Looking at Cerb tomorrow - hpi check shows no vin
Discussion
Trying to enter the cerbera world and looking at blue cerb that's listed on PH fo sale (16500).
://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/tvr/cerbera/tvr-1997/7801593
Did a hpi check just now and it shows no vin number and 13 former owners. Bells are ringing a bit.
Is it normal for a hpi check to not have a vin number but would assume V5 would (so can check document to plate)?
I've got a 450 chimp for 5 former owners but 13 is not the norm.
Would appreciate any comments on this and if its known to the forums?
://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/tvr/cerbera/tvr-1997/7801593
Did a hpi check just now and it shows no vin number and 13 former owners. Bells are ringing a bit.
Is it normal for a hpi check to not have a vin number but would assume V5 would (so can check document to plate)?
I've got a 450 chimp for 5 former owners but 13 is not the norm.
Would appreciate any comments on this and if its known to the forums?
I don't know the car personally but from looking at the photos it all looks very tidy and the chassis appears to be in great condition
Looks like the current owner is talented with spanners as well - and interestingly it has what looks like a rear anti-roll bar fitted - which I don't remember seeing on mine but maybe it's just because it's all very shiny like the exhaust!
Looks like the current owner is talented with spanners as well - and interestingly it has what looks like a rear anti-roll bar fitted - which I don't remember seeing on mine but maybe it's just because it's all very shiny like the exhaust!
Juddder said:
I don't know the car personally but from looking at the photos it all looks very tidy and the chassis appears to be in great condition
Looks like the current owner is talented with spanners as well - and interestingly it has what looks like a rear anti-roll bar fitted - which I don't remember seeing on mine but maybe it's just because it's all very shiny like the exhaust!
You might have the upper roll bar.. Looks like the current owner is talented with spanners as well - and interestingly it has what looks like a rear anti-roll bar fitted - which I don't remember seeing on mine but maybe it's just because it's all very shiny like the exhaust!
They all came from the factory with one.
Lower rear roll bar on the early models are like that, mine is exactly the same. I think the later models went above? Looks like its been done properly with the rose jointed links? Steve heath used to sell anodised ones.
Looks very tidy and cheap in the current market. Certainly worth asking the question as to what's been done to the chassis - just a paint from underneath or actual chassis restoration.
Looks very tidy and cheap in the current market. Certainly worth asking the question as to what's been done to the chassis - just a paint from underneath or actual chassis restoration.
DVLA being what they are, maybe someone didn't write it down. Or perhaps it's had a refurbed or second hand chassis fitted? Should be one stamped in it somewhere and you can decode it to check it's the correct year, spec and engine size.
This may help but I can't vouch for it!
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=94...
This may help but I can't vouch for it!
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=94...
A high number of owners is quite often a sign of ongoing problems especially on a low miler. But it only takes one owner to get a car sorted and I thought it looked pretty good.
To me any TVR is going to need a few things doing and even they can be expensive but at 16k ish theres room. I just think you need to give it a once over, check the obvious stuff and see whats been done recently.
As said chassis' get changed as do engines but most owners will keep a record of these things as it only adds to value.
To me any TVR is going to need a few things doing and even they can be expensive but at 16k ish theres room. I just think you need to give it a once over, check the obvious stuff and see whats been done recently.
As said chassis' get changed as do engines but most owners will keep a record of these things as it only adds to value.
I like to check up on the MOT history on the DVLA website , it's nice to confirm the mileage history , https://www.check-mot.service.gov.uk/
Looks like it's worth a view
Looks like it's worth a view
I like to check up on the MOT history on the DVLA website , it's nice to confirm the mileage history , https://www.check-mot.service.gov.uk/
Looks like it's worth a view
Looks like it's worth a view
Being well versed with a chimaera and fairly decent with turning a spanner I'm not put off by doing the work myself so am willing to be that 'one'.
I agree its a lot of owners for one car. I have trouble working out what problems would bw worth the change of hands?
Its got the new front & rear lights for an early model so someone has spent money.
Current owner is 1 year into it and only 450 miles.
Chassis has been painted in places but I did the same to my chimp and oil pressure is 60psi-ish and fans kick in.
Service history to 30k.
Not sure if there's anything obvious I'm missing but looks ok and bar a bust crank can't looks good.
I agree its a lot of owners for one car. I have trouble working out what problems would bw worth the change of hands?
Its got the new front & rear lights for an early model so someone has spent money.
Current owner is 1 year into it and only 450 miles.
Chassis has been painted in places but I did the same to my chimp and oil pressure is 60psi-ish and fans kick in.
Service history to 30k.
Not sure if there's anything obvious I'm missing but looks ok and bar a bust crank can't looks good.
Chimp871 said:
Being well versed with a chimaera and fairly decent with turning a spanner I'm not put off by doing the work myself so am willing to be that 'one'.
I agree its a lot of owners for one car. I have trouble working out what problems would bw worth the change of hands?
Its got the new front & rear lights for an early model so someone has spent money.
Current owner is 1 year into it and only 450 miles.
Chassis has been painted in places but I did the same to my chimp and oil pressure is 60psi-ish and fans kick in.
Service history to 30k.
Not sure if there's anything obvious I'm missing but looks ok and bar a bust crank can't looks good.
Sometimes we're all a bit guilty of being over cautious and suspicious! I agree its a lot of owners for one car. I have trouble working out what problems would bw worth the change of hands?
Its got the new front & rear lights for an early model so someone has spent money.
Current owner is 1 year into it and only 450 miles.
Chassis has been painted in places but I did the same to my chimp and oil pressure is 60psi-ish and fans kick in.
Service history to 30k.
Not sure if there's anything obvious I'm missing but looks ok and bar a bust crank can't looks good.
13 owners is high but it's still a fair few years old... I have seen a few cars over the years that have done the rounds and it's not necessarily anything too obvious, quite often it's something elusive that is annoying rather than a known fix. Either that or chasing the rust which if the chassis is ok won't be an issue.
It would be interesting to see when the majority of owners happened, i.e if most are early on or later?
I believe this car is owned by Gary Beeton, posts on here. I searched this car myself as so cheap I considered buying alongside the Cerb I'm picking up next week! Unfortunately 14 owners ruled it out for me. It seems to be on a private plate at the moment from what I could gather, but obviously not so on the photographs from the advert. This may explain the missing VIN I would suggest as you're searching for a numberplate that currently isn't in use. I'm sure if you contact the seller he'll give you the private reg so you can search for that and bring up the vehicle details.
thanks!In the last 7 years its only had 2 owners and 11k miles.
Its had some upgrades:
Act exhaust (original also supplied)
Rota 18" wheels (have 4 originals also)
Ally radiator
Tidy inside bar drivers bolster
Vin numbers all matched.
New coil packs
Injectors cleaned
New gaz gold pros
Front and rear lights upgraded to mk2 in 2002 but fronts were not blended in so a front respray and blend-in will be needed.
Doesn't shunt but appears down on power and
a little hesitant when you put throttle down but I'm comparing to my 450. But impressed the alarm works!
Brakes are below par, really have to wham the foot down to stop fast. Doesn't appear to be a vacuum problem. Will check fluid as I can't see any purchases for brake fluid in recent history.
So it's due a service and will check tappet clearance myself to decide if this is part of the power problem and think about if I should do it myself or hand over, my naturam instinct is DIY if I find the right resouece. But I need to plug in a laptop to check throttle/air flow balance and see if both banks are balanced.
Its going to be a learning curve alright but that's part of the appeal!
Can someone tell me where I can get the right serial computer cable so I can start the diagnostic part.
Congrats.
Brakes - check what pads are in it - they really make a difference. Talk to Brummie - get some CL pads.
At what revs do you think it's down on power. If a standard engine, try it over 3K revs, don't think it'll pick up from low revs like a rover V8, it's a different beast - but third gear on song is licence limiting...
Take the lid off the ECU and see what cable. Probably just a normal male to female serial lead.
Its in the passenger footwell under a panel. Take out the carpet, pull the panel from the bottom, it's just hooked in at the top.
Brakes - check what pads are in it - they really make a difference. Talk to Brummie - get some CL pads.
At what revs do you think it's down on power. If a standard engine, try it over 3K revs, don't think it'll pick up from low revs like a rover V8, it's a different beast - but third gear on song is licence limiting...
Take the lid off the ECU and see what cable. Probably just a normal male to female serial lead.
Its in the passenger footwell under a panel. Take out the carpet, pull the panel from the bottom, it's just hooked in at the top.
Sounds a good buy! With a few things to get your teeth into
I think car parts sell the connection cable but not the software.
Anyone got any feedback on this?
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/parts-and-...
I think car parts sell the connection cable but not the software.
Anyone got any feedback on this?
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/parts-and-...
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