Re : TVR appoints new CEO; laments factory issues
Discussion
If its anything like the circuit of Wales farce, then all the costs so far will have been covered by various government start up funding, so all the consultants (normally they are also the directors) etc will have been on the gravy train, once that runs dry then so does the project, it never goes beyond that stage.
Looks like Les behind the wheel in that last pic playing with his new toy.
Looks like Les behind the wheel in that last pic playing with his new toy.
GTRene said:
snuffy said:
Peter H 111 said:
It looks dated already, ordinary and not at all aggressive.
I guess it looks better in the real world, the sound was good though.
What I don't get about the whole thing, is why they need some huge "factory" to produce a handful of hand built cars?
I have been to places where they build low volume yachts, they manage to do this in big sheds, there is nothing high tech about a TVR, and all the complicated bits will be bought in so why not just get a shed?
I have been to places where they build low volume yachts, they manage to do this in big sheds, there is nothing high tech about a TVR, and all the complicated bits will be bought in so why not just get a shed?
ate one too said:
From Autocar 21st January 2016
Some highlights from that article seem now outrageous and utter mumbo jumbo:. . . a) "Last year, TVR officials admitted the firm has already sold out its allocation of production cars for 2017."
. . . b) "In October of last year, the company fired up its new Cosworth V8 engine for the first time."
. . . c) "John Chasey, TVR’s operations director, has said that any orders now placed will not be delivered until 2018."
. . . d) "Edgar said: 'This a heart-warming situation we find ourselves in. We are mindful that we have taken deposits from customers who have not yet seen official pictures of the car. We look forward to revealing more details soon, and to all our customers who have shown their faith I can promise that the new car will exceed expectations in every way.' Interested owners were able to place a £5000 deposit for the new model."
. . . e) "...the new TVR has been designed by engineering guru Gordon Murray and will be powered by a unique, hugely powerful Cosworth V8 engine and backed by an ambitious and well-funded ownership team."
. . . f) "...a 10-year plan that will put at least four new TVRs on the road from 2017."
Edited by unsprung on Friday 24th January 06:12
JD said:
What I don't get about the whole thing, is why they need some huge "factory" to produce a handful of hand built cars?
I have been to places where they build low volume yachts, they manage to do this in big sheds, there is nothing high tech about a TVR, and all the complicated bits will be bought in so why not just get a shed?
Because the ‘factory’ is a handy excuse. I have been to places where they build low volume yachts, they manage to do this in big sheds, there is nothing high tech about a TVR, and all the complicated bits will be bought in so why not just get a shed?
9k rpm said:
Maybe they should just re-body a BMW Z4 delete traction control and call it a Griffith. Worked for Toyota.....
They don't even need to delete the traction control because I believe this new TVR has traction control anyway. It certainly isn't like the old TVR's when it was just you and your right foot that decides how you get on. cerb4.5lee said:
9k rpm said:
Maybe they should just re-body a BMW Z4 delete traction control and call it a Griffith. Worked for Toyota.....
They don't even need to delete the traction control because I believe this new TVR has traction control anyway. It certainly isn't like the old TVR's when it was just you and your right foot that decides how you get on. I recall reading that they were fitting out the factory a while back.
Does anyone know where they are actually up to? Are we talking about an empty freezing cold warehouse with a dripping roof still? Or is it bristling with activity, fitted out with heating, power, jigs, machines and with staff arriving each day? (But they now discover the roof needs attention)
Does anyone know where they are actually up to? Are we talking about an empty freezing cold warehouse with a dripping roof still? Or is it bristling with activity, fitted out with heating, power, jigs, machines and with staff arriving each day? (But they now discover the roof needs attention)
If this comes to an abrupt end it will be a sad situation.
However, if as has been mentioned it's mainly backed by Welsh Assembly money then I'm not that surprised. If it were private investment then there would be proper arse kicking going on to get production going imo.
The only similar example I can think of is John Bloor and Triumph - £100 million or so investment of his own cash into a failed business with a well known brand. Built a new facility, into production fairly quickly, suffered a factory fire, back up and running in months. Now hugely profitable. People put effort in to get returns on their own hard earned.
However, if as has been mentioned it's mainly backed by Welsh Assembly money then I'm not that surprised. If it were private investment then there would be proper arse kicking going on to get production going imo.
The only similar example I can think of is John Bloor and Triumph - £100 million or so investment of his own cash into a failed business with a well known brand. Built a new facility, into production fairly quickly, suffered a factory fire, back up and running in months. Now hugely profitable. People put effort in to get returns on their own hard earned.
sinbaddio said:
If this comes to an abrupt end it will be a sad situation.
However, if as has been mentioned it's mainly backed by Welsh Assembly money then I'm not that surprised. If it were private investment then there would be proper arse kicking going on to get production going imo.
The only similar example I can think of is John Bloor and Triumph - £100 million or so investment of his own cash into a failed business with a well known brand. Built a new facility, into production fairly quickly, suffered a factory fire, back up and running in months. Now hugely profitable. People put effort in to get returns on their own hard earned.
He did it, but perhaps by accident to some extent. Rumour has it he wasn't all that interested in bikes but wanted a loss making business on his books for tax reasons... I think he was kind of shocked when it started to be profitable.However, if as has been mentioned it's mainly backed by Welsh Assembly money then I'm not that surprised. If it were private investment then there would be proper arse kicking going on to get production going imo.
The only similar example I can think of is John Bloor and Triumph - £100 million or so investment of his own cash into a failed business with a well known brand. Built a new facility, into production fairly quickly, suffered a factory fire, back up and running in months. Now hugely profitable. People put effort in to get returns on their own hard earned.
Europa1 said:
ridds said:
From that angle it doesn't look good at all to my eyes. 
As some others have mentioned, even if they do have factory issues, surely they could have put together a couple more prototypes and be cracking on with a test programme?
Edited by Europa1 on Thursday 23 January 20:19
MarJay said:
He did it, but perhaps by accident to some extent. Rumour has it he wasn't all that interested in bikes but wanted a loss making business on his books for tax reasons... I think he was kind of shocked when it started to be profitable.
I seem to recall it was rumoured he wanted the land to build houses on eventually, but when the bike business looked it was going to work he changed direction.Yes it is unfeasible because the vehicle hasn't been tested or developed. The only car that they have is a prototype, built by a 3rd party. Prototypes are expensive to build and you need several, even with all the virtual testing. No manufacturer builds as few as 10 of them, let alone one, because you need to run several programs at one - hot weather, cold weather, endurance, crash, etc etc. and you have to modify each new prototype to take account of what you discover during testing, and that all takes time too.
If you don't test and develop properly, and leave it to the dealers, and customers, then you end up with TVR as it used to be. The undeveloped, badly built with rubbish components, Speed 6 engine sunk the company. The Griffith is priced like a Porsche, and it has to be built and be reliable like one. The problem is that TVR do not have the money, the facilities or the staff to do any of that, and even if they did, they would never recoup the development costs and make it a profitable venture on the projected sales at the projected price.
If you don't test and develop properly, and leave it to the dealers, and customers, then you end up with TVR as it used to be. The undeveloped, badly built with rubbish components, Speed 6 engine sunk the company. The Griffith is priced like a Porsche, and it has to be built and be reliable like one. The problem is that TVR do not have the money, the facilities or the staff to do any of that, and even if they did, they would never recoup the development costs and make it a profitable venture on the projected sales at the projected price.
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