Newbie Or at least Wannabe!
Discussion
Hi All, been lurking for a while and reading loads of very useful info, I am on the hunt for a nice Chim having sold a couple of my classics recently. So far I have clocked up a fair few miles and seen a number of badly described "immaculate cars". Best one this week was one a dealer described as stunning I suppose that can mean a number of things 
? it wouldn't rev past 3000 the oil pressure was on the floor as was some of the engine oil :0 the screen was delaminating as well as the seals knackered and the list went on definitely Stunned me and my poor Mrs who had agreed to accompany me on a day of Chim searching! That's going to cost me I guess but she did like the Chim and is all in favour of getting one which helps !
Onto another.... this had cracks in most panels wet inside and needed a full paint job again described as immaculate ! Seemed to run nice though.... So off to another with a dealer who wants top money but in fairness the cars seemed well prepared thinking on that one There seems to be vast differences in prices and so much BS I have decided to sit and watch a little more as little has come up new recently on most of the normal sources.
I am not in a rush and sticking to getting the best condition car I can for the money.
My budget is reasonable I think...having raised some cash from the other car sales so I am prepared to go up to 15k for the right car although I was hoping to have landed a decent one for around the 12 mark, am I asking too much possibly ? The cars I have viewed have been between 10 and 14 so far.
The Chim will be a weekend car and whilst I can do most things mechanically and restoration wise I would prefer one which is A1 or as close as poss with only minor tweaks needed as I have another project in the garage which I am working on so I want something to drive and enjoy. By way of an intro I am a died in the wool petrol head and as I now run more economical cars for my daily duties, having previously run some nice V8's/V12's, I like to have something for the weekends tucked in the garage. I have in the last fifteen years built a Westfield SEIW then sold that after a few years and got into restoring old British classics, other project is a 75 Triumph Stag, I have always had a TVR on my wish list so I think now is the time to grab one and scratch the itch !!
Look forward to sharing my experiences and picking your brains as I am sure it wont be smooth sailing!
Cheers
Glyn
? it wouldn't rev past 3000 the oil pressure was on the floor as was some of the engine oil :0 the screen was delaminating as well as the seals knackered and the list went on definitely Stunned me and my poor Mrs who had agreed to accompany me on a day of Chim searching! That's going to cost me I guess but she did like the Chim and is all in favour of getting one which helps !Onto another.... this had cracks in most panels wet inside and needed a full paint job again described as immaculate ! Seemed to run nice though.... So off to another with a dealer who wants top money but in fairness the cars seemed well prepared thinking on that one
There seems to be vast differences in prices and so much BS I have decided to sit and watch a little more as little has come up new recently on most of the normal sources. I am not in a rush and sticking to getting the best condition car I can for the money.
My budget is reasonable I think...having raised some cash from the other car sales so I am prepared to go up to 15k for the right car although I was hoping to have landed a decent one for around the 12 mark, am I asking too much possibly ? The cars I have viewed have been between 10 and 14 so far.
The Chim will be a weekend car and whilst I can do most things mechanically and restoration wise I would prefer one which is A1 or as close as poss with only minor tweaks needed as I have another project in the garage which I am working on so I want something to drive and enjoy. By way of an intro I am a died in the wool petrol head and as I now run more economical cars for my daily duties, having previously run some nice V8's/V12's, I like to have something for the weekends tucked in the garage. I have in the last fifteen years built a Westfield SEIW then sold that after a few years and got into restoring old British classics, other project is a 75 Triumph Stag, I have always had a TVR on my wish list so I think now is the time to grab one and scratch the itch !!
Look forward to sharing my experiences and picking your brains as I am sure it wont be smooth sailing!
Cheers
Glyn
Thanks Chaps
I was originally hoping to get a 450 or 500 in stock condition mid to late 90's model but a 400 in the right condition will be fine tbh . The 430 listed doesn't have power steering which I need to have as part of my agreement with SWIMBO is she can drive it !! She probably will have one go and never go near it again but .... Otherwise I had a low miler lined up in met green 2 owners but the p/s sunk it!
The Orange turbo looks awesome but I would be worried about the conversion, bespoke cars are fine till they go wrong and your left trying to understand what someone else has done imho. I was looking at one listed as a TVR development car with a dealer in the south west http://www.ianstudleycarsltd.co.uk/used-car/tvr-ch...
Not sure if a TVR development car is a good thing or is this a load of BS? Anyone know of this motor or its history, certainly looks a decent example in the pictures, the dealer says they have a letter detailing the TVR history, I'll see if I can get a copy. TVR owned this until 06 WDYT
BTW I live on the Derbyshire Leicestershire border near Ashby are there any meets locally ?
Cheers Glyn
I was originally hoping to get a 450 or 500 in stock condition mid to late 90's model but a 400 in the right condition will be fine tbh
. The 430 listed doesn't have power steering which I need to have as part of my agreement with SWIMBO is she can drive it !! She probably will have one go and never go near it again but .... Otherwise I had a low miler lined up in met green 2 owners but the p/s sunk it!The Orange turbo looks awesome but I would be worried about the conversion, bespoke cars are fine till they go wrong and your left trying to understand what someone else has done imho. I was looking at one listed as a TVR development car with a dealer in the south west http://www.ianstudleycarsltd.co.uk/used-car/tvr-ch...
Not sure if a TVR development car is a good thing or is this a load of BS? Anyone know of this motor or its history, certainly looks a decent example in the pictures, the dealer says they have a letter detailing the TVR history, I'll see if I can get a copy. TVR owned this until 06 WDYT
BTW I live on the Derbyshire Leicestershire border near Ashby are there any meets locally ?
Cheers Glyn
QBee said:
East Midlands group meet on the second Sunday lunchtime at the pub in Langar, which does a Sunday lunch, BTW. There must be west mids meets too - just looked them up > The Bulls Head Meriden, third Sunday each month.
Yes Bulls head Meriden is the Warwickshire West Mids meet and is always well attended with anything from 30-50 cars.You just missed the last one(So did I) as it was last Sunday and the next one 16th November coincides with the NEC classic car show and with the weather turning against us numbers I would imagine will be lower.
Can keep you posted if your interested. Have been to one of the East Mids meet at Langar and can confirm that they do a very good Roast
Edited by TVRJAS on Saturday 25th October 16:53
That's good to know there are some meets local are they part of the TVR club or is it just turn up and take part?
I know some of the car clubs can be a bit funny about non members if they haven't paid their subs!!
@ Mach2 That's a really kind offer mate, if your passing I would appreciate that as it's a fair old run to be disappointed again! At this rate I will have spent half the budget on fuel! I am waiting for more information from them and some pictures of other areas of the car. It sound interesting I have to say and looks decent but pictures are so damn deceiving!
I know some of the car clubs can be a bit funny about non members if they haven't paid their subs!!
@ Mach2 That's a really kind offer mate, if your passing I would appreciate that as it's a fair old run to be disappointed again! At this rate I will have spent half the budget on fuel! I am waiting for more information from them and some pictures of other areas of the car. It sound interesting I have to say and looks decent but pictures are so damn deceiving!
glync said:
That's good to know there are some meets local are they part of the TVR club or is it just turn up and take part?
I know some of the car clubs can be a bit funny about non members if they haven't paid their subs!!
@ Mach2 That's a really kind offer mate, if your passing I would appreciate that as it's a fair old run to be disappointed again! At this rate I will have spent half the budget on fuel! I am waiting for more information from them and some pictures of other areas of the car. It sound interesting I have to say and looks decent but pictures are so damn deceiving!
Its TVRCC, but anyone can turn up and muck in, you don't need to be a member. When you get your TVR you might consider joining. Monthly magazine is good, and its well worth being part of.I know some of the car clubs can be a bit funny about non members if they haven't paid their subs!!
@ Mach2 That's a really kind offer mate, if your passing I would appreciate that as it's a fair old run to be disappointed again! At this rate I will have spent half the budget on fuel! I am waiting for more information from them and some pictures of other areas of the car. It sound interesting I have to say and looks decent but pictures are so damn deceiving!
mach2 said:
No worries Glync, happy to help if I can. I can always take some additional close up pics for you as well, especially of the underneath. Just let me know if you want me to view. I'm usually in Weston on Mondays.
Hi mate They haven't come back to me on the other questions I have asked or sent through any pictures, some of these dealers don't seem to quick to respond to emails though !
If your sure it's not trouble for you and isn't outting you out of your way I would appreciate you giving it the once over. Some of them I've seen I wanted to walk away almost immediately but looked round them to be polite to be honest.
I'll get my email address across so if you can take any pictures you can send them through, this TVR development car thing intrigues me they reckon they have a letter confirming all of this so if you can get them to show you that I would be interested to see what it actually says and who wrote it?
Again really appreciate the help, if ever I can do the same or similar don't hesitate to ask.
All the best Glyn
mach2 said:
No worries Glync, happy to help if I can. I can always take some additional close up pics for you as well, especially of the underneath. Just let me know if you want me to view. I'm usually in Weston on Mondays.
Hi mate They haven't come back to me on the other questions I have asked or sent through any pictures, some of these dealers don't seem to quick to respond to emails though !
If your sure it's not trouble for you and isn't outting you out of your way I would appreciate you giving it the once over. Some of them I've seen I wanted to walk away almost immediately but looked round them to be polite to be honest.
I'll get my email address across so if you can take any pictures you can send them through, this TVR development car thing intrigues me they reckon they have a letter confirming all of this so if you can get them to show you that I would be interested to see what it actually says and who wrote it?
Again really appreciate the help, if ever I can do the same or similar don't hesitate to ask.
All the best Glyn
All TVRs are development vehicles, most of the development was done by the owner in the first three years of ownership.
The Chimaera was the most productionised car TVR produced, because it was the one model they made in reasonable numbers. But throughout production TVR changed quite a lot of details on the car like the fuse board layout and wiring.
Every TVR is a unique hand made product and will likely even have small differences between the one built the day before and the one built the day after.
So don't be put off by a well modified car, for instance if you look at how Lloyd Specialist Developments fit their Canems engine management system and compare it with how TVR fitted the old Lucas 14CUX you'll soon realise which is better.
People don't spend thousand of pounds fitting such engine management systems on a whim, its because what TVR gave us and how they wired it wasn't very good in the first place.
If you can find a car with a decent after market engine management installation you'll actually be getting a far better car that should prove substantially more efficient and reliable.
I'd encourage you to be a bit more open minded about modified cars, it sounds like you have good knowledge & experience of classics so just view each TVR you inspect as the same way you would when buying a classic.
Modified or standard, each TVR to inspect needs to be looked at & judged on its individual merits and the quality of the work that's been done.
Finally, don't be surprised if you buy a standard car that you find yourself improving it with some well considered modifications yourself after the first year of ownership.
Its just the way these cars are
The Chimaera was the most productionised car TVR produced, because it was the one model they made in reasonable numbers. But throughout production TVR changed quite a lot of details on the car like the fuse board layout and wiring.
Every TVR is a unique hand made product and will likely even have small differences between the one built the day before and the one built the day after.
So don't be put off by a well modified car, for instance if you look at how Lloyd Specialist Developments fit their Canems engine management system and compare it with how TVR fitted the old Lucas 14CUX you'll soon realise which is better.
People don't spend thousand of pounds fitting such engine management systems on a whim, its because what TVR gave us and how they wired it wasn't very good in the first place.
If you can find a car with a decent after market engine management installation you'll actually be getting a far better car that should prove substantially more efficient and reliable.
I'd encourage you to be a bit more open minded about modified cars, it sounds like you have good knowledge & experience of classics so just view each TVR you inspect as the same way you would when buying a classic.
Modified or standard, each TVR to inspect needs to be looked at & judged on its individual merits and the quality of the work that's been done.
Finally, don't be surprised if you buy a standard car that you find yourself improving it with some well considered modifications yourself after the first year of ownership.
Its just the way these cars are
Points taken
I probably didn't come across right when I said I would prefer a stock car. I will take each car I view on its merits and I do understand they are old cars which have had some changes over their lifetime, so please dont think I am a modified bigot I'm not I promise. Lord knows I just sold a classic mini was was modified to be better than when it came out of longbridge.
I suppose I have viewed a few "owner or dealer modified" ones with the wires hanging under the dash, dash boards loosely fitted and the "painted thickly" chassis's so far which has made me feel I would be better starting from where TVR left off I take your point on the engine management stuff, I did sort my Westfield out with a custom system it's just knowing who has done the work and to what standard. Fixing other people's work is or can be much harder when there's no one else with one the same, although I take the point about each car being different from the factory. This particular car interests me but I was keen to check what they say is correct and it isn't one that had been revived by the place in the north east with a new front end etc.
Sorry if I appear cynical I don't mean to be I am open minded to the right car, I just haven't had anything float my proverbial boat yet.
Cheers Glyn
I probably didn't come across right when I said I would prefer a stock car. I will take each car I view on its merits and I do understand they are old cars which have had some changes over their lifetime, so please dont think I am a modified bigot I'm not I promise. Lord knows I just sold a classic mini was was modified to be better than when it came out of longbridge.
I suppose I have viewed a few "owner or dealer modified" ones with the wires hanging under the dash, dash boards loosely fitted and the "painted thickly" chassis's so far which has made me feel I would be better starting from where TVR left off
I take your point on the engine management stuff, I did sort my Westfield out with a custom system it's just knowing who has done the work and to what standard. Fixing other people's work is or can be much harder when there's no one else with one the same, although I take the point about each car being different from the factory. This particular car interests me but I was keen to check what they say is correct and it isn't one that had been revived by the place in the north east with a new front end etc. Sorry if I appear cynical I don't mean to be I am open minded to the right car, I just haven't had anything float my proverbial boat yet.
Cheers Glyn
Edited by glync on Sunday 26th October 21:56
I'll give the guy a call tomorrow and see if I can get to view it as I would be insistent to get it up on the ramps.I do know he has a workshop facility so would hope he would oblige.
Gives me a good excuse to skive off work anyway
All being well I'll mail you my thoughts and some pictures tomorrow eve.
Gives me a good excuse to skive off work anyway
All being well I'll mail you my thoughts and some pictures tomorrow eve.
glync said:
Thanks Chaps
I was originally hoping to get a 450 or 500 in stock condition mid to late 90's model but a 400 in the right condition will be fine tbh . The 430 listed doesn't have power steering which I need to have as part of my agreement with SWIMBO is she can drive it !! She probably will have one go and never go near it again but .... Otherwise I had a low miler lined up in met green 2 owners but the p/s sunk it!
The Orange turbo looks awesome but I would be worried about the conversion, bespoke cars are fine till they go wrong and your left trying to understand what someone else has done imho. I was looking at one listed as a TVR development car with a dealer in the south west http://www.ianstudleycarsltd.co.uk/used-car/tvr-ch...
Not sure if a TVR development car is a good thing or is this a load of BS? Anyone know of this motor or its history, certainly looks a decent example in the pictures, the dealer says they have a letter detailing the TVR history, I'll see if I can get a copy. TVR owned this until 06 WDYT
BTW I live on the Derbyshire Leicestershire border near Ashby are there any meets locally ?
Cheers Glyn
YHMI was originally hoping to get a 450 or 500 in stock condition mid to late 90's model but a 400 in the right condition will be fine tbh
. The 430 listed doesn't have power steering which I need to have as part of my agreement with SWIMBO is she can drive it !! She probably will have one go and never go near it again but .... Otherwise I had a low miler lined up in met green 2 owners but the p/s sunk it!The Orange turbo looks awesome but I would be worried about the conversion, bespoke cars are fine till they go wrong and your left trying to understand what someone else has done imho. I was looking at one listed as a TVR development car with a dealer in the south west http://www.ianstudleycarsltd.co.uk/used-car/tvr-ch...
Not sure if a TVR development car is a good thing or is this a load of BS? Anyone know of this motor or its history, certainly looks a decent example in the pictures, the dealer says they have a letter detailing the TVR history, I'll see if I can get a copy. TVR owned this until 06 WDYT
BTW I live on the Derbyshire Leicestershire border near Ashby are there any meets locally ?
Cheers Glyn
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