It is with great sadness that the TVR Car Club announces that long time TVR General and Transport Manager David Cumming lost his battle with cancer on Saturday night.
Well known to many members, David, also known as "Poser" or "Pal" has been a stalwart at Bristol Avenue for over 28 years after joining TVR initially as a car cleaner and then rising up through the various trades on the shop floor and during his time working in most departments at the factory. Perhaps his most well known role though was as Transport Manager where he was responsible for getting our cars delivered to the dealers on time. Our thoughts, prayers and condolences at this tragic time go to his family. David's funeral takes place on Monday 22 May at Carlton Crematorium at 10.45am. All members who knew him are welcome but please do come in your TVRs. The family have requested no flowers but instead donations to Cancer Research may be made through the Club Office. The TVR Cerbera 4.5 is to make a one-off come-back, with an online auction in a few weeks' time. TVR Engineering have announced "One of the great icons of the British automotive industry, the fearsome TVR Cerbera is set to make a one-off come-back in an unprecedented online auction opening in a few weeks' time. The Cerbera became an instant hit with both old and new TVR fans alike when it broke cover in 1996, and continued to be a phenomenal success for almost a decade. This 2+2 classic GT coupe ceased production last year with the introduction of the new breed of TVRs: the sensational Sagaris, the almighty Tuscan convertible and the completely reworked Tuscan targa. But TVR's forward-thinking chairman also has a fondness for the company's distinguished heritage, and commissioned one final Cerbera to return to production in TVR's true tradition of producing one-off 'specials'. Powered by TVR's own 4.5 litre AJPV8, it has been meticulously hand-built to the chairman's own specification and is a personal homage to this and other bygone British sports cars. This Cerbera, the last ever to be built, will be for sale by public auction on TVR's website, some of the proceeds from which will be donated to a charity. A special, limited edition catalogue will be produced to commemorate the occasion." TVR has announced it is cutting its workforce and relocating to a new site before the end of the year. TVR has revealed today that it is cutting its staff and plans to leave its current site at Bristol Avenue within six months, according to a company spokesman. Ian Law of TVR Engineering confirmed to the TVR Car Club today that 71 workers had been laid-off from the Blackpool factory and also stated that the current Bristol Avenue site, home to TVR since 1970, was to be vacated within the next six months. Ian stated that it has been a long winter for the motor industry and that sales in the early part of the year have been slow. He also stated that TVR remains optimistic that its plans to expand abroad would offset any temporary downturn in the domestic market and also added that we are in for some big surprises at the July Motor Show. A Spokesperson at the Factory today also assured the TVR Car Club of their continued support towards this year's Back Home event and confirmed that the all important Sunday tours around the Bristol Avenue Factory would still be available as planned. Sad news at the factory Rumours had been circulating that due to poor sales the factory were to lay off workers. Today news broke that in fact this is correct.
Following last week's sad news that North West TVR main dealer HL Gorner were to close, it has been announced today that a new dealership is opening in Preston.Paul Munday, dealer principal, told the TVR Car Club: "With our on-going development of the Ciceley Continental Passenger Car site in Preston we are very pleased to formally announce our appointment as TVR dealers for the north west market area. "We are delighted to have the TVR dealership to run alongside our primary Mercedes Passenger Car Service, Parts and Used Vehicle Sales business and feel both prestigious marques will compliment each other nicely. "I'll look forward to seeing you all at Queen Street over the coming weeks to see our very exciting range of new and used sports cars." Following on from the announcement a couple of weeks ago that the TVR Service Department is to re-open, we have the exclusive news that TVR are also now to retail their fleet of ex-demonstrators, press cars and courtesy cars through this facility as well. So, if you fancy a used Tamora, T350, Tuscan or Sagaris, all direct from the people who built them, you need go no further than to have a look at the listing in the Trade Adverts part of the site (link bottom left - follow the link to TVR Engineering Used Cars).
In their latest newsletter TVR Power state that Tvr Engineering Ltd have commissioned TVR Power to sell £1 million worth of stock for all Chimaera, Griffith and V8 Cerbera models. These include body panels, electrics and all serviceable parts.
As many members may have seen, there has been a thread running on Pistonheads for about 24 hours regarding the fact that TVR London appears to have closed.TVR Spokesman Jason Oxley has today confirmed with the TVRCC that this is in fact correct. He said:
"We have not had a central London dealer since HR Owen and this was a trial for a short term to determine whether we ought to again. It was a therefore only a short term let. We have decided that we do want to have a presence there and we are hoping to sign the contract on our new premises in the next few days. There will be an announcement in the New Year". As soon as we have the details, we will publish them here. Please remember though that TVR London and London TVR are two entirely separate companies; London TVR continue trading from their Kings Cross premises.
In a statement posted on TVR's website today, it has been confirmed that the company has been sold to a 24 year old Russian banker called Nikolai Smolenski.
The statement reads:"Tuesday 27 July 2004 TVR HOLDING STATEMENT We can confirm that a 100% shareholding in UK car-maker TVR has been purchased today. The new owner is Nikolai Smolenski. Plans for the future are to continue trading, invest heavily in new technology and production methods, and hence enhance the TVR brand to become a global player. There will be no large-scale restructuring and new managerial appointments will be made in due course. Peter Wheeler, previous owner, will remain on board as a senior consultant." The BBC report states that former banker Nikolai Smolenski has said he wants to expand the company. He has already visited the Blackpool factory where he told staff he planned to be a hands-on owner. Mr Smolenski was a director with the Russian bank OVK until last year, when he sold his shareholding. His father is the wealthy Russian businessman Alexander Smolenski. Both TVRs are still in the running and going strong. Apart from a slight incident when one of the cars had to come back into the pits for what we believe was a replacement ECU there have been no reports of anything untoward. At mid morning they are running at no 24 and 26 in the field.
Both TVR T400Rs crossed the finish line together at Le Mans today - a fantastic result for the Synergy/Chamberlain team and the drivers, that will no doubt be celebrated as only the TVRCC knows how to, tonight on Houx campsite!!
Well done and many congratulations. The final results for the team were: In 22nd place with 300 laps TVR no 89; Bob Berridge, Michael Caine and Chris Stockton In 23rd with 291 laps TVR no 96; Lawrence Tomlinson, Nigel Greensall and Gareth Evans One of these cars will now be transported through the night (in race condition ie with authentic flies and dust) from France so it can be exhibited it at The Daily Telegraph Motorexpo, which is on 14th - 20th June at Canary Wharf. The TVR is being lent to the show by its owner and one of the drivers, Gareth Evans. For only the third time in history, TVR will be represented at Le Mans this weekend. Two Synergy Chamberlain T400Rs will be competing against the Porsches and the Ferraris in the world’s greatest motor race. Over 24 hours of the most gruelling racing imaginable, the purple TVRs are going to be pushed to the limit by six British drivers and supported by a remarkable British team. Synergy Chamberlain is owned by TVR road car and racing car driver Gareth Evans who progressed from driving his roadgoing Griffith and Cerbera to racing against TVR Chairman Peter Wheeler in the TVR Tuscan Challenge. He is now about to take the huge step of racing his own car, prepared by his own team, at Le Mans. Driving alongside him will be TVR Tuscan Challenge champion Michael Caine who is taking time off from his day job selling TVRs in Essex for Castle TVR. Chris Stockton, another Tuscan regular and Bob Berridge are in the Number 89 car alongside Michael while TVR GT regulars Lawrence Tomlinson and Nigel Greensall drive alongside Gareth in the Number 96 car. TVR will be there as a factory, helping behind the scenes in the pits, and cheering raucously from their display area at Maison Blanche, where staff from the TVR factory and some of their dealers will be on hand to explain the finer points of the new Tuscan 2 and Sagaris that have been transported straight from their debuts at the Birmingham Motor show, which has only just ended. The latest news from the pits will be available down there and drivers will be dropping by from time to time to keep everyone up to speed. All those down at Le Mans will be welcome to come and have a chat and we will be keeping those less fortunate up to date via this web news service. Although all of the press has been about the Tuscan convertible, don't forget that TVR has the full range of cars on show in Birmingham. We are indebted to Dorset RO Paul Shrimpton for these additional images of the Typhon, Sagaris, and T350T
The Tuscan 2 is a significant launch for TVR. It blends all the most successful elements of TVRs past with the progress that the company has made over the past few years. A myriad of detail changes demonstrate the attention to detail that TVR’s engineers and stylists have dedicated themselves to while evolving the most popular TVR of recent years. Since the Tuscan was first launched in 2000, TVR has achieved what was previously thought to be impossible for a company of its size, but TVR has never been intimidated by projects that would daunt much larger car manufacturers.
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