious interested parties, then a rich boy with a big wad of cash turned up.. Any of them would have been better
B
tuscandom said:
does anyone know what sales figures were involved in the tvr sale / purchase,would it be possible for a consortium or group to buy what is left of tvr ???
is there any hope?? well there is hope if you have people at the helm who have some idea what they are doing....so that is what you have to ask your self......do these people know what they are doing?? i mean they have alienated there entire UK customer base !! in less than 12 months(impressive).........is there any hope?? well there is hope if you have people at the helm who have some idea what they are doing....so that is what you have to ask your self......do these people know what they are doing?? i mean they have alienated there entire UK customer base !! in less than 12 months(impressive).........
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well said
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well saidEdited by rusty spanner on Monday 28th May 14:17
rusty spanner said:
is there any hope?? well there is hope if you have people at the helm who have some idea what they are doing....so that is what you have to ask your self......do these people know what they are doing?? i mean they have alienated there entire UK customer base !! in less than 12 months(impressive).........
well saidEdited by rusty spanner on Monday 28th May 14:17
cobdoo said:
rusty spanner said:
is there any hope?? well there is hope if you have people at the helm who have some idea what they are doing....so that is what you have to ask your self......do these people know what they are doing?? i mean they have alienated there entire UK customer base !! in less than 12 months(impressive).........
well saidEdited by rusty spanner on Monday 28th May 14:17
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