Prices all over the place, cars not selling... thoughts?

[greeneggsnsam]

Hi all, future TVR owner here - Griffith, Cerbera or if I find the right one, T350. Not asking for help choosing as I'll pick whatever drives the best and I've read all the guides. I've wanted one since I was about 10 years old.

But I'm looking at the market and prices are ridiculously varied. I'm seeing cars from the teens up to £40k, and when you read the ads, the cheaper cars don't really look hugely different. Some of the high priced cars have no notes about rebuilds or chassis work and look pretty much identical to lower priced ones. Mileages all over the place (although I'm not bothered by mileage anyway). There are cars that have been for sale for years all over the classifieds.

So is the market for these always like this or is it just in a weird spot right now? As much as I've always wanted one of these cars, I must admit the idea of not being able to sell it if I needed to is a bit worrying. I realise it's also a bit seasonal but I've always bought and sold in the off-season and not had this issue before really.

Sorry for the rambling post but any insight would be helpful!

[RSTurboPaul]

I think it might just reflect small markets for 'niche' products - I have been looking at historic number plates myself and in a similar vein, prices for similar formats/combinations are all over the shop with no rhyme or reason behind the differences, so presumably the market offerings are set by whatever sellers want to attempt to get.

Whether buyers in such a small market feel the offerings are appropriately priced is of course the key issue... lol

Stuff sitting around for ages is likely to be priced too high, and in the case of vehicles, may need too much work to be attractive to most buyers. (Obviously )

In the case of number plates, I have been attempting to gather auction sales price info and also sales on other platforms (e.g. Buy It Now listings on eBay that have sold) as that would seem to be the best (only?) way to gauge what things are really selling for when offered into the market for 'price discovery'.

Sale prices are likely to change in the future (probably down not up if the world economy is as screwed as it seems to be?) but knowing one is paying the 'correct' price now is all one can really do, I guess!


Not sure any of that helps lol

[sixor8]

Auction results (whether eBay or anywhere) are usually the only true reveal but you get outliers like that mad bidding for a Sierra Cosworth that went for half a million recently, they go for £100k ish usually, even mint. Sometimes the auctions aren't that well known about, even with the internet!

There's plenty of data about for Chimaeras (unsurprisingly). An early Griff sold in October 2024 at H+H for £17,800, the early ones, although more raw with no cats, seem to be less popular, possibly due to the lack of pas:
https://www.handh.co.uk/auction/lot/54-1992-tvr-gr...

In July 2024, Hampsons sold a 500 for only £13,500.

https://www.glenmarch.com/auction-cars/show-backup...

A low mileage 500 went for over £41k at Iconic in No. 2024.
https://www.iconicauctioneers.com/1996-tvr-griffit... Probably a collector, it had the original tyres.

T350Cs at classic auctions that I could find, all failed to sell. A T350T with 30k mile sold in a timed auction at Brightwells back in September 2020 for over £30k with the fees:
https://www.brightwells.com/timed-sale/5043/lot/49... Possibly Covid price inflation there?

An early Chimaera, nice refurbished, sold in the same auction for over £11k:
https://www.brightwells.com/timed-sale/5043/lot/48...

Recently (Jan 2025), a Cerbera 4.5 sold for just over £20k in the NE:
https://auctions.wbandsons.com/auction/lot/84-1998...

And a Cerbera 4.2 at Manor Park in Oct 2024, also for just over £20k, this was a second attempt after it didn't sell in September:
https://www.manorparkclassics.com/auction/lot/lot-...

I bid on this yellow 4.2 one at CCA (now Iconic) back in Oct 2020 but got outbid. It sold for £18,700, perhaps in hindsight, I should have gone higher.

https://www.glenmarch.com/auction-cars/show-backup...

[Belle427]

Some dealers seem to ask what they want, good luck to them if those prices are achieved but I see a lot of cars hanging around.
I'd guess some are sale or return so they ask silly money on them to maximise profit.
Obviously they can offer warranty and finance etc which is attractive to some.

[phillpot]

Belle427 said:

Some dealers seem to ask what they want, good luck to them if those prices are achieved but I see a lot of cars hanging around.
I'd guess some are sale or return so they ask silly money on them to maximise profit.
Obviously they can offer warranty and finance etc which is attractive to some.

My (limited) experience of sale or return was a fixed commission, rather than a percentage. Getting top money was of no gain to the agent apart from adding to his reputation of getting good money for cars to any potential sellers.

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

phillpot said:

Belle427 said:

Some dealers seem to ask what they want, good luck to them if those prices are achieved but I see a lot of cars hanging around.
I'd guess some are sale or return so they ask silly money on them to maximise profit.
Obviously they can offer warranty and finance etc which is attractive to some.

My (limited) experience of sale or return was a fixed commission, rather than a percentage. Getting top money was of no gain to the agent apart from adding to his reputation of getting good money for cars to any potential sellers.

I've had the opposite. I was guaranteed £25k & the dealer was able to keep anything above this.

It's all in the luck of the deal!

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

This is what I reckon:

Well known specialist dealers can command a significant premium because the buyer considers this to be the "safe" option. These cars have (rightly or wrongly) a reputation for being troublesome. Folk like the idea of some comeback.

Prices for private sellers are under pressure because buyers are diminishing group. When the marque was at its peak your typical buyer was a fifty something. These are now a reducing bunch. Younger folk coming up are not anywhere as near interested.

It's true the vehicle stock is reducing, but I reckon not as quickly as willing buyers.

Just my theory.

[greeneggsnsam]

I agree although part of what's so strange about the TVR market is that there are dealers who know the market and will price stock to sell, and private dreamers putting stuff up higher than equivalents at the dealers! Maybe the auctions are where I should look - if you look at the sold TVRs in PH auctions from last year they all look like reasonable money.

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

greeneggsnsam said:

Hi all, future TVR owner here - Griffith, Cerbera or if I find the right one, T350.

You've reduced your choice by ignoring the best car to come out of Blackpool!

[Mr.Chips]

In my experience, good cars will always sell quickly, particularly if the price is appropriate. All too often, people expect to get top dollar prices for average cars, which is why some tend to hang around for a long time. Initially, I was looking for a Cerbera and looked at 3 (actually only 2 as I saw one twice at two different dealers!) all of them were highly priced and, in my opinion, needing work.
After that I waited about a year and looked at a really nice spectraflair silver T350C. However, before I could put in an offer, it sold. Then HL Gorners in Wigan closed and I managed to get my T350C from the auction of their old stock. OP you may need to be patient, but once you have decided which one you want, the right car will be out there, just go in with your eyes open, make sure you have done your research and enjoy the search! Good luck.

[greeneggsnsam]

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

You've reduced your choice by ignoring the best car to come out of Blackpool!

I go back and forth on them really. I know they are better value than a Griff but I just prefer the latter's looks, and since the cars (should) hold their value I might as well choose the one I prefer the looks of, right?

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

greeneggsnsam said:

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

You've reduced your choice by ignoring the best car to come out of Blackpool!

I go back and forth on them really. I know they are better value than a Griff but I just prefer the latter's looks, and since the cars (should) hold their value I might as well choose the one I prefer the looks of, right?

Dead right...I was a bit tongue in cheek y'know

[mjlloyd500]

Worth every penny of 25 grand plus. By the way mine will be for sale at 25 grand in a month or so

[OchAye74]

I'm in this position, or will be in a year or so and am tracking the market. The best deals seem to be at auction but I'm worried that that's where dogs are tarted up for selling on. If I use a reputable auction house and it comes with fully documented history, like what's posted on Bonham's, is that as good a process as I'm going to get? Especially as I live more than 2 hours, usually much more than that, from the nai/prominent dealers? If anything goes wrong I'm highly unlikely to be able to get it back to the dealer anyway so I'm thinking I might as well roll the dice!

[steviegtr]

Just over a year ago I was in this dilema. I had sold my Ftype R Jaguar as it was just loosing money & not getting used enough. I wanted something I could play with & enjoy. I settled on a Chimaera & wanted either the 450 or 500. At that time I set myself a budget of £25K. Looked all around for ages & there were cars in my budget at places like Amore etc. Then I started looking at auctions & found a 2001 450 at Classic trade auctions. I registered to bid. They post dozens of pictures of the car to be sold & then do a road test with the owner & a full video of the car in depth. I bid & won the car for £9500 all in. All i could think was unseen as such it will probably be a dog & need chassis work at the least.
The car was delivered with a huge portfolio of every bit of work done & by who with all the invoices from 2001.
Including yearly outrigger inspections. Apart from a few dull spots on the paintwork the car is amazing & a full engine rebuild at 52000miles. Now at 72000.
Moral being yes prices are all over the place & a car i was willing to pay a Kings randsom for, I got for a bargain price. Lots of video's on youtube of the brake & suspension upgrades & refurbs I have done. So they are out there.
I think though a few people will pay top dollar from a dealer to get satisfaction & peace of mind with some sort of backup & warantee. Luckily like many forum members I have always worked on my own vehicles so that was not an issue. Link to playlist on youtube of the TVR in the flesh.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqxEUtyoHqn...

[greeneggsnsam]

I guess anyone who is really motivated to sell uses one of the many auction places now. Shame really as I hate the auction process (bought my old M3 like this, which was fine and I got a good price but probably took years off my life from the stress). I'd much rather go to an owner's place, have a chat and a drive then make a deal. Not hugely against buying from dealers but you don't get the reassurance of meeting the owner that way and a few months' warranty is useless on a car that'll hardly touch 3k miles a year.

[porterpainter]

Auctions will always sell for lower than market prices (unless it’s a really rare/collectible model) as there’s always a risk that you’re buying some hidden problem and have no comeback. Often you can’t even test drive the car beforehand.

There’s always a range of prices for cars from concourse dealer sales on delivery mileage, to barn find auctions on moon mileage.

Most cars that are sensibly priced for their condition and will sell relatively soon.

There will always be outliers, but typically speaking you’re unlikely to get a bargain without taking a risk.

[JJ55]

Auction is definitely the way to go to pay what the market truly thinks the vehicle is worth. Along with the auction houses check out car and classic and collecting cars. I buy all my cars from auction.

[BritishTvr450]

If your seriously interested and would rather not take the risk at auctions then joining the TVRCC would be my choice or if the small joining fee puts you off maybe joining the various Facebook pages or indeed asking on here when your local TVR meetings take place would be a good place to start. The TVRCC usually list TVR meets on a regular basis.
That way you can meet up with owners over a beer as many of these meets in the summer months are in pub car parks and start chatting.
I’ve rarely met an owner who won’t give you an honest appraisal of their particular model and outline what’s really important and often just a few conversations like these can lead you to private sellers of what can be the best cars.
Talking to owners who are not actually selling will be the best research you’ll ever need because they have often undertaken the jobs which cost and or will require work.

The wide ranging prices are often due to the basic condition/ level of work that’s gone into any given car.
Chassis and for the later models engine condition is key.

[keynsham]

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

phillpot said:

Belle427 said:

Some dealers seem to ask what they want, good luck to them if those prices are achieved but I see a lot of cars hanging around.
I'd guess some are sale or return so they ask silly money on them to maximise profit.
Obviously they can offer warranty and finance etc which is attractive to some.

My (limited) experience of sale or return was a fixed commission, rather than a percentage. Getting top money was of no gain to the agent apart from adding to his reputation of getting good money for cars to any potential sellers.

I've had the opposite. I was guaranteed £25k & the dealer was able to keep anything above this.

It's all in the luck of the deal!

Be careful though. I have known dealers who agree sale or return just to fill their showrooms with stock they don't need to pay for, with no real concern of whether it sells or not, and then push sales of cars they actually own when a perspective buyer comes in.