The TVR Cerbera Speed Twelve, originally known as Project 7/12
was a high performance concept car designed by TVR in 1997.
Based in part on then-current TVR mechanicals, the Speed 12
was designed to be one of the worlds fastest road-legal supercars
as well as provide the basis for a GT1 endurance race car. Unfortunately
due to development problems with the road car, and changes in
the GT1 class regulations TVR was forced to abandon the project.
The TVR Speed 12 is powered by a steel-block 7.7 litre, 12 cylinder
engine which was reportedly capable of developing nearly 1000
horsepower. This was mated to a specially constructed 6-speed
gearbox. The original 7/12 concept was unveiled at the 1996
Birmingham Motor Show and it immediately generated immense interest
within the press and public alike. The '7' part of the name
referred to the 7.7 litre engine, and '12' referred to the number
of cylinders.
The road-going, and by then renamed, TVR Speed 12 was ready
in 2000. The weight had been kept down to 1000 kilograms and
TVR were quick to say the car was a potential McLaren F1 beater
with the words "over 240 miles per hour" mentioned
on several occasions.
At this point several orders were taken and deposits handed
over. Shortly after however, the Speed 12 was declared unusable
on public roads by TVR's owner at the time, Peter Wheeler. It
was quite simply too powerful. The deposits were returned and
development of the road car halted. The existing prototypes
were used for spares on the race cars.
In 2003 TVR created a one-off, road-going Speed 12 constructed
from a prototype and using a body cast from the molds of the
race car. It was then sold on to a TVR enthusiast.
Similar and related vehicles:
TVR T400R/T440R
TVR Sagaris
TVR T350
TVR Tuscan 2 S
TVR Tamora
TVR Chimaera 5.0
TVR Griffith 500
TVR Cerbera Speed Six
TVR Cerbera 4.5
TVR S3C
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