Do you remember the first time you saw a TVR?

[Chris71]

Can you remember your first encounter with a TVR?

I lived quite close to one of the main dealerships when I was a kid and my dad had an old M-Series hidden away in a lock-up garage. But my first distinct memory of seeing a TVR was actually a bright yellow Griffith in the Lake District when we were on a summer holiday. It was parked up in a small marina at the end of Derwent Water, looking like the ultimate lifestyle photo shoot. I was still at primary school at the time, so it can't have been much more than about 1992.

This morning I was flicking through the Griffith buying guide in the latest copy of Evo. In it, Peter Tomalin says he recalls driving the first Griffith press car 25 years ago this month. Where? The Lake District.

[Chris71]

ChilliWhizz said:

Yep, 1969, Caterham Car Sales, just bought my first car (Lotus 7) from them. They were a Lotus and TVR outlet and often 'assembled' the new kit cars on behalf of the new owners (avoided purchase tax). I worked there briefly and can clearly remember new Tuscans and Vixens coming and going

My dad's 1600M came partially assembled. I seem to remember they let him spend an evening at the dealership bolting the suspension on so he could tow it home for completion.

[Chris71]

Ziplobb said:

My uncle had one in the 1960s (before my time) but he used to tell stories about how fast it was compared to all the others car he owned (he was a used car dealer) which included E typs, XK150s DB5/6s etc etc - my Dad told me it was the scariest thing he had ever been in - then roll on a number of years a chap in the village gets a Cerbera brand new - always wanted one from that moment on - joined the TVR car club for a number of years but have ended up with 3 Caterhams on the trot ...

I had a Caterham after my S3. Far more suitable for track work and just brilliant for thrashing round B-roads, but I needed something with a boot and a proper hood. Cue the Chimaera.