Trevor Wilkinson, TVR founder, dead at 85

Trevor Wilkinson, who founded the British sports car marque, TVR, has died at the age of 85 in Minorca, Spain, where he lived in retirement. Mr. Wilkinson had apparently been seriously ill, according to reports. He built his business in his hometown of Blackpool, and the company name, TVR, is just an abbreviation of his first name. It's first production car was the Grantura (above).

Trevor WilkinsonWilkinson left TVR in 1962 but remained owner until 1965, when the first in a succession of subsequent bosses took the reins. The one constant, however, has been the name -- his name -- that Trevor Wilkinson gave the company all those years ago, which has since appeared on some pretty impressive cars along the way. Rest in peace, Mr. Wilkinson.