15 June 2009 - 16:00
Ex-TVR boss dies
Clarkson has just emailed us with a tribute to his friend, ex-TVR boss, Peter Wheeler, who passed away last week following a short battle with illness:
'I used to shoot with Peter. He was a damn good host, and was so fit,
striding up and down the hills as though they weren't there. I bet that
wherever he is now, he's cross he didn't live to see the end of the
Labour Government that he hated so much.'
Wheeler was chairman of the Blackpool sports car company from 1980 until 2004, turning TVR from a tiny operation into a well-recognised, oft-infamous marque with a generation of lightweight, powerful cars including the Chimaera, Griffith, Cerbera, Tuscan and Sagaris.
After selling TVR to Russian businessman Nikolai Smolensky in 2004, Wheeler continued to dabble in the world of gently daft cars, creating the giant, cockroach-like amphibious ‘Scamander' in 2008 (pictured). He was a passionate racer, too, competing in a classic Aston Martin DB4 until recently.
Wheeler worked closely with Top Gear for many years: the very first issue of Top Gear magazine featured a Griffith 500 on the cover, while Peter and Jeremy remained good friends despite occasional, er, disagreements about cars.
Wheeler was a true legend of the British car industry and will be greatly missed. Top Gear's condolences go out to his family.
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how sad tvr wos arsem car maker
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how sad tvr wos arsem car maker
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Men like him are few these days. Peter Wheeler, gone but never forgotten. RIP
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aww :( RIP I love TVRs, they're so bonkers and awesome.
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R.I.P. Some brilliant cars came about because of this man. Lets just hope TVR continues to make awsome cars under that ownership of this russian bloke.
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RIP Peter Wheeler - you made the bast TVRs, including the Speed 12 that had 800bhp/tonne. Is TVR actually still going?
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Mr. Wheeler - may youre soul rest in peace.You brought us many exciting , powerfull and fast cars, I hope your name will not be forgotten in all your work.
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R.I.P Peter Wheeler
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Wow... this was just so out of the blue. He hasn't even been ill for long. I hope that this Russian bloke creates some kind of tribute car for this guy. The TVR Wheeler - I would buy one =P RIP, you absolute legend of motoring!
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One of the last proper mavericks. It's said that he decided to develop his own engine purely because he didn't fancy using the Rover V8 after Rover got taken over by BMW. And he built some splendidly bonkers cars. He'll be missed.
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The death of a motoring legend is always sad. It's like Carrol Shelby kicking the bucket. RIP Peter Wheeler, gone but never forgotten.
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TVR: Proper sports cars, fabulously mixing beauty and ferociousness. RIP Peter Wheeler.
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RIP Mr Wheeler. He made some seriously cool stuff. The front of a Tuscan makes me do that thing Homer S. does when he thinks of a big Ice Cream or hotdog. Just thinking about owning one makes be burst out laughing. One of the last car makers with testes.
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Gibby commented on this article
12 June 2009
RIP dragged TVR into making some of the worlds greatest cars!
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