TVR, Kit Cars 'n Stigma?

[pete_w]

....news to me, but according to a NW TV Special feature there appears to be some stigma attached to TVR's being sold in kit form in the distant past. The interviewee from the factory appeared hesitent to comment on the subject and it featured in a sarcastic link by the commentator....any real reason for being cagey?

[PetrolTed]

I've got into kit car shows for free in my Tiv

[Terminator]

PetrolTed said: I've got into kit car shows for free in my Tiv

But that was only because you replaced your TVR badge with an Airfix one

During the late 1970s and 1980, virtually every article and road-test on TVRs mentioned that 'TVR have finally got rid of their Kit-Car image', which of course implanted the words 'TVR' and 'Kit-Car' into peoples minds. In the good old days of purchase tax, it was a viable option to buy a car as a kit and save the tax. In reality, you never got a 'kit', the completed body/chassis was supplied and all you had to do was fit the engine and wheels, as far as I recall. In many cases, the dealer would do it for you.

TVRs stopped supplying cars in 'kit' form back in 1974 so it's hardly surprising that, 29 years later, the mention of 'TVR'and 'Kit-Car' raises the hackles at the Factory.

[boiler]

Someone pulled up to me at some traffic lights, and insisted that my Chimaera was a kit car. Despite my protests, he would not believe me.

Then he wanted a race, with his Rover 600. I let him drive off, hoping that his untimely demise may rid the gene pool of his ignorance.

[Tripps]

I think the hand-built and kit-car terms confuse people, especially with rarer cars.

Don't think you'd get heckled in a Aston, Rolls-Royce or Bentley though...

[piper]

There is a big difference between kit cars and the way that TVR and the likes of Lotus were sold in the 1960's and 70's. Part of the purchase price of every new car was made up of Purchase Tax; this could be avoided if the car was sold not fully assembled. TVR and others offered this option. The car was brand new as was the engine, gearbox and suspension etc that were also supplied. The new owner would normally install the engine, gearbox and a few other bits over a few days and make a saving.

A kit car on the other hand is normally a body chassis unit, which is then often built up from second hand parts and quite a lot of initiative from the owner.