What's the difference? The TVR / TWR Story

A few weeks ago I was driving along the motorway in Britain and saw a van with TVR on the side of it might have been TWR, and it went by so quickly that I missed it, but it got me thinking about both TVR and TWR, and you’ve asked for videos about both of these car companies in the past so I thought it might be fun to a mashup where I go through the histories of both TVR and TWR together, sort of chronologically. So, let's find out together where TVR got its name, what the heck happened with the Russian investment in the 2000s and what happened to TWR.

Links to know more about blood pressure:

Sources

#bigcar

[rupertorgan]

I was surprised that you didn't mention Peter Wheeler, who owned TVR during the 1990s and was responsible for the Griffith and Chimaera, probably the high point in TVR's history.

[rob]

I was waiting for you to plug a particular brand of blood pressure monitor and thought it cringe worthy that you'd advertise something like that after your own experience. I was wrong, and well done for bringing this important aspect of health awareness to people's attention! Unexpected yes, but vital to some. 👍

[pauljenks]

TWR's Australian operation was brought by Holden, but the same entity was later brought back by the family, now known as the Walkinshaw Group. It has a large factory at Clayton, Victoria employing 700 people converting cars(mostly pickups) and running motor racing teams in Australia and Europe. Tom Walkinshaw's sons run the company today.

[_M_O_E_]

the part about the TVR Speed 12 was my favorite

[Dr_Dude]

Sorry about your health scare! I hope it stabilizes and never comes back again. Your channel is absolutely top notch and as classy as it gets. Always happy to see a video pop up in my notification from you. Take care.

[DestroyerWill]

Blood pressure is the silent killer. I had the same experience - 207/127 - felt no symptoms. With medication everyday at the same time it’s now 132/82. MEN CHECK YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE!

[Jeffrey_M]

That's a worthy announcement at the end, Andy. Sorry to hear about your blood pressure. Hope you get it back under control. It can be hereditary to have it either high or low. Look after yourself, because we want to keep watching your videos 👍.

[thatcheapguy]

I was in the engine shop at TWR back in 1985 building the Jaguar XJR-6 Group C engine. quite a culture shock after finishing an apprenticeship at a Triumph Stag specialist.
I had the rare privilege to not only drive a road going Group A Rover SD1 Vitesse with next seasons twin plenum race engine in it but also Toms own heavily modified XJS 6.1.

Tom and TWR were repsonsible for so much in top level motorsport and prestige motor cars. The Metro 6R4 engine was developed there (a later form going on to replace the V12 Jaguar engine in the XJ220); under the skin the XJ8/DB7 was evolved by TWR from the XJS; the so called 'Dream Team' in F1 who ultimately ended up at Ferrari with Michael Schumacher was formed by Walkinshaw during his Benetton and Arrows time; the Arrows A23 in its various incarnations became one of the longest running chassis in modern F1 history.

the big lesson from my time there was "its not how good you are, its how good you cheat"

[edwinreid]

The Cerbra, what a stunner. I remember my brother had a Jeremy Clarkson Video in the 90's where Clarkson was trying to find the best car in the world ever, & for him at the time it was a toss up between the Cerbra & the latest Ferrari. He even visits the TVR Factory in Blackpool.

[BOABModels]

Nice to see the British Motor Museum (home to TVRs and Jaguar TWRs) feature. I had a look under the bonnet of that green Grantura earlier this week.

[sparkyful]

Good advise about the blood pressure! Yes, I'm having it to (67) 220/160 (!) and felt nothing. Now its 130/80

[shaekeeney]

Being an American, never having been overseas, and having only seen 2 TVR's- a Cerbera at a Car Show- and a Vixen 2 (which I did get to ride along in!!) I can only say that I sincerely hope to see a lot more of them on the road, and hopefully locate and buy a Sagaris one day! They are beautifully raw, light, and visceral cars that deserve to have a presence

[LaurenceHallman]

10/10 for plugging checking your blood pressure 👍🏾😊

[JK]

The Cerbera has to be the car with the longest doors, they're massive

[tomodonovan]

Fairplay Dude, that's a great video and a very good call out at the end, BP is the is the silent killer, and you did it without trying to promote or push any particular product. That's straight up honest. You are a decent person and you are capable of kindness. That's about the highest compliment I can give.

[superseven]

That TWR xj220 engined transit van is the ultimate wolf in sheep's clothing 😁

[SaturnCanuck]

Thanks for that Mash-Up. I sold the Saab Viggen version and had no idea of the TWR connection. Now, I will end with something you will appreciate -- I'm not dead yet!

[glennnel]

Your blood pressure advice is honourable and selfless. A BIG thank you for that.

[johnyossarian]

A team up between these two in the 90s would have been mental. The Cerebera would have probably made it to le mans in some form, arrows might have had something better than the Yamaha and Hart lumps in the back of the car (no disrespect to Brian Hart, Gary Anderson said he's a lovely and talented man but the engines in the arrows cars weren't great) and with Peter Wheelers dog around they would have been able to bounce back from losing John Barnard as a designer. A TVR GT squad run by people who know more than a bunch of blokes who love speed would have boosted sales and having a tangible product would have given TWR a boost as well. Don't know how the prost situation would have gone down in this alternate timeline though since that was a moneypit no matter what

[reaper]

Still miss my 400SE and regret selling it to this day it was one of the best sounding cars I’ve ever heard. Great video !