2002 TVR Tamora - Driving Impression

TVR History and U.S. Connection
TVR has been in existence since 1947, when Trevor Wilkinson (hence TVR) built himself a light-alloy special based on an Alvis Firebird rolling chassis. His company quickly grew and by 1956 was exporting cars to the United States. Then, in 1958, the Grantura was launched, which would form the basis of all TVRs until 1979.

The company continued to sell cars in the States and even had its equivalent of Carroll Shelby, one Jack Griffith. In 1962, Griffith plucked the V8 out of his AC Cobra and fitted it to his Grantura. This car then formed the basis of the TVR Griffith launched in 1963. Around 300 of these were built from 1963-67, with the majority assembled in New York.

TVR continued to produce low-volume sports cars throughout the 1970s but was in dire financial trouble when current owner, Peter Wheeler, bought the company in 1982. In 1983, he launched the 350i, the first TVR to be fitted with a Rover V8, but in 1985 the company withdrew from the U.S. market after a disagreement with the importers.

In 1987, TVR introduced the low-priced S, and production doubled within a year. But the big breakthrough came in 1992 with the launch of the new Griffith. It was the first TVR to be compared with a Porsche. The less frantic Chimaera joined it in 1993 and became the most popular TVR ever. It's still in production and starts at 34,980 ($48,727).

The new Tamora will sell alongside the Chimaera in a four-car range. The larger and more extreme Tuscan starts at 48,390 ($67,407) and in S trim offers 390 bhp, 310 lb-ft of torque and a 0-to-60-mph sprint of under 4 sec. More powerful still is the Cerbera Speed Eight 4.5, which offers 420 bhp. This 2+2 coupe, which is also available with 4.2 V8 or 4.2 straight six engines, first went on sale in 1996 and starts at 40,945 ($57,036).

It's an enticing line-up and one that's about to get even more exotic. Soon TVR will launch the Tuscan R, a 2+2 coupe with a power output of 450 bhp. It promises to top 200 mph, and customers will be able to select their own suspension setup. But the Speed 12 surpasses even the Tuscan R's performance. Based on a GT race car, the Speed 12 delivers more than 880 bhp and is available by special order to select customers.

TVR currently builds around 1,500 cars per year, but its expansion plans include a return to the U.S. market. A spokesman for the company, Ben Samuelson, confirms work has started on left-hand-drive models, and the company is seeking type approval for the two-seater Tuscan, which was featured in the John Travolta flick "Swordfish." The Tamora would then follow the Tuscan across the ocean.

There are some technical issues to be resolved-the authorities may insist upon airbags, for example-but the main problems are thought to be logistical.

Samuelson claims a number of parties have already expressed an interest in selling the car, and TVR wants to enter the market with 10 dealers. These would be located in such major cities as New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Chicago. If everything goes to plan, TVRs could be thundering down U.S. highways as early as next year.