[ds968]

Out for a quick grocery run and fill up today - while at the gas station, an older gentleman ( well, older than me anyway [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/rolleyes.gif[/img] ) pulls up in a TVR Cerbera. In a brilliant blue, of all colors.. As I'm starting to walk over so I can
check out his car ( that's one beautiful sports car, IMO ), he's on his way to the 968 with a grin on his face to do the same.

So being the ignoramus that I am, I asked him what engine he has in that thing ( thinking a 4, may be a 6 ..) only to learn there is a monster 4.2L 8cyl in there [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/ohmy.gif[/img] . That HAS to be the smallest block V8 ever made, not sure how they can fit it in, although the nose is fairly elongated so I'm guessing the engine bay is a decent size.

Glad I did not try to beat him out of the station.. he probably would have left tire marks on my car [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/dry.gif[/img] , guessing that's a rocket, unless it weighs much more than it looks ..

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[flash]

lol - there are much smaller V8s out there - formula 1 in 2006 used 2.4liter V8s, replacing the 3 liter

do not mess with a tvr - they will generally leave you in the dust in power

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[Cloud9...68]

I have a vague recollection, and I may be dead wrong about this, and/or am confusing it with another car, but I seem to remember that TVR made a practice of shoving the engine way back in the engine bay, to achieve a "front-mid engine" configuration, which may explain how they can stuff a V8 into such a small car. Don't remember the Cerbera model, though...

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[ds968]

Holy crap ! I just pulled up some info on that car :
Check this out : it weighs only 2,400 lbs and here's the the stats on the 4.2L , and the 4.5L engine option :

4.2L model

Engine type: V8 OHV 16v
Power: 360 hp (268 kW; 365 PS)
Torque: 320 lb·ft (434 N·m) at 4500 rpm
Redline: 7000 rpm
0-60 mph: 4.2 seconds
1/4 mile time 12.4 seconds
Top speed: 185 mph (297 km/h)

4.5L model

Engine type: V8 OHV 16v
Power: 420 hp (313 kW; 426 PS) at 6750 rpm
Torque: 380 lb·ft (515 N·m) at 4500 rpm
Redline: 7000 rpm
0-60 mph: 3.9 seconds
Top speed: 195 mph (313,7 km/h)

Yikes ! Lucky I didn't try to see if I can run with him.. this guy looked to be his mid 60s and still at the wheel of a pocket rocket. Classy dude though, was wearing a jacket and an ascot... anyone want to bet if he's a Brit ? [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/rolleyes.gif[/img] ...75 degrees today ! Hope that car has good air conditioning.

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[pipes]

Hey ds968

I can speak from experience on this one - I had the mad version, a 2000-model 4.5 flat-crank V8, 420hp and axle tramp in the first 4 gears in the dry. If it is wet - take the bus!

Absolutely the maddest car ever, tubular steel chassis with a fibreglass body. Weighed a little more than a bag of crisps! No ABS and the traction control was basically a very long throttle pedal travel!

Here are some pics:

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[ds968]

Wow, thanks for posting those pics. Sounds phenomenal.. even if you only do drive it on a dry day and in a straight line ( must be some abandoned airport runway near by one can find, isn't there.. ? [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif[/img] )

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[stevekat]

Triumph developed a 2.5 liter V8 in the late sixties, with the design improved and enlarged to 3.0 liters and used in the 1970 forward Triumph Stag (I had one of these in the early 1980's.) Cool car.

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[flash]

yeah - many drivers swapped that out for the rover 215 engine, as it was more reliable, less expensive, and had more torque

beautiful car though - kelsey grammer owns one that was being restored the last time i talked to him

interesting side note - the stag engine was the "928" evolution of the slant 4 triumph made, similar to the slant 4 of the 944

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