Recommendations Please - Big Chimaera Project

[Don]

Well. The time has finally come. The Chimaera is looking decidedly second-hand. It was either trade it in (for a Tuscan) OR lavish some money on the car to bring it up to scratch (ouch!).

The Mrs LOVES her Chimaera and, although she really fancies a Tuscan, would miss the lovely V8 sound too much...along with the fact that 20K would need to be found to upgrade of course!

So...we're keeping it. Possibly forever.

The poor car needs a "project" carrying out on it:

* Roof seals attending to
* New plastic rear window
* General roof tidy-up
* Replacement of Gearstick gaitor
* A few minor interior trim issues
* Door mirrors need rewiring along with new internal bits
* Full respray (yes all over) in original colour
* refurbish TVR badge
* New clutch
* Full Service - with total TLC and replacement of anything likely to wear out soon
* Hammerite painting of any chassis/wishbones with surface rust (I check and there's nothing bad...)

And I'll add that I'd like everything both internally and externally to be cleaned within an inch of its life, the carpets Scotchguarded (or equivalent) and (possibly) new TVR overmats.

That should bring the beastie back up to (near) showroom condition and put a smile on my Mrs face.

The above is a great big list and I'd LIKE to take the car to a Dealer (or Specialist) that would Project Manage the WHOLE job - even if they subcontract work.

Even better would be one who could do the job whilst we are away on a two week vacation in June...but we could live with one car for an extra week if required.

Any recommendations from Chim/Griff/S owners who have decided to bring their P&J back up to "new" condition instead of chopping it in would be very, very welcome.

We have always used Hawthorns for our servicing - and are very happy - but they are often very busy. I will certainly be asking them if they would like the work...but I would like alternatives..if anyone out there knows the right specialist..

Thanks in advance. Sorry about the long post.

[Steve_T]

Don,

Ever tried David Batty? He's also a busy man, but I'm very confident you'd like the quality of his work and the price. BTW I'm not on commission, I'm just a very satisfied customer. You could also try Andy at APM, he's also been highly commended on the gassing station, although I've never used him myself.

Cheers,

Steve

>> Edited by Steve_T on Tuesday 29th April 17:23

[MikeE]

Andy at APM was SHG and then Hawthorns TVR expert mechanic before he set himself up in business. Always did a very good job on my Griff and Tuscans.

[anonymous-user]

Currently sanding down the drivers side chassis rail on mine.

[RCA]

Have you tried peninsula??, they seem to do pretty much everything, have good reviews and use TVRbodyshop for paint work who are meant to be very good.

[Don]

Thanks for the feedback guys....

Peninsula are definitely one of the usual suspects and are worth a call....although Devon is a trek for us...I might give David Batty a ring and see...

I really want someone who'll take on the lot and see it through for us as this piecemeal fixing of things is just too expensive and (more importantly) time consuming...and the car is never "right"...We'd like really like it 100% after its all done...you know..better than when it left the factory...

>> Edited by Don on Tuesday 29th April 20:08

[JonRB]

Don - you have mail.

[Dan]

Another one worth consideration is David Gerald's They do alot of renovation work.

[taylormj4]

Don, Penninsula will pick up for a very reasonable charge.
They picked mine up and redelivered from Cardiff for a service for around the same cost as it would have been to drive down there in the TVR!
Brought it back, the guy unloaded it from the trailer and then gave it a quick clean (glass and bodywork) because it had picked up some road dirt on the way!
They've also been really good answering questions on DIY repairs etc.

Matt

[Dai Capp]

Dan said: Another one worth consideration is David Gerald's They do alot of renovation work.

Second that...

I've seen some of their renovated cars over the last few years and they are outstanding. They were a 1960's Griff and a couple of M series all of which would have satisifed my very critical eye if I had requested the work...

Cheers

DC

Edited to say that if you get in touch I believe they keep photo records of some of the work, just ask to speak to Doug or John...

>> Edited by Dai Capp on Wednesday 30th April 16:50

[Don]

Thanks very much for all your comments, chaps. Much appreciated!

[EdT]

Yet again I'd recommend Ewelme Coachworks near Reading. They are an extremely reliable crowd.

www.ewelmecoachworks.com

Ed