Discussion
My view on private vs dealer is that there are the obvious pros and cons either way but what I would say is that it is only worth considering a TVR specialist dealer otherwise the extra cost involved is not worth it because the random dealer probably knows less about the cars that you do. My experience making enquiries with Str8Six, Hexham Horseless Carridges and Tony Gilbert was hugely positive and James Agger is now my TVR guru.
If you want to know the difference between model years he can even tell you the changes within a specific model year. Proper TVR geekery there and well worth considering!
If you want to know the difference between model years he can even tell you the changes within a specific model year. Proper TVR geekery there and well worth considering!
In fact, just seeing the above has reminded me..
....I ordered my car at the NEC motorshow in Autumn 1997. At that time the cars on the stand still had the Fiesta lights. I was surprised to see the new mod at the factory when I went in the following January.
I wanted mine without power steering, and it had just become standard at the show (at an extra £980 or thereabouts). I had a haggle with Peter Wheeler to get mine built without power steering and without the extra £980 charge.
It was the dogs danglers when I picked it up..Audi aluminium silver
....I ordered my car at the NEC motorshow in Autumn 1997. At that time the cars on the stand still had the Fiesta lights. I was surprised to see the new mod at the factory when I went in the following January.
I wanted mine without power steering, and it had just become standard at the show (at an extra £980 or thereabouts). I had a haggle with Peter Wheeler to get mine built without power steering and without the extra £980 charge.
It was the dogs danglers when I picked it up..Audi aluminium silver
The dash layout also changed at some point.
I know these pictures show different finishes to the dash, but this example is to show the different switches/controls and their layout.
Earlier dash
Later dash
The first Chimaeras had the door release in the gearlever/handbrake recess and after '94 I think, this was moved to behind the gearlever/handbrake recess.
Earlier
Later
I know these pictures show different finishes to the dash, but this example is to show the different switches/controls and their layout.
Earlier dash
Later dash
The first Chimaeras had the door release in the gearlever/handbrake recess and after '94 I think, this was moved to behind the gearlever/handbrake recess.
Earlier
Later
Mine is up for £7k in the classfields at the moment. I'm not sure exactly what you're looking for though. She's high mileage, pretty much the earliest registered Chimaera out there. Has been a pain in the arse once or twice in my ownership but in general pretty healthy- new outriggers about 2 or 3 years ago and has been dry stored since then, engine is strong but can idle rough sometimes, has all genuine Lucas ignition parts though. Gearbox has about 200 miles on it since it was rebuilt. Interior is pretty much brand new but there are some typical TVR tatty bits on the outside.
She's a 6 footer as far as looks go.
She's a 6 footer as far as looks go.
On the topic of trade vs private, I was only ever going to buy privately because dealers seem to push the price up by a couple of thousand and every dealer car I went to see was rotten underneath and something electrical didn't work (often multiple things, one car only the tacho worked not even the headlights). TVR specialist dealers are ok I imagine but I'd be prepared to pay through the nose for what you get. Pistonheads is better for sellers that actually know their car inside-out than AutoTrader I found.
Chinski said:
Thanks Guys,
It looks like the private sale is the way forward for me. Any recommendations? Everything considered.
I also think there are a certain few years in the later part of the nineties where the factory was at their highest production figures and l am lead to believe that certain areas of the cars were not preped aswell as they should have been due to the high volume of cars leaving the factory ? It looks like the private sale is the way forward for me. Any recommendations? Everything considered.
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