SUPERCAR
The only example of the "world's most dangerous" car sold at auction
How can we forget the TVR Cerbera Speed 12, a true monster of the road, a car of such unprecedented power that it was dubbed the 'most dangerous car in the world'.
Officially it developed 840 horsepower with its 7.7-litre V12, but it is rumoured to have produced more than 1000 horsepower on the test bench. In fact, it was also indomitable because it was a very light car, a track car to be homologated for the road.
Well, last 20 May the TVR Cerbera Speed 12 was put up for auction and found a new buyer who decided to invest a good $750,000 in this legendary car.
TVR Cerbera Speed 12
The TVR Cerbera Speed 12 is a true monster of the road, a car of such unprecedented power that it has been dubbed the 'most dangerous car in the world'.
A legendary name
Tvr Cerbera, a very special name. Homage to Cerberus, the name of the 'nice' creature with three heads. According to Dante and his 'Commedia', it met at the gates of hell. But it is also the name of the British car, produced for just seven years between the late 1990s and 2003. Today, the Tvr Cerbera Speed 12 is a 'one-off'.
A brief appearance
Presented at the 1996 Birmingham Motor Show and originally designed as a race car to take on the McLaren F1 GTR in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, GT1 category, it had a short-lived racing career. After a few appearances in the FIA GT championship, an unexpected rule change put it out of action.
An explosive engine
A pity, since the Blackpool-based company had invested so much in the Speed 12. The engine, for example, had been created by joining together a pair of Cerbera Speed Six inline six-cylinder engines.
Almost incalculable power
With a total displacement of 7.8 litres and 480 hp on both sides, the total power output amounted to around 960 hp, dropped to 800 hp on the road model. But rumour has it that it unleashed more than 1,000 hp on the test benches. In fact it was indomitable also because it was a very light car, a track car to be homologated for the road.
Never produced road version
A model whose series production never actually took place. And do you know why? Because the late Peter Wheeler, the owner of TVR at the time, took a prototype home one evening. He was scared to death of it. The next day, he went back to the office and told the staff to stop developing a road version.
Only one specimen
For road use, the Speed 12 was too powerful and extreme. The remaining prototypes were destroyed and their components used as spare parts for racing cars. No one, neither on the road nor on the track, would ever savour its over 386 km/h speed, not even its 0-100 km/h in 3.6 seconds. No one, or almost no one. Only one example survived and made a living. The very specimen that was sold at auction on 20 May.
Sold at auction
The only example of the TVR Cerbera Speed 12 has found a new buyer who has decided to invest an impressive $750,000 in this legendary car.
Some changes
According to reports, the Speed 12 has been further refined by its previous owner, as the engine has been 'remapped', and many components have been replaced with more enhanced ones.
Sold for twice the expected price
Numerous buyers then submitted their bids, from various countries such as Switzerland, New Zealand, but also the United States and Australia. In the end, a British buyer won it at a price of $750,000, twice as much as originally planned.
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