Pretend Investment - 2001 TVR CERBERA 4.5 RED ROSE

Pretend Investment - 2001 TVR CERBERA 4.5 RED ROSE

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Sterillium

Original Poster:

22,331 posts

240 months

Help, I feel like I might be about to do something stupid.

I'm looking at this Cerbera, which is currently up for sale at £41k.



I've always fancied a Cerb and having had a few Chims in the past, I'm sure
I would love it.

Thing is, it would mean moving £41k from a relatively sensible investment into a 25 year old monster that will probably try to kill me on a daily basis. So, realistically, how well do you think this would hold it's value for a few years, if I completely ignore the running costs?

I know there's Cerbs out there for much less, but would this be a better bet for resale in a few years time because it's rarer?

All advice welcome.

(If I buy this, I'll be sleeping in the garage with it for at least a year, until SWMBO cools off)

Stick Legs

7,312 posts

180 months

TVR values are not falling.

Get a good one & look after it & they will cover themselves.

No one is going to make a million, they aren’t the next F40, but the garbage has either been scrapped or crashed. They are pretty, fun, rare, maintainable, and crucially in a modern world where even Ferrari are abandoning 3 pedal Manual gear boxes - analogue.

The economy is poor, but good TVRs are selling for good money.

The Wheeler era is well recognised as the golden years for TVR, the generation who grew up being given ‘Clarkson unleashed on cars’ on VHS for Christmas or playing Gran Turismo And staying awake into the small hours just trying to keep a Griffith on the track, let alone controlling the Speed-12 are coming to an age where the would be buying the classic they always wanted (the Men-o-porsche).

The huge amount of positive interest my Griffith gets from everyone shows that TVR are loved & remembered.

The economy will pick up one day. Then they are off to the races.

I predict that in 2030 you’ll be looking at a good original Tuscan & Cerbera at £75k, a Griffith at £50k and Chimaeras at £40k.

Sagaris will be the star, and will go £150k+ in the next 10 years.

I’m screen shotting this post & will prepare to admit I’m wrong…

…but I don’t think I am.

keynsham

339 posts

286 months

I am not so sure that expensive TVR's are selling at all at the moment, at least that seems to be the feedback on this forum. In general, the classic and collectors market values are dropping and could drop a lot further, especially for those who see fit to spend £50k+ on a Ford Escort!! TVR's are no different. I would even say that they could drop a lot more just because of taking the 'risk' of owning one if the investment is questionable. This happened in the early 1990's and a lot of people got very burnt fingers!

Just my views of course, but I wouldn't put investment money into any car at the moment!

Stick Legs

7,312 posts

180 months

keynsham said:
I am not so sure that expensive TVR's are selling at all at the moment, at least that seems to be the feedback on this forum. In general, the classic and collectors market values are dropping and could drop a lot further, especially for those who see fit to spend £50k+ on a Ford Escort!! TVR's are no different. I would even say that they could drop a lot more just because of taking the 'risk' of owning one if the investment is questionable. This happened in the early 1990's and a lot of people got very burnt fingers!

Just my views of course, but I wouldn't put investment money into any car at the moment!
I bet you are fun at parties! biglaugh

We’re trying to help the OP convince himself to buy an epic car & produce a weight of evidence that he can show his wife. beer

Sterillium

Original Poster:

22,331 posts

240 months

Stick Legs said:
We re trying to help the OP convince himself to buy an epic car & produce a weight of evidence that he can show his wife. beer
yes

Phil.

5,407 posts

265 months

I’ve owned two 4.5 Cerbera’s, the last one was a 52 plate. Let it go for around £25k but that was a while ago.

Had both remapped and decatted which made a big difference to power delivery, by a chap in Chesterfield called Joolz. Don’t know if he’s still around but he was an enthusiast and expert in mapping.

From memory 2nd was good for 80mph and 3rd 130mph. Makes for smooth rapid progress smile

Definitely recommend the experience, especially as you’ve owned TVR’s before.

keynsham

339 posts

286 months

Stick Legs said:
keynsham said:
I am not so sure that expensive TVR's are selling at all at the moment, at least that seems to be the feedback on this forum. In general, the classic and collectors market values are dropping and could drop a lot further, especially for those who see fit to spend £50k+ on a Ford Escort!! TVR's are no different. I would even say that they could drop a lot more just because of taking the 'risk' of owning one if the investment is questionable. This happened in the early 1990's and a lot of people got very burnt fingers!

Just my views of course, but I wouldn't put investment money into any car at the moment!
I bet you are fun at parties! biglaugh

We re trying to help the OP convince himself to buy an epic car & produce a weight of evidence that he can show his wife. beer
Just trying to be realistic. I have seem so many stories of people trying to sell classics at high prices and then just blaming the market because they don't sell when it truth, they are hoping their prize possessions are worth more than they really are!! And truth is, classic prices are coming down, not up!

M_A

72 posts

35 months



Total production was around 1500 including for the LHD market. Now we're below 1000 left in the UK.

The next economic boom could well make it go up in value and make them investment vehicles. I'm also taking 2030-2035 when no more petrol cars are allowed to be produced.

Currently only 7 Cerbera's on sale in Autotrader.

Rarity plays a part. So let's assume more exports to US, a few more written off and unrepairable in the next 5 years, more demand for manual analogue cars, some huge US YouTubers get into them, featured in the new Grand Tour etc and make it go viral. Before you know it they are they new air cooled 911... price wise.


sixor8

6,968 posts

283 months

Image, misguided or otherwise, will stop them ever going for big money. Too many punters (and journalists) still see them as little more than kit cars, despite them bring only factory built from the mid 1970s. frown

I'd like to think my 1999 Griff 500 will one day be high value, but I keep driving it. wink

I've had a Cerbera in the past, and because so many of the parts are bespoke, they are even more expensive to maintain. That will make a good one high value I suppose.