TVR began life as early as 1946 in Blackpool and the name is taken from the first name of it's original founder Trevor Wilkinson. For most of its life the company remained in this town, with which it became closely associated. From around 1949 until 2004 TVR produced a number of highly individual sports cars, made famous by their lightweight construction and the use of large capacity engines.

The company went through several changes of ownership and management during this period, often struggling with limited finances. It enjoyed particular success under Peter Wheeler in the 1980s and 90s, when some of it's most highly regarded models were produced, including the Cerbera, Chimaera, Tuscan and Sagaris. In 2004 ownership passed to Russian businessman Nikolay Smolensky who split the company into various parts and threatened to take production abroad, but nothing came of this. After several false dawns it was feared that the famous and much-loved marque would be lost for ever until a certain Les Edgar appeared on the scene in 2013.

Putting together a team of motor industry stalwarts, including renowned designer Gordon Murray and Cosworth, he announced the development of the first new TVR model, under his watch, in 2015. This resulted in the Griffith, a name already synonymous with TVR, which was shown to an expectant world at the 2017 Goodwood Revival meeting. The story continues, not in Blackpool, but in purpose-built premises in Ebbw Vale, close to the Circut of Wales and the first deliveries of the Griffith are expected in early 2019.