Models · TVR
TVR Cerbera buying guide
The Cerbera is TVR's 2+2 coupé, built around a steel backbone chassis with a glassfibre body, and the first TVR with its own engines: the AJP8 V8 in 4.2 and 4.5 litre forms and, from 1999, the 4.0 Speed Six.
The versions
- 4.2 V8 (1996 on): 4,185cc AJP8 flat-plane-crank V8, 360bhp
- 4.5 V8 (1997 on): 4,475cc AJP8, 420bhp claimed; Red Rose (2002 on), 440bhp
- Speed Six (1999 on): 3,996cc 24-valve straight six with dry sump, 350bhp
- Borg-Warner T5 five-speed manual; limited-slip differential, or Hydratrak diff (standard on the 4.5)
- Mk2 update in 2000 with new headlights, seats and roll-over bar; lightweight option on the 4.5
What to check on a Cerbera
3 model-specific things to look at when you view one. They're a starting point, not the full inspection.
Engine rebuild history
What to look for: Ask for paperwork showing what engine work has been done and by whom. On a 4.2 V8, look for confirmation that the larger 4.5 main bearings were fitted. On a Speed Six, look for evidence of a rebuild by a known specialist, and listen at cold start for rattles from the top of the engine.
Why it matters: Early 4.2 V8s and pre-2002 Speed Sixes had teething troubles, and many needed rebuilds in their first 20,000 miles. The 4.2's small main bearings could let the crank flex and break, and most have been rebuilt with the 4.5's larger bearings. Speed Six issues included head gaskets, valves pulling into the head, cam lobes worn by the finger followers, and slow oil delivery from the dry sump on cold starts. Specialist development has fixed most of these, so proof of the work is what matters.
Valve clearance work
What to look for: Look in the history for invoices showing the valve clearances were checked and the tappets reshimmed, with the mileage at each.
Why it matters: The Speed Six needs its valves reshimming every 12,000 miles, and the V8's 16 tappets need it regularly too. It's labour-intensive on the V8, and delaying it risks noise and damage. Detailed invoices from a reputable specialist are a sign of a car that's been looked after.
Chassis outriggers and top rail
What to look for: On a ramp, look at the outriggers behind the front wheelarches, where mud collects, and along the top rails of the chassis. Look for flaking coating, rust and fresh underseal.
Why it matters: Chassis corrosion is the next big concern after the engine, and the outriggers behind the front wheels are mud traps. Powder coating peeled on 1998 and 1999 cars, and early Speed Sixes lost coating to exhaust heat until a heat shield was fitted; coatings improved from 2001. Access is poor, so most chassis repairs mean lifting the body.
Also in the full guide
- Clutch pedal and hydraulics
- The cold start, test drive and paperwork checks for the exact version you're viewing
The full guide to the Cerbera
The CrankSight guide walks you round the car on your phone at the viewing, with every check for the exact version you're looking at: what to look for, where to find it, and what anything you find is likely to cost. As you go it builds an assessment of that car, and if you view more than one, it lines them up side by side.
£29 for the model, used on as many cars as you like, delivered within 72 hours or your money back.
General points for the model, last checked October 2026. Every car is different, so treat this as a guide to what to look at, not a verdict on any car. CrankSight is independent and has no connection with TVR.