Cerbs getting attention in the USA

[FarmyardPants]

As I understand it there's a rule in the US that relaxes import restrictions on cars that are 25+ years old. As a result TVRs, particularly Cerberas, are starting to get noticed by petrolheads over there. From the few vids I've seen, they love 'em .

Post your vids and comments here.

I have a few to start things off:

[sixor8]

There's a longish thread from 2022 about somebody importing one and then selling it:

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[FarmyardPants]

Yes there have been some YouTube vids ridiculing TVRs (including the max power monstrosity) but recently I have been seeing more positive reviews from importers of decent examples who get what the car is about. They seem to be slowly gaining some kudos, finally.

[Demondad]

Posh website featuring Cerbs in USA . https://tvrgarage.com/

[ukkid35]

Demondad said:

Posh website featuring Cerbs in USA . https://tvrgarage.com/

TVRGarage said:

The customer journey with TVR Garage does not end with the handover of your keys

And if you think it does you're really in for a surprise!

[Byker28i]

The Charisma one went and got passed around.

[southendpier]

Lots of talk from Americans of a certain age reliving the old Gran Turismo days on PlayStation where the Cerbera was a fun car to play.

[bigblock]

https://tvrgarage.com/tvrs-for-sale-in-the-usa/

Interesting price for their 1997 Cerbera 4.5 - $84950 or £67110 at todays exchange rate.

[Byker28i]

bigblock said:

https://tvrgarage.com/tvrs-for-sale-in-the-usa/

Interesting price for their 1997 Cerbera 4.5 - $84950 or £67110 at todays exchange rate.

They have a few, starting $63,500 for a 4.2

[Andi-mh1z3]

ukkid35 said:

Demondad said:

Posh website featuring Cerbs in USA . https://tvrgarage.com/

TVRGarage said:

The customer journey with TVR Garage does not end with the handover of your keys

And if you think it does you're really in for a surprise!

You’re 100% right there. We are offering parts through our online store and servicing in 2 states, with hopefully more states in the future. I have had various TVR’s in the UK and US for the last 20 years, so we know handover of the keys isn’t even the start of the journey, as Cerbera’s don’t have keys (I can’t work out how to do a winking face, showing it’s a fun gesture… I guess I am getting old).

Edited by Andi-mh1z3 on Wednesday 10th January 00:08

[Andi-mh1z3]

Genuinely, if anyone has questions about TVR Garage, the US market, what our aspirations are, feel free to ask or connect with us on Facebook or Instagram (we check those more often than pistonheads in all honesty).

We’d love to hear from you as other owners and fans, the custodians of the brand.

Cheers

Andi - TVRGarage (I have just updated my user name after many years to be relevant).

Edited by Andi-mh1z3 on Wednesday 10th January 00:09

[ukkid35]

Hi Andi

What is your opinion of the way the Charisma Cerbera affected the market in the US?

I'm sure it raised the profile of TVR, and the Cerb in particular, but was it positive?

[Byker28i]

Andi-mh1z3 said:

Genuinely, if anyone has questions about TVR Garage, the US market, what our aspirations are, feel free to ask or connect with us on Facebook or Instagram (we check those more often than pistonheads in all honesty).

We’d love to hear from you as other owners and fans, the custodians of the brand.

Cheers

Andi - TVRGarage (I have just updated my user name after many years to be relevant).

Edited by Andi-mh1z3 on Wednesday 10th January 00:09

I can only applaud your efforts. Be fun to see some Blackpool power take on US Muscle

[Andi-TVRGarage]

ukkid35 said:

Hi Andi

What is your opinion of the way the Charisma Cerbera affected the market in the US?

I'm sure it raised the profile of TVR, and the Cerb in particular, but was it positive?

That is a great question. Yes, it raised awareness of TVR, but Ed Bolian's review wasn't exactly glowing. It seems that particular car (especially being a very early example, having been modified, re-sprayed, plasti-dipped, and so on) must have been apart and re-assembled many times. I am sure we can agree the Blackpool factory quality was less than you might have hoped and let's face it (other than service engineering), cars are not designed to be pulled apart and re-assembled. So, while the review may have been fair (given the car), it wasn't a review of a good example. The Carisma car isn't to my personal taste, but that's subjective. At nearly 250,000 views of the Ed Bolian video, it's probably put an unfair view of the Cerbera into the mind of some viewers.

Also, that was an early import in 2022, with around 15 Cerbera's known to be in the US at present, and probably a hand full that aren't known at this time (at least by us). Most of those cars (to our knowledge) aren't suffering the kind of problems as the Carisma Cerb did, but about 70% of US owners have bought parts from our store (which only went live in November).

The reaction of the US car enthusiast community is very positive, whether its former Gran Tourismo players, Swordfish fans or just people stopping you and asking "what the hell is that?". Stops for fuel are rarely completed without comment or conversation. It was this interest that turned the personal import for my own personal car and my business partners personal car into TVR Garage. We only launched in Aug 2023, we are trying to document our events on the blog on the website (www.TVRGarage.com). We hope to bring in only a handful of the best examples we can find, while being sensitive to not "stealing" too many units from the UK.

I hope this shares a little of our views, but please continue to ask questions.

Edited by Andi-TVRGarage on Wednesday 10th January 16:30

[Andi-TVRGarage]

Byker28i said:

I can only applaud your efforts. Be fun to see some Blackpool power take on US Muscle

Thank you, we appreciate the support and encouragement. If you (or any other users) are also on Facebook and / or IG, please give us a follow, helps work the algorithms. We also have a blog on the website, just showing what we have been up to. Big digital piece is due in mid-Feb this year, we hope this segment will have a big positive effect in the US and beyond.........If nothing else, we're trying

[TVRUSA]

There is a growing interest in the Cerbera over here in the US - I am sure there will be even more in the Tuscan when it reaches 25 years old next year. Most people know them from racing games, but you do meet people who know an awful lot more than you would expect!
There is some reluctance over here for RHD unless its ex-pats like me. It great to see some support springing up, I wish you all success and will try to buy parts from you. I have a local mechanic who has been fantastic - he is happy to read up, ask questions, talk to UK mechanics and generally get immersed in the topic.

[Andi-TVRGarage]

TVRUSA said:

There is a growing interest in the Cerbera over here in the US - I am sure there will be even more in the Tuscan when it reaches 25 years old next year. Most people know them from racing games, but you do meet people who know an awful lot more than you would expect!
There is some reluctance over here for RHD unless its ex-pats like me. It great to see some support springing up, I wish you all success and will try to buy parts from you. I have a local mechanic who has been fantastic - he is happy to read up, ask questions, talk to UK mechanics and generally get immersed in the topic.

Thank you, we appreciate the support.

Great TVR collection, where are you based? Good to hear you have an engaged mechanic too. Stay in touch.

[TVRUSA]

Andi - I am in Connecticut.

[Andi-TVRGarage]

Darn it…. Such a long way from us!!!

[Byker28i]

Andi-TVRGarage said:

Darn it…. Such a long way from us!!!

Just a cross country drive