how did you become a tvr enthusiast

[cerebral]

i think we who love tvr's will always remember the day when we first saw/( heard )!!! a tvr even if we didn't know what it was ... i now at long last am in a postion too be able to buy my dream. this has been a 13 year dream..."post some pics when i find the right one ".when i was 18yrs old after i started working in a pub the noise " you know the noise " from a car outside was amazing just had too go out and see what it was.. this gorgeous chimaera was sitting there, looked inside wow. turned out to be my bosses. later that year tvr sp12 prototype (purple flipcoat ) was on the front cover of topgear mag, unreal those figures the look , remember reading that the power output of 950bhp had to be restricted to 850 so that it could race !!!!!!! then the telegraph had a collect the tokens and have the chance of winning what was a white cerbera it just looked amazing , so collected every day " yes thats right an 18yr buying the telegraph every day " as you may tell i didn't win, even with the penny put in the envelope to add weight. i just new i wanted one of these beasts. used to get on my girlfriends nerves going on about it all the time ,still remember her having a go at me because she crashed into someone,
showing one of her friends what i was going on about all the time .. understandable thou.

this is just an insight into how i became a tvr enthusiast and would love too hear how you became to love tvr too ..
your own stories of love at first sight/sound would i am sure be fun for all to read..

[shadowninja]

Read how quick they were and how dangerous they were in the wet... rest is history.

[Paul M]

My love of TVR goes back some twenty odd year and the days of the wedges - the 350i was a sight to behold when you actually saw one and when they went up to the 450 SEAC that was (at the time) a totally outrageous car and I loved them. The Cerbera probably remains my favourite TVR - not from a driving or ownership point of view because I've only owned one TVR and thats my present Chimaera which I love. The Cerbera was (and still is) an amazing car. It just came along and blew away more exotic machinery twice and three times its price! Before there are any cries of "What about the..." I love the V8S and the Griff but compromised with the Chimaera. Who knows I may try them all if I'm lucky enough.

A TVR was always, at some point I hoped attainable, and it has become just that for me recently and am I pleased I have one? I've been a petrolhead since a I was a kid when I could tell every single car by the sound of its engine - a "skill" lost long ago I digress .... the answer to the question, am I pleased I have a TVR? The answer is obvious

[thenick]

Friends party when I was 12 in 1998. Had a great time and was just waiting in the front garden for my parents to pick us up and a mates dad turned up in a blood red Chim 500 to pick him up. I just remember everyone crowding round it saying how amazing it was and how good it sounded. I promised myself right then that I would own one of those one day, and sure enough 8 years later and my dream came true premature! - I was given a hefty reminder though when Wildfire got his pre-cat Griff and took me out for a blast. Things got serious after that!

[esso]

Ive always been a Petrolhead since i was a kid.Did the custom car thing in the 70"s,classic car thing in the 80"s/90"s,then when the time was right (i.e. divorce/funds/new partner who loves TVR"s as i do)decided after a few beers in the pub one night to buy a TVR!Had to be a V8,as we got kids Cerb was the obvious choice,3years & 2 Cerbs later nothing could replace it!!!~Well nothing I could afford anyway!

[tuscandom]

i have allways loved fast cars,ferarri lotus lambo etc,but i never really wanted one..until...
driving down the motoway one day,i had just picked up a load of conifers for a job i was doing,i heard a noise,sort of a low rumble at first i thought it was the transmission playing up,then in my o/s mirror i saw a black...er..a black..er a black thing cruising up twards me.
it blew me away i had no idea what it was.i was looking at at it so closely that i nearly totaled the car and trailer,as it went past all i saw was a badge on the back that said...........................................................................................................................................................


tuscan

i found out what a tvr was and that was it,i wanted one,i have recently got one and have not looked back,if i had to sum it up in 1 word ......well one word cant do but, 'fu**in awsome'



see ya soon cerebral

keith you gotta get one of theese !!

Edited by tuscandom on Friday 31st August 19:50

[dogboy]

the 80's, on holiday, in sussex somewhere near Tangmere, stuck in a traffic jam, in the back of my parents car, the wedge shaped car infront was making a thunderous burble.... "Dad what's that?" one thing led to another after that!

[anonymous-user]

I knew someone that had a blue v8 wedge in the 80s, I must have been about 8 at the time. All I really remember was the noise! Also in the 90s the Griffith was without doubt THE car to have

[LordGrover]

Being a bit of a knob, I didn't appreciate them until very recently. My best mate even had a Griff, then a Cobra, then a Chimp and I still didn't get it. It wasn't until last year when a couple of bob became available that I decided to treat myself to a new toy.
I was that feckin close to buying a top bollox 'audio/visual' sytem ... then Jack suggested I drive a Tiv. I thought I better, even if just to say "told you so - does nothing for me". Wowza! Hook line and sinker - I was in love.
I spent the next couple of weeks researching pros and cons of the various models in my (limited) price range and decided on either a V8S or Chimp 400. About thirty test drives and three months later I bought a Griff.
Not looked back since.


Wahay!

[Forthright MC]

it was the Griff that started it all for me, and like everyone else it was the noise and the shape of the thing that got me hooked!
every model that has appeared since then has caught my attention and interested me more than any of the other similar sportscars about, until now i am truly mad about them!
they have a truly infectious, beguiling yet unique character/aura about them indeed!
have yet to fulfill my dream and own a Tiv yet, but watch this space...

Edited by Forthright MC on Friday 31st August 21:23

[ColG]

When I was about 10, we had an old dear that lived next door and about once a month her son would come to see her, he always turned up in nice motors, but one day as I was outside playing with my marbles I could hear a distant rumble and round the corner came a car the likes of I had never seen before (or heard) and it turned out to be a Taimar. Every time he came visiting I would sit at the top of our drive waiting for him to set off again, oh the joy I felt everytime he fired it up. After about 6 months of hanging around at the top of the drive saying "nice car, mister" he agreed to give me a ride round the block (off course I went in to tell mummy )and that was it, I was hooked.

I bought a 1977 Taimar last month

[Rum Runner]

When i was in my teens i used to go past Christopher Neils old showroom, so much so i got to now the sales man. When i left college they took me on on a YTS scheme , but only for a couple of weeks until they where told i had just missed they time schedule for being eligible .So i had to go, still loved TVR's . Then back in 2004 my mate bought a S series and asked me to service and maintain it for him ( I ended up at a ford dealership on the tools soon after my short TVR career ).I then wanted a S , but found it hard to find a good one so ended up blowing the budget and getting a Chim 4.0HC, and blow it again with the a late 500.
I now do boats and at the end of the day there's not a lot of difference to a TVR apart from the extra 4 wheels .

Edited by Rum Runner on Friday 31st August 23:04

[Paul M]

Forthright MC said:

it was the Griff that started it all for me, and like everyone else it was the noise and the shape of the thing that got me hooked!
every model that has appeared since then has caught my attention and interested me more than any of the other similar sportscars about, until now i am truly mad about them!
they have a truly infectious, beguiling yet unique character/aura about them indeed!
have yet to fulfill my dream and own a Tiv yet, but watch this space...

Edited by Forthright MC on Friday 31st August 21:23

A dream that you will no doubt fulfill because the bug is biting by the sound of it Think you have summed it up by saying they are infectious, beguiling and having a unique character/aura.
I spent a while deliberating and taking a "sensible" approach to the reality of buying and owning a TVR and funny thing was after I had committed myself I was a little scared that I was actually going to realise a motoring dream. But now I have ...... I just look forward to driving it, looking after it and keeping it. TVR has got a lot to bloody answer to

[swanny71]

As a kid I lived on the same street as Dave Haughins TVR.....you can imagine the effect those cars had on a car mad kid!
For as long as I can remember I said I'd have one 'oneday', well that day is Wednesday when I pick up my new T350c.
Its been 25 years but I reckon it'll be worth the wait.

[Paul M]

frazer guest said:

The year is 1986. I am an annoying 8 year old brat.

A mate of my dads pops round on a beautifull summers evening. His choice of transport? A white TVR 350i, red leather, black carpets.

After about 20 minutes of me none stop pestering him, he agrees to take me out for a spin. I distincly remember him promising my parents, (especially my mum), that he wouldnt go fast.

Well, not every bloke keeps his promises He absolutly canned it I think I proberly wet myself a little with excitment and didnt stop grinning like a fool for a week.

Up untill that point, I had always favoured fast Fords. That was the moment that I promised myself that one day, I too would own a TVR. 21 years later, that dream came true.

I saw him about 5 weeks ago at my parents joint 60th birthday bash. These days he just drives a diesel Mondeo, but as I had turned up in the Chim, I decieded that I ought to repay him for starting me on a slippery slope. Needless to say, I didnt hang about either, and he absolutly enjoyed driving my Chim as well.

Are there better cars than a TVR? Well yes, of course.
Can I ever imagine selling mine? Its mine, and it always will be.

A mate of mine has a little lad who is about 8-9 years old. I keep on meaning to pop round and take him out for a spin. Kinda pass on the passion so to speak.

Good account.
I hope the lad does not wet himself Hopefully in 20 years time he'll experience the passion also.

[Paul M]

swanny71 said:

As a kid I lived on the same street as Dave Haughins TVR.....you can imagine the effect those cars had on a car mad kid!
For as long as I can remember I said I'd have one 'oneday', well that day is Wednesday when I pick up my new T350c.
Its been 25 years but I reckon it'll be worth the wait.

And you'll be like a 10 year old when you get that T350c

Enjoy and I'm sure it will be well worth the wait.

[Irish]

I HUNG AROUND HERE TOO LONG.........

[swanny71]

frazer guest said:

Paul M said:

swanny71 said:

As a kid I lived on the same street as Dave Haughins TVR.....you can imagine the effect those cars had on a car mad kid!
For as long as I can remember I said I'd have one 'oneday', well that day is Wednesday when I pick up my new T350c.
Its been 25 years but I reckon it'll be worth the wait.

And you'll be like a 10 year old when you get that T350c

Oh yes

Remember that feeling you used to get 25 years ago on Christmas day? That will be you on Wednesday it will.

No doubt you will try and act all blarsay(sp) at the dealers in a kinda "do I look bothered?" and "I'm cool with that" sort of fashion, but really, underneath, you will almost be wetting yourself with excitment.

Enjoy every second of it. Its a marvalous feeling.

It is honestly the fullfillment of a lifetime ambition and since I paid the deposit it has been like waiting for chrimbo as a kid. Found it difficult to concentrate at work last week, I'm day dreaming of it constantly and have a permanent knot of excitement in my belly.
There is absolutely no hope of me acting cool when I go to pick it up, but I expect TVR dealers are used to seeing grown men act like schoolboys around their cars.
Sharing my excitement with others who understand helps a little, thanks guys.
Wish I could fast forward to Wednesday.......

[SWT]

Dad took me to earls court motor show sat in a wedge that was it 20 years saving pennies gotta Griff worth the wait ? Yes wished i scarificed other things and done it earlier yes ,want a sagaris yes, Am i allowed to sell any relatives / children into bondage to get one no



ANY BODY SMITTEN SHOULD BUY ONE ASAP

Andy

Edited by SWT on Saturday 1st September 08:22

[Cuchillo]

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away I was doing a stint at Johnson and Johnson (I think) somewhere near Uxbridge. They had two sites separated by an accountant/lawyer type office building between them.

As I had to work on both sites I had to walk past this building on a daily basis. Parked there, at the very bottom of the car park, within a collection of Mercs, BMWs and Porkers was a single, solitary dark blue Wedge.

Each time I walked passed it I would pause and drink in the site of the car. I (at that time) had no idea what it was, who made it or how it sounded. All I ever saw was the shape of it and I told myself that one day I would have a car like it. Something that gave me goose bumps just looking at it!

(Much later I found out it was a TVR ... )

Many years later while on a job I was chatting to a project manager about these TVRs and that there was buried within me an itch to own one of them. At which point he stated that he too had a similar itch, had scratched it (Chim), was a member (Surrey) of the owners' club that produced one of the best club magazines going, with a classified section and would I like to have a look at one.

"Chomp" (Sound of me biting his hand off at the shoulder!)

The following week he shows up at work with about five of them for me to look at! I spent the next few days reading and rereading those magazines. Looking at the classifieds and then at my bank balance and back at the classifieds again. I could not afford one! ... Well, I probably could have afforded a Wedge, but by that time I was interested in a Chim ... As I have a wife with more than a passing interest in golf!

A couple of years later I was in a position to buy a "toy". By this time, any petrol head I had talk to about TVRs kept telling me to run a mile and then run another mile. "Buy anything you want" they would say ... Anything except for a TVR. They are more prone to failure and more costly than any divorce you could possibly mention. Well, they all said that, except for one person. A rather softly spoken person with a slight smile on his face. He said ... "Forgive them, for they no not what they say as they have never driven one let alone owned one. I have done both. Try it, you may like it."

Well, I drew up my shortlist for my new toy:
BMW 840
Merc SL 500
Chimaera 400 (That is all the budget would allow)

The Chim was last on the list, as after all, how could 9 out of 10 people be wrong! And anyway I was now a BMW man. Had a 535 and was very keen on getting an 8 series. 1st free weekend it was off for a test drive a very nice looking 8 series. A very nice car. Comfortable, quick, lots of toys. Told the dealer we would most probably be buying it. Next up the SL 500 ... However I was not certain that it was going to be worth it as I was very happy with the 8 series. After all I am Mr BMW. No one makes a better car than BMW!

Still, there was something itching and it desperately needed scratching.

On the 20th of May 2003 and email was sent or the nearest TVR RO with a simple message. "We are thinking about buying a TVR and would like to come along to one of your events to meet you."

The replay said:
"... yes I'd be more than happy to see you at one of our meetings. Always a good idea to meet members (& their cars), have a chat & get a better idea of the cars before buying. We are a pretty friendly bunch & have a variety of models between us. Our next meeting will be at Shoreham Airport, on Thursday 29th, rather than our regular pub of The Piltdown Man. We have planned a slightly unusual event & will be having some photos taken, will be 'borrowing' their runway & then having a buffet meal..."

"Strange" I thought, what can you possibly do on a runaway? ... Its not as if they fly!

But our interest was sufficiently piqued for us to head down there. I was working in London so we arrived late. Parked up and looked around for these TVRs. None in sight. "Bloody TVRs" I thought ... "All probably broken down somewhere"... "Hmmm ... Odd noises air side. Surely the airport must have closed by now." .. "Oh well, the RO must be around here somewhere!"

Entered the Airport and the noise was getting louder ... They don't sound like chattering props ... and they are definitely not screeching jets ... WTF is it?!

And through an open window ... A whole row of TVRs ... Straight Sixes, V6s and .... and .... and .... V8s!!!! ... Engines revving ... Lining up to take on the runway as only a TVR can truly do ... And as the cars headed off, some music could be heard .... urging them on .... The Flight of the Valkyries ... and the car leading the convoy? ... A Wedge!

I can feel the goose bumps on my skin and the tingle down my spine now as I remember that day!

3 weeks later I bought a Chimaera 500 ... It was the 1st TVR I drove! ... Yes, it was a lot more than I wanted to afford and it cost me a lot more to run than I expected. But for the next few years I was smiling like an idiot.

4 years later, neither Liz or myself can ever imagine not having at least one TVR in the family!

And there you have it! ... My "story"

Hmmmm .... This is a lot longer than I expected! ... It kind of all poured out!

Night, night ... I think I will pop out and have just another look at the cars before going to bed.

Cuchillo

PS: Wrote this last night before oging to bed