TVR

Trevor Wilkinson was born in Blackpool on 14 May 1923, and left school at 14 to begin an engineering apprenticeship. In 1946, he purchased a wheelwright's workshop in Beverley Grove, Blackpool, establishing an engineering business named Trevcar Motors. Initially, the company performed general engineering work, as well as servicing cars and trucks. In 1947, Jack Pickard joined the company, and Trevcar Motors was subsequently renamed TVR Engineering.

In 1949, TVR built its first original chassis, using a live axle from a Morris Eight for the rear suspension and an independent trailing-arm design for the front. The engine was a 1,172 cc Ford sidevalve from a 1936 van, tuned to 35 hp. The first car, TVR Number One, was completed in 1949 and sold to Wilkinson’s cousin for £325, but was later crashed and salvaged for parts. TVR Number Two featured a modified front suspension with wishbone control arms and a transverse leaf spring. It was purchased by a local auto enthusiast for competition use and later registered for road use in 1952, receiving a new body style, instrumentation, and Marchal headlamps. TVR Number Three, completed around the same time, was fitted with a 1,200 cc 40 hp Austin A40 engine and was driven by Wilkinson in car club events in 1952 and 1953, earning several awards.

In 1953, TVR began designing a new chassis intended to accept components from the Austin A40. This chassis was offered as a kit with a fiberglass body, initially with an RGS Atalanta body, named the "TVR Sports Saloon" and sold for £650 in 1954. The company also sold kits with Microplas Mistal and Rochdale bodies. In 1955, TVR developed a new semi-spaceframe chassis with a central backbone and independent Volkswagen Beetle suspension, leading to a letter from Ray Saidel in Manchester, New Hampshire, expressing interest in a chassis fitted with a Coventry Climax FWA engine. This car, the first of several designated "Jomar Mk2", arrived in the US in June 1956. In 1958, the TVR Coupe was displayed at H & J Quick Ltd in Manchester, and was reported to be able to reach 60 mph in 13 seconds. The Grantura Mark 1 was introduced in 1958, with engine options including Ford and Austin units, and was sold in the US as the "Jomar Coupe" or "Jomar Gran Turismo Coupe".

In October 1964, a dock strike in the US severely damaged Jack Griffith's ability to import cars, and Griffith was unable to meet his financial obligations to Ford, which stopped supplying drivetrain components. This led to the severing of ties with TVR. In January 1965, a fire broke out in the TVR factory, causing approximately £200,000 worth of damage and disrupting production. In 1965, TVR collapsed, but was purchased by Arthur and Martin Lilley in November of the same year. In 1975, a second fire broke out in the TVR factory, destroying several cars and components, and setting back production.

Trevor Wilkinson retired after selling TVR Engineering in 1962, and moved to Menorca, Spain, where he died on 6 June 2008, aged 85.

In 1963, TVR began development of a sports estate model, the Zante, styled by Oliver Winterbottom and engineered by Mike Bigland, but the project was cancelled due to cost and ergonomic concerns. In 2022, TVR announced plans to produce an electric SUV and saloon in addition to the Griffith.