Last Chimaeras
Discussion
Thanks Mart 63, your comments are very interesting. Ashtons sent some chassis pics, original but looks fine although the rubber blanking plug is missing from the bell housing. They also sent the service history, last service October 2014 @ TVRS [Somerset], prior to this Peninsula in 2010 due to the very low mileage covered. BTW when the PAS rack on my Griff became very loose, it was the beginning of a saga that eventually cost over £1400 thanks to botched repairs, a dodgy recon rack before getting it sorted properly by Dan Taylor, then it had to have a 4 wheel alignment to set the geometry before it felt right......
Ashtons didn't mention the rack, dash or bootlid issues during my enquires and they are aware of the distance involved for me to view.
Its beginning not to sound like the pristine car it should be to justify the asking price! A private sale is probably a better bet, its not daily wheels so I can afford to wait for the right car.
Ashtons didn't mention the rack, dash or bootlid issues during my enquires and they are aware of the distance involved for me to view.
Its beginning not to sound like the pristine car it should be to justify the asking price! A private sale is probably a better bet, its not daily wheels so I can afford to wait for the right car.
I remember a similar question to this being raised a few years ago. As with all things TVR, there was no exact answer, but somewhere in the region of 100 mk3's give or take 20 was accepted.
Mine was registered in April 2001 and apart from maybe 2 other Chimaeras (that I am aware of), was just about the last mk2 produced/registered. This was roughly established from the chassis numbers of the first mk3 cars being compared to the chassis numbers of the last mk2 cars.
The mk3 cars certainly do attract a premium when they come up for sale (maybe up to 20% more for a good one).
You are correct in saying the 'mk3' Chimaeras were not officially designated as 'Limited Editions' or 'specials' but the fact all mk3's attract a higher premium effectively establishes them as the Griffith 100LE equivalent - if you like.
Mine was registered in April 2001 and apart from maybe 2 other Chimaeras (that I am aware of), was just about the last mk2 produced/registered. This was roughly established from the chassis numbers of the first mk3 cars being compared to the chassis numbers of the last mk2 cars.
The mk3 cars certainly do attract a premium when they come up for sale (maybe up to 20% more for a good one).
You are correct in saying the 'mk3' Chimaeras were not officially designated as 'Limited Editions' or 'specials' but the fact all mk3's attract a higher premium effectively establishes them as the Griffith 100LE equivalent - if you like.
TVRGareth said:
Interesting post this.
My chim is a 450 and was registered 18/1/03, the seller claimed it was "one of the last 10" but wasn't sure.
It has the cerbera seats
I seem to remember there being only 6 chims registered on an '03' plate. So yours being registered in Jan 03 could very well be in the last 10.My chim is a 450 and was registered 18/1/03, the seller claimed it was "one of the last 10" but wasn't sure.
It has the cerbera seats
quattrophenia said:
I remember a similar question to this being raised a few years ago. As with all things TVR, there was no exact answer, but somewhere in the region of 100 mk3's give or take 20 was accepted.
Mine was registered in April 2001 and apart from maybe 2 other Chimaeras (that I am aware of), was just about the last mk2 produced/registered. This was roughly established from the chassis numbers of the first mk3 cars being compared to the chassis numbers of the last mk2 cars.
The mk3 cars certainly do attract a premium when they come up for sale (maybe up to 20% more for a good one).
You are correct in saying the 'mk3' Chimaeras were not officially designated as 'Limited Editions' or 'specials' but the fact all mk3's attract a higher premium effectively establishes them as the Griffith 100LE equivalent - if you like.
Exactly. I think the premium could be more than 20% though. I had been looking for two years before I found the right one.Mine was registered in April 2001 and apart from maybe 2 other Chimaeras (that I am aware of), was just about the last mk2 produced/registered. This was roughly established from the chassis numbers of the first mk3 cars being compared to the chassis numbers of the last mk2 cars.
The mk3 cars certainly do attract a premium when they come up for sale (maybe up to 20% more for a good one).
You are correct in saying the 'mk3' Chimaeras were not officially designated as 'Limited Editions' or 'specials' but the fact all mk3's attract a higher premium effectively establishes them as the Griffith 100LE equivalent - if you like.
I had a MK3 500 for some years, I don't know any precise numbers but didn't see many others like it!
The MK3 cars do generally fetch a premium, that is what I found when I bought mine and when I sold it. As the cars get older, the difference in price between an unremarkable model in average condition and a notable model in good condition will grow. You can fix the condition, you can never fix the model! Resale value is never my highest priority when buying a car, but it is a nice feeling when you come to move on.
TVR were quite unusual in that pretty much every change they made was an improvement, hence the later cars are the best all around (though I do actually prefer the earlier rear number plate treatment). For me the MK3 500 was *the* one to have and I trawled the country looking for a good one. That will also be one of the more collectable derivatives in a few years time if you ever get tired of it!
The MK3 cars do generally fetch a premium, that is what I found when I bought mine and when I sold it. As the cars get older, the difference in price between an unremarkable model in average condition and a notable model in good condition will grow. You can fix the condition, you can never fix the model! Resale value is never my highest priority when buying a car, but it is a nice feeling when you come to move on.
TVR were quite unusual in that pretty much every change they made was an improvement, hence the later cars are the best all around (though I do actually prefer the earlier rear number plate treatment). For me the MK3 500 was *the* one to have and I trawled the country looking for a good one. That will also be one of the more collectable derivatives in a few years time if you ever get tired of it!
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