Autocraft conversions
Discussion
yzf1070 said:
A TVR with an unreputed reliable heart, I am certain would acheive this. It would still take time to develop a dealership network over there and a yank V8 in a TVR certainly isn't my desire. But I believe it would be the right move for TVR in order to get the ball rolling ....Of course this would destroy the heritage that has made the TVR mark, so well respected this side of the pond.
I'm not sure I'd agree with that. TVRs current position is largely due to the success of the Griffith and Chimeara. These cars had rover V8's which let's not forget are based on a Buick unit (if memory serves me correctly).
A big yank v8 in a cerbera replacement - got to be a good thing surely? It's a GT after all.
This is where I get drummed out of PH for good,probably to wild applause.
My day job has me deeply involved in brand development- big global brands you buy on a regular basis. TVR are an extrordinary property from a brand perspective,with the ability to do serious damage to the more established exotics.But,heritage and credibility are essential and this is where manufacturing their own engines is essential-a re-union with Melling would help this for sure.
TVR with a crate engine is worth far,far less as a brand than TVR with its own developed engine range.
How much would you give for a Ferrari with a crate US V8?
With their own engine range in their unique cars they really do have serious global potential and if they get it right young Nicks investment will pay back very well indeed.
My day job has me deeply involved in brand development- big global brands you buy on a regular basis. TVR are an extrordinary property from a brand perspective,with the ability to do serious damage to the more established exotics.But,heritage and credibility are essential and this is where manufacturing their own engines is essential-a re-union with Melling would help this for sure.
TVR with a crate engine is worth far,far less as a brand than TVR with its own developed engine range.
How much would you give for a Ferrari with a crate US V8?
With their own engine range in their unique cars they really do have serious global potential and if they get it right young Nicks investment will pay back very well indeed.
sideways mostly said:
This is where I get drummed out of PH for good,probably to wild applause.
My day job has me deeply involved in brand development- big global brands you buy on a regular basis. TVR are an extrordinary property from a brand perspective,with the ability to do serious damage to the more established exotics.But,heritage and credibility are essential and this is where manufacturing their own engines is essential-a re-union with Melling would help this for sure.
TVR with a crate engine is worth far,far less as a brand than TVR with its own developed engine range.
How much would you give for a Ferrari with a crate US V8?
With their own engine range in their unique cars they really do have serious global potential and if they get it right young Nicks investment will pay back very well indeed.
If you get drummed out, it wont be by me. I completely agree. Losing the TVR engines will effectivly demote the brand to not much more than kit-car status, albeit put together in a factory.
I would not be against offering a crated engine as an optional extra if the design was possible, at least then the powers of market forces and people voting with their pockets would have the final say. Then everyone would be a winner. But, to effectively can the current outlook for the SP6 and derivatives would be a big step back IMHO.
sideways mostly said:
This is where I get drummed out of PH for good,probably to wild applause.
My day job has me deeply involved in brand development- big global brands you buy on a regular basis. TVR are an extrordinary property from a brand perspective,with the ability to do serious damage to the more established exotics.But,heritage and credibility are essential and this is where manufacturing their own engines is essential-a re-union with Melling would help this for sure.
TVR with a crate engine is worth far,far less as a brand than TVR with its own developed engine range.
How much would you give for a Ferrari with a crate US V8?
With their own engine range in their unique cars they really do have serious global potential and if they get it right young Nicks investment will pay back very well indeed.
I with you all the way!
Again, not sure I agree. Pagani Zonda? Crated Merc engine. Morgan? Crated BMW. Invicta? Ascari? Marcos? the list goes on. Not sure I'd class any of these as kit car manufacturers.
Personally I love the Speed Six since for performance, character and noise not much can touch an S6 engined TVR. But, and it's a big but, I would not consider buying one, and I wonder how many current V8 TVR owners or other non TVR owners feel the same way.
Personally I love the Speed Six since for performance, character and noise not much can touch an S6 engined TVR. But, and it's a big but, I would not consider buying one, and I wonder how many current V8 TVR owners or other non TVR owners feel the same way.
_dobbo_ said:
Again, not sure I agree. Pagani Zonda? Crated Merc engine. Morgan? Crated BMW. Invicta? Ascari? Marcos? the list goes on. Not sure I'd class any of these as kit car manufacturers.
Personally I love the Speed Six since for performance, character and noise not much can touch an S6 engined TVR. But, and it's a big but, I would not consider buying one, and I wonder how many current V8 TVR owners or other non TVR owners feel the same way.
I was actually going to use Pagani as the only notable exception. The rest of the examples including Invicta, Ascari, Morgan and Marcos probably dont have half the turnover of TVR put together, so dont have the resources to invest in development in their own engine.
If TVR could afford to put an AMG created monster engine into a car like Pagain and not raise the price I would certainly buy it, but I have the idea that this would put the price of a standard spec car into three figures...
It is not really fair to put the Zonda engine in the same class as a crated LSx from the US.
_dobbo_ said:
Again, not sure I agree. Pagani Zonda? Crated Merc engine. Morgan? Crated BMW. Invicta? Ascari? Marcos? the list goes on. Not sure I'd class any of these as kit car manufacturers.
Personally I love the Speed Six since for performance, character and noise not much can touch an S6 engined TVR. But, and it's a big but, I would not consider buying one, and I wonder how many current V8 TVR owners or other non TVR owners feel the same way.
Understand your point and sadly believe the understandable reluctance of people to trust the Speed 6 is currently having a terrible affect on TVR ( just my view).
Zonda and Morgan are interesting examples where two well respected brands have joined with two others-which is something that they can get away with but its not ideal. How much would a Morgan be worth with a home grown straight 8 ( anachronistic in the extreme and therefore on brand) co-developed by Cosworth,or a Zonda with its specialy designed V10 ?
justinp1 said:
It is not really fair to put the Zonda engine in the same class as a crated LSx from the US.
Fair comment, I was going to mention the McLaren F1 as well but felt it was going a bit too far.
TVR has always traded on it's car/interior design and "bang for buck". More recently it's trading on the heritage of it's in house engines, but I'd consider that heritage dubious at best thanks to the reliability question marks.
I'm not an expert so I can't say with any degree of intelligence whether crated engines would hurt TVR. But if someone offered me a Tuscan with an LS6, I wouldn't hesitate.
The heart says buy a speed 6 engined car, the head says give it a miss and buy a porsche, to which the heart responds "no thanks".
So for now it's carry on looking for a Griffith, which will hopefully represent the middle ground. sideways mostly said:
Interesting Ash!!! Do tell.
Quite a few had to be shipped back home, engines went pop. Not the kind of thing Top Gear or Autocar would dare to advertise. Its not like theres a Zonda pistonheads forum - if there was, trust me, speed 6 owners will be glad they payed a fraction of the cost for a car which can stay in the mirror of a zonda for a bloody long haul...
5k for a rebuild? who cares.... can we really argue? we're getting performance that scares the living crap out of 150k+ fashion accessories...
TVR - have the recipe... they just need the right cook(s) to create the perfect dish!
sideways mostly said:
This is where I get drummed out of PH for good,probably to wild applause.
My day job has me deeply involved in brand development- big global brands you buy on a regular basis. TVR are an extrordinary property from a brand perspective,with the ability to do serious damage to the more established exotics.But,heritage and credibility are essential and this is where manufacturing their own engines is essential-a re-union with Melling would help this for sure.
TVR with a crate engine is worth far,far less as a brand than TVR with its own developed engine range.
How much would you give for a Ferrari with a crate US V8?
With their own engine range in their unique cars they really do have serious global potential and if they get it right young Nicks investment will pay back very well indeed.
Absolutely spot on
PP
justinp1 said:
This is where I get drummed out of PH for good,probably to wild applause.
My day job has me deeply involved in brand development- big global brands you buy on a regular basis. TVR are an extrordinary property from a brand perspective,with the ability to do serious damage to the more established exotics.But,heritage and credibility are essential and this is where manufacturing their own engines is essential-a re-union with Melling would help this for sure.
TVR with a crate engine is worth far,far less as a brand than TVR with its own developed engine range.
How much would you give for a Ferrari with a crate US V8?
With their own engine range in their unique cars they really do have serious global potential and if they get it right young Nicks investment will pay back very well indeed.
If you get drummed out, it wont be by me. I completely agree. Losing the TVR engines will effectivly demote the brand to not much more than kit-car status, albeit put together in a factory.
I would not be against offering a crated engine as an optional extra if the design was possible, at least then the powers of market forces and people voting with their pockets would have the final say. Then everyone would be a winner. But, to effectively can the current outlook for the SP6 and derivatives would be a big step back IMHO.
Prseumably by this rationale, you'd then consider a Mclaren F1 a kit car. And Morgans. And Lotus's. And Nobles. And Rolls Royces. Shall I go on?
This is a daft argument - TVR as a marque have only NOT been using someone elses engines in their line up for a couple of years.
chimhunter said:
Back on topic, has anyone got their conversion back yet?
Sadly no !
I somehow got overtaken in the queue by a T350 that turned out to be in a worse state than was expected (it wasn’t running when it arrived) and has taken much longer than expected to complete.
Latest report from Salisbury (2pm today) is that my engine and gearbox are being refitted to the car this afternoon, and it should be running sometime tomorrow.
All being well, I was hoping to pick it up on Saturday but we need to find someone who can MOT it (their normal place is closed on Saturday) … does anyone know where we might be able to get this done (in Salisbury on Sat) ?
It will really hurt if I have to wait until Monday !
Ian
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