TVR owner faces inquiry

[Pebb]

Source: AutoCar

Nothing has been simple during Nikolai Smolenski's reign at TVR, and that doesn't look to change any time soon now that Trade and Industry Secretary Alistair Darling is being pressured to launch an inquiry into last weeks sale of the firm back to the Russian businessman.

The Transport and General Workers' Union have requested the inquiry as they believe that Smolenski put the company into administration late last year, and then bought it back last week, in order to avoid the redundancy payout owed to the 300 ex-workers of the Blackpool factory.

It is expected that Smolenski will sell TVR to two American businessmen within the next few weeks, resulting in the traditional British manufacturer being made into a 'virtual' car company, which will outsource production to various other manufacturers, leaving TVR alive in name only. If the new owners' forecast comes true, there will be up to 5000 TVRs produced each year, the majority of which will sell in the States. We can only hope that it is more successful under American guidance than it was Russian.

 

[Speedster502]

NOOOOOOO!!! Not over to the Americans, Great one of the best car manufactures from the UK is now entering the yankies hands.

 

[Sureboss]

So 13 litre V12s to keep the same current ammount of horse power?

 

[YSSMAN]

NOOOOOOO!!! Not over to the Americans, Great one of the best car manufactures from the UK is now entering the yankies hands.

...Again, whats better; Two level-headed Americans or one crazy former-Communist who only wanted to try something new with his money?

We know what we are doing in America, and we won't destroy all that the brand represents. I think you're going a bit wonky on the whole idea of America doing something that you guys should have done in the first place.

IMO, I don't want to see TVR pull a Rover and fall into the hands of the Chinese, or heck be bought-up by some German company and be completely watered down by the executives in (insert German city here).

Don't worry, if we end up with TVR, they will be in good hands...

 

[Dave A]

What's better, a TVR that's a corvette underneath or a TVR with a TVR chassis and an AJP or other British engine?

I would rather TVR dissapear for a few years until Al Melling can finance a revival or something along thoes lines. I do not want TVR to be Americanised, Germanised or whatever.

 

[Holdenhsvgtsr]

...Again, whats better; Two level-headed Americans or one crazy former-Communist who only wanted to try something new with his money?

the russian,cause i bet he bought it like you said just to by something so he will let the engineers work on the cars and not interfere.sounds like the same guys that bought liverpool.

We know what we are doing in America, and we won't destroy all that the brand represents.

yes cause GM and Ford already know what they are doing

 

[ExigeEvan]

I think these most famous words are highly appropriate here...

"Bah, humbug".

 

[Philly]

NO! We do not know what we are doing when it comes to cars. SUVs? Sure, we have an idea of what is going on there. But not cars. Sure, we have independent companies, but they borrow quite a lot of parts from other cars. That is what would happen to the TVRs. New models would be stuck with V-8s from Ford, Chrysler or GM. Chassis will probably be somewhat derived from other big American names. The big three will be licking their lips and wondering just how they can get their names heavily involved in this new supercar.

This may be just a wost-case scenario, but I can see it happening.

Look for an all-new TVR SUV in the next ten years.

 

[Holdenhsvgtsr]

Look for an all-new TVR SUV in the next ten years.

there is one

 

[Pebb]

there is one

That is a off roader not a SUV, but I reckon the British only deserve to handle TVR.

 

[Philly]

Yeah, but that's not production, is it? And it wouldn't be for off-roading, either. It would be an X5 type thing, made to go fast on the road (but not as fast as a car) and be scared of a one-inch deep puddle.

 

[Dave A]

It's not a TVR either, it's a TVR powered Land Rover Defender based off road racer. That said, there's a few Land Rover Defenders around in the UK, none are production though.

 

[YSSMAN]

...I think some of you are forgetting that it isn't a major corporation looking to buy TVR, it is two private, collectible sports-car guys who have a passion for automobiles, looking to spark interest in the brand not only in America, but worldwide.

We seem to have not screwed up Noble and Aerial when they went into American hands (partially), and look at how well Mosler has done between the American and British owners.

...I'd say give it a chance at least... Its not like the Reds are buying the company...

 

[harrytuttle]

...Again, whats better; Two level-headed Americans or one crazy former-Communist who only wanted to try something new with his money?

The only American I can think of that has even a remote chance of doing a good job is Steve Saleen, and even that's kind of iffy. TVR's would have a good chance of returning to V8's all-around, no matter what US citizen decides to pick up the tab.

Not that any Russkie would be any better....

We seem to have not screwed up Noble and Aerial when they went into American hands (partially), and look at how well Mosler has done between the American and British owners.

My understanding is that there is only US distribution of Noble & Ariel (and quite limited at that), and Mosler is still heavily British-controlled. Has that changed in the last 3 months?

 

[Philly]

...I think some of you are forgetting that it isn't a major corporation looking to buy TVR, it is two private, collectible sports-car guys who have a passion for automobiles, looking to spark interest in the brand not only in America, but worldwide.

American

Business

men.

That is a recipe for TVR disaster. Sports-car guys may, just may be able to handle the company and treat it well. I'm just not sure if they will seek any ties with another manufacturer. Oh yeah, and if they got the money to buy TVR from business, that is definitly a bad thing.

 

[Tommi]

NOOOOOOO!!! Not over to the Americans, Great one of the best car manufactures from the UK is now entering the yankies hands.

I agree with you speedster they might have crappy build quality and catch fire as soon as you stop but we're loosing all our companies to the Americans!!!(not in a bad way)

 

[Dave A]

I agree with you speedster they might have crappy build quality

They do.

and catch fire as soon as you stop

They don't.

but we're loosing all our companies to the Americans!!!(not in a bad way)

Erm, yes, in a bad way. Most of our manufacturers haven't done as well since they've been bought by Americans.

 

[YSSMAN]

Most of our manufacturers haven't done as well since they've been bought by Americans.

They've done alright in some cases, but not with every single model. Jaguar has been a bit wishy-washy over the years, although I believe they did pretty well last year for Ford (I can't recall for certain). Aston was doing well, I believe they even turned a profit not too long ago, but Ford apparently didn't want to invest the money anymore. Land Rover is somewhat in the same boat, as the Range Rover has been a pretty good success since the Ford purchase, and the new LR3/Disco has done pretty good as well.

...As for Vauxhall, they're more German than American in most cases, but given that they are coming to America more often than not these days, they must be doing something right...

 

[Philly]

Of course, the American automobile isn't doing too well. The big three are losing money. Several factors are contributing to this. Let's hope none of those find their way to TVR.

 

[YSSMAN]

Of course, the American automobile isn't doing too well. The big three are losing money.

Actually, GM sales increased last month, however Ford and Chrysler both slipped up. With new products in the pipe, GM is on-track to do moderately well, or at least better than recently with their American arms, but with Ford and Chrysler, I have no reason to contest them losing money...

...I think the big difference there is that GM seems to know where they want to go, and overall, seems to be doing what needs to be done to get there...