About to commit the ultimate sin.......
Discussion
...and buy the first one I've seen ??
So I've been looking around for my first TVR for a while now, and been putting pennies aside for about a year or so once I decided I was serious rather than day-dreaming...
So after flip-flopping for a while between a V8S and a Chimaera, I settled on a Chimaera. Following loads of research, I settled on an ideal spec - ideally a 450 but happy with a 400, some kind of blue, light coloured interior, facelift nose but earlier rear end, and buckets of history. Bit of an ask?
Recently enquired about a few that were there or thereabouts, but all were sold before I could find the time to view.
So this week I stumbled across a '97 450 advertised that was only 20 miles from me and saw it this morning. Fell in love.
Very recent cam and top end rebuild, lovely interior, perfect imperial blue, drives perfectly in my inexperienced opinion. Bags and bags of history from specialists, renewed forward outriggers.
Couple of advisories on last MOT - rear chassis starting to show light surface corrosion, slight play in steering mountings, rear outriggers showing signs of corrosion, rear lights affected by near other bulbs.
I want it. Lovely chap selling is a real enthusiast and has a very nice collection, and has done everything it's ever needed. Oil pressure perfect, coolant temp perfect, idle perfect.
There are a couple of others in a similar spec/price bracket hundreds of miles away so my sensible head says see them and make a balanced choice.
I'd be reluctant to miss this one. So after all that rambling....
Should I?
So I've been looking around for my first TVR for a while now, and been putting pennies aside for about a year or so once I decided I was serious rather than day-dreaming...
So after flip-flopping for a while between a V8S and a Chimaera, I settled on a Chimaera. Following loads of research, I settled on an ideal spec - ideally a 450 but happy with a 400, some kind of blue, light coloured interior, facelift nose but earlier rear end, and buckets of history. Bit of an ask?
Recently enquired about a few that were there or thereabouts, but all were sold before I could find the time to view.
So this week I stumbled across a '97 450 advertised that was only 20 miles from me and saw it this morning. Fell in love.
Very recent cam and top end rebuild, lovely interior, perfect imperial blue, drives perfectly in my inexperienced opinion. Bags and bags of history from specialists, renewed forward outriggers.
Couple of advisories on last MOT - rear chassis starting to show light surface corrosion, slight play in steering mountings, rear outriggers showing signs of corrosion, rear lights affected by near other bulbs.
I want it. Lovely chap selling is a real enthusiast and has a very nice collection, and has done everything it's ever needed. Oil pressure perfect, coolant temp perfect, idle perfect.
There are a couple of others in a similar spec/price bracket hundreds of miles away so my sensible head says see them and make a balanced choice.
I'd be reluctant to miss this one. So after all that rambling....
Should I?
Edited by jof on Saturday 19th September 12:51
I agree, buy it!
My previous 400 was the first I looked at and I didn't regret it.
Just accept the fact that all TVR's will need work on them and that is part of the fun. Sometimes you can spend more time looking at cars than driving them, and that is what they were made for! An enthusiastic owner is always a good sign too and I have found TVr owners to be a friendly bunch too.
Good luck, Chris.
My previous 400 was the first I looked at and I didn't regret it.
Just accept the fact that all TVR's will need work on them and that is part of the fun. Sometimes you can spend more time looking at cars than driving them, and that is what they were made for! An enthusiastic owner is always a good sign too and I have found TVr owners to be a friendly bunch too.
Good luck, Chris.
I was the same as you, back in June this year bought the first one I saw.
A 400, FSH but had literally 4 days before I bought it had the outriggers replaced. So done the deal there and then.
May have paid to much for it, but then prices are all over the place.
Basically, I drove it, went well so bought it.
Yes it has had a few nuggles but nothing major, HT leads and coil. One other unfortunate was the alloy rad cracked after 2 months so replaced that. It's now in for CV boots.
But when I drive it.....in so glad I took a punt.
A 400, FSH but had literally 4 days before I bought it had the outriggers replaced. So done the deal there and then.
May have paid to much for it, but then prices are all over the place.
Basically, I drove it, went well so bought it.
Yes it has had a few nuggles but nothing major, HT leads and coil. One other unfortunate was the alloy rad cracked after 2 months so replaced that. It's now in for CV boots.
But when I drive it.....in so glad I took a punt.
Buy it, but make sure you have enough pocket money to get the outriggers replaced properly this time. I wonder why the job was only half done? If the rear of the outriggers are "showing signs" of corrosion, that could well mean that the invisible tops of the tubing are completely rusted through and it might need doing urgently. Bear in mind that the seat belt mounts are attached to the rear of the outriggers.
If it's exactly the spec you want then definitely go for it, but don't ignore that MOT advisory.
If it's exactly the spec you want then definitely go for it, but don't ignore that MOT advisory.
Bought it!
Pick her up next weekend all being well.
Should be enough left in the kitty to replace the outriggers, clean and waxoyl the chassis from underneath, and provide plenty of super fit the intermittent dry sunny days we have left this year :-)
It already has ctek wiring so will pick up a unit - are the connections all the same or will I need exactly the same model the previous owner uses?
Even cones with an indoor cover, a Bible, and a few RV8 specific tools! Really pleased.
Pick her up next weekend all being well.
Should be enough left in the kitty to replace the outriggers, clean and waxoyl the chassis from underneath, and provide plenty of super fit the intermittent dry sunny days we have left this year :-)
It already has ctek wiring so will pick up a unit - are the connections all the same or will I need exactly the same model the previous owner uses?
Even cones with an indoor cover, a Bible, and a few RV8 specific tools! Really pleased.
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