If TVRs were made today...
Discussion
First of all, let's assume there is no GFC in effect.
I was wondering what kind of car TVR would or could build with today's global parts bin at their disposal for the same prices they sold for before.
I'm talking Chimaera, Cerbera and Tuscan by the way.
My guess is that they would look into ceramic brakes and perhaps some kind of dual clutch system? Obviously no one will ever know but I thought I'd ask a question for the love of banter
I was wondering what kind of car TVR would or could build with today's global parts bin at their disposal for the same prices they sold for before.
I'm talking Chimaera, Cerbera and Tuscan by the way.
My guess is that they would look into ceramic brakes and perhaps some kind of dual clutch system? Obviously no one will ever know but I thought I'd ask a question for the love of banter
Phil Dicky said:
That would have to be pointless in any TVR 
In your race Tuscan, yes, probably wasted weight. But in a T350 on a trip around Europe I did appreciate it.Somewhat gutted that I let an Alpine head unit go on the PX'd Chimp, just for TVR to give me a lickle Pioneer 'jobby'...
My vote would be for same basic configuration as before only with structural floors, sills & bulkheads (carbon/Rohacell etc) in the body for side impact protection and enhanced torsional stiffness and I'd take a plane to India to convince mr. Rahan Tata to supply me some direct injected Jaguar V8 engines and active diffs, and then head to Norfolk to sort handling and vehicle control systems integration (the bare minimum of ABS + traction control as per Evora plus active diff control; if it needs be put some sort of very simple, non-intrusive 'safety net' on top that could be pitched to the Eurocrats as 'ESP'...). Finally, ditch all the non-essential 'clever' electrickery - keyless entry, fancy door locks and window switches, instrument pods et al - for simple and reliable parts bin components (that is - only the part you don't see).
Oh, and you can forget about 'same prices as before' but at £60-65K or so you'd still undercut the bespoke opposition (Wiessmann, Mk VI Cobra et al) by some margin.
Oh, and you can forget about 'same prices as before' but at £60-65K or so you'd still undercut the bespoke opposition (Wiessmann, Mk VI Cobra et al) by some margin.
Edited by 900T-R on Wednesday 23 December 18:33
The more important question is how much could they sell them for? Something that looks like a TVR with, say a Corvette engine, is going to have to cost £50,000. That's before any fancy kit although I don't think TVR would offer it anyway.
Given the fact that all the parts are available, I am more surprised someone hasn't started offering brand new Griffs and Chims - £35-£40k and I reckon they'd sell. There must be a profit in there somewhere.
Given the fact that all the parts are available, I am more surprised someone hasn't started offering brand new Griffs and Chims - £35-£40k and I reckon they'd sell. There must be a profit in there somewhere.
SonicHedgeHog said:
The more important question is how much could they sell them for? Something that looks like a TVR with, say a Corvette engine, is going to have to cost £50,000. That's before any fancy kit although I don't think TVR would offer it anyway.
Given the fact that all the parts are available, I am more surprised someone hasn't started offering brand new Griffs and Chims - £35-£40k and I reckon they'd sell. There must be a profit in there somewhere.
There wasn't back then when they made Tamoras for that sort of price...Given the fact that all the parts are available, I am more surprised someone hasn't started offering brand new Griffs and Chims - £35-£40k and I reckon they'd sell. There must be a profit in there somewhere.
900T-R said:
<snip> Lots <snip>
Oh, and you can forget about 'same prices as before' but at £60-65K or so you'd still undercut the bespoke opposition (Wiessmann, Mk VI Cobra et al) by some margin.
That little list of parts would probably mean you spending somewhere in the region of £10m on type approvals etc etc as I assume you'd want to sell in countries other than the UK and be able to make some money? That's why bespoke operations have to charge so much regrdless of them having fancy TC/ASR kit. Oh, and you can forget about 'same prices as before' but at £60-65K or so you'd still undercut the bespoke opposition (Wiessmann, Mk VI Cobra et al) by some margin.
Not going to happen, so stick to the only assistance aids being PAS and servo brakes and build a new Griff/Chimaera/Cerbera.
V8 GRF said:
Not going to happen, so stick to the only assistance aids being PAS and servo brakes and build a new Griff/Chimaera/Cerbera.
Um, you'd still want to sell them as road cars? then it'll have to have ABS, and at some point in the very near future something that the powers that be accept as ESP. And that's why -like Wiesmann et al- you need to be able to dig into a bigger manufacturer's Meccano box. Simple as that. Edited by 900T-R on Wednesday 23 December 20:33
I know TVR didn't make money, but look what Lotus have done. Buy an engine and gearbox from someone else and shove it in a handmade body. OK, it's a four cylinder engine so the TVR would be a bit more expensive, but if Lotus can make an Elise S for about £25k then surely another £10-15k would be enough for a new Griff?
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