Do you remember the first time you saw a TVR?
Discussion
Can you remember your first encounter with a TVR?
I lived quite close to one of the main dealerships when I was a kid and my dad had an old M-Series hidden away in a lock-up garage. But my first distinct memory of seeing a TVR was actually a bright yellow Griffith in the Lake District when we were on a summer holiday. It was parked up in a small marina at the end of Derwent Water, looking like the ultimate lifestyle photo shoot. I was still at primary school at the time, so it can't have been much more than about 1992.
This morning I was flicking through the Griffith buying guide in the latest copy of Evo. In it, Peter Tomalin says he recalls driving the first Griffith press car 25 years ago this month. Where? The Lake District.
I lived quite close to one of the main dealerships when I was a kid and my dad had an old M-Series hidden away in a lock-up garage. But my first distinct memory of seeing a TVR was actually a bright yellow Griffith in the Lake District when we were on a summer holiday. It was parked up in a small marina at the end of Derwent Water, looking like the ultimate lifestyle photo shoot. I was still at primary school at the time, so it can't have been much more than about 1992.
This morning I was flicking through the Griffith buying guide in the latest copy of Evo. In it, Peter Tomalin says he recalls driving the first Griffith press car 25 years ago this month. Where? The Lake District.
Yep, 1969, Caterham Car Sales, just bought my first car (Lotus 7) from them. They were a Lotus and TVR outlet and often 'assembled' the new kit cars on behalf of the new owners (avoided purchase tax). I worked there briefly and can clearly remember new Tuscans and Vixens coming and going 
ChilliWhizz said:
Yep, 1969, Caterham Car Sales, just bought my first car (Lotus 7) from them. They were a Lotus and TVR outlet and often 'assembled' the new kit cars on behalf of the new owners (avoided purchase tax). I worked there briefly and can clearly remember new Tuscans and Vixens coming and going
My dad's 1600M came partially assembled. I seem to remember they let him spend an evening at the dealership bolting the suspension on so he could tow it home for completion. My uncle had one in the 1960s (before my time) but he used to tell stories about how fast it was compared to all the others car he owned (he was a used car dealer) which included E typs, XK150s DB5/6s etc etc - my Dad told me it was the scariest thing he had ever been in - then roll on a number of years a chap in the village gets a Cerbera brand new - always wanted one from that moment on - joined the TVR car club for a number of years but have ended up with 3 Caterhams on the trot ...
Ziplobb said:
My uncle had one in the 1960s (before my time) but he used to tell stories about how fast it was compared to all the others car he owned (he was a used car dealer) which included E typs, XK150s DB5/6s etc etc - my Dad told me it was the scariest thing he had ever been in - then roll on a number of years a chap in the village gets a Cerbera brand new - always wanted one from that moment on - joined the TVR car club for a number of years but have ended up with 3 Caterhams on the trot ...
I had a Caterham after my S3. Far more suitable for track work and just brilliant for thrashing round B-roads, but I needed something with a boot and a proper hood. Cue the Chimaera. Early 80s, a friend I'd grown up with in the Croydon area had the audacity (and somehow the means) to buy a Griffith, red AND with an appropriate registration **V 8** .
I remember him saying that the gearchange was so slow and the torque so great that it was actually quicker to pull away in third! We trailed along in his tyre smoke in our Minis and Escorts
He moved away but we used to catch up annually at the Brighton Speed Trials, the car evolving with ever more monstrous engines.
The Griffith has been replaced with an LS7 powered Tuscan racer, I think it wears the Griffith's registration number.
He's still competing in hill climbs and sprints and features at No 4 on the PH TVR 0-60 board.
It would be good to get him to Shakey one of these days... Dave Morris are you listening?
I remember him saying that the gearchange was so slow and the torque so great that it was actually quicker to pull away in third! We trailed along in his tyre smoke in our Minis and Escorts
He moved away but we used to catch up annually at the Brighton Speed Trials, the car evolving with ever more monstrous engines.
The Griffith has been replaced with an LS7 powered Tuscan racer, I think it wears the Griffith's registration number.
He's still competing in hill climbs and sprints and features at No 4 on the PH TVR 0-60 board.
It would be good to get him to Shakey one of these days... Dave Morris are you listening?
I did a milk round when I was a kid and the farmer's son who I worked with was a bit of a 70's Laydee's Man. He had a 3000M and took me out in it once, my abiding memory was of exhaust fumes filling the cabin. He got rid of it and bought a TransAm (height of Smokey & The Bandit period and he fancied himself as Burt Reynolds).
Don't really recall noticing wedges so it was probably the S launch and then the first sight and sound of a Griff that had me lusting after one. A friend's brother bought one of the first 500's and that had me hooked.
Don't really recall noticing wedges so it was probably the S launch and then the first sight and sound of a Griff that had me lusting after one. A friend's brother bought one of the first 500's and that had me hooked.
Edited by Speed 3 on Monday 10th July 19:19
I was an avid reader of the performance stats in Autocar and Motor way, way back then. Every week I looked for the fastest 0-60 time which for eons was the Cobra. I was aware of the fibreglass cars such as Marcos, Gilbern and TVR with big engines and good quick times. But I never considered ever buying one.
Not until my brother-in-law asked me to check over a Cerbera he had seen parked up. That got my interest and then at RAF Waddington air show a few years ago, there was a good selection of TVRs on display.
Went home and using Torque Stats website (yep, still 0-60 obsessive) decided a Cerb would be good fun. And so it came to pass followed by the Chim.
I'm a late starter.....
Not until my brother-in-law asked me to check over a Cerbera he had seen parked up. That got my interest and then at RAF Waddington air show a few years ago, there was a good selection of TVRs on display.
Went home and using Torque Stats website (yep, still 0-60 obsessive) decided a Cerb would be good fun. And so it came to pass followed by the Chim.
I'm a late starter.....
Although not a TVR owner anymore, my first intro to the make was stopping to have a close look at a gold Vixen S1 with red leather interior in the Hartley area of Plymouth circa 1970 intrigued by it's quirkiness but at the same time fascinated by it's good look's, the seed was sown so after quite a few visit's to Barnet Motor Co; (1971 to 1974) where my memory remains of a Metallic Jade green 3000M, in 1975 I purchased my first TVR a dark green 1600M (NYT 97L) due to not being able to get insurance for a 3000M. Come 1978 my first 3000M (PHG 878P) and lastly an S1 Tasmin (NNA 502W. I still own all my TVR paraphenalia including my first book Success Against the Odds purchased at the 1976 motor show and signed by Peter Filby. Made some great friends during the years of ownership; Ian Massey-Crosse, Chris Hodgson and Mike Haywood to name just a few with some great memories.
My first real life encounter with a TVR was when I was 18 and I was waiting to enter a mini roundabout.
A red SEAC - could have been a SEAC be-winged 'lower' Wedge - entered from my right and booted it up the road. Sounded awesome. Then the boot opened by itself and the driver had to pull over, get out and shut it. Then drove off with a bootful again.
I thought it was brilliant in everyway.
A red SEAC - could have been a SEAC be-winged 'lower' Wedge - entered from my right and booted it up the road. Sounded awesome. Then the boot opened by itself and the driver had to pull over, get out and shut it. Then drove off with a bootful again.
I thought it was brilliant in everyway.
corncob said:
Although not a TVR owner anymore, my first intro to the make was stopping to have a close look at a gold Vixen S1 with red leather interior in the Hartley area of Plymouth circa 1970 intrigued by it's quirkiness but at the same time fascinated by it's good look's, the seed was sown so after quite a few visit's to Barnet Motor Co; (1971 to 1974) where my memory remains of a Metallic Jade green 3000M, in 1975 I purchased my first TVR a dark green 1600M (NYT 97L) due to not being able to get insurance for a 3000M. Come 1978 my first 3000M (PHG 878P) and lastly an S1 Tasmin (NNA 502W. I still own all my TVR paraphenalia including my first book Success Against the Odds purchased at the 1976 motor show and signed by Peter Filby. Made some great friends during the years of ownership; Ian Massey-Crosse, Chris Hodgson and Mike Haywood to name just a few with some great memories.
Well Corncob, this links in nicely to my first introduction to TVR when you mentioned Chris Hodgson. He probably won't thank me for saying this, but he was my primary school headmaster circa '80/'81. He always arrived at school in his TVR Vixen which I admired and with which became familiar. I am from a vintage and classic car enthusiastic family and I put my decision to choose TVR down to this early influence.Driving up the A34 taking my daughter to her flute lesson in my Triumph Spitfire in 1992 (I think). What I now know to be a black wedge convertible came up on my outside and matched my speed. The driver looked across, gave me a smile and a thumbs up and then floored the throttle. That glorious sound, the acceleration and the gorgeous, striking looks of that black beauty lingered with me and in 2000 I bought my first TVR - a blue S3. A decision I have never regretted. Now into the 11th year of Chimaera ownership and I have also owned a Tasmin 280i FHC.
I remember the first time I saw a cerbera at the motor show and then in Clarksons video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGATSb54YEQ
I now own a red Cerbera that looks and goes just like that one
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGATSb54YEQ
I now own a red Cerbera that looks and goes just like that one
The first TVR I saw was a Chimaera, back when they were new. It used to be parked in a local office car park and I thought it was about the sexiest thing I'd ever seen.
A week later I walked past at about 6pm to see the owner watching it go onto a recovery truck. Don't know what was wrong with it but it still looked awesome. It was a really deep shade of dark blue with a nice light tan coloured hood
A week later I walked past at about 6pm to see the owner watching it go onto a recovery truck. Don't know what was wrong with it but it still looked awesome. It was a really deep shade of dark blue with a nice light tan coloured hood
On i think John Cravens news round or main news around 1979 when Martin Lilly was looking to the Government asking for help with negotiating with the US Customs after a shipment of 3000s TVRs where impounded due to not having the emissions conversion done the importer was supposed to have done them but one of the buyers noticed and informed the authorities and they all got held and Factory was not paid creating massive cash flow issues.
Over 30 years later when i saw mine for sale i had to buy it and was the beginning of the slippery slope into TVR Ownership Insanity
Andrew
Over 30 years later when i saw mine for sale i had to buy it and was the beginning of the slippery slope into TVR Ownership Insanity
Andrew
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