Newbie looking for a Chimaera

[SpecB]

Hi. New member from Darlington and I am currently in the market for a Chimeara 450. Found lots of useful info on here thanks. I am going to look at a couple in the next couple of weeks and will let you know how I get on.

V8 lovelyness here I come!

Has anyone been to see this? Seems reasonably priced but don't want a long journey if it turns out there is something wrong with it. I have spoken to the guy on the phone and he confirms all is 100% but......

http://www.marlowcars.co.uk/tvr-chimaera-450-16786...

Edited by SpecB on Wednesday 21st December 13:37

[Johnniem]

Looks lovely but double check the engine size. One part of the ad says it's 450 but in another section its says 4000cc.

Personally I would look privately as much as possible before you dive into buying from a dealer. Spend the money you save on mods! You can always get someone to check it over for you if it is a private sale. Google Rob Ingleby sports cars. Good chap! Well, he did a great job for me 4.5 years ago and I am still in love with my 450.

[SpecB]

Thanks for that. Whoever does that dealer's website needs a lesson in details! The chassis plate in the photos confirm it as a 450.

There are not an awful lot of 450s for sale at the moment in colours I like.

[M@H]

Marlow eh.. what you need is a ph'er who is working around there to have a quick look for you ...

..saying that looking at their website its all by appointment and they haven't got a forecourt !?

£11k buys you a selection of TVRs these days mind you - there was a straight tuscan for sale for that money the other day.

Edited by M@H on Wednesday 21st December 15:18

[SpecB]

I am looking at another in Hexham next week which is bit closer to home. It is expensive but has had a chassis rubdown and repaint as necessary according to the gentleman I spoke to at HHC.

http://www.tvr-hhc.co.uk/UsedCars/view/497037

It is less than £200 on the plane from Newcastle to Heathrow in any case so I will probably go and look at it early in the new year.

[M@H]

Fourteen Grand for a 450! Its not even low mileage (56000 miles) so you may be in the "do I need a new cam" bracket.

Blimey I would so be after a Tamora or a Tuscan at that money, not a Chimaera! If you have that to spend I would reccomend going to a local meet and having a poke around some different TVR model cars - have you driven any yet? Don't get me wrong, Chims are lovely but there is a world of difference as you go up the model range

PS I am in Marlow in the week but finish for Xmas tomorrow

Edited by M@H on Wednesday 21st December 15:41

[Podie]

M@H said:

Fourteen Grand for a 450!

Jeez, not sure I even paid that about 5 years ago!

[SpecB]

I wouldn't be paying that much.....

I haven't driven one yet but there is no harm in looking - and I definitely want a V8 car.

I should have said that this will be in addition to my Legacy and won't be my daily driver.

[Dr Mike Oxgreen]

I looked at the Marlow website today, and noticed that that Chimaera is very unusual indeed, being 6 cylinder and FWD.

[TJC46]

Hi and welcome to the chimaera forum and hopefully chim ownership in the near future.
As others have said you can get a lot more for your money buying private. Have any would be purchase inspected independently and you will be fine.
Keep an eye on the pistonhead classifieds as most cars are well known, with history of mods and work done etc.
11k should buy you an excellent 400, a very good 450, and maybe at a push a decent 500.

[graeme4130]

I was at Marlow cars a couple of weeks ago looking at an E60M5 he's selling
Lee who runs Marlow cars with his son seems a decent guy, but his main business is Bentleys and Rollers, so the Chimaera i suspect will be well outside his 'normal remit' of cars.
All the cars I've seen there that's he taken in as PX cars (which I suspect the Chim is) have been absolutely immaculate as I think he's very picky.
I didn't see the chim, although he did mention he had one. May be worth going along for a look
Viewing is by appointment only as he sells the cars from the courtyard of his fairly substantial country mansion
Let us know how you get along if you chose to see it
Graeme

[SpecB]

graeme4130 said:

I was at Marlow cars a couple of weeks ago looking at an E60M5 he's selling
Lee who runs Marlow cars with his son seems a decent guy, but his main business is Bentleys and Rollers, so the Chimaera i suspect will be well outside his 'normal remit' of cars.
All the cars I've seen there that's he taken in as PX cars (which I suspect the Chim is) have been absolutely immaculate as I think he's very picky.
I didn't see the chim, although he did mention he had one. May be worth going along for a look
Viewing is by appointment only as he sells the cars from the courtyard of his fairly substantial country mansion
Let us know how you get along if you chose to see it
Graeme

That's excellent to know, thank you.

I spoke to Lee the other day while I was making enquiries and it is indeed a PX and well outside his remit! When I enquired as to the chassis, I was told that the last MOT had no advisories! I will have to go and have a look.

Edited by SpecB on Wednesday 21st December 22:52

[Dr Mike Oxgreen]

Definitely get a TVR expert to have a look at it before committing. A clean MOT doesn't necessarily mean the chassis is okay - the outriggers tend to rot on the tops where it can't be seen, and they can look fine and dandy from below.

In fact, I'd say £200 spent on a proper inspection is money well spent regardless of where the car is being sold - private or commercial. I would definitely want an inspection on any car being sold by a non-specialist.

Rob Ingleby correctly diagnosed outrigger corrosion on the one I bought - which was a factor in the price negotiations and precipitated the chassis refurb. Rusty outriggers are entirely fixable; but you'll want to have it reflected in the price.

[M@H]

SpecB said:

[When I enquired as to the chassis, I was told that the last MOT had no advisories! I will have to go and have a look.

Sadly in TVR land that means nothing I am afriad - assume nothing without having had a proper poke around yourself.

I am working in Marlow at present so assuming this place is pretty local I am happy to go and have a look one lunchtime in the new year.

[SpecB]

M@H said:

Sadly in TVR land that means nothing I am afriad - assume nothing without having had a proper poke around yourself.

I am working in Marlow at present so assuming this place is pretty local I am happy to go and have a look one lunchtime in the new year.

I have done my research and am aware of this. It is a very kind offer but I prefer to look at stuff myself, but thank you anyway.

[Johnniem]

SpecB said:

I have done my research and am aware of this. It is a very kind offer but I prefer to look at stuff myself, but thank you anyway.

save yourself the £200 flight costs and pay it towards a professional inspection by Rob Ingleby or a. n. other. Rob is an 'expert' in TVRs, having inspected so many and being a big fan himself. From the photos the car is looking beautiful so if a report says it is sound then pop down and drive it yourself. The one in Hexham is a no-no, IMHO. Far too much money plus (and this comes from personal experience!) the light coloured dash with the dark vents means that the vents reflect in the windscreen and are thoroughly annoying and distracting. Again, all in my honest opinion.

[M@H]

SpecB said:

I have done my research and am aware of this. It is a very kind offer but I prefer to look at stuff myself, but thank you anyway.

No worries

[SpecB]

Johnniem said:

save yourself the £200 flight costs and pay it towards a professional inspection by Rob Ingleby or a. n. other. Rob is an 'expert' in TVRs, having inspected so many and being a big fan himself. From the photos the car is looking beautiful so if a report says it is sound then pop down and drive it yourself. The one in Hexham is a no-no, IMHO. Far too much money plus (and this comes from personal experience!) the light coloured dash with the dark vents means that the vents reflect in the windscreen and are thoroughly annoying and distracting. Again, all in my honest opinion.

That's what I am thinking of doing. Thanks for the advice re the dash. I agree it is overpriced after looking at various adverts. I was only going to have a look for comparison purposes.

Edit - I have sent him an email. Cheers guys.

Edited by SpecB on Thursday 22 December 12:45

Edited by SpecB on Thursday 22 December 12:46

[PYNEY]

specb yhm

[Gazzab]

be careful who you get to inspect it :-)