Reawakening the craziest TVR of them all, the Scamander, plus the Wheeler's secret TVR collection
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- čas přidán 24. 02. 2024
- The amphibious TVR Scamander was Peter Wheeler's craziest car of all. Designed to be equally happy tearing around his farm, across challenging roads and yet be able to take him to his boat in the middle of a lake. I join Peter's son, Joe Wheeler, to see if we can awake the Scamander after 12 years of lying dormant.
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Back in the late 80' or early 90's, I went to the British Motorshow in Birmingham. I was on the TVR stand and I asked this tall gentleman if the new TVR was faster than my Lotus Esprit Turbo. Not knowing it was Peter Wheeler, he said I'll show you... He jumped in a car, and took me for a blast up the nearest motorway and back. I'll never forget that, what a true British gentleman. We need more Peter Wheelers in this day and age.
Great story fella!
Was it faster? And did you purchase the car?
@@sapienproductionsit felt no faster and less exotic... I kept the Lotus
Probably my all time favourite Harry’s Garage video. It is truly heartwarming to hear Peter’s name still mentioned, one of the last true English eccentric geniuses, they just don’t make them like him anymore. All the very best to the Wheeler family, and thank you for the 14 years (and counting) of TVR ownership.
I wasn’t going to watch til I saw your comment .thanks
Another thank you to Peter Wheeler from me. Owning a TVR Chimaera for three years back in the 1990s was the most fun motoring I've ever had.
I started smiling at the start of the video and was still smiling at the very end. It's just impossible not to when it came to Peter and what he managed to achieve.
It is over used now on Linked In when they say " passionate about " but Peter was.
He lived the dream we all have.
Brother has had his TVR Vixen since 1980 ! Went back on the road last weekend after a 10 year rebuild to a 400bhp V8 .........
So nice to see Harry hang out with his friend's son like this. Beautiful video in many ways.
Not to mention Harry's reunion with an old Scamanderian friend.
Really miss Peter wheeler, his cars and way of doing business.
RIP Peter.
Best of luck to the Wheeler family for the future.
Many suppliers don't miss his way of doing business, but I miss the product he put out.
Hopefully Joe realizes how lucky he is to have Peter as a father. Seems like a nice kid. Just hella jealous of him.
Peter Wheelers "way of doing business" is ultimately what killed the company. Have you ever read the way he conducted business? I love TVR, and he absolutely oversaw the companys golden age, but he also contributed to their downfall.
@@MrManBuzzwhat did he do idk much about how they did business
@@BabyJesus66 He had major disputes with suppliers (ie TVR didn't pay them)
And there's the whole thing of the customer being beta testers. They knew the cars weren't often ready but pushed them out the door anyway.
What a very nice young man. He father would be proud.
The Scamander reminds me of something that would come out of one of the pods in Thunderbird 2! The automotive world is a much duller place without Peter Wheeler and TVR.
Or captain Scarlet😊
Theres a current Electric 4x4 from China arriving that can also swim .. but nowhere as cool as this. It would be easier and more power as a twin electric motor set up.
How come no one built an SPV replica 😂🧙♂️🇬🇧
To be the craziest of the TVR fleet is truly an accomplishment.
That was such a lovely story Joe told about going to the dealership. I'm sure they had a tough time when Peter passed, and, as a TVR fan in my teenager years, with every car magazine going back in the 90s, it's a delight to see the Wheeler family looking so well. I wish them all the best.
I think the dealership was HHC (Hexham Horseless Carriage) in Northhumberland. Tony Abrahams the owner had a call from Mrs Wheeler saying she wanted a Sagaris for her son. That must be the ultimate call to have received.
Harry really makes some amazing videos. Peter Wheeler's "little" lad, all grown up and studying engineering (and racing). So heartwarming. It must be awful losing your dad at that age, especially someone who people must tell you so much about, and what they did. I hope we see more of the Scamander at one or two summer shows with Joe at the wheel, and I hope the racing career goes from strength to strength too!
What a nice lad Joe is.
Amazing video, imagine going to the TVR dealership at 8 years old and getting to pick out your own future vehicles with your sisters!! Their father’s legacy is amazing. Such a touching story, thanks for sharing all involved.
That wire in front of the roller shutter gave me a mini panic, thought I’d cracked my screen 😂
Same 😂😂
Same
Many thanks to Joe for doing this and allow Henry to film it. Joe seems to be a very nice young man and it must have been so cool growing up with a father that was such an automotive genius. Thank you Harry and Joe for brightening my day.
The sad reality is that he did not grow up with his father... Peter Wheeler was taken from us and more importantly from his family way too soon. Thankfully his son seems to have caught some of his late father's spirit!
Who needs Cybertruck when we could have Scamander. I'd buy that. Great stuff again Harry!
What a legend Peter was....quite an act to follow.
Well done Harry.....very respectful.
Not so sure, I got the distinct impression that the boy didn't want to start the vehicle up before getting it serviced, he said as much, but Metcalfe pressured him.
As a father of 4 adult children, it’s so nice to see the next generation of car enthusiasts talking and Joe also seems like a great racing driver too….
Back in 1979, I bought a black TVR 3000S (convertible) and later drove to the TVR factory in Blackpool to have some work done. While I was there, I met Peter Wheeler and was really pleased to discover what a nice man he was. It was also great to see all the busy work going on, including the fiberglass molds and tubular chassis' being constructed. I must say, that TVR was one of the best cars I have ever owned, and not only would it beat 911's off the lights, but because they were so rare, when I parked it (with the rag top and frame completely off) in front of a Ferrari 308 GTS one sunny day, it was my TVR that gathered an admiring crowd.
Also, on one of my many trips returning from Manchester to London, I wanted to see how fast I could do the journey. From Manchester City Centre, to my home in a Western London suburb, with one petrol stop, slowing down for lane hoggers and M1 road works, I managed the 200 mile door-to-door journey, in 1 hour 58 minutes. Fortunately, no speed cameras back then, just cops with radar guns. Happy days!
Yet another OTSOT by Harry!
Sweet, sweet otsot
We live not far from here. Peter and his family have done some great work for the area, they should be very proud. He also made some pretty bonkers cars too!
Brilliant!!👍😀 We need more Peter Wheelers' in the motor industry! So good to see his family still cherish his cars and his legacy. I'd LOVE to be there at the MOT station when the Scamander rolls up to be tested!😂😂👍
It was weird enough just getting a regular TVR MOT’d, never mind that awesome thing.
What a great vid and Peter Wheeler would be very proud of his son.
Awesome vehicle. Thanks for that Harry. TVR was such a loss.
I know there are questions around some of his business practices, but what Peter Wheeler achieved with TVR really was incredible. When he took over, the brand was simply unheard of outside the car enthusiast community, yet by the end of his tenure they were in race series, and going head to head in group tests with the likes of Porsche, and more than holding their own. They made it into Hollywood films, computer games, and mainstream public consciousness. And even today, people love them. I get endless positive reaction and comments when out and about in mine, and often asked to "give it a rev". The affection that still exists in the UK towards this company and its cars is remarkable. They're just "happy" cars, and within a few miles, despite the glaring faults in the way it's built and engineered in places, mine plasters a silly smile on my face and makes me feel like all is right with the world.
The most impressive thing is that he achieved all this without multi million pound R&D and marketing budgets, and without toning the cars down, or compromising on the things that people loved about TVRs. The styling, the noise, the theatre and the exhilarating driving experience, and the sense of humour that is not far beneath the surface and makes the cars so special to own and drive. Every single TVR has always been a bit mad, and very much does things its own way, and cars like this, and the crazy Speed 12 simply couldn’t have been made by anybody else.
You can’t help wondering how things would’ve turned out if it had ended up in the hands of somebody with Wheeler’s dedication, vision and approach, and who could just nail down the quality control details, and perhaps "conventionalised" the business side of things, which were really the only missing pieces of the puzzle at the end.
That was great fun. Despite being a former TVR owner, I had never heard of this. Lovely to see the Wheeler family cars too.
Likewise, despite being a former TVR owner and long time enthusiast, I’d never heard of the Scamander either. Every day’s a school day! 🙂
Peter was a mad genius and the TVRs of his era are truly some of the most striking, and in many cases, beautiful of exotic sports cars ever made.
Joe seems like a great kid and a chip off the ole block. Best of luck to him and the whole Wheeler family.
Fantastic video, thank you.
What a lovely, level-headed, clever young lad!
Great video again! Great to see the proud of his son. Peter would be proud of him! 🇬🇧
Great to see! TVR bonkersness at its best!! Great to see Joe walking in his father’s footsteps and wow looks like his sisters have got some taste too! 👏
Your Barbour jacket zip needs sound deadening 😂
Seconded!
Belstaff…
WD-40
How nice of you gentlemen to point out the real important aspects of this video.
@@hendrikrupp3985 are you offended? 😂
I love TVRs, having owned a Vixen S1, a 2500m , and now languishing in my garage a Tasmin 280i. They are a true British sports car.
I saw Peter Wheeler many years ago at a motor show on the TVR stand. I was quite starstruck. Tall man too!
I met him there too, we went upstairs and he gently suggested I should put a Griff deposit down 'they will never be as affordable as this again' referring to launch price..
This is wonderful. This is true passion about cars. What a legend TVR was!! The kid is awesome. Like his father.
I had a lovely long chat years ago with a tall moustachioed chap in a tweed jacket at the NEC, Motorshow. I desperately wanted a TVR Cerbera at the time and told him it was the most beautiful car among the many delicious TVRs that I’d ever seen. Shook his hand, giving my name whereupon he gave me his, Peter Wheeler…
That is one of the most British things I’ve ever watched 😊. Well done, lads !
I was thinking just that. They are the only nation I can think of that loves rewarding failure in this twee way.
I have fond memories of saying hello to Peter as he filled something lovely up with fuel at the Garage in Longridge where I did my apprenticeship , usually on his way home to Clitheroe from Blackpool. He always smiled and said hello :) I think i was 19 or 20 back then , would have been 1999-2001 i think if my memory serves.
Learning more about him in my older years through books and articles on the internet makes me regret not asking more questions...
Lovely to see this video , nice work all.
Which garage? Syd Brown's, Bonds? Irelands (they used to have petrol pumps).
Ha ha, I have a story about Peter at a garage, but this time, Chatburn roundabout BP in Clitheroe. It was a Sunday evening in 2004, and I was filling up and in came a yellow Chimaera, not new S reg, Peter unwound himself and went to fill it up. As soon as he pulled the trigger, petrol ran straight out onto the forecourt. He opened the boot and hit the fuel tank very hard, just once, and carried on filling, leak fixed. I said, " Is that the official fix, Peter?", "Yep" came the reply, with a big grin.
Great video, Harry. Being local, I knew of the existence of the barn, but obviously, I've never seen the contents before.
Bonds of Longridge yes@@TachyonDriver
@@bolf cool! Tom was looking over my 1982 Silver Spirit a bit ago. But we digress!
Love to see it. The Wheeler era TVRs were incredible, and he seems a great chap. A Tuscan is definitely in my lotto win garage
The juxtaposition of the green mini, the farmyard House and then that thing! Wonderful.
Thanks Joe.
Now that's a barn find!
I enjoyed Joe's appreciation of his father
Pure love right there 🙏👍
Thanks Harry great video
Peter wheeler is the absolute legend in motoring. Thank you Joe . Thank you Harry
It's heartwarming to see him drive his dad's creation.
It also helps that I'm a huge GT3 fan.
Throwback to the Evo diaries!
What an awesome piece of design that James Bond wouldn’t look out of place in 🏴👍🏻
Its amazing how much like Peter Joe is. So many similarities in how he acts and holds himself.
I only met Peter a couple of times sadly but he was a true gent and great man. Completely off his trolley and all the better for it.
Joe’s a fantastic guy, really impressive endeavour.
This is so heartwarming. Harry is such a great encourager. A true English gentleman. Oh that we had thousands more like him. The young man is also so well spoken and mannerly.
I love that Peter's kids are taking the baton, partly just by driving TVRs and also Joe doing some excellent stuff. Super cool that he's been getting it back to life. It's been years since I thought about the Scamander but as soon as I saw the thumbnail I felt like I was spotting a famous movie character or something! It still looks built for a sci-fi film.
What a great surprise. I had no idea of this vehicle. As a long time 'Wheeler period' TVR owner I have so much respect for this gentleman and what he & the workers in Blackpool did.
Super cool. Amazing thing and to be honest as "old" as it is the design is actually really quite clever and forward thinking and maybe could be adapted to a military or mountain/offroad rescue purpose.
What a delightful young man!
Love TVR
Amazing video. Thanks Harry, Cameraman and of course Thank You Joe Wheeler
Loved this. Especially enjoyed the sons story about the TVR dealership. Great choice.
Fantastic its Sunday afternoon time and a new video from Harry!!
That thing is absolutely *********** AWESOME - the man was a true genius
I smiled all the way through this episode 🙂
Harry and Joe,
Thank you very much, what a brilliant video.
Peter was the Willy Wonka of motoring.
What a joyous video, what a marvellous 'car' - pure 'Gerry Anderson' made real (Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlett, Joe 90 - if you are too young).
It will be great to see it back on the road and waterway.
Joe is adorable!....great video Harry!
A superb video for an amazing brand. His son is credit to his father's legacy.
My son has my Speed 12 Model sitting proudly on his desk, his favourite car by a mile.
What an incredible machine! A fine example of British ingenuity.
With how flooded the roads have been this probably is the car of the future...
Marvellous piece of off-the-wall innovation.
Well done Joe. So well presented. Great video. You and Harry will make a good team .Good luck.
That's fantastic! Good luck Joe in getting it back on the road/water. It's a bit bonkers and I flippin love it!
Very cool!! What a nice lad Joe is also
Just shows you what we lost, Peter Wheeler was one of motoring greats, his ingenuity and raw talent for knowing what true drivers wanted from a car, just a shame we dont have him, or his company anymore. That Scamanda would of been an amazing bit of kit with a wide variety of military and commercial uses, and as previously mentioned what a credit to his father Joe seems to be
Fantastic guys, loved my TVR over the 8 years I owned it. RIP Peter. Cheers Harry.
What an amazing journey on this episode. Never heard of its existence, so thank you very much for this gem.
Absolutely brilliant - one of the very best Harry's Garage videos ever if not the best. An Englishman at his best in Peter Wheeler, his son Joe and add in Harry - top mix.
So cool. So bonkers. So brilliant !
That car is completely and utterly mental - and I absolutely love it!!
This is amazing! I love Peter's mind and will!!!
Peter Wheeler was some kind of mad genius and cleverer than he often gets credit for
This was a really good video. I loved the family trip to the dealership to buy cars for the future! Bravo to Joe for carrying on the family legacy.
🆒😎👍! His designs where light-years ahead.
Never heard of the Scamander before this video, it looks like a modern concept car never mind one made over 15 years ago!! TVR's really are timeless when it comes to design
What a treat! A lovely young fella, his dad would be proud. Very enjoyable thank you for sharing Harry.
Never seen one before. I WANT ONE!
That thing is insane. It's like a futuristic car created for a sci-fi film.
Loved this , especially the storey about going to the TVR dealer to choose a car to remember their Dad .
Peter Wheeler - the James Dyson of the British motoring world! Excellent stuff. Saw him thrash TVR's around Oulton Park a few times. Top man all round.
What a great family heritage and story... Jonny Smith won't be happy with losing out on a "barn find" such as this!
Wonderful. Thank you. The Trough of Bowland is one of my favourite places to ride a motorbike or drive a car. It's a bit nadgery in truth but I spent a lot of time when I was in my late teens racing through there on my 125 and 250. Such happy days. A beautiful part of the country.
Thanks, amazing car, Peter Wheeler was a talented man.
I recognised that little bit of off road as the Salter fell route over the top of Bowland.
Being 6 ft 5" myself I always admired Peter for building cars he (and thus me ) could actually fit in.
I remember Peter talking about this car!
Awesome video. This is one TVR id never heard of. I love TVR and the Peter Wheeler era for me was the best.
That looks absolutely awesome!
What an innovator, hope his son carries this build and uses his own modern expertise to enhance what is already an amazing machine. Thanks for sharing.
Not so sure the son has any expertise sadly.
@@rogerfield4521 Oh Roger 🤦🏻♂️…. The young man drives in the GT 4 series, has just come 4th in the Dubai 24 hr race for Bentley, is studying engineering at Bentley….. Pray tell ROGER …. What’s your area of expertise? Bed wetting does not count!
How have I never heard of the Scamander?
I absolutely love this wacky thing. It looks like it should be bouncing around some alien landscapes on a distant planet. And what a fascinating treasure trove that little garage is. Wonderful.
Designed by Gerry Anderson for Captain Scarlet, perhaps! Bloody marvelous, mate !
Thunderbirds are go! Brilliant!
Brilliant to see this again after all this time. Can't wait to see more of it in future videos
Agreed. Mr M: please give us a detailed film on the design of this superb vehicle and a road/field test of it once it has been recommissioned!
Epic as always. Thank you Harry & Joe
How stoked did young Joe look, fantastic vid, can't imagine many others out there could've done it. Cheers.
Well said.
What a day out?! Bentley works driver and that car! Thanks to the wheeler family for reminding us of Peters great vision.
The Scamander seems remarkably well-engineered and surprisingly well finished! If Peter Wheeler was still alive, I'm sure he'd have put it into production.
What an absolutely extraordinary vehicle! Excellent!!
I have been into cars since I was 4 or 5 (32years) and I my favorite part about it is learning something new nearly every day. Thanks, Harry!
im sure i can remember this from the first time round, great bit of TVR past, and to think its all still works, be proud of your dad's toys.