Anyone Know This Cerbera?

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https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/383089093032

Although the seller is admitting it isn't concourse doesn't sound to bad a buy does it?

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I'm 6ft.

I agree. I have always loved the shape of the Cerbera but never liked the idea of the AJP engines. They seems expensive to run in comparison to a RV8 based car.

I guess a Cerbera owner will say they are great but a little unsure. No such thing as a cheap TVR.

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The black one I saw at Brooklands at auction the other week was sold after the auction it seems for £11750:
https://www.historics.co.uk/buying/auctions/2019-0...

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Is early car good or bad? I have no idea on Cerbera's and or AJP V8's as most of my reading/research has been on Chimera's and RV8's?

I prefer the headlight conversion although not a fan of the black paint really. A little too staid for a TVR even for me.

What are the AJP's and the 4.2's like? Ruinous or decent enough?

Do they need a rebuild like the Speed 6's or not so brittle?

Thanks
Dean

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Thanks, I will have a browse through tonight.

I think I have really wound the seller up now! I asked a couple of quick basic questions and found out the car is Rochdale miles from me. I offered to take a punt on the car for a lower price than he has it advertised for and it was a firm no.

When I asked if I could bring up a TVR Specialist with me to view the car and do an inspection it all went a bit funny. He told me to forget it and won't respond to my messages now.

Either a character clash and I have rubbed him up the wrong way or maybe the car has something to hide. Seemed a decent enough example that the seller has had for 3 years. A bit odd.

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HarryW said:

What’s the going price for Cerbs now, I’m thinking of offloading mine, whilst not pristine is mechanically v good and looked after by Andy. I think my engine could be worth more than that one if you were to get it built now, but I realise they are never worth the sum of their parts, just don’t know where to start.... ideas?

I've got no idea....I'm as confused as anyone. So many models and a massive spread in pricing. All I know is there seems to be a ton of cars for sale out there TVR and otherwise bit hardly any seem to be selling. The market is very flat and on its backside.

I'm not sure I fancy having £20k-£25k or more tied up in a TVR at the moment.

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Chimp871 said:

If they're being funny about an indy visit then I personally would walk.

The worst scenario is the engine has a problem like crank failing etc. These engines don't exist on the market, or rarely come up.

Amost all of us owners on here would not object to a known indy inspection, we recommend it enough for new tvr owners.

Edited by Chimp871 on Tuesday 6th August 21:34

Yes, I found it a little odd but often but not always meaning something is possibly trying to be concealed. I'm not sure.

I have never had an issue in anyone looking at anything and everything for as long as they wanted on my cars when I sell them. I've even got a lift in the garage and put them up so people can see underneath.

I don't know.

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Seems like the guy services the car himself as well so not sure if it has a proper service including valve clearances checked/adjusted for at least 3 years while they have had it.

Seems like too much risk at the moment and miles away from me as I'm just outside Potters Bar, Herts. Is certainly fairly cost effective to start with but we.all know that can change quickly.

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I'm all over the shop with this TVR change at the moment. All I know is a have a nice enough Chimaera that is causing me zero grief and doesn't owe me silly money.

Seems like any direction Info in is likely to cost me more day one and more to run jus trying to work out if the change is worth the extra cash and hassle.

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Indeed....I'll keep thinking. I still have the red Chimaera 500 on my shortlist but struggling to make the numbers work in my head on that one as well.

Ah, a CLS63.....very nice. You like it?

I've had a few AMG's. An SL60, SL55 and two 211 E55K Estate's. Nearly got a CLS55K last year but went for the XJL SuperSport instead.

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Just found a Wheeler Dealers on Quest HD now. Funnily enough on the TVR Cerbera!

He bought this one for £8k. How times and prices have changed then.

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Byker28i said:

yeah but that needed a new chassis for which he paid very little for. Mine cost me £4.5k for replacing the outriggers with a full body off, then another £3k in parts, because you might as well replace everything whilst it's completely apart...

It was indeed a shocker. Must have been one of the worst ones. Looks like Fernhurst had it for sale after that in Jan 2017. The episode looks like March 2013 ish.

Funny how the car went from £8k to £14k to circa £22k when with Fernhurst. Wonder what it sold for.

I think this is the issue I personally have with many cars and I just can't see to get over it in my head. More so with old classics. I find it hard to pay £20k for something that was £10k a few years back. I know prices change and I don't buy art or anything similar for the same reason.

I am an old school kind of person and like to see value, logic and fundamentals. I can understand the WD Cerbera being worth £14k from £8k after the work that was done. However unless further substantial works were completed how does it become a £22k car?

I am OK with a nice Chimaera 400 at £10-£15k. Maybe up to £20k for a nice 500. I am just struggling to see some near 100k mile Griffith 500's at £25-£30k and the like.

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phazed said:

There is a rebuild thread on the red car somewhere. It has been fully rebuilt from memory.

There is. I have read a fair bit of it already. It was quite a job!

I would be fine paying what the seller of that red one is asking for it if it wasn't red and was a colour I could live with. Once I budget for a respray I am finding it hard for it to make sense in my head.

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Byker28i said:

Why the change then?
Chim is a good looker, makes decent noise, goes quick and is a good entry point as they are cheap to run.

When I was looking for my Cerbera I was advised they cost £3k a year to run, so I put £250 away a month into a savings account.
13 years on, it's not cost me that much, even with a full body off rebuild and a full engine rebuild, but it's not a bad idea to put that money into a pot as some items can cost.
AJP's don't need frequent rebuilds like speed 6's did. Mine got a rebuild because the valve guides were worn and then ended up with a full rebuild just because it was apart...

Well that is the question isn't it. I guess we all go through this and do some rational then some irrational things.

I am more than happy to spend money on cars to run them and keep them nice. I don't find it fun throwing lots of good money away for not such good reason. I am not a millionaire with money coming out of my ears so have to be a little careful on being too extravagant.

Most of the cars I buy and have ever bought always seem to offer pretty good value for money. They often have some basis of fundamental sense. I am not a fan of depreciation and have worked hard doing pretty well to avoid it often. I don't see the fun in dropping good money on deprecation of cars. I work too hard to obtain the money in the first place to let it go again too easily

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Mags said:

Have you driven a Cerb yet? The AJP8 is a completely different animal to the RV8. For many Cerb owners I think its fair to say the AJP8 is the whole reason to own a one, it's a fast revving race style engine without the lazy V8 torque the RV8 produces. I've not driven the Speed 6 so can't comment.
I still miss my old Griff for the roof down lazy drive with the wife but I couldn't part with the Cerb, its such a visceral experience.
My wife hates the Cerb and generally doesn't go in it much, when she does I find it not the best car to drive, it doesn't like low revs, low speed.
That doesn't mean I drive like a tool all the time but for me the Griff/Chim and Cerb are very different driving experiences.

Edited by Mags on Wednesday 7th August 08:56

Thanks. That is good to know. No I have not driven a Cerbera or AJP V8 yet. I have driven a few 400 Chimaera's and a Tuscan Speed 6. I liked the Tuscan and Speed 6 but didn't get a chance to really open the taps.

I am not sure a Cerbera AJP would be up my street by the sound of it then as I quite like the RV8 nature with the Chimaera. I guess I should get out there and drive one to keep it on the list or chalk it off.

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Cyclone1 said:

Yes I read about your Supersport on MBClub, very nice. The CLS is a modern day Cerb, well that’s how I like to think about it haha!

I bought and sold mine between 2003-2006, prices back then were much lower than today. Yes sold my silver 4.5 for what was an excellent price back in 2006, but would get double and then some now.

Good luck with the decision making.

Ah, I see. I'll keep an eye out for on MBClubUK then. I take it the CLS63 is a 218?

Not been on there so much recently as been spending lots of TVR time and also on SportsMaserati quite a bit. I just sold my 211 E55K Estate a while back and more recently my R129 SL500 so am Merc less at the moment.

The XJL SS is certainly a cracking car. Just couldn't stretch to a CLS63 at the time and found I wanted something newer than the CLS55K.

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spitfire4v8 said:

It's a cerbera for 13k .. even if you do like I did with a similar value car and you end up spending 10k on it then it's a very very nice cerbera with all the right bits done (chassis work, engine) for 23k all of a sudden.

What's not to like ?

I do agree but either getting too old or lacking the motivation to be trawling halfway around the country to buy a car these days. It is a whole day and time isn't currently my friend.

I can't see it would be too disastrous to take a punt on the Cerb @ £13k ish but the seller isn't responding to me now! I guess I rubbed him up the wrong way with my blind offer.

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Sounds like a rocky but exciting and wallet bashing ride!

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Rightly so and great work.....enjoy

My problem is even my sensible cars aren't really that sensible. My long distance steed is currently a Jag XJL SuperSport.

I don't do diesels any more and my last was about 4 years ago.

I just can't often take a silly car to a customer site for the constant jibes of we are paying you too much or the like!

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SFTWend said:

Rockets, I think you are in a similar position to me in that you fancy a Cerbera but you don't want to buy at the peak. Looking at how long most examples have been for sale I suspect it's only a matter of time before sellers accept the bubble is letting out air and asking prices have to drop to make a sale. As an example, there is what looks like a lovely Series 2 car for sale privately but is it really worth anything like the £36k the owner is asking? Only to the very few I suspect when, as a Maserati guy, you'll be aware you could now buy a similar mileage Gransport for c.£15k less than that since prices have dropped c.20% on last years peak. You can now get a very nice low miles Vantage 4.7 manual for £36k. However, as a petrolhead one doesn't want to wait a year or two for prices to adjust and half of me is looking for forum members to talk me into a purchase!

I've found that many of the cars for sale are because they are not being used, which is not healthy and likely to unearth issues if you want to use the car as intended. The other problem is that those with sorted examples, like the owners on here, are not going to sell them!

I note some posts mention the Cerbera doesn't like town driving too much. Happy to be corrected but my research suggests the 4.5 is a bit more compliant in this respect and I assume the popular short induction kit further improves driveability. Also, I haven't read too much about the need for rebuilds of the AJP engine if a car has been properly maintained and tappets adjusted to schedule.

I think you are right. Many Maserati's, Ferrari's, Aston's and the like have softened a fair bit this year. It only makes sense that other marques including TVR could also be affected. I am not made of money and always need to look to find VFM but also keeping an eye on resale if the time came. I am not sure it is a good time or place for me to sink £25k or more into any car but if I do (and I probably will!) it needs to be one that represents decent value and one that would be easier to sell. Such as right model, spec, colour combo etc. At least you have half a change of selling. Or the other option is to buy the right car but also at the right price as a lower price can often be enough to sell a car against other competing cars on the market.

From what I have researched a Speed 6 or AJP V8 I don't think will be my thing. I think I will likely stick with a RV8 for the moment. However if a decent car and deal lands then I wouldn't ignore it. I am always trying to do deals be it cars buy or sell or work stuff buying/selling IT or tech kit.

I have never had an Aston or a V12. I will have both at some point likely a V12 Aston but not sure the time is right yet. They are very tempting though. Especially DB9's but I think I would prefer the Vantage. A Maser guy I know had a GT S 4.7 MC Shift and sold going for an Aston Vantage V12 S and loves it.

Yes, Gransports have really eased off as well after having a strong few years. When I bought my mint 2007 4200 about 4 years ago it was £10k more to get a GS and I preferred the interior and slightly more understated look of the 4200 facelift cars. That it was £10k less was win win. I don;t rgret it at all, love my 4200 and will never sell it. I bought of the 1st owner with 11k miles on and it has just turned 15k miles 4 years later.

Lots of choice out there! Which way will you go??