Changes, what changes?

[MikeyT]

Understand the 'facelift' Chim model was the 97 model. Can anybody tell me what changed bodyshape wise or did the shape stay the same and only changes were the tit on the bottom of the mirror and some others etc.?

Sure I saw somebody make note of the back of the car appearing more 'heavier'

TVR owner one day soon

[jna]

Right I think these are the main changes :
1. New front end with no grill
2. New rear lights (which make the back look very different)
3. No door catches on the doors now under the wing mirrors
4. Spare wheel now attached to fuel tank (not side of the car)

Thats all I can think of at the moment !!!

[tvrinbfg]

Plus better looking buttons and guages on dash.

[pbrettle]

From what I know there was an update also, but the changes from my early Chimp are as follows :

1) Chrome surrounds on dials - not black
2) Changed dash slightly with warning lights moved
3) Trip odometer - pain cos I aint got one!
4) Rear number plate recessed
5) Serpentine engine - supposed to be smoother

Thats all I know - in conjunction with the previous post of course.

Cheers,

Paul

[jna]

Ah yes the interior, I think their are other changes to the interior as well but can't remember mine's a 98R so has all the mods not driven a pre 97 car so don't know I think also the gearbox was cahnged at some point don't know when though any ideas anyone ?

[.mark]

I think they made the changes over a period of time. Mines a '96 and has the chrome surround and trip meter on the dials, but the wider grille and flush rear number plate with fiesta lights. Personally and it is only personally, I prefer the pre-facelift but just wish the door buton wasunder the mirror.
Oh and also mines a serpentine engine and T5 box(?)

[thb]

I think the interior changes came first and then the revised grill (both in 96). The mirror mounted door openers and the revised rear lights didn't make an appearence until 97

[dougie]

I also think the "lip" on the boot is more pronounced on the facelift version.

[pbrettle]

Yeah thats right, there was two phases to the updates. The first one with the grill, dash and engine was in 96 and then again in 97/98. Now of course there is another change in 2000 for the run out model.

The gearbox changed from the early ones with the Rover one in 93/94 and then to the Borg Warner T5 in late 94. The T5 is the preferred choice, but suspect there isnt much in it.

Oh, and while I remember the 96 model changes were major with the Griffith. The chassis were different up until then, but this major revision brought them both into line as the same - just different settings on suspension and different bodies....

Cheers,

Paul

[gb61390]

Mikey, as people have already said the Chimaera's had 3 major face lifts. This is on top of the minor changes that have been introduced now and then. You can tell them by:-

1. The early Chimaeras (L/M regs) had a mesh grill.
2. Next the mesh grill was removed (up until and including P regs).
3. The next had the rear lights replaced with round ones and the rear number plate was recessed as the lights were now above rather than behind.
4. In 2001 (Y reg) saw the biggest changes with enclosed front lights and major changes inside, eg. new seats, etc.

Cheers........... Andrew

[.mark]

Ahhhhhh, but.
Mine '96 N reg. Has the dash and the engine/gearbox mods but the old mesh grille. And so has the N reg one I parked next to in the car park today.
The plot thickens.

[gb61390]

Trouble is companies like Zertec are there to confuse us! They offer many modifications inluding mesh grilles, font/rear lights, etc.
Nothing's simple in life........ Andrew

[andymadmak]

The bonnet air vents are bigger on the post 97 cars as well (or is it post 98?)
Andy

[philshort]

sorry gb, you seem to be a bit off there. My April 96 N-reg 500 has the mesh grille, alloy instrument surrounds, T5 box, Fiesta lights. I've had it since new.

There have been many evolutionary changes (instruments, switches etc) and I suspect old stock is used until it runs out, for example when changing the supplier of the instruments/gearbox/door openers. The door openers for example changed from having a keyhole to being plain alloy somewhere between my Mreg and my Nreg cars!

The first real facelift was the introduction of the split grille, along with the buttons on the mirrors,the extended boot lip and the new rear lights. The second facelift is the recent one with the faired in headlights and the new seats.

Phil

Edited by philshort on Tuesday 4th December 13:16

[Marshy]

quote:
The first real facelift was the introduction of the split grille, along with the buttons on the mirrors,the extended boot lip and the new rear lights.

But even that didn't happen all at once. My 97P has the split grille, buttons on the mirrors but fiesta rear lights and a backlit number plate (which I still like a whole heap)

[MikeyT]

Thanks guys, I only asked. I've got to print this thread out because when I go up the screen I find a post that (maybe) contradicts something I can no longer see!!



TVR owner one day soon

Edited by MikeyT on Tuesday 4th December 16:33

[.mark]

So Mikey what you need to look out for is a Thursday March 7th 1996 car, with the mesh grille and chrome dials, fiesta lights, backlit number plate (the best by a million miles), door buttons under the wing mirror, Leven ally stalks and handbrake but not buttons, spare tyre strapped to inside rear wing - with a 'Fernies Flap' to stop you damaging the paint when you take the roof on/off, (pause for breath), full leather with heated seats but no air-con, serpentine engine/gearbox, contrasting carpet and roof, with no leaks.
There you should be individual

[pbrettle]

For the definitive answer, I would get the Steve Heath book. He has detailed most things in there and it is an excellent book to get - even though you havent got the car yet.

Check out:

www.tvrbooks.co.uk/

Cheers,

Paul

[MikeyT]

quote:
For the definitive answer, I would get the Steve Heath book. He has detailed most things in there and it is an excellent book to get - even though you havent got the car yet.

Thanks Paul, I've downloaded the form, just gotta find me MasterCard.

.mark: thanks mate, nearly bought that exact car last weekend but didn't as the guy couldn't find the button for the heated seats

TVR owner one day soon

Edited by MikeyT on Tuesday 4th December 17:18

Edited by MikeyT on Tuesday 4th December 17:19

[crimsonchim]

quote:
So Mikey what you need to look out for is a Thursday March 7th 1996 car, ....... but no air-con, serpentine engine/gearbox, contrasting carpet and roof, with no leaks.
There you should be individual

No sorry doesn't exist.
The "no leak" option is actually an aftermarket modification.

Andy (and a slightly soggy Dec '95 Chimaera)