Money no object...

[Rude]

Not exactly, but I was wondering if I bought a Cerb (been a dream for years) and threw a chequebook at it what the cost would be...

Thinking about a full refurb. Chassis, interior, engine and body.
4.7 upgrade. Etc. What would all of this look like...?

Sorry if a slightly silly post but I’ve few spanner skills and would love a cerbie but it’s have to be well sorted to start with.

Thanks in advance

[Revvit]

As with all of these things there are ranges based upon personal preference. My recent experience:

Chassis £5,500 to £6,000 once you have also replaced sundries
Engine rebuild £14,000 including oil/water pump rebuild
Re-trim £4,000 to £5,000 (can be more if you go mad)
Full respray £3,500 to £5,000

[Imran999]

You can either go to someone like str8six, give them around 50k and they’ll do it all for you - have a look at the 4.0 they have for sale right now, I know it’s not a V8, but they fully refurb’d it to a very high standard.

Or, you can buy one of the cars in the classifieds right now, there seem to be some genuinely good cars for 35-40k, and then you can do various upgrades as the need arises.

Edited by Imran999 on Monday 17th February 04:19

Edited by Imran999 on Monday 17th February 04:21

[Shanksy87]

I would add another £5k to revvit's numbers, in my experience. I was quoted £8k for a respray for example. You can easily spend £5k on refreshing "stuff" on top of those numbers....

[NuddyRap]

With few spanner skills, it depends on where you take it. The quality of the work also depends on where you take it.

<b>If you're not intent on lifting a finger at all </b> and you only take it to the very best of places because you said "Money no object" :

A 4.7 upgrade depends on what you need to change. You'll be seeing £16k before you change the rods and crank. Do both of those too and you'll be looking at £20k.

A drive-in drive-out chassis job won't see you have change from £10k.

A full colour change respray can be £8k. Go for a dramatic colour (reflex, spectraflair etc) and the paint alone will be £2500+.

Re-trims aren't massively far behind resprays, but you don't have the huge hike for reflex paint obviously.


Now, if you shop around and compromise, you can get that lot for less. If you are willing to invest your own time and energy, you'll do it all for a lot, lot less.

[Jhonno]

NuddyRap said:

Now, if you shop around and compromise, you can get that lot for less. If you are willing to invest your own time and energy, you'll do it all for a lot, lot less.

I don't know if compromise is the right word, but shopping about is very important with these cars.

[Byker28i]

Revvit said:

As with all of these things there are ranges based upon personal preference. My recent experience:

Chassis £5,500 to £6,000 once you have also replaced sundries
Engine rebuild £14,000 including oil/water pump rebuild
Re-trim £4,000 to £5,000 (can be more if you go mad)
Full respray £3,500 to £5,000

Not even close
So 7 years ago I spent £4K on a full body off chassis repair and repaint, then another £3.5k on parts replaced whilst it was all apart. STupid not to replace everything whilst it's completely stripped. Fuel lines, brake lines, all bushes, bearings, stainless nuts and bolts etc.

Engine rebuild on my 4.2 was £11k with vat, (although that was a lot of work to convert to a large bore crank, new camshaft etc) then you need to factor in the cost to take it out and put it back in again, so it was £15k in the end.

Retrim from a recognised specialist is £7-10k. There's a lot in a cerbera.

Respray, depends on paint, you need quite a lot, reflex or Rossi pearl is £800 a litre. My respray was £4K.

Then Nitrons to improve the suspension, ally rad and hoses to improve the cooling, new updated fans.

If still on the original alarm/ immobiliser then that will need replacing.

Then there's an engine tune up and mapping by jools, essential for perfect running.

So 13 years, I have a near perfect, like new car, but I've spent £30k on it in total, including servicing and wear and tear items.

[Rude]

Thanks chaps. Appreciate the comments and not too scary in truth. I’ve got a “slightly upgraded” bmw M4 at the moment which is biblically fast but maybe time for a change. Always loved the Cerb. Test drive a couple years ago but the timing was never right. Now I’m thinking that I’d love to have one but one that’s just right. Hence the slightly annoying thread title. It’s been a few years since I thought about this properly but the itch never leaves and maybe, just maybe, it needs a scratch.

Re the straight six, there are upgrades there to 4.3 and 4.5 which are as mental as the V8 so I’d never say never. But my heart was always the V8 (though the 4.2 I tested was way more brutal than the 4.5 so what do I know!!!)

Thanks again chaps. Food for thought.

[LooneyTunes]

Out of interest, who would people say are the very best at each of the major refurb areas today?

Last time I looked, Dave the Trimmer and Surface & Design seemed to be the highest recommended for interior/exterior respectively but keen to here latest views.

No idea who the best is for chassis refresh. Not sure mine strictly needs it, but I am thinking that if there's any sign of outriggers being needed then it might be time to get the body off an all sorted as a first step (it has been nearly 20 years!).

Engine seems fine at present but we all know how these things can snowball...

[LooneyTunes]

Rude said:

But my heart was always the V8 (though the 4.2 I tested was way more brutal than the 4.5 so what do I know!!!)

Have a look at these threads:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[Jhonno]

LooneyTunes said:

Out of interest, who would people say are the very best at each of the major refurb areas today?

Last time I looked, Dave the Trimmer and Surface & Design seemed to be the highest recommended for interior/exterior respectively but keen to here latest views.

No idea who the best is for chassis refresh. Not sure mine strictly needs it, but I am thinking that if there's any sign of outriggers being needed then it might be time to get the body off an all sorted as a first step (it has been nearly 20 years!).

Engine seems fine at present but we all know how these things can snowball...

This is where thinking outside the box can save you some £££.. There are some very good people out there who go under the radar, but you will generally only see the same TVR companies recommended on here, not some of the less known, or non TVR specific ones.

[LooneyTunes]

That's fair comment, and it's wonderful when you can save a few quid, but it sucks when saving a few quid turns into ongoing frustration or rework.

Sometimes understanding the quirks of TVRs is good so there's no way that I'd have engine, chassis or trim work done by someone without a track record. Paint perhaps, but even with that I'd probably go with someone who knows TVRs. Known marque specialists probably help resale value too if that day ever comes.

[NuddyRap]

Rude said:

I’ve got a “slightly upgraded” bmw M4 at the moment which is biblically fast but maybe time for a change.

A chap at my work until recently had an M4 upgraded to exceed the competition spec. Pushed out 520bhp and was noticeably faster than other M4s. Was still not quite as quick as a well set up 4.5 in terms of shove. There was not much contest in the corners mind, the M4 walked away, but so it should when all the TVR driver has is 90kg of meat to keep it on the black stuff.

Just a personal opinion, but I prefer knowing I got it right/wrong rather than having the car constantly rescue me from the edge without my knowledge.

[Chim450]

LooneyTunes said:

Out of interest, who would people say are the very best at each of the major refurb areas today?

Last time I looked, Dave the Trimmer and Surface & Design seemed to be the highest recommended for interior/exterior respectively but keen to here latest views.

No idea who the best is for chassis refresh. Not sure mine strictly needs it, but I am thinking that if there's any sign of outriggers being needed then it might be time to get the body off an all sorted as a first step (it has been nearly 20 years!).

Engine seems fine at present but we all know how these things can snowball...

I had my 2001 Tuscan completely rebuilt. Body off chassis repair, replaced all lines, bushes, fuel pump. The engine was rebuilt to 4.3 spec, throttle bodies refurbed, new uprated oil and water pumps, uprated starter motor, carbon airbox, ceramic coated manifolds by Zircotech. All this was done at Powers Performance.

It then went on a trip to Blackpool to Surface & Design and DC Trim (located next door to each other). Full leather re-trim in Portland grey and purple including leather and carpet in the boot. Full re-spray in cascade paint.

The quality of the work is exceptional. However the final bill was eye watering, but I have exactly the car that I wanted and having already owned it for 15 years before getting the work done it’s a “keeper”!

[Jhonno]

LooneyTunes said:

That's fair comment, and it's wonderful when you can save a few quid, but it sucks when saving a few quid turns into ongoing frustration or rework.

Sometimes understanding the quirks of TVRs is good so there's no way that I'd have engine, chassis or trim work done by someone without a track record. Paint perhaps, but even with that I'd probably go with someone who knows TVRs. Known marque specialists probably help resale value too if that day ever comes.

I'm not just talking about saving a few ££ for the sake of it, I mean getting as good a job and saving £££..

These place do often have a track record.. Also, it's only a TVR, built by a bloke in a shed in Blackpool.. There isn't really anything that complicated about them. If a trimmer is a good trimmer, or a painter a good painter with FG experience etc..

[Rude]

NuddyRap said:

Rude said:

I’ve got a “slightly upgraded” bmw M4 at the moment which is biblically fast but maybe time for a change.

A chap at my work until recently had an M4 upgraded to exceed the competition spec. Pushed out 520bhp and was noticeably faster than other M4s. Was still not quite as quick as a well set up 4.5 in terms of shove. There was not much contest in the corners mind, the M4 walked away, but so it should when all the TVR driver has is 90kg of meat to keep it on the black stuff.

Just a personal opinion, but I prefer knowing I got it right/wrong rather than having the car constantly rescue me from the edge without my knowledge.

I agree. Mine was 540 when last checked and if you’re driving like an ahole it’s the TC that is keeping you safe all of the time. Despite the BS that you read, they’re only spikey when you turn everything off which isn’t surprising in a RWD turbo car with boost turned up. And even then not that hard to control. Certainly not an organic experience though. Fast but quite “digital” too.

[Rude]

LooneyTunes said:

Rude said:

But my heart was always the V8 (though the 4.2 I tested was way more brutal than the 4.5 so what do I know!!!)

Have a look at these threads:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Yea. Thought that. 1998 4.5 v 2004 4.2...

[Jhonno]

Rude said:

NuddyRap said:

Rude said:

I’ve got a “slightly upgraded” bmw M4 at the moment which is biblically fast but maybe time for a change.

A chap at my work until recently had an M4 upgraded to exceed the competition spec. Pushed out 520bhp and was noticeably faster than other M4s. Was still not quite as quick as a well set up 4.5 in terms of shove. There was not much contest in the corners mind, the M4 walked away, but so it should when all the TVR driver has is 90kg of meat to keep it on the black stuff.

Just a personal opinion, but I prefer knowing I got it right/wrong rather than having the car constantly rescue me from the edge without my knowledge.

I agree. Mine was 540 when last checked and if you’re driving like an ahole it’s the TC that is keeping you safe all of the time. Despite the BS that you read, they’re only spikey when you turn everything off which isn’t surprising in a RWD turbo car with boost turned up. And even then not that hard to control. Certainly not an organic experience though. Fast but quite “digital” too.

Having a base 320i M-Sport loaner atm, This is my thoughts too. Very very capable, but just not that fun/involving.

[Byker28i]

The recent rolling road day was interesting

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

a Str8Six 4.3 was pushing out good power, the 4.7 conversions looked very strong, and a good indication of the other standard/slightly tweaked to give you ideas.

[anonymous-user]

Good quality, all done by others but not money no object, 50k. That’s all transmission rebuilt, not just the engine and all rolling chassis refurb undertaken