Sports car company TVR is to base its new factory in Wales, First Minister Carwyn Jones has announced.
The plant will create 150 jobs on the Ebbw Vale enterprise zone, which is still hoping to be home to the £325m Circuit of Wales.
New owners, who bought the British brand three years ago, will start production next year.
The company has a 10-year plan, including four new models, and will begin making a few hundred cars a year.
TVR had been looking at three sites around the UK.
Mr Jones said: "This is yet another fantastic high profile investment for Wales and a great boost for our automotive sector.
"TVR is another iconic and much loved, world-class brand that still commands a strong and loyal international following. I am delighted the next generation of TVRs will proudly bear the label Made in Wales."
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-35775158
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Gorgeous sounding and in some cases good looking though they were, they never were a gentleman's choice were they?
Pub landlord and chip shop owner's cars. In any event the sort of people who could afford a sports car but didn't actually have to rely on it actually working all the time.
Perhaps the Welsh ones will appeal to a different demographic.
;-)
Last edited by: Runfer D'Hills on Tue 22 Mar 16 at 14:22
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>> they never were a gentleman's choice were they?
>> Pub landlord and chip shop owner's cars.
A surprising swerve into snootiness by your standards Humph. You usually seem so reasonable and modest.
TVRs have to be good fun and they are modestly priced. Wish I could afford one as a pet.
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Oh you know AC, lob a stone into a pond and see what the ripples stir up sort of thing.
Not that you'd ever do that...
;-)
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That reminds me...chip shop owners indeed. Quite a few TVRs were deep fried when Central Sports Cars premises were engulfed in flames last year.
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Harrogate Horseless Carriages was a place I seem to remember seeing some back along. But I suppose they were sold to specialist delicatessen owners...
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Is that why the bodywork looked like it was made of batter?
There is something faintly uncouth about a GRP body - although Princess Anne used to have a Scimitar GTE, and there's a remarkably well preserved one (car, not princess) near me.
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>> There is something faintly uncouth about a GRP body
Yes... the thickness at the edges of the panels is strangely indelicate. Properly adjusted, undamaged metal pressings look best.
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>> >>
>> There is something faintly uncouth about a GRP body -
>>
The one on my Reliant Regal looked ok.
*sniff*
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I used to have a Westfield you know.
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>> I used to have a Westfield you know.
Mis Jones, come here and take a memo.
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>> Princess Anne used to
>> have a Scimitar GTE,
Really? Never heard that before...
TVRs I've driven always thrilled. But one had that foreboding that SOMETHING would go wrong very very soon...
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>> Princess Anne used to
>> have a Scimitar GTE,
She did, a navy blue one, not too clean. She went fast in it too - overtook me on the elevated section of the M4 once: recognizable profile, cat wearing a Savile Row suit sprawling in the back. Bodyguard I think but it was ages ago.
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Arthur Daily when selling a Scimitar - "Princess Anne has one, know what I mean?"
Arthur Daily when buying a Scimitar - "Princess Anne has one, know what I mean?"
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Covered in the Wales news tonight. The dreadful New Labour buffoon (Carwyn Jones) refusing to disclose how much it's costing taxpayers from Surrey. I look over Offa's Dyke and see that you lot have a proper reactionary Government....while we have to suffer these clueless buffoons who couldn't run a bath.
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>I look over Offa's Dyke and see
>> that you lot have a proper reactionary Government....while we have to suffer these clueless buffoons
>> who couldn't run a bath.
>>
Very good.
He makes it sound as if Wales once had a glorious world-beating car industry, now about to be resurected thanks to the forward-thinking WAG, as it is jocularly called.
I don't remember the Welsh supporting their only previous home-made car, the Gilbern.
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>> I don't remember the Welsh supporting their only previous home-made car, the Gilbern.
It wasn't a big seller anywhere and was probably only sustained for as long as it was by the pre-vat tax exemption for 'kit' cars. Gilbern went bankrupt in 1973, 25 years before a Welsh Assembly (Government) was in place. Legislative competence for industrial development wasn't in first wave of devolution either (IIRC).
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When are the WAG likely to receive "competence" in anything Bromp ? Six hours wait to get into a major A&E Monday. They couldn't deploy an Ambulance to the scene of an accident - Police had to take a child casualty to Hospital and then they had to wait 2.5 hours outside. This WAG is a joke.
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They weren't around then. I fairness there is a genuine industry in Wales (not making cars I admit) - but Ford's Bridgend factory produces most if not all of Ford Europe's petrol engines and Deeside has a Toytota plant....reckon they are turning more money over in a day than Gilbern ever did. Aston Martin are coming to St Athan.
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Ian's right, reliability always seemed questionable with TVRs.
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Neighb had a yellow Chimaera ... we called it the flying banana.
:}
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TVR = Thrills Versus Reliability.
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TVR making a comeback - Runfer D'Hills
