TVR Cerbera - Jay Leno's Garage

[@gryfandjane]

My only trip to the UK was back in 2000, and I stayed with a family in Blackpool. One day while out exploring, we noticed a then-new TVR Tuscan at a filling station, and immediately turned in for a closer look. Speaking with the driver, we learned that he was a tester for TVR. One thing led to another, and a couple of days later he led us on a factory tour. I’ll never forget it. We saw the entire manufacturing process and meet some of the staff… then they gave us each a nice pack of memorabilia to take home. That was one of the great highlights of the trip.

[@oliverbyrne3209]

I lived next to the factory on Bristol avenue in bispham. It's just a couple of miles outside Blackpool.

[@danbuckley6584]

That's awesome my only experience with these was Gran Turismo... always thought they were amazing.

[@goodfes]

What a great memory. Sadly the original factory is long gone, went a few years ago in my TVR and it was a pile of bricks unfortunately which at the time was a bit of a shock. UK Top Gear with Clarkson, Hammond and May managed to get to it before it was torn down, in one of their episodes as well as the original Jensen Factory near Coventry, UK.

[@gryfandjane]

Just had a look on Google Maps, and you're right. Alas. On a related note, we also visited the former MG works, both being Midget owners. Same story... long gone, and replaced by a police HQ.

[@Assasinnationtv]

That definitely sounds like an incredible day 💯💪

[@trevorjlewis]

I came to TVR in the early 90's before the Cerbera had finished being designed. I went straight into the development department and assisted with some of the body styling. Most of the front end was my work. Although the styling was borrowed largely from the Chimera front end, I designed the scoop that also incorporates the numberplate fixings, which also directed airflow up to the filter and top of the radiator. I blended in the indicator mountings to be part of the bodyshell layup rather than being a separate fixture as in the Chimera. I also designed the air intake system from the filter tray and filter cover mounted right on the front of the car and the scoop panel covering the steering rack and hiding the screen wash bottle. Was good days but a lot of stress. Peter Wheeler would constantly change things. Once the moulds were being made I became body shop foreman for the Cerbera fibre glass production line and set up and trained all new staff to produce all the GRP parts of the car. I was Foreman on that production line for 5 years. I left to start my own composites production company in 1999.

[@murkeywaters]

Great to read a bit of the back story and development, I remember being behind a Cerbera on the way to a race meeting, really beautiful car hooning through English country roads, I was in a Golf GTi and we were both moving pretty quick down twisty B roads, once a good straight opened up you could say he easily gapped me!!

[@jasonmedcalf2707]

You did beautiful work.

[@Whatisthisstupidfinghandle]

Very cool ! Hope you’ve had a successful business

[@gkhobbs]

Well, because of you, this is still my favourite car to this day. Thank you.

[@maximan4363]

@@murkeywaters The 205 1.9GTI was perfect for those twisty B roads - far better than the Golf GTI! OMG still one of the most fun cars I've every owned!!! Take the back seats out, they are useless anyway and put a rollbar in instead, but it was incredibly stable! The way you can throw the 205 round corners was mental, so quick but you had to learn the clutch or it was very easy to wheelspin. Not terrible in the wet, being fwd but it would understeer - so unforgiving but it got banned in France due to the number of fatal crashes! TVR's always make me smile! Driven the TVR Tuscan quite a few times and it was a blast! The Cerbera is a beautiful looking car!! I love how Jay totally know's what he's talking about - the Guy is incredible! The more I watch, the more he astounds me! The 1930 Duesenberg LeBaron Barrelside made me cry!!!

[@ChuckArvidson-mb8bu]

I'm 34 and I love this as a kid playing Gran Turismo.

[@matthewrammig]

I am 34 and I still play Gran Turismo on PlayStation and my favorite car is the TVR.

[@BigJonkulous]

Same!

[@yippeethreeeight]

I used to struggle driving the Speed 12, but it was still my favorite car in GT.

[@GrandHuevotes]

A bit older. Same. I remember this car in GT games. I remember it was a bit of a beast. Powerful and tail happy

[@cj-fool-youtube]

Came here for this comment!

[@micahjared8082]

52yrs old , This was one of my top 5 faves in the first Grand Turismo. Would regonize this car 3 football fields away.

[@leftmono1016]

I’m only 51, but same. Went round my nephews house and saw them playing GT. Went directly to HMV and bought the PS and game.

[@micahjared8082]

@@leftmono1016 nice. I got the first PS only to play GT. Saw someone else playing it ... Amazing to me today that the graphics are not great. But at the time they were lol. I still have my PS and booted it up a year back... nostalgia gotta love it. Point is the physics were and still ARE insane. Once I got over the graphics shock, I couldn't get over how realistic the driving simulation still is.

[@rlfpotatoking9253]

i'm in my 20's and still play Gran Turismo 2 on PS1, the driving physics and simulation is still better than most racing games today excluding the latest Gran Turismo for obvious reasons.

[@Freemouse159]

​@@rlfpotatoking9253good lad.

[@fuzzytraveler]

I second that 😊

[@mattgill2074]

One of my all time favourite TVRs. God I miss the 90s

[@bigduphusaj162]

yeah im in Scotland i had the griffith 500 with tuscan race series diff and back suspension. Cerbera had the 4.5 then TVR themselves done the RR tune while i spent a few days at Blackpool. What a time man, the worlds went sceptic since 2005

[@Terraceview]

I know right? When there were still exciting unique cars being made. I miss TVR.

[@George-d7e]

@@bigduphusaj162I’d say it started all going pear shaped with everything since 2000/2001

[@UncleManuel]

"Can we open the boot?" Jay knows his stuff and adapts his terminology in front on an English car. Nice! 😁🤟

[@5CGQ]

Yeah, but he did refer to the bonnet as the hood.

[@x.x..x.x]

I do the same thing depending on the origin of the vehicle. When in Rome do as the Romans do.

[@Team33Team33]

I think he just knows how to speak the English language correctly. It's called education.

[@fantaflesdopke]

Will never forget the TVR Tuscan in Swordfish, in that amazing "Chameleon Blue" paint 🙂Notoriously dangerous cars in the hands of everyday drivers. Works of art!!

[@RioBow]

Yes 100%

[@hambo76]

It would kill if you if you didn't respect it - I owned a Tuscan S in Chameleon Blue (Portland interior) for 6,000 miles and it was the best car I've owned in my life. It took all my money but definitely worth it!

[@crawfordjason]

Yes, that one in Swordfish and driving the Cerbera Speed 12 in Gran Turismo.

[@bannjaxx]

I remember Top Gear out running a speed camera in a Tucsan S - I don't mean it was so fast the camera couldn't get a decent shot of it, the Tuscan S was so fast, the camera never even SAW it to take a photo!! kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zp2zk2Z5qrppaNU&ab_channel=Pexing

[@calchedz]

A real handful in the wet lanes 😊

[@RodiGKaya]

How can jay not comment on the interior ? It’s a work of art !

[@AxLWake]

Yes. It's so unique. I love everything about that car. One of my all time favorite. I guess I'll never drive one but I love it anyways.

[@MichaelVLang]

That was like looking at a work of art. Quite shocking.

[@kylekleman]

I was going to say the same thing! Interior, flat plane crank and bespoke engine are very surprising!

[@freddysquirenaranjo4859]

Very cool 😎😎@@MichaelVLang

[@trevorjlewis]

the dash was a one piece moulding from both screen pillars to the rear seats apart from the clocks binnacle which was separate. I remember making the mould trying to work out all the splits. I think it was like a 6 piece mould.

[@deancrawford2577]

Reminds me of that old TopGear episode where the Tvr cerbera anhialated the 911 turbo, Lotus twin turbo, Dodge Viper, Aston Martin Vantage and the Caterham. We all had to look at each other and close our mouths 😯😳 Astonishment was an understatement.

[@woooster17]

Clarkson- "Look at that TVR go!!"

[@CX06]

That particular Cerbera was fitted with a full Tuscan Challenge race engine!

[@michaelharle722]

Minor detail.

[@throwback19841]

@@michaelharle722 other manufacturers should have known better and cheated too lol I mean thats like rule number 4 of racing I think? Be lightest, be the most powerful, have the best driver, and also cheat.

[@bigduphusaj162]

i bought mine off the back of that exact vid. It was a VHS of clarkson on Cars. I had a Griffith 500 too in yellow with the black rims. Still rapid by Todays standards. They would both waste my M3comp in a roll race.

[@John_Conner222]

He is correct about the car in the playstation game Gran Tourismo. That's where I first learned about it in the 90s. It was the fastest car in the game IF you could control it which was next to impossible. So I spent a month, every day after school, fine tuning it (you could change gear ratios, transmission gears, and suspension, just like IRL). I finally got it to where I could manage it. It still spun the tires till 3rd gear and was still basically a difficult to control missile but it was finally doable. Took my saved game to every competition and blew them all out of the park. Loved the way it looked too. Surprised there isn't more info on the cars.

[@AxLWake]

Yes. Since the Playstation days this is one of my all time favorite cars.

[@maverick214]

I lived in the UK from the late 1990s to the mid 2000s. While living there, a buddy took me for a drive in his TVR Cerbera 4.5. Holy sh#t - it was incredibly fast.

[@realMaverickBuckley]

Same, 😂 I had a friend who was an engineer in Peterborough, he bought a Cerbera and told me it was 'around 375hp' ... BS!! That thing was ABSURDLY fast. Then he told me about the speed 12 with a Naturally Aspirated V12 and 1000hp. Weighing 1 ton.😮

[@Grover91]

​@realMaverickBuckley Peter Wheeler used to test all models to personally see what they were like. He took one of the speed 12 prototypes home one night and came in the next day and said it was TOO terrifying and difficult to drive on the road so they canned it. It also had no ABS for traction control. There is one roadworthy 12 that exists and it recently came up for sale.

[@kingcurry6594]

@@realMaverickBuckley The Speed 12 was in maxcarcare in York being detailed for sale last year and I went to see it. Incredible. It was almost evil looking and the noise...........! It sold for over £600,000.

[@kingcurry6594]

@@Grover91 "He took one of the speed 12 prototypes home one night" That's actually a myth. Peter couldn't get in the car.

[@oil3616]

I'm on my sixth TVR, a 2006 TVR Tuscan Convertible with the 4 litre Speedsix engine.They made approx 83 in 2005 and 2006 before the factory closed in 2006. Its a great car which I've had the good fortune of driving around Europe in. Many holiday trips down to Spain and Portugal but also used as my daily while working in Germany. No ABS, Airbags, Traction control etc. just fun driving. 😁

[@SmasherDobson8443]

Sick motor proper beast of a thing..

[@Dingzyy]

I own a T350 🙂

[@tysonmandela9265]

How are they for reliability and insurance ?

[@oil3616]

@@tysonmandela9265 My first TVR was a 1983 2.8lt Tasmin, daily driver in Switzerland and Germany. Never broke down. 2nd, a 1993 Chimaera 400, daily driver in Germany. 3rd, a 2000 Tuscan, needed an engine rebuild but then daily driver in Germany. 4th, 20006 Tuscan convertible, general maintenance but did get shipped back from France when engine management fried. Still have it and still love it. 5th, 1998 Chimaera, project car but no time so moved it on. 6th 1998 Cerbera 4.2, absolutely loved it but it spent 20 of 24 months in the workshop so moved on. Used daily they are fine. 👍🏼

[@tysonmandela9265]

@@oil3616 by the sound of it the have a common fault with engine and from what I have read on the internet they have a couple of common faults. I am interested in buying one but if its a money out then I will save my self the hustle and buy a m5

[@nicholasevans4812]

A TreVoR in the garage. One of Blackpool’s finest 👍

[@bwofficial1776]

You have to love TVR and its Britishness. Some bloke named Trevor went out to his shed and said "how hard can it be?"

[@brianjames5685]

Cup of tea, big old moustache, a day out with Trevor followed by a few pints of best. I live near where these were built, as we say up North them TVR's were proper wick

[@kevinrose3602]

Absolutely beautiful car. Looks like a cross between a ford thunderbird (most recent gen) and a Porsche cayman 987

[@brandemanbrandt5579]

Me, as a no car owning cyclist, can really appreciate this channel as well..loving the way it’s presented by Jay. It’s my favourite way to unwind after a busy day at work.😊

[@oliverattwell8013]

I hope you’re not old enough to drive?..

[@andrewnorris5415]

Jay really is a nice bloke. I liked the guest today too, he listened a lot and answered very pertinently. He clearly has a love of these cars and we can see why.

[@roadwarrior144]

Fell in love with TVR since the film “Swordfish” with John Travolta! Badly need THAT Tuscan in my life!!!

[@kingcurry6594]

That Swordfish Tuscan has been on my drive when its owner came to visit me. I went for a drive with it in my Chimaera and, even when it was 50m in front, I couldn't hear my own engine.

[@rossmacintosh5652]

Regarding driving a right-hand drive, Jay says it's not an issue & you can pick it up in a few minutes. Then the camera from the leading vehicle shows Jay driving out of his lane! Love it!

[@redlion145]

I think he crosses center on purpose now, just because he can. It's almost an easter egg in his videos.

[@CarsandCats]

He always has blocker cars following him so no risk really. @@redlion145

[@1970sthrowback]

@@redlion145 i think its because his eyes are always almost closed

[@answeris4217]

I saw that too. I remember when I first got a licence it was a hard thing to do just to stay close enough to the center line. When you live on the other side you need to adjust. For me it would be passing a car on a two lane highway.

[@haroldmueler7399]

He does that all the time, even in the LHD cars.

[@godchi1dvonsteuben770]

The TVR Cerbera was a maniac. I've seen one of those SMOKE an Aston Martin Vantage, which we all know was a freakin' animal itself. There's a Top Gear episode where they lined up the 8 fastest cars in the world, the Cerbera walked away from the entire pack...

[@Stevesixty7]

The Blackpool Rocket

[@69bock69]

Yea it had full race egine

[@GillespieGaming]

Pretty sure that Cerbera on that line up wasn't stock, but still.

[@freddysquirenaranjo4859]

Good PR at the time for TVR, not just that Clarkson and Wheeler were very good mates and both from Yorkshire @@GillespieGaming

[@trevorjlewis]

I personally laminated the bodyshell of that car. It was a carbonfibre/ glassfibre sandwich. It was about half the weight of the production shell. The floor pan was laid up as standard though. The engine was a full on 5 litre version of the AJP8 and was Tuscan race spec.

[@Dolby109]

I've always loved TVR's since I was a kid! Glad some of the really radical ones are finally becoming legal to import to the US.

[@bigduphusaj162]

they are all radical mate. Theres no such thing as slow or boring TVR. The brand is a pants on fire brand.

[@Dolby109]

​@@bigduphusaj162 Well I mean styling wise the later ones are much more radical than the earlier ones I think. Also they are much faster. I have a friend with a Supercharged TVR TR6 I think... and it looks pretty good, and is quick but not anything crazy.

[@johnmore4155]

20+ years old and it still is one of the fastest and most beautiful cars on the road. I know some EV's can do silly 0-60 but the character and sound of a 4.5L CERBERA can't be beaten.

[@danielhillier7417]

31 year old Brit here. TVR has always been a favourite brand of mine, often known for shoddy build quality and questionable reliability. None of that has bothered me, the noise, the looks, the crazy speed and handling. That's why I love them. Sadly I haven't managed to afford to own and run one though.

[@adrianshephard224]

You either like it or not, you either get it or NOT. People that like them, love them till death. People that hate em, can't stand the look of them. It's a car for enthusiasts! If you aren't one, it's not a car for you! But I agree with you! Cerbera and Sagaris are my all time favorite!

[@SethDaughters]

This one though, unless you live in a dry climate the whole chassis will rust out.

[@daves4026]

Yep watch edd chinas wheeler dealer’s restoration the whole chassis needed changing. But. Beautiful looking car

[@bigduphusaj162]

​@@SethDaughtersit was easy to stop the rot. Theyd made the same mistake as Rover did on the SD1 and made whats like an inner fender that was supposed to let the wind get in and basically blow dry it. The fix was easy a few drill holes in the right places or you could fill the thing with marine expanding foam if you didnt care about the extra weight. Everyone at the time knew to fix the stuff TVR almost got right so practically any decent one you buy will have had all the usual mods done.

[@limpet7r63]

The main problem with the chassis is the really poor quality powder coating. Small bits of it flake off, then the exposed metal rusts. Then lifts the powder coating around it, which then rusts and so on. Much of the chassis is inaccessible (or invisible) with the body on, so the only way properly fix it is to lift the body, then carry out the appropriate repairs, and finish with modern, good quality powder coat. The first bits to go are usually the outriggers which are the tubes that run along behind, and support the sills of the bodyshell. These can be done by lifting the body slightly rather than completely removing it, but if you’re going that far, you might as well lift it and check / repair the whole thing. If it’s really far gone, you can actually buy complete replacement chassis, although they aren’t cheap.

[@stav2002]

I used to work for Al Melling, the guy that designed those engines. That V8 was his proudest creation.

[@hambo76]

What an honour! I preferred the Speed 6 (I later owned a 4.5l Cerbera too), such a shame Wheeler screwed the reliability with cost cutting modifications but great that you can restore it to the original spec.

[@mj897]

What happened with the tvr rival he had planned? Wildcat I think

[@johnnyjohnson8928]

​@@hambo76 cost cutting as in?

[@hambo76]

@@johnnyjohnson8928 Peter Wheeler changed some of the Speed Six engine specs to cut costs and this affected its reliability significantly. They can be reverted back to the original Melling spec for a fee though.

[@mathertom]

@@mj897 Melling was a snake oil salesman.

[@Leehuss5582]

It was common here in the UK to see these glorious BEAUTIFUL cars...yes they are trouble some under that massive engine but what a car!

[@kimkimkim8]

The TVR is my dream car. Ever since I saw one go pass our school coach on the motorway doing well over 100mph. That engine noise. ❤❤❤ 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@RobsCars]

Get one before they're gone! 🇬🇧

[@amberheathall2893]

I’m on my 2nd TVR cerbera 4.2. Stunning motor and thrill to drive. There’s not many good ones left about 350-400 cars only…. Good review 👍

[@dcallan812]

A guy has a TVR across the road from me it sounds beautiful when it starts, its has Reflex purple paint. Just a great car 2x👍

[@The_R-n-I_Guy]

Wow, it looks and sounds amazing. And the fact that it doesn't have a bunch of unnecessary technology makes it that much better!

[@tvrduude]

Wonderful! I watched to make sure, but I have to correct Jay. (No blame as he sees hundreds if not thousands of cars.) But this TVR is the SECOND TVR he's driven, with my 1968 TVR Tuscan SE V8 being the first when I drove up to meet him around 2000 and he gave me a tour and I let him drive it. (A picture to prove it, but as the gent only mentioned "early TVRs like a Vixen, Jay is correct on that count, mine is not a Vixen) VERY HAPPY to see this and kudos.... I suspect I will try to add a later TVR to the stable to go with my current 6 of them I own now.

[@tvrduude]

Actually surprised he got to drive a Cerbera before I did though!!

[@davekennedy6315]

As a Brit just about to turn 50 TVR is my favourite car maker and the Cerbera my favourite model of all (but ALL 80s/90s TVRs are awesome!)

[@RobsCars]

Exactly that, all Wheeler cars were the best. Absolutely brutal, I am blessed that my Dad was an MD of a TVR dealership in Redhill Surrey in the 90s, and I would go up every weekend. I loved them so much I bought one about 2.5-3 years ago. I went big and got the daddy though! I highly recommend it. 👍🏻

[@davekennedy6315]

@RobsCars that must have been an INCREDIBLE time and I am hugely jealous of you and your father! The 90s were the absolute peak of TVR so that HAD to have been an incredibly exciting time. My dream job (especially back in the 90s!) would be selling TVRs, though I'd say they sell themselves pretty well too. Instead i had to make do with magazine road tests and that legendary appearence on the Clarkson VHS showing the Cerbera annihilate all opposition in that very long drag race down a runway. Luckily I did see and hear these stunning cars on the road and it was always a memory creating time as they truly are THAT special! Each meeting burnt into my memory and that TVR howl is awe-inspiring. To have been round them constantly like you and your dad must have been amazing. The Cerbera is one of my ultimate dream cars that sit in my make believe, lottery winning, air conditioned dream car garage in my head haha! In fact there would also be a Griffith, Sagaris, 450SE, T350, Tuscan S etc but also a Lotus Carlton and McLaren F1 (its a very BIG expensive garage haha!)

[@glennturnbull8568]

I’ve been lucky enough to have owned two TVR’s. A Chimaera with a 4 litre (Rover/Buick based, but built by TVRPower, a TVR subsidiary) V8, and probably TVR’s best kept secret a last of the line 2005 Tamora with the 3.6 litre Speedsix engine. Fantastic handling car and very underrated even here in the UK, a genuine 350hp and only 1000kg.

[@CantSeeMe-q4i]

Almost ashamed to post this out of respect for the minds involved. I played Gran Tourismo 3 and my favorite car was this Cerbera. I could set it up to beat anything else! This is the car of my dreams! Thanks for doing a video on this Jay! You da man! The weight to horsepower ratio is over the top and ridonkulous!

[@TinyMaths]

I do remember seeing quite a few TVR's back in the early to mid 90's here in London; usually you heard them before you saw them. Loved that sound.

[@GBURGE55]

You still hear them before you see them!

[@CarsandCats]

Yup, Gran Turismo is where I first heard this car and I thought, "This is the best sounding car in the world!" I've never seen one for real, but this video is a real treat!

[@kevins7093]

I've heard of TVR for decades now, I remember them from the old Top Gear (Clarkson/Hammond/May) era. Beautiful car and the sound is incredible, thanks for sharing!

[@darrenhitchcox6345]

I adore the Cerbera. I was at the London Motor Show in 1996 when they unveiled the Speed 12, Cerbera on steroids. They bolted 2 6 cylinders together and broke the dyno at 880bhp !!!

[@JohnnyZenith]

I was there too.

[@SpitfireFortyFour]

It didn't break the dyno making 880bhp. It was way more than that. The dyno in question was rated for 1000bhp, the engine running on all 12 cylinders broke the dyno. So to give a rating for it's power they disabled one bank of cylinders and ran it on 6. One bank (with the drag of the other 6 not firing) produced 440bhp so they doubled that number so there were "official" figures tied to the car.

[@darrenhitchcox6345]

@@SpitfireFortyFour Wow, that was serious horsepower for the mid ninetees. The McLaren F1 was only 650ish. I clearly remember it broke the Dyno, but did not realise it was that level

[@tbrasc0]

I remember that... Peter Wheeler was on the stand too, chatting to whoever came along. Good Times.

[@K22MDL]

Have to get a TVR Griffith into Jay's garage.

[@troynov1965]

YESSSSSSSS

[@ChairmanMeow1]

reminds me of a hyundai tiburon body style

[@chargeheadsuk]

I sold mine last year to fund my Tesla powered TVR Tasmin. Vlog on my channel

[@troynov1965]

@@chargeheadsuk NO thanks

[@AnsonLight]

​@@chargeheadsuk definitely gonna check that out!

[@robertwright7937]

My mate Lofty built the chassis for that car. He was the only one building them at the time. RIP Lofty mate, you were a hell of a welder.🙏

[@MattiusMaximus]

TVR‘s in the UK are a bargain. They start at under $10k USD for projects, and $15k gets you a good one. I bought a Chimaera last year and it’s such an amazing amount of character for the money - cheap and easy to work on too

[@Aidannnnnnnn]

Cerberas are fetching more than £30k for a good one now.

[@limpet7r63]

Chimaera prices have bottomed and are slowly creeping upwards as the supply of good cars becomes tighter, and the market realises that they have been undervalued for some time. you simply cannot buy noise or a driving experience like it for anything like the money elsewhere, and they are no more problematic or difficult to keep than any other 25+ year old car. They were produced in much greater numbers than any other TVR so it’s taken a bit longer. Griffiths and Cerberas and the later stuff such as the Sagaris and Tuscan are going up significantly year on year.

[@johnnygeorgopoulos4072]

Yeah that's the thing, you can pretty much pick any of the TVR's up for under 40k, these guys seem to be trying to jump on the JDM to US boom that hit, when Jay asked how much for one he said "70k"....no.... you can get that exact same 4.2 for 30k and just have to pay for shipping and duties, these guys know they're at the 25yr mark and are going to inflate the prices like crazy, just like nobody can buy a cheap Skyline, Silvia, Chaser, ECT anymore because the prices are skyrocketing (ok, the chasers are still under 40k, but they'd be 10k max in the States if not inflated)

[@LCOF]

Just saw a few Sagaris' on Autotrader. I used to think they were the coolest looking car but seeing them now I can't help but think they look awful!

[@niallrussell7184]

Surprised if there are that many left. I remember them being a bit of handful to even keep on the road.

[@Vincentofvega]

My brother in law bought a brand new 4.5 back in 1999, sadly he had lots of issues with it. However, to this day it remains one of my favourite cars, having been on a number of long drives in it , as a passenger. The looks are sublime, the interior too, is amazing but above all else; the noise, not much gets close. One of those cars where you grin when you see a tunnel approaching or yet another roundabout (we have lots in the UK) which gave you the chance to change down a few gears and floor it. Pulling out onto motorway slip roads and flying passed cars already travelling at considerable speed in the fast lane was wonderful.

[@davidanderson1639]

As someone from the North of England, TVR have always held a certain fascination for me. One of my fellow students when I was at art college studying film design was the son of one of the guys who worked for TVR. He’d helped build the car that appeared in Gone in 60 Seconds. He had so many stories about TVR & how if you looked closely at some of the cars, you’d see little imperfections in the build; all of which added to that whole hand built feel of them. Fun Fact: in 2010 I was visiting LA from London & I was at Universal Studios, Hollywood. During my day there, I saw Jay Leno….but couldn’t get near him to say hello!!

[@giteausuperstar]

As a Brit I very much appreciated Jay’s use of the word “boot”

[@garymcaleer6112]

Soft, graceful lines. Exquisite craftsmanship and materials. And the most beautiful sports interiors I've ever seen. Jay was right: well ahead of its time.

[@drew699]

Used to love seeing all the TVR boys dash down to Le Mans 24 hours. Crazy cars. I was/remain a Lotus owner who used to blast down to Le Mans too, but those Trevors were quick. I have driven a Chimera 4.0 & a Griffith 5.0, the latter was properly quick. Hope TVR make a come back.

[@tombrehony6277]

Jay is unbelievable. His interest and knowledge is unsurpassed. Thanks.

[@GrandHuevotes]

That design is beautiful and iconic inside and out. And to think over 25 years ago. Way ahead of its time

[@Ninja_Revenge]

TVR did some sick cars 4 sure

[@timgosling6189]

Unfortunately one of the reasons they have gone bust was the cars having too many sick days.

[@kofib3]

Always had a soft spot for TVR especially as I had met the late Boss Peter Wheeler at the NEC motor show in 2004 who was a nice humble man on first impression . Sagaris still looks wild in my opinion and this Cerbera has aged well.

[@magatsu82]

The design is just incredible, looks like a super villain car, love it

[@Skumtomten1]

It looks both elegant and mean, love the design. Reminds of the the secend gen vipers.

[@shidevil01]

Owned a Sagaris and own a T350T. Friends have owned Chimeras, Cerbs and Griffs. Cerbs are brutal with the 4.5. Love my T350T.

[@RobsCars]

Oh yes they are! 👌🏻Mines been fettled by Joolz the Cerbera Guru, and well it's faster than factory with a full ACT Performance exhaust amongst other bits. Absolutely love it. Glad you're enjoying your T350T, a very underrated TVR. If anything with a few mods it's as quick as a Sag plus I think in the looks department it will outlast the Sag, even though they're wild beasts. 👍🏻

[@jefffrancis8769]

At Jay Leno's Garage, you get the best of car talk. THANKS, will continue to watch up coming episodes.

[@drmoss_ca]

When I was junior at a north London hospital my boss used to take me on his domiciliary visits in his TVR 350i convertible. Looked forward to that all week!

[@FYMASMD]

Love the interior and the colors. Modern cars can have such boring colors. Quick and clean little ride.

[@Lov3toPlay]

Hey guys 40yo from UK... I loved those cars in my teens. Studying at the time in central London (2002-2006), I saw a lot of those beauties in Kensington and Knightsbridge area. There was one amazing Cerbera, i used to often see on the way from college. It had a chameleon paint - red, orange, and gold depending on the light with awesome sounding exhaust note!! Do you guys remember TVR Cerbera SPEED 12? One was sold in 2023 with Iconic Auctioneers (Lot 846) for just over 600K :)

[@Apartment10LDN]

Yeah HR Owen in Kensington was selling them around then

[@clonmult]

One of my childhood highlights, being brought up in Blackpool was going past the Bristol Road factory on the way to school. Early to mid 80s, going past it every day, seeing the body shells of the wedges (350/390/420/450), and occasionally hearing them being given a blast down the lanes near where we lived. Good days, awesome cars. I'll always love them.

[@woooster17]

Ahhh TVR, I love my Trevor’s.. Owned 6 of them over the years.. 450 Chimeara, Wedge 350i, 2 x 400SE, a 420 SEAC, and a 450 SEAC… Both SEAC’s are rare cars. My 420 had a full Kevlar & some carbon fibre body.. It also had the 4.2L V8 rebuilt by TVR Power engine dept, built up to 5L, Cosworth pistons, carbon intake plenum.. Had around 300bhp. But it was the sound it made that got the hairs standing on end.. Wish I still had either the 420 or 450 SEAC Great to see TVR on Jays channel

[@yippeethreeeight]

The Wedges were very cool looking cars.

[@woooster17]

@yippeethreeeight They really are.. I just loved the 80s shape & pop up headlights 😁

[@Davey_bfg71]

Watching from TVR’s home country here across the pond 😊🇬🇧 lived absolutely everything about this, beautiful looking machine, great sound and for me that paint job is stunning, car looked absolutely gorgeous in that colour 😊🇬🇧🇺🇸

[@zogzoogler]

Used to pass these everyday in the 90s on the School bus Harrogate Horseless Carriages, TVR dealership❤

[@davidcoates9123]

Another Brit here. Love a TVR and its hard to believe its 30 years old, you guys in the US missed out on a lot with these cars.

[@andymcgeechan8318]

Continuing that Blackpool connection, Sir William Lyons started his Swallow Sidecars (SS) business in Blackpool. He realised that he could speed up production by moving closer to his suppliers, in Coventry. Very soon he called one of his models a Jaguar and the rest, as they say, is history !

[@Dingzyy]

I was born in East London in 1985. Had much love for TVR my whole life, I've owned a Griffith, Cerbera and currently own a T350. Every one of them have heen a huge joy to drive, interior all falls apart and things squeak but they wouldn't be a TVR if they didn't! The engine is glorious in the T350 and the exhaust note is a sound of symphony. I want a Sagaris next.

[@bicyclist2]

I used to see TVR's in UK car magazines here in the US. I also love the Top Gear reviews of them. This one is very beautiful. Please have more TVR's on. Thank you.

[@SgtSteel1]

My favourite car of all time. The paintwork is special as well, it's different colour depending on what angle you look at it.

[@earthstick]

There was only two dealerships for these cars in the world, and one of them was a few miles from where I grew up. They look fantastic, sound fantastic, but have a bit of reputation for stopping unexpectedly. I can tell Jay is a comedian when he says 'everything is engineered, there are no shortcuts in this'. I heard if the cars went back to TVR for repairs, they would often take parts off them and put them into production cars to meet deadlines.

[@tonyj99999]

I had two back in the day, including a very nice "Viper Blue" 4.5. I used to go to Le Mans every year with some mates. Loved that car....

[@mrmoralman1]

Heard a tvr years ago when i was a child.... Every time i see one on the road - i always lower my car window to hear it: amazing!

[@1954shadow]

Back in the early 60s, my dad was dabbling in foreign cars, Jag, Porsche, Fiat Abarth, I was along with him at a foreign car dealer and lot. The salesman pointed out a odd new car on the lot, one that had a sloopie front end, but, the back end looked like it had been chopped straight down at a 90 degree angle. The salesman said it was a, TVR. That image sticks with me today.

[@johannjohann6523]

Every air intake regardless of brand or model should be just like this one. Straight and no turns! Simplicity is the key here! It's absolutely crazy how air intakes are setup or designed, especially in trucks.

[@LauRoot892]

Johan

[@TygonBC]

Mark my words TVRs are going to become crazy valuable over time.

[@jstdrv]

I drove my friends 4.5 red rose some years ago. Mental quick! The engine has so low inertia that it picks up speed like a motorcycle engine. I have a TVR Griffith 5 liter (rover based v8) from the 90s. That's a 2250lb car. Same running gear as this basically. Brutal!

[@oscardominguez1680]

Is the Cerbera noticeably quicker than your Griffith 500?

[@jstdrv]

@@oscardominguez1680 yes, but most noticeable above 50mph, it never runs out of breath.

[@V8AmericanMuscleCar]

As a kid I really wanted one of these. I'm still that kid!

[@Crsf84]

The fastest i’ve ever been was in a Cerbera, 189 on the gps and it totally confirmed clarksons statement of “undressing itself” . They are the best botched up kit car i’ve been in. Nothings good nothings secure but it’s brilliant.

[@multicyon]

Love the Trevor for a long time, saw a Tuscan in Miami way back when, instantly wanted it

[@dog8nut]

That is one NEAT car!! Hard to believe it is over 25 years old, looks like it is a 2024 model. And the color combination is perfect .

[@TheGramophoneGirl]

They really did make some amazing colour combos. I used to live near one of their dealers in the 90s and regularly got to see the cars. The stuff of dreams.

[@MoosicDude]

If you threw some modern alloys on it, it would absolutely look contemporary.

[@LiamNI]

I had one of these traded in to our dealership in the mid 2000s and I held onto it for a while. I can remember the first time I took it out it was a little damp. Just tickling down the road at about 2000RPM in 4th, pressed the (very) loud pedal and immediately lit up the wheels and squirmed around. Scary fast car! Honestly wish I had kept it now...

[@LanceCorporal_Waffles]

Dang. That car is a beauty! 17:19 $70,000?! That’s a lot less than I thought. I wish I could because I TOTALLY would.

[@Dingzyy]

Much cheaper here in the UK. I owned one in 2006, paid 15k for it.

[@skillbopster]

They go for about £35k for a good one here in the u.k.

[@LanceCorporal_Waffles]

@@skillbopster I imagine the maintenance is not cheap. I still want one, though. Lol

[@stevenikitas8170]

I remember the TVR from when I was a kid in the 1960s. In Summer 2023 I saw one of those originals parked in a small tourist town in Massachusetts. It was a great blast from the past because TVRs always were rare.

[@jethzeeltorres9727]

The speed 12 was insane in Gran Turismo. I wish they had it in GT7 ❤❤❤❤❤. The only movie I remember that had a TVR in it was Swordfish with Jhon Travolta . I was and still am mesmerized when I see these beautiful machines .

[@bannjaxx]

There was a schlocky "bonkbuster" series in the UK called "The Man Who Made Husbands Jealous" and the title character in that drove a beautiful, dark pink TVR Griffith

[@jethzeeltorres9727]

@@bannjaxx oh cool . I gotta check it out, thanks 🙏

[@juliatruchsess1019]

One of the saddest days of my life was the day I sold my 1974 TVR 2500M. Loved that car, put a lot of time and money into it, and took it to the annual "Woodwork" TVR festival a time or two. Last April while vacationing in Tuscany, I ran across a beautiful late model TVR Tuscan!

[@gilliebrand]

I was lucky enough to drive one of these in the late 1990's and it was mental...messy pants fast. Nice to see one again...thanks for sharing 👍

[@ben_jam]

TVR's are some of the most bonkers and beautiful cars ever made, and fast, very fast !! I think Jay liked this one

[@MrChrisayre]

love all the cars out of Blackpool, the upkeep would be a privilege

[@strtrst]

So great to watch an entirely positive review of the Cerbera by someone who really appreciates all kinds of cars. TVR deserve Jay's rave reviews, I just wish they were still churning out this kind of quirky British brutes.

[@Dolby109]

On the 2008 Fold...it was a few things but I think largely that TVR was not delivering and cheating customers (stealing parts from cars in for repairs to build new cars, etc).

[@redsmudgeYT]

I’ll get a Cerbera one day. Told myself that in 96 and I’m not letting go. One day.

[@paulreilly3904]

Good for you for hanging on to your dream.. I hope you get one.

[@bigduphusaj162]

I had the Griffith 500 and Cerbera 4.5 with the RR tune. TVR done the RR tune for me while i was out on the old big dipper at Blackpool beach. Only took them a few hour and they done me some other mods too. My Griffith 500 im sure they put the back diff and suspension from the old Tuscan race cars and im joking it made it an absolute weapon where as before the thing would fight me all the way if i was anything close to full power. Rapid machinery, still faster with a manual box than M/AMG/RS cars of Today. Both mine got squeaks and rattles at first till i went round them and sorted all the wee nigles with epoxy and nicer screws etc but they are solid engines and powertrains they can take daily abuse and not throw mechanical parts unlike modern cars. Again Folks... these things are a lot faster than you think, abnormally fast for the figures. 10/10 easily

[@DKArmstrong]

I allways loved a yellow one.

[@Pesmog]

They did a metallic yellow that looked great 👍

[@slak96u]

90s kid. This. Was. My. Favorite... saw it in a couple of magazines as a teenager, of COURSE Gran Turismo 2. Viper and a Miata had a baby. God bless it sounds fantastic.... the sound.

[@helfmeyerglenn491]

I love the look of the Sagaris... craaazy cool car !!!!

[@nicolasansom2681]

I once borrowed a TVR Chimaera for the weekend and never turned the radio on. Just dropped the top and listened to that gorgeous engine 🇬🇧😊

[@LauRoot892]

Hello 👋 , I really like your profile and your posts, and if you let me, I would make such an amazing mural out of it! If you don’t mind one of your post could be my inspiring muse for an art project i’m working on for a client. You will totally get paid for it as well as a bonus also get credits 😊

[@piotrnaliwajko9834]

TVR is the best brand to come out of Britain! So happy to see this car on this channel!

[@GBURGE55]

Lotus, McLaren & Aston Martin?

[@rideshareog]

My friend Eddie Tann had a blue TVR. We worked together at Highland Appliance in Dallas in the 80's. 230 roaches will fit in the TVR ashtray, he learned that from the Dallas Police.

[@Dr.Kananga]

Leno looks fit and healthy. Good for him.

[@kledomuc1713]

4,2l is 88mm bore and 86mm stroke, 4,5l is 91mm bore. HP are very optimistic, a good 4,5 can have a little over 400BHP.

[@lindaoffenbach]

Fantastic very distinctive designs since the 1990s again, that's how I remember TVR. Especially the Tuscan and Sagaris do look spectacular. TVR was/is uncompromising sports driving to be handled with care and accepting quite some quality niggles, but they do look breathtaking. On a pre-facelifted Cerbera I would change the headlights to those of the facelifted examples (resembling the Tuscan)..., and perhaps lower profile tyres with a tad larger rims. That is, if all possible though. But TVR and Blackpool..., names carved into good memories 💓

[@danieljoseph255]

Love to see Jay review the TVR Sagaris (Speed 6) and the V8 Esprit (in-house, flat plane crank)

[@rickdeloub983]

I got to get to one at the Brisbane international motor show the speed 12 was there to dream car I was only a apprentice at the time .

[@maggs131]

Only dealings i had with TVR was in the days of gran turismo 1&2. Was my favorite car to race

[@UPnDOWN]

I've got a Citroen SM and a TVR Cerbera next to me while I eat my lunch and watch this too. What are the odds?! Oh, there's a DS here too.

[@johnburns4017]

I recall one parked in Hampstead High St. Four German guys in their 20s were mesmerized by it. Stooping down, looking inside and walking around it for abut half an hour. They had never seen a TVR. At the time they were pretty common in the UK.

[@kallekas8551]

I loved that in Gran Turismo!!!

[@constructionbootgazer]

The speed12 is crazy. But this one is the realistic version to own. Test Drive 4 back on windows95.

[@GBURGE55]

I bought my S series TVR 20 years ago & literally 200 yards up the road was a guy coincidentely (with the same first name as me!) with a Cerbera. With THAT noise you always knew when he was going out! Found out a while ago that there were only ever around 27,000 TVR's built, & in my 0.3 mile road there were 2 of them!