New Unregistered Chimaera
Discussion
How about a new Unregistered Chimaera?
http://www.strattoncars.co.uk/used-cars/tvr-chimae...
On the face of it, it looks like a dodgy & suspicious mix of parts.
But look closer, I think it's a RHD export car that never made it to it's overseas buyer.
Perhaps it was heading for Hong Kong, South Africa, Australia, NZ or Japan?
But is it really worth £30k?
Discuss
http://www.strattoncars.co.uk/used-cars/tvr-chimae...
On the face of it, it looks like a dodgy & suspicious mix of parts.
But look closer, I think it's a RHD export car that never made it to it's overseas buyer.
Perhaps it was heading for Hong Kong, South Africa, Australia, NZ or Japan?
But is it really worth £30k?
Discuss
30 grand doesnt buy you much new thats interesting, and you could easily spend that on getting an older car rebuilt...if your paying someone to do it, and then you have a rebuilt older car..
a chim on a 13 plate would be interesting...
Its is an interesting mix, I wonder if its a malaysian built car Its got the same dash and solid door openers as my facelift late 96 (UK)car, but does have the later rear numberplate housing
a chim on a 13 plate would be interesting...
Its is an interesting mix, I wonder if its a malaysian built car Its got the same dash and solid door openers as my facelift late 96 (UK)car, but does have the later rear numberplate housing
K4TRV said:
Listed as a 2001 - never.
Deffo mix of parts.....door opener caps, 15/16 Weels, how old are the tyres, third brake light?
I'm sure the Chimaera Spotting experts will be along.
Not a £30K car IMVHO
Trev
As I said above I thought the same initially.Deffo mix of parts.....door opener caps, 15/16 Weels, how old are the tyres, third brake light?
I'm sure the Chimaera Spotting experts will be along.
Not a £30K car IMVHO
Trev
However!
If you know your export TVRs you would also know that they were indeed a strange mixture of parts.
The specification of these export cars was very much like a late 1996 car, which are also wrongly labelled as accident repaired hash ups.
On a late 96 car you got the updated facelift front and rear ends but the dash layout, door opener plungers & far superior silver/grey chassis from the earlier car.
Exports are the same, except you got the flaky white powder coat finish to the chassis & the recessed rear numberplate.
Other than that export cars were very similar to those late 96 cars.
But the biggest indicator that it's an export car is the addition of a high mounted rear brake light.
For all these reasons I'm pretty sure it's not a damaged repaired collection of parts as it looks on first inspection.
But an export car that never made it to it's overseas buyer, perhaps it sat up at Bristol Avenue for a few years before it was sold off.
As with buying any car, I would want to see some paperwork to support all this and prove it's history.
But the real question (assuming it's genuine) is....
Is it really worth £30k
The late 96 spec is as you say, later front and rear, although still with backlit numberplate.
half and half dash. top half later, bottom half early door buttons in wing, but solid with no key hole. everything else the same as the later car t5, serp motor bigger brakes etc.
That car does seem to be the same as that, other than the later number plate housing and the high level brake light so it does sound like you are right with the export car identification
half and half dash. top half later, bottom half early door buttons in wing, but solid with no key hole. everything else the same as the later car t5, serp motor bigger brakes etc.
That car does seem to be the same as that, other than the later number plate housing and the high level brake light so it does sound like you are right with the export car identification
External door switches, tail light arrangement, boot lid hinges and number plate all appear wrong to me for the advertised year.
As most will know; 97/98 were the change over years on door switches and tail lights.
The back window also looks to 'slack' to me for an original, more like it's been redone.
Internally it appears about right, but is that the correct heater control knob?
Also, maybe just me, but I don't remember seeing an emergency flasher button in red?
That said, it does appear to be new/unused.
In any case, assuming all is kosher, it was a damned poor 'investment' for the original purchaser, as the sticker price was around 32k-33k for a 400 in 2000/2001.
And that would make it a bargain price today
As most will know; 97/98 were the change over years on door switches and tail lights.
The back window also looks to 'slack' to me for an original, more like it's been redone.
Internally it appears about right, but is that the correct heater control knob?
Also, maybe just me, but I don't remember seeing an emergency flasher button in red?
That said, it does appear to be new/unused.
In any case, assuming all is kosher, it was a damned poor 'investment' for the original purchaser, as the sticker price was around 32k-33k for a 400 in 2000/2001.
And that would make it a bargain price today
I'd go with an export car, face lift front and rear but pre-face lift interior and mid face lift (plunger but no keyhole) door openers.
Pretty sure the hood plastic would sag after 10+ years regardless of use.
My hazard light button is red - and flashes!
Only question I have is that it says 2001, well by then TVR were producing the last shape with faired headlights. so my guess is it's pre 2000 and if it's been dry stored since 2001 had it been 'wet' stored up to then?
Pretty sure the hood plastic would sag after 10+ years regardless of use.
My hazard light button is red - and flashes!
Only question I have is that it says 2001, well by then TVR were producing the last shape with faired headlights. so my guess is it's pre 2000 and if it's been dry stored since 2001 had it been 'wet' stored up to then?
Mark. said:
I'd go with an export car, face lift front and rear but pre-face lift interior and mid face lift (plunger but no keyhole) door openers.
Pretty sure the hood plastic would sag after 10+ years regardless of use.
My hazard light button is red - and flashes!
Only question I have is that it says 2001, well by then TVR were producing the last shape with faired headlights. so my guess is it's pre 2000 and if it's been dry stored since 2001 had it been 'wet' stored up to then?
okay, so your big red hazard button flashes. Show off!Pretty sure the hood plastic would sag after 10+ years regardless of use.
My hazard light button is red - and flashes!
Only question I have is that it says 2001, well by then TVR were producing the last shape with faired headlights. so my guess is it's pre 2000 and if it's been dry stored since 2001 had it been 'wet' stored up to then?
Hmm, mine is nice shiny aluminium, and the little surround flashes politely. Surely the red button must be an early feature?
I thought as much about the headlights, but wasn't sure on the exact date of the change.
2001 would seem about right because (sssshhhhh don't say anything, she might hear you), but I was just about to place my order for a new car then, and use the old girl as a trade in. I Disapproved of the new headlights so much, I didn't bother to go ahead.
Goaty Bill said:
okay, so your big red hazard button flashes. Show off!
Hmm, mine is nice shiny aluminium, and the little surround flashes politely. Surely the red button must be an early feature?
Hmm, mine is nice shiny aluminium, and the little surround flashes politely. Surely the red button must be an early feature?
Mine's a 1996 and just assumed it was standard up until the dash was upgraded with all the flashy aluminum knobs.
Wasn't keen on the faired headlights either.
900T-R said:
What are you going to do with a car like this anyway - drive it and destroy its value, or not drive it and derive no value from it anyway?
Give me a nicely seasoned example at half the price
Spot on 900T-R.Give me a nicely seasoned example at half the price
These cars are for driving, we know all the faults now, and most have had then corrected by now.
So if you're after a driver, why buy one that's still got all the faults?
In a way it would be a crime to drive it, but a crime not to drive it too.
I'd walk by, seek out a well sorted driver, and save a stack of cash.
It's a museum car, & I don't run a museum.
Oh that really is nice. Looks like an export model from around 96-97 but even so that's a lovely car. Personally I'd rather have my current Chim and a Griff for the same money plus some left over to pay for petrol..but that doesn't mean it's not worth £30k, just that I'd rather spend it elsewhere.
Someone is going to REALLy get a kick out of owning that.
Someone is going to REALLy get a kick out of owning that.
RedRoseChic said:
Brand new, covered in dust, fired up first time. One of them looks pristine, the other has a torn rear window & as a consequence, has suffered a bit of cosmetic damage due to short term water ingress (apparently they pushed it outside a few weeks ago). Both have had the gear knobs nicked!
Both have power steering, air con, Km clocks & according to the plates were made for Malaysia (which I presume is why they are factory fitted with a/c). I’m currently waiting to see paperwork to fill the gaps in the story of these 2 babies.
007 has 232 Kms
005 has 233 Kms
We are now applying for temporary release from the bonded so we can get them on the ramp & carry out a proper inspection for our customer.
PS – also spotted at the warehouse, a V8 Morgan & a Delorean!! What an Aladdins cave, they almost had to throw us out !!
this is a snippit from the actual thread of the 2 chimaeras in the bonded warehouse.. funny they both have 200+km on there so it may not be one of those???Both have power steering, air con, Km clocks & according to the plates were made for Malaysia (which I presume is why they are factory fitted with a/c). I’m currently waiting to see paperwork to fill the gaps in the story of these 2 babies.
007 has 232 Kms
005 has 233 Kms
We are now applying for temporary release from the bonded so we can get them on the ramp & carry out a proper inspection for our customer.
PS – also spotted at the warehouse, a V8 Morgan & a Delorean!! What an Aladdins cave, they almost had to throw us out !!
Edited by MADMAX2 on Thursday 28th February 20:43
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