Latest news

‘Photos don’t do her justice – she is a car of such presence’. Naturally, Howard’s White Elephant causes a sensation on virtually every journey, and even in his home village, people stop on the pavement and mouth ‘what is it?’. Such reactions are quite understandable, for that elegant coachwork has no TVR badges. And incredibly, just seventeen years ago, this unique piece of Blackpool Thunder was languishing in the ‘TVR Graveyard’.

The White Elephant dates from 1988 and:

she was built as a one-off for TVR’s Managing Director Peter Wheeler. He was looking for something different, while his Chief Designer John Ravenscourt wanted to experiment with new technology to speed up the design process.  This was the company’s first attempt at using quick-drying foam to create a new shape in the fastest possible time, something which TVR subsequently used to design all future models.

Perhaps the most distinctive aspect of the White Elephant is the bodywork. Howard remarks that it uses the nose of the failed 1986 420 Sports Saloon Motor Show car, and the lines of F120 SCK reflect a long line of TVR grand tourers. Indeed, from certain angles, the Bryan TVR is faintly reminiscent of the 1965 Trident. A further break with tradition came with the power plant, for instead of a Rover 3.5-litre engine, the White Elephant employed a Holden 5-Litre V8.

This was a logical decision; the Rover SD1 ceased production in 1986, and only some Land-Rovers now used the famous ex-Buick engine. However, General-Motors-Holden planned to create a high-performance version of their VL-Series Commodore for the Bathurst Race Series, and this unit seemed perfect for the latest TVR.  A significant advantage was that it complied with US emissions regulations - essential for any future North American exports – and its specification included electronic fuel injection and a lightweight crankshaft.

Yet, the Blackpool concern ultimately decided against putting this quite awe-inspiring 185 mph machine into production. One problem was the logistics of importing engines and parts from Australia, while the “rounded-off Wedge” profile was already looking dated by the late 1980s. By 1991 TVR opted to build a new version of the Griffith based on the “S” chassis, and they despatched the White Elephant to their Birmingham main dealership “Team Central” as a show car.

On returning to Blackpool, the White Elephant was employed as a factory hack before being relegated to the factory’s Graveyard. When Howard came across her in 2001, the car was not in the best of conditions. ‘The engine bay was sans a bonnet, and mice were nesting in the valley of the V8’.  Furthermore, ‘the rear screen had been donated to another TVR and a small tree had started growing out of the boot’.

Three years later, Howard managed to negotiate the White Elephant’s purchase from Peter Wheeler, just one week before he sold TVR to Nikolai Smolenski. Howard then embarked on a complete nut and bolt restoration. One of the many fascinating elements about The White Elephant is that it was built for one owner’s requirements. Mr. Bryan points out the special accommodation for Wheeler’s gun dog and his hunting rifles.

When Sam Dawson tested the TVR for Classic Car, he noted, ‘It was only ever intended for 6ft 6in Wheeler, so the position of the driver’s seat, steering wheel and pedals are all fixed’. His report concluded, ‘the White Elephant is the missing link between the fast yet blunt instruments of the past and its more sophisticated but still wild supercars of the Nineties’. It is a description that perfectly encapsulates a vital model in TVR’s history – their answer to Aston Martin and an example of their sheer ambition.

Today, the Grand Tourer that Howard affectionately calls Nelly more than lives up to his expectations, and it is an ever-present part of Blackpool Thunder Car Club. To see photos of the White Elephant is to be reminded there is not another car like it in the world – and why TVR is such an important name in the history of the British motor industry.

With Thanks To: Howard Bryan and Blackpool Thunder Car Club

Why choose Lancaster Insurance?

Here at Lancaster, we love classic cars as much as you do and we understand what it takes to protect them for future generations.

We have links with some of the top classic car clubs around the country and some of our policies even offer discounts of up to 25% for club members.

Other benefits of classic car insurance through Lancaster can include:

• Historic rally cover
• Static show cover
• Limited mileage discounts
• Choice of repairer
• 24-hour claims helpline

Give your classic the protection it deserves and get a quote for your classic today.