New Cerb owner - C16 RBA (previously B10 NCP & N174 XTF)
Discussion
Well, I've finally been drawn in to the darkside of Cerbera ownership with a Raspberry(!) '96 car with a 4.5 engine, Spiders and the later blended in headlights. The car was mentioned on a thread here a few days ago due to the rather odd ad placed for it on Ebay.
Anyway, the upshot is that the car was subject to an engine rebuild by Autocraft about 2 years (or 7,000 miles)ago at the staggering cost of £17,000... It has also just had a major service, new Gaz shocks, a new diff etc so hopefully the major components will continue to behave themselves. The chassis looks good so I'll just have to keep looking after it.
I must take the opportunity to thank Jules from Track car solutions who really helped me come to the most difficult car purchasing decision that I have ever made! I know that Jules had remapped the car (401 BHP!) so I contacted him for additional information - (on several occasions!)- and can't thank him enough for his honest and informed assistance. A real credit to his business and very reassuring as someone new to TVR ownership.
Although when I test drove it there was a bit of a miss under load the car behaved itself on my 130 mile run back home and the miss seems to have improved. I'm going to have a look at the leads and coils packs, clean them up and replace if necessary following Jules' advice.
If anyone knows the car I'd be pleased to hear from you, I'll be adding it to the register as soon as we get good enough weather to wash and photograph it!
Anyway, the upshot is that the car was subject to an engine rebuild by Autocraft about 2 years (or 7,000 miles)ago at the staggering cost of £17,000... It has also just had a major service, new Gaz shocks, a new diff etc so hopefully the major components will continue to behave themselves. The chassis looks good so I'll just have to keep looking after it.
I must take the opportunity to thank Jules from Track car solutions who really helped me come to the most difficult car purchasing decision that I have ever made! I know that Jules had remapped the car (401 BHP!) so I contacted him for additional information - (on several occasions!)- and can't thank him enough for his honest and informed assistance. A real credit to his business and very reassuring as someone new to TVR ownership.
Although when I test drove it there was a bit of a miss under load the car behaved itself on my 130 mile run back home and the miss seems to have improved. I'm going to have a look at the leads and coils packs, clean them up and replace if necessary following Jules' advice.
If anyone knows the car I'd be pleased to hear from you, I'll be adding it to the register as soon as we get good enough weather to wash and photograph it!
I've always been tempted when I've seen that car up for sale.
However, I have to say that it's been up for sale quite a few times - immediately after the rebuild and (I think) 3 times since.
Autocraft's rebuild really added to the appeal for me at the time. However, some of the posts I've read on here about their speed 6 build would give me cause for concern...
However, I have to say that it's been up for sale quite a few times - immediately after the rebuild and (I think) 3 times since.
Autocraft's rebuild really added to the appeal for me at the time. However, some of the posts I've read on here about their speed 6 build would give me cause for concern...
Yeah, I can understand the concern with any company that is no longer trading. Plus of course the "timebomb" element that goes with any S6 motor - rebuilt or not.
However, I have done quite a lot of reasearch on the Autocraft engines and the only real criticism of them seems to be the price - which really was ridiculous...
I know that the last owner has only had the car a short while, seemed to know very little about cars or TVRs and was a property dealer who owned a fleet of fast toys. I think that he owned it long enough to "scratch an itch" and moved it on after a very expensive service...
Anyway, early signs are good, I'll see how I get on.
Thanks for the input.
However, I have done quite a lot of reasearch on the Autocraft engines and the only real criticism of them seems to be the price - which really was ridiculous...
I know that the last owner has only had the car a short while, seemed to know very little about cars or TVRs and was a property dealer who owned a fleet of fast toys. I think that he owned it long enough to "scratch an itch" and moved it on after a very expensive service...
Anyway, early signs are good, I'll see how I get on.
Thanks for the input.
Edited by itiejim on Sunday 18th January 19:49
Gazzab said:
Sorry.....an Autocraft engine.....ha ha ha ha ha !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Not the best welcome to the cerb fold I have ever read. Especially when somebody has spent their money on keeping a cerb on the road rather than it getting into the hands of some halfords chav.How about 'Autocraft engine and do you know much about the history of the engine rebuild etc,' rather than the off the cuff, what the fnck comment of 'ha ha ha ha'.
I'm sure you will find all the help you require from the forum when and if needed as we all have at some point. Welcome and lets hope you stay with the car and remember its not young anymore and like all us old ones we need tender loving care.
Thanks for the welcome. I'm hoping to keep this one for a while, though my track record over the last few years would tend to show that I've not kept much for long... Hopefully the Cerb will keep me interested, the signs so far are good!
I've got all of the receipts for the rebuild which included 4.5 crank, new rods, pistons, liners, valves and seals (though interestingly not guides), chain, sprocket and a clutch. Ultimately the engine has now done 7,000 miles and seems to run fine, hopefully I'll be able to keep it that way.
I'm used to old cars and looking after them, I've got a 308 GTS in the garage plus a well tuned Dolly Sprint and a Spitfire with a mid-front mounted TR6 engine so I'm a trained tinkerer!
There are a few minor issues which need sorting like a small miss under load, and a few electrical gremlins, but basically the main bits all do what they should and the chassis looks very solid and well looked after.
I must admit that I did drive home after buying it wondering exactly what I'd let myself in for - but I just keep reminding myself that it's just pistons going up and down in a hole like anything else!
Thanks to all, James
I've got all of the receipts for the rebuild which included 4.5 crank, new rods, pistons, liners, valves and seals (though interestingly not guides), chain, sprocket and a clutch. Ultimately the engine has now done 7,000 miles and seems to run fine, hopefully I'll be able to keep it that way.
I'm used to old cars and looking after them, I've got a 308 GTS in the garage plus a well tuned Dolly Sprint and a Spitfire with a mid-front mounted TR6 engine so I'm a trained tinkerer!
There are a few minor issues which need sorting like a small miss under load, and a few electrical gremlins, but basically the main bits all do what they should and the chassis looks very solid and well looked after.
I must admit that I did drive home after buying it wondering exactly what I'd let myself in for - but I just keep reminding myself that it's just pistons going up and down in a hole like anything else!
Thanks to all, James
Gazzab said:
not sure you have done much research thn if your only conclusion is price! The S6s didnt work!
No idea about the V8s though.
The comments I've read previosly seemed to imply that they'd cut corners in the Speed 6 builds and not demonstrated a massive amount of attention to detail. No idea about the V8s though.
However, if Joolz has given the engine the OK I'd take that a very good sign -especially as he saw a lot of the Autocraft debacle close up.
I hope you enjoy the car
- that's the best colour for a Cerb 
Joolz - I would appreciate it if you would refrain from making this personal. I dont know you and would not make such comments on here about you or your often provactive comments.
As for my comments - apologies if I was unwelcoming however Autocraft come with quite some reputation. As I said I know little about their AJP rebuilds except like all their work it would have been overpriced.
As for my comments - apologies if I was unwelcoming however Autocraft come with quite some reputation. As I said I know little about their AJP rebuilds except like all their work it would have been overpriced.
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