TVR changes hands

PITSTOP

TVR, one of the last few independent British sportscar makers who still survive, have been sold off to a Russian businessman.

Nikolai Smolenski has bought 100 per cent of TVR's shares from Peter Wheeler, who's been at the helm of TVR, for the last two decades. "I have always been a fan of British car manufacturing and believe that the best automotive designers and engineers are in this country," said Smolenski.

The British auto firm was established in 1947, and despite their small size and limited volumes, TVR have been unique in designing and manufacturing their own range of engines, which power their range of high-performance sportscars.

It was their 1963 Griffith which made the TVR name really famous, and set the pattern for all TVRs to follow "� powerful engines, lightweight construction, massive performance, and on-the-edge handling.

After Peter Wheeler took charge, TVR pursued performance with even more dedication. In fact, their early 1980s V8-powered 450 SEAC, with 324 bhp, was faster than a Porsche 911 Turbo of that time.

In more recent years, the Tuscan and the Cerbera have carried the torch for TVR, and are widely accepted as the most hard-core of all performance cars anywhere.

Today, TVR employ about 400 people, and Smolenski's new investments are likely to result in technology benefits for new car development. Peter Wheeler remains on board as a senior consultant, overseeing styling and engineering. TVR's plans to launch the new Sagaris and Tuscan 2 models, over the next few months, continue unchanged.