Thinking of getting my 1st TVR
Discussion
TR4man said:
Good luck with your search.
I'm also the other side of 55 and bought my first TVR in October, although I have always had some sort of "toy" in the garage. As others have suggested, a Chimaera might be the ideal first TVR. I went for one of the final Mk3 Chimaeras bought from a specialist near Redditch after viewing only three others. One I viewed was in Chester, another near Northampton and another in North London - you have to accept that you will have to travel to view and eventually buy.
I wouldn't be too disheartened that there appears to be so few for sale in your part of the country as winter does tend to be the quieter time of year to sell or buy a car such as a TVR. Use this time to do your homework. Also you should be prepared for cars that have been fiddled about with - TVRs seem to attract owners who like to tinker!
Once you have got your TVR, you won't regret it. In the first couple of weeks that I owned mine, I did more mileage in it than it had covered in the previous three years!
I'm also the other side of 55 and bought my first TVR in October, although I have always had some sort of "toy" in the garage. As others have suggested, a Chimaera might be the ideal first TVR. I went for one of the final Mk3 Chimaeras bought from a specialist near Redditch after viewing only three others. One I viewed was in Chester, another near Northampton and another in North London - you have to accept that you will have to travel to view and eventually buy.
I wouldn't be too disheartened that there appears to be so few for sale in your part of the country as winter does tend to be the quieter time of year to sell or buy a car such as a TVR. Use this time to do your homework. Also you should be prepared for cars that have been fiddled about with - TVRs seem to attract owners who like to tinker!
Once you have got your TVR, you won't regret it. In the first couple of weeks that I owned mine, I did more mileage in it than it had covered in the previous three years!
Edited by TR4man on Wednesday 28th December 07:46
That is what happened once I got the 75th Anniversary on the road after the rebuild. Had to change the insurance to unlimited as was going to go over the 3,000 mile limit in a couple of months. Trip down to Silverstone for MGF 20 then to Gaydon, run through the Derbyshire peaks, over to Burleigh, then a couple down into Norfolk then varois club gathering around Lincolnshire soon mounted up. Have some nice photos of us going round the Silverstone GP Circuit.Really just echoing what others have said, but...
Best way to see a few together will be at a meet, and most owners will be enthusiastic enough to take you out for a spin! You may find a few owners turn up in their winter cars at this time of year, but still the best way to see a few together!
Secondly, yes they are all old cars now, so if you can find one that has had the common issues addressed / upgraded, with proper documentation, it should be cheaper than paying for the work to be done on a project.
Finally don't worry about Chim brakes, my Chim was "improved" to 300bhp and I just fitted better pads, standard size on standard discs, it was fine! They are Ford sizes so easy to upgrade if you want to.
Best way to see a few together will be at a meet, and most owners will be enthusiastic enough to take you out for a spin! You may find a few owners turn up in their winter cars at this time of year, but still the best way to see a few together!
Secondly, yes they are all old cars now, so if you can find one that has had the common issues addressed / upgraded, with proper documentation, it should be cheaper than paying for the work to be done on a project.
Finally don't worry about Chim brakes, my Chim was "improved" to 300bhp and I just fitted better pads, standard size on standard discs, it was fine! They are Ford sizes so easy to upgrade if you want to.
Well have made contact with a couple of owners in Lincolnshire through FB pages and might get to look over a Chim today and chat with it's owner. Due to the vey frosty conditions he won't take it out today but that is not a problem as I just want to have a look over one close up and chat to the owner and pick his brains about it and the Chimaera in general.
You mentioned James Agger previously. Thats where I got mine from. He's bonkers but a really nice chap. I drove down from Wakefield to buy mine. Its not that far from you really and if you did buy one from him, it would be a nice drive back to Boston. No more being held up on the A17 
Well it looks like John in Boston has gone off the idea of a meet and chat. Shame but will just have to wait a bit longer to get a good lok over a Chimaera I suppose.
Agger is one dealer that came up in my web searches and was sort of hoping that they would not mind helping educate me a bit about the TVR Chimaeras. Nice to get a positive referecne about them though ......................... thank you for that.
Am hoping to make the meet on the 8th so chat and look over a few but that will depend on if the solicitors comes up with a completion date soon. Might too busy packing up so have to wait and see.
Agger is one dealer that came up in my web searches and was sort of hoping that they would not mind helping educate me a bit about the TVR Chimaeras. Nice to get a positive referecne about them though ......................... thank you for that.
Am hoping to make the meet on the 8th so chat and look over a few but that will depend on if the solicitors comes up with a completion date soon. Might too busy packing up so have to wait and see.
Ok so after lots of questions and web searching it would seem that a Chimaera is going to be probably the best bet. It has the rounded and curvacious shape that I love. I mean it really has classic curves and no real angular bits to spoil them 
and yes I ddi have a look on the web as the S model which also has the curves at teh front. The Wedges just don't have the same appeal to me.
The Griffith also has the curve appeal but they are just priced too highly for the budget and the budget has the final say.
So over the next days and weeks will try to learn more and get the look over some cars in the flesh and hopefully be in the position to make a decision on one when the funds come through.
Thank you all for your help and advice it is most appreciated.
and yes I ddi have a look on the web as the S model which also has the curves at teh front. The Wedges just don't have the same appeal to me.The Griffith also has the curve appeal but they are just priced too highly for the budget and the budget has the final say.
So over the next days and weeks will try to learn more and get the look over some cars in the flesh and hopefully be in the position to make a decision on one when the funds come through.
Thank you all for your help and advice it is most appreciated.
Brithunter said:
Ok so after lots of questions and web searching it would seem that a Chimaera is going to be probably the best bet. It has the rounded and curvacious shape that I love. I mean it really has classic curves and no real angular bits to spoil them and yes I ddi have a look on the web as the S model which also has the curves at teh front. The Wedges just don't have the same appeal to me.
The Griffith also has the curve appeal but they are just priced too highly for the budget and the budget has the final say.
So over the next days and weeks will try to learn more and get the look over some cars in the flesh and hopefully be in the position to make a decision on one when the funds come through.
Thank you all for your help and advice it is most appreciated.
Couple of quick pointers to help you. and yes I ddi have a look on the web as the S model which also has the curves at teh front. The Wedges just don't have the same appeal to me.The Griffith also has the curve appeal but they are just priced too highly for the budget and the budget has the final say.
So over the next days and weeks will try to learn more and get the look over some cars in the flesh and hopefully be in the position to make a decision on one when the funds come through.
Thank you all for your help and advice it is most appreciated.
1) Early cars had the Rover gearbox - the interior door release knob is in a different position, much nearer the gearstick rather than in its own recess
2) Minor Facelift during 98. Rear lights are changed to bespoke items rather than upside down Fiesta's, exterior door release moved to wing mirrors, front grill slightly different, boot opens 90 degrees (roof easier to store) Note cars of this age may get all or some of the above
3) Very late cars have faired in headlights like a Griffith and early Cerbera seats plus digital mileometer (note very early cars also had digital but majority will be mechanical)
4) 5 litre models should have Griffth Estoril wheels
Edited by PuffsBack on Saturday 31st December 14:37
Thank you all as mentioned in another thread I did get to meet up with John from Boston and look and chat about his Chimaera which was most useful. Seems the messages on FB were not getting through and then suddenly a deluge of over a dozen some back to April suddenly arrived!!
Any way I hope to make it to the meet on Sunday Jan 8th if I find out where I noted the meeting place down that is ................... Doh!! so see more TVR's and chat with the throng and learn some more..
Any way I hope to make it to the meet on Sunday Jan 8th if I find out where I noted the meeting place down that is ................... Doh!! so see more TVR's and chat with the throng and learn some more..
Hmmmm don't know about that!!!
However have begun trying to sort out some cars that I would like to make enquiries about. First stage was the check the MOT history and found some interesting things like one car advertised has not been MOT'd since 2014 yet the advert says long MOT so can only think that they mean to put a new on on it?? Hmmmm another the ad claims it has 30k more on it than the MOT's suggest???? although there is a bit odd thing that one year the mileage dropped by a few hundred miles on that one!
Another I thought looked good also has no current test on the cat it having expired last July. Things like this surely would make a test drive difficult.
On one advisory list was amused to see the comment about different/odd size wheels being fitted!
Now do Chimaeras have problems with the wipers parking? I ask due to noticing quite a few with the wipers well up the screen away from the scuttle yet others they are what one would normally expect down at the bottom of the screen.
However have begun trying to sort out some cars that I would like to make enquiries about. First stage was the check the MOT history and found some interesting things like one car advertised has not been MOT'd since 2014 yet the advert says long MOT so can only think that they mean to put a new on on it?? Hmmmm another the ad claims it has 30k more on it than the MOT's suggest???? although there is a bit odd thing that one year the mileage dropped by a few hundred miles on that one!
Another I thought looked good also has no current test on the cat it having expired last July. Things like this surely would make a test drive difficult.
On one advisory list was amused to see the comment about different/odd size wheels being fitted!
Now do Chimaeras have problems with the wipers parking? I ask due to noticing quite a few with the wipers well up the screen away from the scuttle yet others they are what one would normally expect down at the bottom of the screen.
regarding mileage, obviously, proper checks are required, but mine has a small anomaly in the mileage of MOTs. It was caused by repair of a faulty speedo and a temporary one being on the car when the MOT is due - all supported by pictures and said item in the history file but that wouldn't come through on a on-line check!
The speedo going wrong is not uncommon and the main company that repairs them, doesn't always live up to its name so I would not be surprised if there a few strange mileages are out there for the same reason!
The speedo going wrong is not uncommon and the main company that repairs them, doesn't always live up to its name so I would not be surprised if there a few strange mileages are out there for the same reason!
Edited by TV8 on Sunday 8th January 14:15
TV8 said:
regarding mileage, obviously, proper checks are required, but mine has a small anomaly in the mileage of MOTs. It was caused by repair of a faulty speedo and a temporary one being on the car when the MOT is due - all supported by pictures and said item in the history file but that wouldn't come through on a on-line check!
The speedo going wrong is not uncommon and the main company that repairs them, doesn't always live up to its name so I would not be surprised if there a few strange mileages are out there for the same reason!
Ahhh thank you interesting to know that. Seem electronic speedos are not perhaps all they are cracked up to me. Nephew had a Rover 45 that in which the speedo had been replaced due it being faulty. The old cable driven units seem to survive well though.The speedo going wrong is not uncommon and the main company that repairs them, doesn't always live up to its name so I would not be surprised if there a few strange mileages are out there for the same reason!
Edited by TV8 on Sunday 8th January 14:15
Edited by Brithunter on Wednesday 26th July 18:51
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