Chimaera arrives today
Discussion
I appreciate that many of you have all felt and written this all before, but today sees my first Chimaera arriving today.
I have done all the nesting duties of clearing the garage and preparing space for the folder of receipts, found local owners and specialist to look after the car and compiled a list of changes to make. Already changed the indicators to clear items.
While England play tonight I shall be out getting to know the car.
The car is the ocean haze 5L from HHC. It is perhaps a few more miles that I was initially looking for and a prefacelift. But as condition is key with these it was clear that a car with outriggers, wishbones, brakes, suspension, cam/clutch, carpets, leather and paint all done as prep was a good idea. All from a good dealer as well.
I have done all the nesting duties of clearing the garage and preparing space for the folder of receipts, found local owners and specialist to look after the car and compiled a list of changes to make. Already changed the indicators to clear items.
While England play tonight I shall be out getting to know the car.
The car is the ocean haze 5L from HHC. It is perhaps a few more miles that I was initially looking for and a prefacelift. But as condition is key with these it was clear that a car with outriggers, wishbones, brakes, suspension, cam/clutch, carpets, leather and paint all done as prep was a good idea. All from a good dealer as well.
Still listed but marked as 'sold' of course!:
http://www.hhcsportscars.co.uk/car/oceans-apart-hi...
A good spec that. You don't see many with full leather, and heated seats are nice if you intend to use it in cold weather.
http://www.hhcsportscars.co.uk/car/oceans-apart-hi...
A good spec that. You don't see many with full leather, and heated seats are nice if you intend to use it in cold weather.
Judging from the door panels and the supplying dealer I'm pretty sure this is the 500 that was featured in Classic Cars' Chimaera 25th anniversary coverstory that was published in the October (or maybe November) issue last year... 
Had the same done to my door panels, too - they were already in at my upholsterer's when that article came out, great minds and all
Had the same done to my door panels, too - they were already in at my upholsterer's when that article came out, great minds and all
900T-R said:
Had the same done to my door panels, too - they were already in at my upholsterer's when that article came out, great minds and all
Mine has had similar treatment, although it came like it when I brought it- it was only when I started seeing others that I realised they didn't come like that as standard! From original advert:
As it is now:
If I ever replace this with another one it's one of the first jobs I would get done as I think it smartens up the interior no end- I couldn't imagine going back to carpeted doors!
OP- your car looks superb, I was reading the article that your car was featured in on a flight to Florida. Very rare colour too. Be sure to get some more pictures up when you finally take a break from driving it!!
Evening all, yes I did purchase a copy of that mag once I know it was featured. The photography is also on the guys site, including a small vid of the cars being driven.....which sits on my desktop just in case I need a fix.
Ref the purple one, only briefly to see what a newer one looked like, and to be honest it was pretty much what a 20+y old car would look like. There was a small amount of screen delamination and the normal ware and tare. Honest is how I would describe it.
Yes heated seats may well get a go as I do like a cold clear dark night roof down drive.....always have and I suspect the TVR will be the same. I have however got one small issue to solve....see “coolant post”
New wheels and tyres over the weekend, estorils will be squirrelled away for safe keeping.
Ref the purple one, only briefly to see what a newer one looked like, and to be honest it was pretty much what a 20+y old car would look like. There was a small amount of screen delamination and the normal ware and tare. Honest is how I would describe it.
Yes heated seats may well get a go as I do like a cold clear dark night roof down drive.....always have and I suspect the TVR will be the same. I have however got one small issue to solve....see “coolant post”
New wheels and tyres over the weekend, estorils will be squirrelled away for safe keeping.
Squirrelofwoe] said:
If I ever replace this with another one it's one of the first jobs I would get done as I think it smartens up the interior no end- I couldn't imagine going back to carpeted doors!
Yeah, not that I did really mind the carpet but to me it was certainly in the same category of English peculiarities as having carpet on ones bathroom floor 
I had the spacing of the stitching done as per the original seats so it does look like it always belonged there
900T-R said:
Squirrelofwoe] said:
If I ever replace this with another one it's one of the first jobs I would get done as I think it smartens up the interior no end- I couldn't imagine going back to carpeted doors!
Yeah, not that I did really mind the carpet but to me it was certainly in the same category of English peculiarities as having carpet on ones bathroom floor I had the spacing of the stitching done as per the original seats so it does look like it always belonged there
markcoopers said:
Mr Squirrelofwoe,
You appear to have a momo wheel which has a different PCD mounting. Did you you an adapter or change the boss or re drill it to fit?
Cheers
Hi Mark, You appear to have a momo wheel which has a different PCD mounting. Did you you an adapter or change the boss or re drill it to fit?
Cheers
Yeah I had to use an adapter ring to fit it. There are a few Nardi wheels of a similar style which do use the original stud pattern, but this was the wheel I really wanted so had to use an adapter ring- it did have to be turned down very slightly on a lathe to fit snugly within the lip on the original boss though.
On my non-PAS car this slightly larger diameter wheel with thinner rim is absolutely fantastic to use, which is an added bonus to go with the aesthetics!
markcoopers said:
New wheels and tyres fitted
7x16 et 25 with 205/50/16 tyres front and 8x17 et 35 with 235/45/17 tyres rear. Tito proxes T1-R all round. Calibra vintage wheels over lenso as they have metal centre caps.
They look incredible! 7x16 et 25 with 205/50/16 tyres front and 8x17 et 35 with 235/45/17 tyres rear. Tito proxes T1-R all round. Calibra vintage wheels over lenso as they have metal centre caps.
I've been looking for a wheel in that kind of style and not come across those - could be exactly what I am after.
Did you have any fitting issues?
I visit HHC on a regular basis and I have looked very closely at that car. Its a really nice example indeed and HHC have spent quite some time / money on it. For the money, its a cracking buy. Hope you enjoy it. ( the very best colour too). New wheels really finish the car off well.
Congrats.
Congrats.
Ref fitting no, I used a local company who also repair and paint wheels, he sourced what I was looking for as well, and offered advice on tyres. He did my Morgan Aero 8 with the centre lock wheels as well, so I trust him. Only issue was that the Estonia centre plate securing bolts were corroded in well......sharp slap with a punch and hammer shocked them free though.
I did countless hours internetting and reading many posts, most of which were contradictory to each other. I read a number of people saying a 225 section front tyre would rub, but they had either increased the diameter by over 25mm thinking it was OK as the fronts don't drive the speedo, or were using a different offset wheel(larger et) and wondering why......then posting it as advice.
Lenso would machine a set to any offset and pcd, but they had plastic centres. Caliber were in stock, and the perfect size 7x16 et 25 fronts making them almost the same but 1" larger and 8x17 et 35 rears which again were almost the same all be it with a small amount of off set change owing to the extra 0.5" width. They have metal centre plates though which make up for it.
Tyre wise, I did want to keep to the OEM width and diameter.....or very close. My car and handbook said 215/50/ZR15 fronts which would generate a 215/45/16 which is not a performance tyre size.......we would either have to go up to 225 or down to 205. Vanity in me said 225, but this is not optimum on the 7" rim and while it would fit would rob me of steering feel. Moving to 8" front would now start to cause other issues......so 205 it was.
Toyo's, well just because they are a balance between grip and cheep. I don't think we need pilot sports or 888's as it is a weekend fun car for me (mx5 for Track). Under £850 all in fitted.
Reg yr steering wheel, that is an momo heritage indi I think.......what I want as well. I have PAS though, so might look at a slight reduction in size.
I did countless hours internetting and reading many posts, most of which were contradictory to each other. I read a number of people saying a 225 section front tyre would rub, but they had either increased the diameter by over 25mm thinking it was OK as the fronts don't drive the speedo, or were using a different offset wheel(larger et) and wondering why......then posting it as advice.
Lenso would machine a set to any offset and pcd, but they had plastic centres. Caliber were in stock, and the perfect size 7x16 et 25 fronts making them almost the same but 1" larger and 8x17 et 35 rears which again were almost the same all be it with a small amount of off set change owing to the extra 0.5" width. They have metal centre plates though which make up for it.
Tyre wise, I did want to keep to the OEM width and diameter.....or very close. My car and handbook said 215/50/ZR15 fronts which would generate a 215/45/16 which is not a performance tyre size.......we would either have to go up to 225 or down to 205. Vanity in me said 225, but this is not optimum on the 7" rim and while it would fit would rob me of steering feel. Moving to 8" front would now start to cause other issues......so 205 it was.
Toyo's, well just because they are a balance between grip and cheep. I don't think we need pilot sports or 888's as it is a weekend fun car for me (mx5 for Track). Under £850 all in fitted.
Reg yr steering wheel, that is an momo heritage indi I think.......what I want as well. I have PAS though, so might look at a slight reduction in size.
markcoopers said:
Ref fitting no, I used a local company who also repair and paint wheels, he sourced what I was looking for as well, and offered advice on tyres. He did my Morgan Aero 8 with the centre lock wheels as well, so I trust him. Only issue was that the Estonia centre plate securing bolts were corroded in well......sharp slap with a punch and hammer shocked them free though.
I did countless hours internetting and reading many posts, most of which were contradictory to each other. I read a number of people saying a 225 section front tyre would rub, but they had either increased the diameter by over 25mm thinking it was OK as the fronts don't drive the speedo, or were using a different offset wheel(larger et) and wondering why......then posting it as advice.
Lenso would machine a set to any offset and pcd, but they had plastic centres. Caliber were in stock, and the perfect size 7x16 et 25 fronts making them almost the same but 1" larger and 8x17 et 35 rears which again were almost the same all be it with a small amount of off set change owing to the extra 0.5" width. They have metal centre plates though which make up for it.
Tyre wise, I did want to keep to the OEM width and diameter.....or very close. My car and handbook said 215/50/ZR15 fronts which would generate a 215/45/16 which is not a performance tyre size.......we would either have to go up to 225 or down to 205. Vanity in me said 225, but this is not optimum on the 7" rim and while it would fit would rob me of steering feel. Moving to 8" front would now start to cause other issues......so 205 it was.
Toyo's, well just because they are a balance between grip and cheep. I don't think we need pilot sports or 888's as it is a weekend fun car for me (mx5 for Track). Under £850 all in fitted.
Reg yr steering wheel, that is an momo heritage indi I think.......what I want as well. I have PAS though, so might look at a slight reduction in size.
Cheers for the info, will look into those once I've got my garage sorted (built!).I did countless hours internetting and reading many posts, most of which were contradictory to each other. I read a number of people saying a 225 section front tyre would rub, but they had either increased the diameter by over 25mm thinking it was OK as the fronts don't drive the speedo, or were using a different offset wheel(larger et) and wondering why......then posting it as advice.
Lenso would machine a set to any offset and pcd, but they had plastic centres. Caliber were in stock, and the perfect size 7x16 et 25 fronts making them almost the same but 1" larger and 8x17 et 35 rears which again were almost the same all be it with a small amount of off set change owing to the extra 0.5" width. They have metal centre plates though which make up for it.
Tyre wise, I did want to keep to the OEM width and diameter.....or very close. My car and handbook said 215/50/ZR15 fronts which would generate a 215/45/16 which is not a performance tyre size.......we would either have to go up to 225 or down to 205. Vanity in me said 225, but this is not optimum on the 7" rim and while it would fit would rob me of steering feel. Moving to 8" front would now start to cause other issues......so 205 it was.
Toyo's, well just because they are a balance between grip and cheep. I don't think we need pilot sports or 888's as it is a weekend fun car for me (mx5 for Track). Under £850 all in fitted.
Reg yr steering wheel, that is an momo heritage indi I think.......what I want as well. I have PAS though, so might look at a slight reduction in size.
Regarding the steering wheel, I don't think the difference in size would be an issue to be honest- it's marginal at most. I'm only down in Oxford so if you are ever in the area you are more the welcome to take a look and see what you think.
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