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Brian Overy tells the story: "After a 5 litre Griffith, 4.2 and 4.5 Cerberas I wanted something different - and boy did I get it! Chris Marsh was anxious for me to get a Mantis, but after the Cerbera it was just a little too tame, so he promised to build me a supercharged version so I would not miss the TVR power. There had been one built before - a LHD car bound for Russia - but S500 BHP was to be Marcos' flagship vehicle and they have poured lots of TLC into it. The car has appeared in Hot Car and Redline magazines, in the 1999 Esquire Calendar with the real-life Lara Croft (yes she does exist) draped over the bonnet and on Top Gear, driven by Vicky Butler-Henderson. I have driven the car at Pembrey, Snetterton, Lydden Hill and Donnington and its ability clearly outweighs mine. It is very quick and is about to get slightly quicker. When the car was set up on the rolling road last month, its timing was adjusted and fuelling made rich to reduce engine temperatures pending fitment of an air/water intercooler (all supercharged Mantis are to get these fitted retrospectively FOC). Despite that the power and torque outputs exceed those of the new DB7 6 Litre V12. Once the intercooler is fitted and the engine set up properly we expect something in excess of 450 bhp.
There is a degree of 'coming on cam' but nothing like a Cerera or a turbo
engine; the whole time you can hear the supercharger whistling away under the tightly
packed bonnet. The factory have been excellent, trailering the car on the 500 mile
round trip FOC for servicing and
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