So much for a British Sports Car
Discussion
The latest to come out of TVR is that the body shell and ancillary fibre items could very soon, be manufactures in South Africa and shipped into the Uk. As it is most of the engine components come from India (probibly why is susceptable to breakdown). I can understand certain high tech items such as pistons being sourced from Italy, Injectors from the USA, Glass from Finland etc, but when does a British Manufactures car become a foreign car under disguise ??
Why does it matter? Economics typically drive companies to subcontract manufacturing and send parts of their business over seas.
Tell you what - keep it all in the UK and watch the prices go up. Now there's a good idea.
BTW to suggest that engine reliability issues are down to Indian manufacturing is just pure conjecture. Of course of you have some facts you want to share then let's hear them!
Tell you what - keep it all in the UK and watch the prices go up. Now there's a good idea.
BTW to suggest that engine reliability issues are down to Indian manufacturing is just pure conjecture. Of course of you have some facts you want to share then let's hear them!
A little known fact.
The epitomy of German engineering (some say)- BMW 3 series and Mercedes C class RHD models - are assembled in South Africa with a large slice of South African components, including engine, suspension and transmission parts.
I should know - I sell the steel to the component manufacturers.
BMW/Mercedes - German cars
??? I think not.
The epitomy of German engineering (some say)- BMW 3 series and Mercedes C class RHD models - are assembled in South Africa with a large slice of South African components, including engine, suspension and transmission parts.
I should know - I sell the steel to the component manufacturers.
BMW/Mercedes - German cars
??? I think not.Does anyone complain about the bodies of Nobles being made in South Africa? Many of the parts for TVRs have come from abroad for some time anyway. It's never bothered me.
Agreed on the India thing - another rumour that's become 'fact' through repetition
Our TVR is fab - I've no idea where the parts came from and don't really care.
Agreed on the India thing - another rumour that's become 'fact' through repetition
Our TVR is fab - I've no idea where the parts came from and don't really care.
2 people can live in this country having moved from Africa, have a child, and the child is automatically English.
Whatever it is, it doesn't matter where it came from, just where its put together. Do you ask the local quality furniture manufacturer if he sources his Mahogany from Solihull?
Whatever it is, it doesn't matter where it came from, just where its put together. Do you ask the local quality furniture manufacturer if he sources his Mahogany from Solihull?
PetrolTed said:And it starts if you don't leave the lights on.
Our TVR is fab - I've no idea where the parts came from and don't really care.
If I was a ruthless capitalist and owned TVR, I'd probably either shut the thing down (having sold off the marque and the engine rights) or move substantial parts of production to cheaper places. Even more so if I was looking to compete on the world market.
In this day and age I really don't see that the source of components - even major components - makes much of a difference to a car's perceived country of origin. As has already been stated, large chunks of BMWs (and even whole cars) are made in South Africa, but it doesn't stop them being considered a German brand.
I had a trip round BMWs engine plant near Brum last year - most impressive. I understand that ALL the 4 cylinder engines are made there. So, does that make a 4-cylinder BMW British? Or more British than a 6-cylinder or V8 model? Arguably it is more British, but it's still considered a German brand.
The wife's Jeep - good old US of A iron as 'made in Mexico' stamped all over it. My Ford Ranger (American? British?) was made in the far east I gather.
And I ordered a Tremec gearbox (another good ole product from Uncle Sam) for the tvrolet...and it came in a box marked 'Made in Mexico'.
Yes, it would be nice if every single component in a TVR was hand crafted in Blackpool, with British-made fibreglass and resins from the British petrochemical industry, using British fossil fuels, and British Steel, from iron ore mined in Britain and smelted by British workes using British coal. Only it just isn't going to happen. Doesn't make the cars any less British in my book though.
WB
I had a trip round BMWs engine plant near Brum last year - most impressive. I understand that ALL the 4 cylinder engines are made there. So, does that make a 4-cylinder BMW British? Or more British than a 6-cylinder or V8 model? Arguably it is more British, but it's still considered a German brand.
The wife's Jeep - good old US of A iron as 'made in Mexico' stamped all over it. My Ford Ranger (American? British?) was made in the far east I gather.
And I ordered a Tremec gearbox (another good ole product from Uncle Sam) for the tvrolet...and it came in a box marked 'Made in Mexico'.
Yes, it would be nice if every single component in a TVR was hand crafted in Blackpool, with British-made fibreglass and resins from the British petrochemical industry, using British fossil fuels, and British Steel, from iron ore mined in Britain and smelted by British workes using British coal. Only it just isn't going to happen. Doesn't make the cars any less British in my book though.
WB
brentstevens said:
A little known fact.
The epitomy of German engineering (some say)- BMW 3 series and Mercedes C class RHD models - are assembled in South Africa with a large slice of South African components, including engine, suspension and transmission parts.
I should know - I sell the steel to the component manufacturers.
BMW/Mercedes - German cars
Yes, except that those cars are not sold in the UK market. UK supplied cars are built in Germany. You can even drive your C Class home from the factory.
Size Nine Elm said:
There is a legal status of being a UK subject, but what legally defines 'English'?
Union Jack underwear. Knowing the words to 'swing low sweet chariot' and singing it at inappropriate times. Wearing white trousers, attaching bells and ribbons to knees and dancing about wielding sticks. Pronounced overbite. Knowing the correct pronounciation of their country is actually 'Ing-ger-land'. Not being disappointed when, having been engrossed in a news item or statistic on TV, the announcer then informs you 'in England and Wales'
. I understand all of the above will be tested before the issue of the new [required in England only
] 'National' Identity Card. WB
Size Nine Elm said:
2 people can live in this country having moved from Africa, have a child, and the child is automatically English.
Interesting sophistication - is it English, or British? There is a legal status of being a UK subject, but what legally defines 'English'?
I thought "English" is a race, whereas "British" is a nationality... I have a British passport, for instance.
I used to visit an aluminium casting plant in Britain's mtoring heartland, Coventry, where craftsmen abound and quality is king.
Er, well almost. On one occasion I observed a guy with an armload of throttle body or inlet manifold castings bound for TVR. When I commented on the way he was handling such hallowed items, he shrugged and said 'Just some more sh!t for TVR'.
In the same place, they were casting sumps for the old Rolls 6.75L V8 and kept having porosity problems around the sump plug boss. Rather than scrap the castings, they were welding them up and drilling them out...
Their whole ethos was (and probably still is) how cheaply they could get product out the door. Nothing to do with engineering excellence.
Er, well almost. On one occasion I observed a guy with an armload of throttle body or inlet manifold castings bound for TVR. When I commented on the way he was handling such hallowed items, he shrugged and said 'Just some more sh!t for TVR'.
In the same place, they were casting sumps for the old Rolls 6.75L V8 and kept having porosity problems around the sump plug boss. Rather than scrap the castings, they were welding them up and drilling them out...
Their whole ethos was (and probably still is) how cheaply they could get product out the door. Nothing to do with engineering excellence.
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