New TVR still under wraps!

[bullittmcqueen]

spagbogdog said:

I'll join your sacrilege then Bullitt...was never a huge fan of the Sagaris (although I "get" the appeal)...much prefer the Griffith that I have..smooth lines..great proportions..and much less of an "Essex-Boy" image...

Would I be right in saying that most of the "more vocal" criticisms come from Sag owners...(no problem with that...maybe they're a different breed)...

Great, we'll both be crucified then

Was not a fan of the Sag when i first saw it, but have grown to really like it by now. If the technical underpinnings were as good as with the new Griff (presumably), i wouldn't be sure which one to chose. The V8 would be a must though.

[Pursyluv]

m4tti said:

GB8CH said:

Big interesting post

Hello GB, another really interesting post and I think adds lots of value to this thread to have someone with your prior direct TVR involvement.

Cheeky question.. Do you have any sketches of future TVR models that potentially could have made it from sketch to reality, before the close? Could you share them with us on this thread?

If there are any it would be fascinating to look at now!

Edited by m4tti on Thursday 23 August 13:38

I guess prior to this car, the Tamora was considered by some to have the most challenging looks, I'd love to know what the expectations at TVR were when it was released, I'm sure you cant be arsed with this, but thought I'd ask anyway

[spagbogdog]

Pursyluv said:

m4tti said:

GB8CH said:

Big interesting post

Hello GB, another really interesting post and I think adds lots of value to this thread to have someone with your prior direct TVR involvement.

Cheeky question.. Do you have any sketches of future TVR models that potentially could have made it from sketch to reality, before the close? Could you share them with us on this thread?

If there are any it would be fascinating to look at now!

Edited by m4tti on Thursday 23 August 13:38

I guess prior to this car, the Tamora was considered by some to have the most challenging looks, I'd love to know what the expectations at TVR were when it was released, I'm sure you cant be arsed with this, but thought I'd ask anyway

...was always comically referred to as "the tampon"...nuff said

[bullittmcqueen]

I've just seen this. BMW, getting a lot of flak for the new Z4, too:

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=17...


And judging from looking at the new Supra (and they have resources and experience!!! ) it's not exactly a stunner as well:





https://www.supramkv.com/threads/supramkvs-latest-...

Edited by bullittmcqueen on Thursday 23 August 19:33

[citizen smith]

bullittmcqueen said:

I've just seen this. BMW, getting a lot of flak for the new Z4, too:

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=17...


And judging from looking at the new Supra (and they have resources and experience!!! ) it's not exactly a stunner as well:





https://www.supramkv.com/threads/supramkvs-latest-...

Edited by bullittmcqueen on Thursday 23 August 19:33

At least it does not look like a Toyota GT86 or Subaru BRZ!

[PuffsBack]

spagbogdog said:

I'll join your sacrilege then Bullitt...was never a huge fan of the Sagaris (although I "get" the appeal)...much prefer the Griffith that I have..smooth lines..great proportions..and much less of an "Essex-Boy" image...

Would I be right in saying that most of the "more vocal" criticisms come from Sag owners...(no problem with that...maybe they're a different breed)...

LOL!!

So when I lived in Essex I owned a Griffith 500 (and a Chimaera before that)

Now I live is Suffolk I own a Sagaris (and a Cerbera before that)

Make of that what you will

[GB8CH]

spagbogdog said:

Pursyluv said:

m4tti said:

GB8CH said:

Big interesting post

Hello GB, another really interesting post and I think adds lots of value to this thread to have someone with your prior direct TVR involvement.

Cheeky question.. Do you have any sketches of future TVR models that potentially could have made it from sketch to reality, before the close? Could you share them with us on this thread?

If there are any it would be fascinating to look at now!

Edited by m4tti on Thursday 23 August 13:38

I guess prior to this car, the Tamora was considered by some to have the most challenging looks, I'd love to know what the expectations at TVR were when it was released, I'm sure you cant be arsed with this, but thought I'd ask anyway

...was always comically referred to as "the tampon"...nuff said

Thankfully, it was before my time as Chief Designer and I was assigned exclusively to the Tuscan R / T440. I did do the door cards, column shroud and was involved with the dials though. I was horrified that it was about to go out looking like that and made sure I was nowhere near it. It is worse than the new car, and that is some achievement!

[PuffsBack]

spagbogdog said:

...was always comically referred to as "the tampon"...nuff said

However they did change the Tamora's nose to improve the looks soon after release

They also changed the Griff from the initial showing which had an S interior and external door handles. And then the Griff had a nose job when the 500 was released. And of course even the Cerb had a nose job post 2000

Lesson from history in there somewhere

Edited by PuffsBack on Thursday 23 August 22:00

Edited by PuffsBack on Thursday 23 August 22:00

[PuffsBack]

bullittmcqueen said:

I've just seen this. BMW, getting a lot of flak for the new Z4, too:

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=17...

Edited by bullittmcqueen on Thursday 23 August 19:33

Christ! I see what they mean - how dumpy does that look from the side!! The new Griff looks like a super model in comparision

[GB8CH]

spagbogdog said:

GB8CH said:

bullittmcqueen said:

Peter Wheeler once said to me when I was Chief designer at TVR....

GB8CH..which cars did you design..can you tell us...??

Started as a student on the Tuscan, did the majority of the Tuscan R and T440, but certainly not the rear lights on the T440. The Sagaris, Tuscan 2 and Convertible and the even wider body Le Mans T440 as Chief Designer. Then left and did the Scamander RRV with Wheeler. Since then I have been an Alias Designer on the Jaguar F-Type coupe and then Bentley Bentayga and new Continental (interiors). Plus side projects and unannounced projects.

[m4tti]

GB8CH said:

Started as a student on the Tuscan, did the majority of the Tuscan R and T440, but certainly not the rear lights on the T440. The Sagaris, Tuscan 2 and Convertible and the even wider body Le Mans T440 as Chief Designer. Then left and did the Scamander RRV with Wheeler. Since then I have been an Alias Designer on the Jaguar F-Type coupe and then Bentley Bentayga and new Continental (interiors). Plus side projects and unannounced projects.

I think TVR need to get you back then

T440 front and rear both work well even the rear lights. It has presence..

Having seen the new car in the flesh... it’s very unremarkable..

[Pursyluv]

GB8CH said:

Thankfully, it was before my time as Chief Designer and I was assigned exclusively to the Tuscan R / T440. I did do the door cards, column shroud and was involved with the dials though. I was horrified that it was about to go out looking like that and made sure I was nowhere near it. It is worse than the new car, and that is some achievement!

Not a fan then?
Pretty sure you said PW listened to criticisms of his cars’ styling, guess the Tamora was the exception, or did he genuinely like it?

[spagbogdog]

PuffsBack said:

bullittmcqueen said:

I've just seen this. BMW, getting a lot of flak for the new Z4, too:

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=17...

Edited by bullittmcqueen on Thursday 23 August 19:33

Christ! I see what they mean - how dumpy does that look from the side!! The new Griff looks like a super model in comparision

Steady ..lol..
BMW going backwards atm...engines are very solid...but styling inside & out needs more pzazzzz...

[spagbogdog]

citizen smith said:

bullittmcqueen said:

I've just seen this. BMW, getting a lot of flak for the new Z4, too:

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=17...


And judging from looking at the new Supra (and they have resources and experience!!! ) it's not exactly a stunner as well:





https://www.supramkv.com/threads/supramkvs-latest-...

Edited by bullittmcqueen on Thursday 23 August 19:33

At least it does not look like a Toyota GT86 or Subaru BRZ!

...I’m kinda seeing Adolf Hitler...Yikes...is this their revenge for Brexit ..?????...

[GB8CH]

m4tti said:

GB8CH said:

Big interesting post

Hello GB, another really interesting post and I think adds lots of value to this thread to have someone with your prior direct TVR involvement.

Cheeky question.. Do you have any sketches of future TVR models that potentially could have made it from sketch to reality, before the close? Could you share them with us on this thread?

If there are any it would be fascinating to look at now!

Edited by m4tti on Thursday 23 August 13:38

I have boxes full, but in terms of what was coming next from TVR if a very daft Russian hadn't crawled out of the woodwork, it was the Scamander. PW was convinced that the hairy arsed sports car niche wasn't much of a niche anymore and wanted to carve out something new. I think we would have pulled it off if he hadn't died. I have driven all TVR's, even the Tuscan R prototype with 485bhp and cars like that certainly grab attention. Driving the Scamander was on another level. I would get mobbed at petrol stations and have 20 or so cars surrounding me on the motorway with camera flashes going off. It may not be immediately obvious what the appeal was, but that was Wheeler's most valuable skill. He was extremely brave in terms of setting trends and that was his ultimate statement.

I don't tend to share my personal work as it still has a value to me commercially, but PW and I had discussed a new Tuscan Challenge type race car when I started the Scamander in 2005 and I did a quick CAD model then which is on my website. It was a quick stab, so the surfaces are immature but the face is quite nice (I think at least).

www.morphosa.co.uk

[anonymous-user]

m4tti said:

Apologies for repeating the pictures but it struck me that although the designers had clearly allowed for a specific volume of airflow through the central front intake, the Reg plate positioning has clearly fked that up. Was this placement assumed in the original design and would this be the case with the new Griff as well?

Edited by anonymous-user on Thursday 23 August 23:14

[GB8CH]

Pursyluv said:

GB8CH said:

Thankfully, it was before my time as Chief Designer and I was assigned exclusively to the Tuscan R / T440. I did do the door cards, column shroud and was involved with the dials though. I was horrified that it was about to go out looking like that and made sure I was nowhere near it. It is worse than the new car, and that is some achievement!

Not a fan then?
Pretty sure you said PW listened to criticisms of his cars’ styling, guess the Tamora was the exception, or did he genuinely like it?

It was a rush job in desperate times. I never told him what I really thought of it until afterwards and I suppose being the entry level car, orders were placed. I was asked to do some renderings of it for Autocar the week before it's release and when he saw them, he said they couldn't go out because they were better than the actual car. That was my subtle hint, but finances and time dictated that it had to go.

[GB8CH]

thecook101 said:

m4tti said:

Apologies for repeating the pictures but it struck me that although the designers had clearly allowed for a specific volume of airflow through the central front intake, the Reg plate positioning has clearly fked that up. Was this placement assumed in the original design and would this be the case with the new Griff as well?

Edited by thecook101 on Thursday 23 August 23:14

Of course it was. PW used to insist that the cars looked good without a number plate though, for showroom appeal.

That's all from me now. This forum could take over my life at this rate, so I am going to blend back into the background again now and get on with stuff I am more passionate about. Best wishes to you all and the current TVR set-up. I do want you to succeed, despite my comments. They are constructive!

[RichB]

GB8CH said:

It was a rush job in desperate times. I never told him what I really thought of it until afterwards and I suppose being the entry level car, orders were placed. I was asked to do some renderings of it for Autocar the week before it's release and when he saw them, he said they couldn't go out because they were better than the actual car. That was my subtle hint, but finances and time dictated that it had to go.

I never quite got the Tamora. Okay so it handled better than the Griffith but why not stick a Griff body on the upgraded chassis/engine/drivetrain?

[TR4man]

https://youtu.be/6wyE79mSoqs

Another video of the new Griff.