Head light conversion

[edtvr]

Can anyone give me advive on getting a head light conversion, I,ve see by some of your pic's that there are several types, no doubt with varing costs.
What would you recommend, who does them, and how much?

[Tiger]

I see your in Essex speak to Eddie 4.2 he owns a body shop and does them.

He's the chap that does the London tunnel runs

Don't know what he charges though

This is his profile

www.pistonheads.com/members/showProfile.asp?memberId=35448

[Cavey]

Mine was done by the pervious owner at Webbs nr. Bristol. Also known as TVRBoyshop. There's a bill for about £1200 I think.

[Tyre Smoke]

Cavey said:

Mine was done by the pervious owner at Webbs nr. Bristol. Also known as TVRBoyshop. There's a bill for about £1200 I think.

I'm sure you love it, but IMHO it looks absolutely cack on a Chim.

Strangely my Cerb has a conversion and I think it looks okay. Something to do with the length of the nose methinks.

[greg_D]

Tyre Smoke said:

Cavey said: Mine was done by the pervious owner at Webbs nr. Bristol. Also known as TVRBoyshop. There's a bill for about £1200 I think. I'm sure you love it, but IMHO it looks absolutely cack on a Chim. Strangely my Cerb has a conversion and I think it looks okay. Something to do with the length of the nose methinks.

well bully for you!!!!!

Greg

[Tiger]

Just as a counter I think they look bloody fantastic.

[snorky]

still can't decide on these on Chims....look great from head-on but not so great from 3/4 view IMHO...

[edtvr]

So whats the general consensus; 2 lights look better than 3, and itlooks better on a Chimp than a Cerbi.
Does anyone have opinon on whether its like tampering with perfection, and frowned apon. As a newy I dont know how strongly ph's feel about these sort of changes.

[Blipi]

Light conversions on Chims pull the burds.

It pulled me as now I own one!

[BIIOAB]

I think they look good and I'll do mine when/if I can afford it....

[225]

I reckon the faired in look, suits the chim best. Makes it look a bit more beefy at the front.

(But I would say that )

[victormeldrew]

Tyre Smoke said:

Cavey said: Mine was done by the pervious owner at Webbs nr. Bristol. Also known as TVRBoyshop. There's a bill for about £1200 I think. I'm sure you love it, but IMHO it looks absolutely cack on a Chim. Strangely my Cerb has a conversion and I think it looks okay. Something to do with the length of the nose methinks.

The Cerb nose is longer? Are you sure? I thought they inserted a foot behind the seats, not in front of them!

So maybe it doesn't look "cack" on a Chim then? Or your Cerb is "cack"?

[damnfinechim]

Yeah.. convert is all good methinks.

Thinking of getting mine blended but maybe the rings around retains some of the original 'aura'?

I tend to think the original headlights are just too 'out-there', big, round, eyeballs... Not that I dislike them though.. oh no.....

[mak]

they look mint, the only thing i cant stand on my chimaera is the front! the backs cool, the sides a little long but hey, and the front. mmm! that'll be an old spitfire or an mg then. seeing as though i'll be keeping mine for a bit i shall be getting it done, only one thing i'm not sure about though are they worse or better at night?

[hut49]

I think all Chimaera owners should go out this weekend and hack the front about a bit to make way for lots of new headlights to make sure any prospective buyer thinks you've stuffed it and had the insurance payout cover the cost of a few extra holes that IMHO spoil the original design. Maybe drape a few neons over the roof while you're at it - it'll soon be Christmas.

I've said it before but how many Ferrari, Porsche, Maserati, Lotus etc owners get a guy with a hack saw restyle the front of their classics/soon to be classics?

If enough front wing GRP is modified on a large percentage of Chimaeras now in circulation a stronger market for original spec 5-star condition Chims will emerge. So I'm all for it - I think it looks the dogs dangly bits.

[edtvr]

hut49 said:

I think all Chimaera owners should go out this weekend and hack the front about a bit to make way for lots of new headlights to make sure any prospective buyer thinks you've stuffed it and had the insurance payout cover the cost of a few extra holes that IMHO spoil the original design. Maybe drape a few neons over the roof while you're at it - it'll soon be Christmas. I've said it before but how many Ferrari, Porsche, Maserati, Lotus etc owners get a guy with a hack saw restyle the front of their classics/soon to be classics? If enough front wing GRP is modified on a large percentage of Chimaeras now in circulation a stronger market for original spec 5-star condition Chims will emerge. So I'm all for it - I think it looks the dogs dangly bits.

Kinda see you point, thats why I asked, but where is the line drawn, any Engine, Suspension, Wheel etc etc mod thats done for whatever reason either performance or styling is surely changing the original design.
And why shouldn't we question that?

[mak]

i'll take a picture of mine before, while and after so as not to be confused with damaged repair, some people hate it some like it, u will never get every one to agree its just human nature, thing is though as was stated in a post about never hacking a porsche or ferrari front end about its queit true but on a 1999 996(911) its bloody lovely and any 99 ferrari is looking bloody good at any angle compared to my 99 chimp and lets not forget the value diferance, i'll have mine hacked at least i wont have to avoid looking at something i dont like. note i said i.

[victormeldrew]

hut49 said:

I've said it before but how many Ferrari, Porsche, Maserati, Lotus etc owners get a guy with a hack saw restyle the front of their classics/soon to be classics?

Since TVR themselves set the precedent by "updating" the Cerb, I think its actually a different proposition altogether. Not to mention that it's difficult if not impossible to do with metal cars, but easy peasy on fibreglass.

As the dark nights close in I can say it's pretty useful being able to see where you are going. There is actually a real benefit to this conversion other than the change of style.

Lighten up! ()

[hut49]

mak said:

any 99 ferrari is looking bloody good at any angle compared to my 99 chimp

Oh come on that's a bit harsh - the Chimaera is a bloody good looking car from any angle. If you're that disenchanted with your 99 model sell it and buy something else rather than pour several thousand quid down the drain - you can't change all the angles and the bits you don't change will just be there to remind you that it just ain't a Ferrari.

Just to lighten the discussion a bit, I was waxing the Chimaera this morning (paying special attention to the nice curvy lines around the headlights ) and a noticed a young guy late teens standing by the gate watching. Thinking he was a TVR-drooler I asked if he wanted to take a look. He looked at me straighfaced and said "it doesn't matter how much you polish it mate, it'll never be a Porsche" and turned and walked away. I'll wax it inside the garage in future!

[_dan_]

Mine cost about £1300 and is the "Type-R" conversion. The die hard purists probably hate it, but personally I think it modernises the rather ageing look of the front of the Chim.

I won't say where I got it done as there has been a few problems with it (blisters appearing round the joins) and I need to see if they'll redo it for me before I start naming and shaming!!!

The Type-R conversion has the cluster of 4 lights, the indictor is brought up from the bottom to the top of the wing, along with main, dip and sides.

Check my profile for pics or www.toite.com/MyCar/