Off shopping for Chimaeras tomorrow
Discussion
A 450, and only 27k miles at last MoT in July. Very lightly used early in its life, only 12k miles in 10 yrs up to 2008! It seems to have been more regularly used recently, which is a good thing.
MoT history makes no mention of any corrosion but that's not always enough, so check underneath as much as possible.
MoT history makes no mention of any corrosion but that's not always enough, so check underneath as much as possible.
ClassiChimi said:
That's got me tickled, give the man a chance Richard, 
I'd say it's nigh on perfect, the handbrake lever could do with upgrading
but wait, it appears to work, leave it well alone.
The colour is a bonus
Did you get a good look at it underneath Flying Panda.
what engine size etc, looks very original and the better for it
Yes, had it up on the ramps for over an hour! My main worry was that it was still on the original outriggers, so I wanted to get as good a look as possible (which as you know, you can't really do!). I used the 'tap' test, as in, I tapped them with a spanner all down each side and they all rang out beautifully , which I guess the rusty ones wouldn't do. It is a low mileage car (<30k) and looks to have been pampered all of its life. It still has the original TVR toolkit complete with gloves in the boot! I'm told it's had some paint due to stone chips, but that's been done flawlessly and there is no sign of any accident damage underneath. I'd say it's nigh on perfect, the handbrake lever could do with upgrading
but wait, it appears to work, leave it well alone. The colour is a bonus
Did you get a good look at it underneath Flying Panda.
what engine size etc, looks very original and the better for it
It's a '98 450. The most surprising thing is how much better it seemed to drive than the others I tried, even ones with similar mileage. I guess I may just have got lucky there!
In terms of mods, funny enough this is the only one I tried that hadn't had the Levern alloy bits fitted, and they do look nice, so that might be a thought...
I was also wondering if black allloys and a red hood would look better...oh no.....here we go....is there a slippery slope emoticon?
Dark wheels do work with a dark body colour but I'd concentrate on getting to know if first.
The low mileage does bode well for things like diff and gearbox as with all of it really,
When you get to know a few of the lads on here who really push these cars you soon come to realise how strong they are, if you've got a cared for car it's likely to have been driven slightly more sensibly so infact should be very robust.
The 450 with its cross bolted crank is a beautiful engine to run and own, not quite as fast as the 5.0 but on the road that's debatable!
Mostly I find I want an engine that is well balanced and strong, the 450 is those things and if the fuelling and ignition is on song you will find its many qualities an uplifting experience because its power is linear and Roller smooth.
I've modded my engine management but long before that it was always very strong and pretty much as powerful,
You have a very interesting car sir
The low mileage does bode well for things like diff and gearbox as with all of it really,
When you get to know a few of the lads on here who really push these cars you soon come to realise how strong they are, if you've got a cared for car it's likely to have been driven slightly more sensibly
so infact should be very robust. The 450 with its cross bolted crank is a beautiful engine to run and own, not quite as fast as the 5.0 but on the road that's debatable!
Mostly I find I want an engine that is well balanced and strong, the 450 is those things and if the fuelling and ignition is on song you will find its many qualities an uplifting experience because its power is linear and Roller smooth.
I've modded my engine management but long before that it was always very strong and pretty much as powerful,
You have a very interesting car sir
FlyingPanda said:
I'm told it's had some paint due to stone chips, but that's been done flawlessly and there is no sign of any accident damage underneath.
Crikey, they didn't waste time! When I looked at it a couple of weeks ago I said to them that the only downsides where all the stonechips and the the paint imperfections on the offside wing (and the driver's window that needed realigning).The photos don't do it justice, the colour combination of the paint and the mulberry (?) interior was stunning.
TR4man said:
The photos don't do it justice, the colour combination of the paint and the mulberry (?) interior was stunning.
Yes, it's a tricky colour to photograph as in some shots it looks grey and n others it takes on a kind of bronze hue. These pics were just from my phone, but I'll take some proper ones with a real camera when I get it home next weekend!
FlyingPanda said:
TR4man said:
The photos don't do it justice, the colour combination of the paint and the mulberry (?) interior was stunning.
Yes, it's a tricky colour to photograph as in some shots it looks grey and n others it takes on a kind of bronze hue. These pics were just from my phone, but I'll take some proper ones with a real camera when I get it home next weekend!Enjoy the car. As per advice from the cognoscenti - get to know the car before starting to personalise it. It'll bring a smile every time you drive it!
Nick
enjoy !CHIMV8 500 said:
Dont be worried about the high mileage to much, overall condition of the car is the key.
Helps if full history,but a lot of high mileage babes out there, have generally had an engine rebuild of some description in their time.
Alot will agree,that once you learn how to drive a TVR(its not the same as an ordinary car),you will get the true reflection on how mad they can be.
The 450 is supposedly the best overall engine for drivability and performance upgrades,however for me,the shear anger of the 500 engine at full potential,was always in my mind,when i personally had a 400 which i modified to 285BHP, but still longed for a 500,which i now have
End of the day,they are all special in their own right,go on take the plunge and join the MAD MAD and extremely friendly world of TVR ownership
Welcome!!!Helps if full history,but a lot of high mileage babes out there, have generally had an engine rebuild of some description in their time.
Alot will agree,that once you learn how to drive a TVR(its not the same as an ordinary car),you will get the true reflection on how mad they can be.
The 450 is supposedly the best overall engine for drivability and performance upgrades,however for me,the shear anger of the 500 engine at full potential,was always in my mind,when i personally had a 400 which i modified to 285BHP, but still longed for a 500,which i now have
End of the day,they are all special in their own right,go on take the plunge and join the MAD MAD and extremely friendly world of TVR ownership
you knew it was the only way forward
Love the interior and exterior combo...enjoy
butch890 said:
That looks like the one I looked at (for a mate) at Earls Barton.
Im guessing the offside front wing has been sprayed (had a nasty patch on the top of the wing when I saw it)
That's the one, at the Subaru dealer - see my earlier replies.Im guessing the offside front wing has been sprayed (had a nasty patch on the top of the wing when I saw it)
The paintwork was really the thing that put me off although it was clearly a very nice car otherwise. Bearing in mind I looked at it and drove it probably no more than three weeks ago they've got their skates on to make the paintwork sorted.
FlyingPanda said:
Yes, it's a tricky colour to photograph as in some shots it looks grey and n others it takes on a kind of bronze hue. These pics were just from my phone, but I'll take some proper ones with a real camera when I get it home next weekend!
That looks a very nice car, good choice.That's a corker of a car! Just a lurker here drooling over past ownership. Seven years of utter motoring joy and never any doubts or regrets (except perhaps the day I sold it but over two years later I am still mates with the chap who bought it from me!).
Good call with the 450 and loving the colour. Get out and drive her. V8's should never be garage queens. Yes, even in winter!
JM
Good call with the 450 and loving the colour. Get out and drive her. V8's should never be garage queens. Yes, even in winter!
JM
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