Topic: Solved - MJW #696 - TVR Sports Saloon 1954 with an R.G.S. body

[woodinsight]

I can't believe this one hasn't been posted before - I couldn't find it on a search.
Anyway please identify the make, year and the body used.

[Jean-Marie H]

AUSTIN A 90 ATLANTIC based ?   

[woodinsight]

AUSTIN A 90 ATLANTIC based ?   

It did use many Austin parts but not the A90 Atlantic (hint - a smaller one)

[woodinsight]

Dare I say it but this should be an easy point for an Expert

[tonyola]

This car is a c. 1954 TVR 1200cc Sports Saloon with fiberglass bodywork by RGS Atalanta.

[woodinsight]

This car is a c. 1954 TVR 1200cc Sports Saloon with fiberglass bodywork by RGS Atalanta.

It certainly is!

and the unaltered photo -

[Allemano]

The car has survived.
(I never would have matched that pic to the puzzle car, though)

[Otto Puzzell]

I like the mustache - could have come from the pen of John Lasseter, had he been around in '54. 

[Carnut]

I was looking forward to solving this one but suppose it never really had a chance of reaching the pros!

Wasn't the Austin on which it was loosely based an A40 Somerset?

[woodinsight]

I was looking forward to solving this one but suppose it never really had a chance of reaching the pros!

Wasn't the Austin on which it was loosely based an A40 Somerset?

I was surprised it lasted so long but I suppose very few photos have been of the rear view.
It was loosely based on the A40 Somerset.

[barrett]

I was looking forward to solving this one but suppose it never really had a chance of reaching the pros!

You weren't the only one...

I have the colour photo here but I didn't realise it was the same car. Was this the only one with a closed body? I know a handful of these early TVRs had the RGS body but I guess most of them were the more normal roadster style. Come to think of it, I'm not sure if I've ever seen this body style except on this car. I think there is also an RGS bodied Riley that may have been a puzzle here quite recently but I seem to remember it looking quite different from behind

[woodinsight]

I was looking forward to solving this one but suppose it never really had a chance of reaching the pros!

You weren't the only one...

I have the colour photo here but I didn't realise it was the same car. Was this the only one with a closed body? I know a handful of these early TVRs had the RGS body but I guess most of them were the more normal roadster style. Come to think of it, I'm not sure if I've ever seen this body style except on this car. I think there is also an RGS bodied Riley that may have been a puzzle here quite recently but I seem to remember it looking quite different from behind

According to Graham Robson's book "TVRs - Vol. 1 Grantura to Taimar", three Sports Saloons were built out of the 20 cars built on the Austin A40 basis. Others had bodies by Rochdale and Microplas - presumably open roadsters.

[woodinsight]

I was looking forward to solving this one but suppose it never really had a chance of reaching the pros!

You weren't the only one...

I have the colour photo here but I didn't realise it was the same car. Was this the only one with a closed body? I know a handful of these early TVRs had the RGS body but I guess most of them were the more normal roadster style. Come to think of it, I'm not sure if I've ever seen this body style except on this car. I think there is also an RGS bodied Riley that may have been a puzzle here quite recently but I seem to remember it looking quite different from behind

Then again in Peter Filby's book "TVR - Success Against the Odds", considered the TVR bible in its day, Filby talks about two Sports Saloons being built, one the puzzle car and another for an Army lieutenant stationed in Greece.
He goes on to tell us that no two TVRs were the same and the different bodies all had to be adapted to fit the chassis.
He doesn't go into exact numbers for bodies supplied except to say that RGS supplied both Sports Saloon and roadster bodywork, Rochdale offered two varieties of body and Mistral bodies were fitted to four chassis.
According to Graham Robson's book "TVRs - Vol. 1 Grantura to Taimar", three Sports Saloons were built out of the 20 cars built on the Austin A40 basis. Others had bodies by Rochdale and Microplas - presumably open roadsters.

[tonyola]

Here's a period magazine ad for the TVR...