Pretend Investment - 2001 TVR CERBERA 4.5 RED ROSE
Discussion
Help, I feel like I might be about to do something stupid.
I'm looking at this Cerbera, which is currently up for sale at £41k.
I've always fancied a Cerb and having had a few Chims in the past, I'm sure
I would love it.
Thing is, it would mean moving £41k from a relatively sensible investment into a 25 year old monster that will probably try to kill me on a daily basis. So, realistically, how well do you think this would hold it's value for a few years, if I completely ignore the running costs?
I know there's Cerbs out there for much less, but would this be a better bet for resale in a few years time because it's rarer?
All advice welcome.
(If I buy this, I'll be sleeping in the garage with it for at least a year, until SWMBO cools off)
I'm looking at this Cerbera, which is currently up for sale at £41k.
I've always fancied a Cerb and having had a few Chims in the past, I'm sure
I would love it.
Thing is, it would mean moving £41k from a relatively sensible investment into a 25 year old monster that will probably try to kill me on a daily basis. So, realistically, how well do you think this would hold it's value for a few years, if I completely ignore the running costs?
I know there's Cerbs out there for much less, but would this be a better bet for resale in a few years time because it's rarer?
All advice welcome.
(If I buy this, I'll be sleeping in the garage with it for at least a year, until SWMBO cools off)
TVR values are not falling.
Get a good one & look after it & they will cover themselves.
No one is going to make a million, they aren’t the next F40, but the garbage has either been scrapped or crashed. They are pretty, fun, rare, maintainable, and crucially in a modern world where even Ferrari are abandoning 3 pedal Manual gear boxes - analogue.
The economy is poor, but good TVRs are selling for good money.
The Wheeler era is well recognised as the golden years for TVR, the generation who grew up being given ‘Clarkson unleashed on cars’ on VHS for Christmas or playing Gran Turismo And staying awake into the small hours just trying to keep a Griffith on the track, let alone controlling the Speed-12 are coming to an age where the would be buying the classic they always wanted (the Men-o-porsche).
The huge amount of positive interest my Griffith gets from everyone shows that TVR are loved & remembered.
The economy will pick up one day. Then they are off to the races.
I predict that in 2030 you’ll be looking at a good original Tuscan & Cerbera at £75k, a Griffith at £50k and Chimaeras at £40k.
Sagaris will be the star, and will go £150k+ in the next 10 years.
I’m screen shotting this post & will prepare to admit I’m wrong…
…but I don’t think I am.
Get a good one & look after it & they will cover themselves.
No one is going to make a million, they aren’t the next F40, but the garbage has either been scrapped or crashed. They are pretty, fun, rare, maintainable, and crucially in a modern world where even Ferrari are abandoning 3 pedal Manual gear boxes - analogue.
The economy is poor, but good TVRs are selling for good money.
The Wheeler era is well recognised as the golden years for TVR, the generation who grew up being given ‘Clarkson unleashed on cars’ on VHS for Christmas or playing Gran Turismo And staying awake into the small hours just trying to keep a Griffith on the track, let alone controlling the Speed-12 are coming to an age where the would be buying the classic they always wanted (the Men-o-porsche).
The huge amount of positive interest my Griffith gets from everyone shows that TVR are loved & remembered.
The economy will pick up one day. Then they are off to the races.
I predict that in 2030 you’ll be looking at a good original Tuscan & Cerbera at £75k, a Griffith at £50k and Chimaeras at £40k.
Sagaris will be the star, and will go £150k+ in the next 10 years.
I’m screen shotting this post & will prepare to admit I’m wrong…
…but I don’t think I am.
I am not so sure that expensive TVR's are selling at all at the moment, at least that seems to be the feedback on this forum. In general, the classic and collectors market values are dropping and could drop a lot further, especially for those who see fit to spend £50k+ on a Ford Escort!! TVR's are no different. I would even say that they could drop a lot more just because of taking the 'risk' of owning one if the investment is questionable. This happened in the early 1990's and a lot of people got very burnt fingers!
Just my views of course, but I wouldn't put investment money into any car at the moment!
Just my views of course, but I wouldn't put investment money into any car at the moment!
keynsham said:
I am not so sure that expensive TVR's are selling at all at the moment, at least that seems to be the feedback on this forum. In general, the classic and collectors market values are dropping and could drop a lot further, especially for those who see fit to spend £50k+ on a Ford Escort!! TVR's are no different. I would even say that they could drop a lot more just because of taking the 'risk' of owning one if the investment is questionable. This happened in the early 1990's and a lot of people got very burnt fingers!
Just my views of course, but I wouldn't put investment money into any car at the moment!
I bet you are fun at parties! Just my views of course, but I wouldn't put investment money into any car at the moment!
We’re trying to help the OP convince himself to buy an epic car & produce a weight of evidence that he can show his wife.
I’ve owned two 4.5 Cerbera’s, the last one was a 52 plate. Let it go for around £25k but that was a while ago.
Had both remapped and decatted which made a big difference to power delivery, by a chap in Chesterfield called Joolz. Don’t know if he’s still around but he was an enthusiast and expert in mapping.
From memory 2nd was good for 80mph and 3rd 130mph. Makes for smooth rapid progress
Definitely recommend the experience, especially as you’ve owned TVR’s before.
Had both remapped and decatted which made a big difference to power delivery, by a chap in Chesterfield called Joolz. Don’t know if he’s still around but he was an enthusiast and expert in mapping.
From memory 2nd was good for 80mph and 3rd 130mph. Makes for smooth rapid progress
Definitely recommend the experience, especially as you’ve owned TVR’s before.
Stick Legs said:
keynsham said:
I am not so sure that expensive TVR's are selling at all at the moment, at least that seems to be the feedback on this forum. In general, the classic and collectors market values are dropping and could drop a lot further, especially for those who see fit to spend £50k+ on a Ford Escort!! TVR's are no different. I would even say that they could drop a lot more just because of taking the 'risk' of owning one if the investment is questionable. This happened in the early 1990's and a lot of people got very burnt fingers!
Just my views of course, but I wouldn't put investment money into any car at the moment!
I bet you are fun at parties! Just my views of course, but I wouldn't put investment money into any car at the moment!
We re trying to help the OP convince himself to buy an epic car & produce a weight of evidence that he can show his wife.
Total production was around 1500 including for the LHD market. Now we're below 1000 left in the UK.
The next economic boom could well make it go up in value and make them investment vehicles. I'm also taking 2030-2035 when no more petrol cars are allowed to be produced.
Currently only 7 Cerbera's on sale in Autotrader.
Rarity plays a part. So let's assume more exports to US, a few more written off and unrepairable in the next 5 years, more demand for manual analogue cars, some huge US YouTubers get into them, featured in the new Grand Tour etc and make it go viral. Before you know it they are they new air cooled 911... price wise.
Image, misguided or otherwise, will stop them ever going for big money. Too many punters (and journalists) still see them as little more than kit cars, despite them bring only factory built from the mid 1970s. 
I'd like to think my 1999 Griff 500 will one day be high value, but I keep driving it.
I've had a Cerbera in the past, and because so many of the parts are bespoke, they are even more expensive to maintain. That will make a good one high value I suppose.
I'd like to think my 1999 Griff 500 will one day be high value, but I keep driving it.
I've had a Cerbera in the past, and because so many of the parts are bespoke, they are even more expensive to maintain. That will make a good one high value I suppose.
As you have owned Chims previously you are clearly going in with your eyes open
Would be good to know the reg in order to see when the 37k miles were put on the car
Also, might seem trivial, but wouldn't you expect the car to be running properly when on sale for £42k?
In which case why is it idling so high?
Would be good to know the reg in order to see when the 37k miles were put on the car
Also, might seem trivial, but wouldn't you expect the car to be running properly when on sale for £42k?
In which case why is it idling so high?
Byker28i said:
Most parts are easily available though
Mechanical yes (I remember keeping wheel locking nuts from a Jeep Cherokee), but the electrical boxes lined up on the shelf in the boot (very handy!) are mostly unique to the Cerbera I found, as is the trim, dashboard and the dual instrument.There's no such thing as a 'Cheap Cerbera'... You'll end up paying one way or another. As long as you drive & service it regularly, they're quite reliable (they don't like to be garage queens).
Buy it, drive it, enjoy it and as long as you don't park it backwards into a ditch, it will always have some residual value. You can't take your money with you, so you might as well enjoy it when you can.
M
Buy it, drive it, enjoy it and as long as you don't park it backwards into a ditch, it will always have some residual value. You can't take your money with you, so you might as well enjoy it when you can.
M
If yu want an investment, then a Cerbera isn't going to be something you buy to make a return. However, you can park money in a Cerbera and so long as you maintain it (that is not insignificant!) then it could well prove a sensible investment.
As for future values, who knows, but I don't see them dropping massively as in effect they're incredible value for money today.
They made almost 2000 (sorry - pedantic hat off!!) and they have suffered a fairly high attrition rate so there aren't that many left as shown. Rarity helps values.
But at the end of the day, how else are you going to have so much fun for so little? I took mine down to Le Mans again this year (must be over 12 visits) and how do you value the experience?
A Cerbera today holds its own with almost anything on the road - in mine the driver lets it down!! 
Yes Joolz is definitely still going
However, if you are doing it for purely financial reasons (speaking as an accountant!!) then there are better financial investments, but man-maths shows what could you invest in to give you more joy and not be similar to the Casino in Monaco??
I hope you manage to get one - don't worry, you can always put a sofa in the garage!!
Cheers
Rob
As for future values, who knows, but I don't see them dropping massively as in effect they're incredible value for money today.
They made almost 2000 (sorry - pedantic hat off!!) and they have suffered a fairly high attrition rate so there aren't that many left as shown. Rarity helps values.
But at the end of the day, how else are you going to have so much fun for so little? I took mine down to Le Mans again this year (must be over 12 visits) and how do you value the experience?
A Cerbera today holds its own with almost anything on the road - in mine the driver lets it down!! Yes Joolz is definitely still going
However, if you are doing it for purely financial reasons (speaking as an accountant!!) then there are better financial investments, but man-maths shows what could you invest in to give you more joy and not be similar to the Casino in Monaco??
I hope you manage to get one - don't worry, you can always put a sofa in the garage!!
Cheers
Rob
Do you want my man-maths.
When I got mine in 2006, I was told by various people they cost £3k a year to run, so I put £250 a month away into an account to pay for it. At the time that would have got me something boring like a corsa on a lease.
I put that away for years, paid all the bills on the car, and bought another family car out the pot
Get a good one and the spend is minimal. Apart from consumables and servicing I didn't really spend on the car for the first 6-7 years
When I got mine in 2006, I was told by various people they cost £3k a year to run, so I put £250 a month away into an account to pay for it. At the time that would have got me something boring like a corsa on a lease.
I put that away for years, paid all the bills on the car, and bought another family car out the pot
Get a good one and the spend is minimal. Apart from consumables and servicing I didn't really spend on the car for the first 6-7 years
Robscim said:
If yu want an investment, then a Cerbera isn't going to be something you buy to make a return. However, you can park money in a Cerbera.
This is the thing. You are not going to lose much (if any) money if you look after it, and in the meantime you have a life-enhancing piece of machinery to enjoy. More fun than cash in a bank account.Having said that, £40k+ is currently top of the market dealer prices. You might need to wait a few years for private sale values to catch up
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