N6 RAO - good buy or a timebomb?
Discussion
Hi folks,
I've been lurking on the fringes of this forum for some time and currently have the opportunity to px my car (privately) against a '97 4.2 Cerb for a very good sum, shall we say at the bottom of the market. As you might expect at that end of the market it is a cat D repair and also has no history.
I have seen photos of the damage pre-repair and am totally satisfied that it was nothing major. I'm also happy that I will be able to check the standard of workmanship to my satisfaction. The price I pay and the also the resale value will reflect the Cat D status.
But... regards the history. I understand that this was lost when the car was sold through aution after it's "prang". Although I am no TVR expert I am a competent car fettler and have owned, run and restored plenty of old or unusual cars over the years - Fisher Fury, a string of various Triumphs, a Ferrari 308 etc, etc and therefore feel happy enough to examine the car with my eyes open! Will this be enough or is buying a Cerb on the register with no SH just madness!
For what it's worth, I have spoken to the current owner at length who has been totally honest about the car and passes the "sellers test"(!) He has carried out some work on the car himself and run it for about a year carrying out a number of jobs along the way. However, there is no history of all of the big jobs - engine, clutch etc. The car has done just over 52K and (I'm told) runs very well.
Any thoughts would be most appreciated, also if you have any personal knowledge of the car. I'm happy and able to do a work on the car, but what I don't want is a cheap car which bleeds me dry!
Many thanks and Happy New Year!
I've been lurking on the fringes of this forum for some time and currently have the opportunity to px my car (privately) against a '97 4.2 Cerb for a very good sum, shall we say at the bottom of the market. As you might expect at that end of the market it is a cat D repair and also has no history.
I have seen photos of the damage pre-repair and am totally satisfied that it was nothing major. I'm also happy that I will be able to check the standard of workmanship to my satisfaction. The price I pay and the also the resale value will reflect the Cat D status.
But... regards the history. I understand that this was lost when the car was sold through aution after it's "prang". Although I am no TVR expert I am a competent car fettler and have owned, run and restored plenty of old or unusual cars over the years - Fisher Fury, a string of various Triumphs, a Ferrari 308 etc, etc and therefore feel happy enough to examine the car with my eyes open! Will this be enough or is buying a Cerb on the register with no SH just madness!
For what it's worth, I have spoken to the current owner at length who has been totally honest about the car and passes the "sellers test"(!) He has carried out some work on the car himself and run it for about a year carrying out a number of jobs along the way. However, there is no history of all of the big jobs - engine, clutch etc. The car has done just over 52K and (I'm told) runs very well.
Any thoughts would be most appreciated, also if you have any personal knowledge of the car. I'm happy and able to do a work on the car, but what I don't want is a cheap car which bleeds me dry!
Many thanks and Happy New Year!
A cheap Cerb can be a risky purchase no real getting away from that, but the biggest costs with these cars when things go wrong is usually paying the labour charges. If you can do a lot of the work yourself and can verify that it looks sound (full chassis checkover etc) then you might just get yourself a bargain. I am not a spanner man but by all accounts these are not overly complex things and most jobs are within the remit of the enthusiast - there is a wealth of information on here and most jobs have been tackled by someone so plenty of advice to be had when problems arise. Ultimately it's a punt but if the worst case for you is a car that's off the road while you learn how to sort specific areas then (and assuming you have other transport to use) then it's not too foolhardy.
I say go for it.... but then it's easy to spend someone else money
I say go for it.... but then it's easy to spend someone else money
Thanks for the reply, that's the kind of logic that I was trying to apply 
Just a couple of other questions if I may:
1) What is the supply situation looking like for AJPV8 parts?
2) Am I right in assuming that the standard Cerb suspension was non adjustable? The owner of this car tells me that it has "adjusters at the top of the suspension" - not quite sure which type as I haven't seen it yet. But if someone has gone to the trouble and expense of fitting decent units all round at least it indicates that it has has money spent on it in the past.
Just a couple of other questions if I may:
1) What is the supply situation looking like for AJPV8 parts?
2) Am I right in assuming that the standard Cerb suspension was non adjustable? The owner of this car tells me that it has "adjusters at the top of the suspension" - not quite sure which type as I haven't seen it yet. But if someone has gone to the trouble and expense of fitting decent units all round at least it indicates that it has has money spent on it in the past.
touching cloth said:
A cheap Cerb can be a risky purchase no real getting away from that, but the biggest costs with these cars when things go wrong is usually paying the labour charges. If you can do a lot of the work yourself and can verify that it looks sound (full chassis checkover etc) then you might just get yourself a bargain. I am not a spanner man but by all accounts these are not overly complex things and most jobs are within the remit of the enthusiast - there is a wealth of information on here and most jobs have been tackled by someone so plenty of advice to be had when problems arise. Ultimately it's a punt but if the worst case for you is a car that's off the road while you learn how to sort specific areas then (and assuming you have other transport to use) then it's not too foolhardy.
I say go for it.... but then it's easy to spend someone else money
I dont think you are going to get a better answer than this.I say go for it.... but then it's easy to spend someone else money
Get it looked at. Parts are generally not too bad, whenever a source drys out - it seems like the indies step in with a solution. At the end of the day, its a very simple car, built in a shed in Blackpool afterall. 
Adjustable shocks mean little in terms of money spent - you'll be able to tell whether it has been neglected by how it runs/ what condition it is in. Sounds like you're an enthusiast owner, so you'll be able to do pretty much anything on the car - almost all the answers are covered on this forum for any problem anyway. If you find something new, there is a huge amount of knowledgeable folk on here to try and help you through it.
If I were you, I'd be looking at getting a respected expert to check over the car extensively. If its sound, get it bought and be ready to enjoy one of the greatest british sportscars ever made. Whereabouts are you/the car based?
Adjustable shocks mean little in terms of money spent - you'll be able to tell whether it has been neglected by how it runs/ what condition it is in. Sounds like you're an enthusiast owner, so you'll be able to do pretty much anything on the car - almost all the answers are covered on this forum for any problem anyway. If you find something new, there is a huge amount of knowledgeable folk on here to try and help you through it.
If I were you, I'd be looking at getting a respected expert to check over the car extensively. If its sound, get it bought and be ready to enjoy one of the greatest british sportscars ever made.
Whereabouts are you/the car based?Thanks for all of the replies folks and the encouragement. I'm near Malvern and the car is in Lancashire - so not exactly just around the corner.
I'm just about to go away to Rome for a few days so will reflect on it and decide whther I'm going to take the trek up north!
In terms of longer term ownership, I understand that outriggers can suffer on these cars and that replacement may require the body to be lifted. Anyone know how difficult it is - I've done a few Triumphs in my time
I'm just about to go away to Rome for a few days so will reflect on it and decide whther I'm going to take the trek up north!
In terms of longer term ownership, I understand that outriggers can suffer on these cars and that replacement may require the body to be lifted. Anyone know how difficult it is - I've done a few Triumphs in my time
You could always book in with one of the indies up there (TrackVRoad, Automedon) and have them inspect it for you. I did that before I bought mine, albeit with TrackCarSolutions, but since then its been to both those places for services and such and they both agreed on TCS's assessment of the car.
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C65304
This one??
I have looked at quite a few Cerbs, if its this one i would be very surprissed if it isn't in need of chassis work.
Look how rusty the car appears in the engine bay. I could be wrong but as i said i have looked over a good number of Cerbs.
Mike
This one??
I have looked at quite a few Cerbs, if its this one i would be very surprissed if it isn't in need of chassis work.
Look how rusty the car appears in the engine bay. I could be wrong but as i said i have looked over a good number of Cerbs.
Mike
Mike,
no, it's not that one either - I'm not trying to keep up an air of mystery, I just don't want a publicly viewable forum to affect the possible sale of someone elses car!
Anyway, I'm hoping to go and view it (carefully!) soon, so I'll let you know what it's like.
Thanks for everyone's input.
no, it's not that one either - I'm not trying to keep up an air of mystery, I just don't want a publicly viewable forum to affect the possible sale of someone elses car!
Anyway, I'm hoping to go and view it (carefully!) soon, so I'll let you know what it's like.
Thanks for everyone's input.
Don't know about Cerbs specifically, but with the earlier TVRs I'd say a laser-measured, full rebuild after a Cat D cosmetic crunch is probably better than an un-crunched example which left the factory on a Friday afternoon. People will always have trouble understanding that, but if you do, and you get the right one (all the right checks etc.) and pay the right price, why not. Just bear in mind resale will be harder.
Edited by Chris71 on Tuesday 6th January 12:12
itiejim said:
Mike,
no, it's not that one either - I'm not trying to keep up an air of mystery, I just don't want a publicly viewable forum to affect the possible sale of someone elses car!
Anyway, I'm hoping to go and view it (carefully!) soon, so I'll let you know what it's like.
Thanks for everyone's input.
Might be worth you asking if anyone locally would be so kind as to come and look with you?no, it's not that one either - I'm not trying to keep up an air of mystery, I just don't want a publicly viewable forum to affect the possible sale of someone elses car!
Anyway, I'm hoping to go and view it (carefully!) soon, so I'll let you know what it's like.
Thanks for everyone's input.
MackemPete said:
Do you have any pics of the car? My friend had a 97 4.2 that was written off, unlikely I know but stranger things have happened, I might be able to provide you some history if it is his. Is it a blue car running 18" Khan alloys by any chance?
Thats not the one but I may know where the Blue one with the Khan wheels is, it's gone to a good home Hi all. For my sins I bought this one. Was gagging to get another TVR after getting rid of my 4.3 Chim a little while ago. Big smile on my face after a great drive back to Yorkshire during which the car seemed to behave, thankfully!
Admit it is a bit of risky one but the price was right and I got Steve from intermotion/Trackvroad (Good guy) to inspect and all mostly well. A few things to sort but that is in the budget. Bonus was it has nitrons and a sports exhaust. I also know there has been a full engine rebuild in the past as I managed to contact a previous owner, so hopefully ok. We will see.
Now need to sort a 12k service and a few bits and bobs. When things start to drop off no doubt will be calling on the kind members of this forum!!
Cheers all.
Admit it is a bit of risky one but the price was right and I got Steve from intermotion/Trackvroad (Good guy) to inspect and all mostly well. A few things to sort but that is in the budget. Bonus was it has nitrons and a sports exhaust. I also know there has been a full engine rebuild in the past as I managed to contact a previous owner, so hopefully ok. We will see.
Now need to sort a 12k service and a few bits and bobs. When things start to drop off no doubt will be calling on the kind members of this forum!!
Cheers all.
Gassing Station | Cerbera | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff