2002 TVR Tamora

TVR was founded in 1947 Trevor WIlkinson when he rebodied his Alvis Firefly - the name arose as he dropped the vowels out of his first name! He soon expanded to make his own (tax-dodging) kit-cars - just like Lotus. In the 60's TVR started their now common practice of shoehorning large engines into small cars with the original Griffith. Like most British car manufacturers, TVR lurched from crisis to crisis through the 70's and early 80's until being bought by the eccentric Peter Wheeler, who injected a new vibrancy and direction to the company.

Not only did he at one point only employ people who were smokers, but he also insisted he (at 6'4") could fit comfortably in all his cars. In the late 80's the wedge shaped cars that had been TVR's mainstay through the 80's had been turned into great drivers cars with the addition of the Rover V8, but the shape was ageing badly, so in 1990 the new Griffith was lauched at the motor show. With a beautifully curved body and lovely touches like the door switches recessed into the mirrors, it was the sensation of the show, and at a stroke revitalised the fortunes of TVR.

Despite the successs of the Griffith, it was still a very focused drivers car, and luggage space was at a premium. Wheeler could see there was an opportunity for a similar but more usable car, so set about designing the Chimaera. Initially styled in blocks of foam, legend has it that the front indicators are as they are because Wheeler's dog took a chunk out of the foam and the design team liked the look! The Chimaera was debuted at the 1992 Motor Show and overnight became TVR's best seller.

Wheeler decided that he couldn’t rely on the venerable Rover V8 to continue to pass emissions tests, so in the mid 90’s a new in-house engine was developed. Called the AJP8 after Al Melling, John Ravenscroft and Peter Wheeler and it being a light-alloy V8, this went on to power a new car called the Cerbera. This car took TVR in a new direction, with even more way-out design (especially inside) than ever before. It held true to the TVR mantra of big engine, big speed and reasonably cheap price. And of course one thing that can be said about all TVR's is that they sail very close to the wind with regard to noise emissions - all make the most fantastic noise.

Ravenscroft was told to make the AJP8 engine simpler to construct and easier to maintain in straight six form. This was to become the Speed 6 engine that has powered every subsequent TVR. With power outputs of between 350 and 450bhp this was undoubtedly a glorious sounding and powerful engine. However it was notoriously fragile. Integral design flaws and build quality problems mean than on average, every speed 6 engine is rebuilt at less than 20,000 mile intervals at £10,000 per go. As a club, we spread the cost of this over every member – but could you afford to do this yourself at short notice?

The club’s car is a 2002 Tamora. Named after the Queen of the Goths in Shakespeare’s tragedy Titus Andronicus, the 3.6l Speed 6 engine produces enough power to blast the little car to 60 in 4.2 seconds. That is faster than a 2004 Ferrari 360 Modena!

Whilst the styling is certainly individual, and not to everyone’s taste, the rather large rump cleverly swallows all the roof’s targa panel, and leaves plenty of space for luggage. On a personal note, I don’t think I’ve more fun in a car this side of a brand new Ferrari F430!