? Classic British TVR. Awesome power. Great value for money now as second hand. Superb understated stylish looks.
? Beware of race damage.
Cerbera is a classic modern hand built TVR sports car made between 1996 and 2003, the third car made by TVR under the leadership of Peter Wheeler after the Griffith and the Chimaera. The name Cerbera comes from the three-headed beast of Greek legend that guarded the entrance to Hades, and as such indicated this was not a car for the feint hearted - 180mph plus as well as 0-60mph in around 4 secs. Combine a reputation for classy bespoke interior and exciting race track capable handling and you have an amazing car.
The Cerbera was the first new TVR hard-top?the Griffith and the Chimaera were both convertibles. It was also the first 2+2 instead of the traditional two seater TVR and more importantly the first to be driven by TVR?s own engines. Traditionally TVRs used bigger firms? engines, ie Rover and Ford. The Cerbera was marketed as a combination of a sporty and not too overblown 2+2 grand tourer but one capable of incredible power if required. The now famous 2+2 Cerbera design was a relatively new concept at the time of the car's launch, and it opened up a new market for sports car fans with the need for extra, small rear seats. One of its major features was that behind the classic flowing lines there was earth shattering power, reminiscent of some of the classic sports cars of the 60s and 70s. The car combines this ferocious power with elegant fixed-head coupe styling, built-in roll cage and up to 4.5 litre AJPV8 engine. In fact the 4.5 L engine is the one that confirmed the Cerbera?s super car status. If buying one second hand, approved TVR dealers are advisable and keep an eye out for crash damage.
Launched at the British International Motor Show 1994 the 4.2 litre AJPV8 normally aspirated, 75 degree V8 Cerbera with a flat-plane crank was a hit. Two years later, after further production refinements, the first Cerbera was sold. In 1998 the original Cerbera was joined by the awesome 4.5 litre AJPV8, boosting the Cerbera's power to 420 bhp and 60 mph in under four seconds. It could manage 100 mph in 8.3 seconds. The following year, the 4.0 litre straight six-powered Cerbera Speed Six also joined the line up. This was a version of TVR's own Speed Six engine with smoother gearing and chassis set-up although reduced power of 350bhp. The Speed Six has gone on to be installed in all of the modern TVR range. In 2000 the Cerbera underwent another change with modified headlamp arrangement, reworked interior and a lightweight version of the 4.5 litre engine. The Cerbera was finally discontinued in 2004.
A TVR Cerbera 4.5, the last ever made, was auctioned live in August 2006, an event which proved extremely popular for TVR. The Cerbera was brought back into production for this one off event especially for the occasion and the online auction received nearly one-million hits during the month that it was in operation before the last ever model was sold to a very pleased new owner.
