TVR Cerbera
The Cerbera was TVR’s four-seat coupé, in production from 1996 to 2006. It’s the car the current restoration arc on the channel is built around.
Headline facts
Section titled “Headline facts”- Years built: 1996 to 2006
- Layout: front engine, rear-wheel drive, 2+2 coupé
- Engines: TVR-designed AJP8 V8 (4.2L and 4.5L) in early cars; later cars used the Speed Six straight-six (4.0L)
- Chassis: TVR’s own steel tubular spaceframe with composite (fibreglass) body
- Notable: early Cerberas had a single 7-inch headlamp per side; later production switched to a quad headlamp setup that many enthusiasts (and Matt) have retrofitted to early cars
Known weak spots
Section titled “Known weak spots”These are the things to look at hard when buying or restoring a Cerbera. None of them are deal-breakers if priced honestly — but a clean one with no issues here is probably wearing a fresh coat of paint over something.
- Chassis outriggers — the sections that the body bolts to are notorious for rusting. Most cars now have repaired or replaced outriggers; if the seller says they don’t, inspect them very carefully.
- Crossmember between front legs — also rust-prone, especially the lower face.
- Cylinder heads on the AJP8 — early cars are known for porous head castings. Coolant in the oil after a hard run is a common diagnosis.
- Speed Six finger followers — wear is a known fault on the straight-six; rebuilt engines are common.
- Electronics — the bespoke TVR control modules (ignition, lights, door locks) are temperamental and decades old. Replacement is hard; reverse-engineering and repair is more common.
- Door locks / electronic entry — getting into a Cerbera with a faulty solenoid is its own minor sport.
Restoration arc on the channel
Section titled “Restoration arc on the channel”The current build is “the cheapest TVR Cerbera in the UK” — bought in September 2025 in rough but salvageable condition.
| Part | Topic | Video |
|---|---|---|
| PT1 | I bought it | Watch |
| PT2 | Body off, just the two of us | Watch |
| PT3 | ”3-day” paint job (became several months) | Watch |
| PT4 | Chassis strip down (with TDI joke) | Watch |
| PT5 | Chassis repaired | Watch |
| PT6 | Painted chassis | Watch |
| PT7 | Fuel lines + 3D printed clips | Watch |
See the full playlist for the running order.
Specific modifications on this car
Section titled “Specific modifications on this car”- Quad headlamp conversion (PT8) — Speed Six look on a V8 Cerbera
- 3D-printed chassis clips for the fuel lines (PT7)
- Subaru steering rack swap planned with electric power steering pump