Autoblog

It seems that the never-ending story of TVR has been given a new chapter. Russian Nikolai Smolenski, just days after selling the company, has bought it back for an additional £2 million. This time he has additional backing from two Americans. CAR Magazine interviewed all three of them to get the whole story in their own words.

Smolenski, apparently, will be a part-time partner. Jean Michel Santacrue and Adam Burdette from Florida will eventually take over the operation, with Smolenski backing away after he recovers some of the £15 million he has dumped into the company so far. The Americans, meanwhile, plan to reintroduce and grow the marque. They say the plan is to sell 5,000 cars a year. They even say they already have 2,000 pre-orders from American buyers. A U.S. dealer network is also said to be in the works. Of the 5,000 units annually, 2,000 will go to the U.S., 2,000 to Asia, and 1,000 to Europe. Cars are expected to reach dealers as early as the end of this year or possibly the beginning of 2008.

Follow the jump for the rest of the story.

[Source: Car Magazine]

We'll parrot our friends over at Hemmings Auto Blog when they say, "Now it's just getting ridiculous." After Nikolai Smolenski bought back what assets were left of TVR last week, we're now getting word from Autocar that Adam Burdette and Jean Michel Santacreu, owners of Evolution Imports, have bought the quirky sports car manufacturer.

The duo has a history of importing "grey market" vehicles Stateside, and they have long sought to bring TVRs to U.S. consumers. How will they succeed actually running an automaker? Ummmm... we're not saying we're worried -– okay, yeah, we are.

[Source: Autocar via Hemmings]

The soap opera that has been the recent history of TVR has taken another turn. The administrators of PKF Partners have announced the sale TVR's asset's to none other Nikolai Smolenski, the previous owner who oversaw the failure of the company in the first place. The sale price hasn't been released, but is believed to be over £2 million.

Smolenski has signaled his intention to resume production of TVRs outside of England, probably in Italy with Bertone doing the assembly work. Al Melling, who had previously designed many of TVRs engines, was another bidder, but Smolenski offered more money and in the end, won back the quirky automaker.

[Source: CAR]

You may have noticed our post Wednesday about TVR's owner Nikolai Smolenski losing his trademark rights and certain tooling. Yesterday, it was revealed that the entire company is, in fact, for sale. Expected bidders include Al Melling and possibly even Nikolai Smolenski rebidding.

Al Melling recently revealed his Melling Hellcat (could it be released as a TVR?), powered by a 1200 bhp, quad-turbo V10 engine, and has designed TVR V8 and in-line six-cylinder engines. He said, "I'd need the old workforce... it would take between six and 12 months to get the place back in full production, but I'd never expect to make more than 10-15 cars a week, two-thirds of which would be sold in the US." He also said the Sagaris and Griffith would be the two models they'd concentrate on.

Related:

• Melling Hellcat supercar unveiled!
• TVR's trademarks swiped from teenage Russian owner

[Source: Autocar]

A new Autocar item is saying that the next-generation of TVRs will be built by Bertone in Italy, using Ricardo-produced engines. This comes on the heels of reports that the tiny manufacturer was leaving the UK. And that announcement followed the initial declaration that the firm would remain British. Nikolai Smolenski made the announcement yesterday that the current factory in Blackpool would be shut down. French and Russian plants have been rumored as potential sites, but Autocar's sources believe that Italian coachbuilder Bertone will be used to produce the '07 Sagaris, Tuscan and Tuscan convertible in Turin.

According to TVR, drivetrain production will remain in the UK. Autocar supposes that Ricardo will build a production line to supply new Euro IV emissions compatible motors. Ricardo is already working on bringing the TVR engines up to those standards, so going one step further and actually building them for TVR makes sense. Still, the fact that another British marque has left the island must sting the monarchy just a bit.

[Source: Autocar]

Thanks for the tip, Dino!

It appears the on-again, off-again prospect of TVR possibly closing its doors has boosted sales of the British sports car brand. Sales are up so much, in fact, that TVR has rehired the workers it temporarily, then permanently, laid off back in April.

TVR says the upsurge in sales occurred when the company announced its relocation plans, but we're of the mind that collectors wanted to hoard the remaining models being produced. Either way, the influx of funds has allowed Nikolai Smolenski, TVR's owner and CEO, to bring his workers back into the fold.

TVR is currently relocating its factory, but has made an arrangement with Blackpool officials to remain within the city's boundaries. Mr. Smolenski also expressed his determination to expand TVR's lineup and grow its distribution throughout all of Europe and the U.S.

[Source: 4Car]

TVR's lineup of sporting machines are known for their ability to give owners the potential of a speedy getaway. But the British automaker's owner, Russian Nikolai Smolenski, is being afforded no such courtesy by Blackpool authorities who remain eager to keep the firm's operations in town.

The town's council chiefs reportedly met last week with various TVR bigwigs in an eleventh-hour bid to convince the sportscar builder not to close its Bristol Avenue factory, stranding some 260 employees. A move to another part of Britain or another global location remains on the table.

Among TVR's wishes is rumored to be a larger site with more acreage for future expansion, along with improved access to roads and an airport. A deal has been tendered to TVR by city officials, but the issue remains undecided. Neither the city nor the company has set a timetable to resolve the issue.

[Sources: Blackpool Today; TVRFreak.com]