Looking for info on a 1997 Chimaera
Discussion
It was in a classic auction on 29th Nov. with Hampson in Holywell, North Wales with a guide of £7k - £9k but didn't sell. The photo seems to be from that catalogue so you may already know. It has MoT until May 2023, with advisories as follows:
Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))
Steering column universal joint has slight wear or play (2.2.2 (c))
Brake repair covered in underseal (1.1.21 (e) (i))
VEHICLE COVERED IN UNDERSEALED
Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))
It had a cracked dash, faded carpets and no pas. Perhaps it was also not quite as good as described close up (?) because being an early facelift car, I'd have expected it got close to its guide price:
https://auctions.hampsonauctions.com/auction/lot/l...
Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))
Steering column universal joint has slight wear or play (2.2.2 (c))
Brake repair covered in underseal (1.1.21 (e) (i))
VEHICLE COVERED IN UNDERSEALED
Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))
It had a cracked dash, faded carpets and no pas. Perhaps it was also not quite as good as described close up (?) because being an early facelift car, I'd have expected it got close to its guide price:
https://auctions.hampsonauctions.com/auction/lot/l...
rdtaylr - where have you seen the car for sale. I assume that it is for sale, hence your enquiry. sixor8 has helpfully provided the auction details. Did it sell after the auction, or is the same seller now trying to sell it somewhere else?
It will basically be a full restoration car, which is probably what is putting people off. WBAC will offer £1,065 for it, and that's probably all it is worth.
It has hardly been used in 16 years. It had done 45,334 miles in December 2006. The photo on the auctioneer's site shows the current mileage is 46,168! It was stored probably somewhere damp or even outside from looking at the under-bonnet photos, probably rotting away for 8 years. There is mention of water ingress - was that in use or in storage?
Several MOT's mention the heavy underseal, which is no doubt hiding the fact that it needs a new chassis. It needs re-carpeting. Maybe the leather will be fine with a clean, maybe not. The photos don't show any close ups of any damage, except the dash and the carpet by the passenger door which is in tatters. Maybe there is no other damage but maybe it isn't being shown. It needs a new dash and a steering wheel. Maybe the paint will polish up, maybe it needs a full re-spray.
The auctioneer stated that the current owner had the car for 16 years, yet there was a V5 issued in 2020. That maybe nothing - just an address change for example, but it just needs confirming.
I suspect that you will just see all the faults that all the prospective buyers walked away from at the auction, and no doubt the seller will not sell it at a realistic price to allow for them all to be corrected, without paying too much for the car. A new chassis is nearly £6K plus labour to remove the old one and fit the new one. I suspect there will be an excess charge to remove all the excess underseal to be able to remove the old chassis!
It will basically be a full restoration car, which is probably what is putting people off. WBAC will offer £1,065 for it, and that's probably all it is worth.
It has hardly been used in 16 years. It had done 45,334 miles in December 2006. The photo on the auctioneer's site shows the current mileage is 46,168! It was stored probably somewhere damp or even outside from looking at the under-bonnet photos, probably rotting away for 8 years. There is mention of water ingress - was that in use or in storage?
Several MOT's mention the heavy underseal, which is no doubt hiding the fact that it needs a new chassis. It needs re-carpeting. Maybe the leather will be fine with a clean, maybe not. The photos don't show any close ups of any damage, except the dash and the carpet by the passenger door which is in tatters. Maybe there is no other damage but maybe it isn't being shown. It needs a new dash and a steering wheel. Maybe the paint will polish up, maybe it needs a full re-spray.
The auctioneer stated that the current owner had the car for 16 years, yet there was a V5 issued in 2020. That maybe nothing - just an address change for example, but it just needs confirming.
I suspect that you will just see all the faults that all the prospective buyers walked away from at the auction, and no doubt the seller will not sell it at a realistic price to allow for them all to be corrected, without paying too much for the car. A new chassis is nearly £6K plus labour to remove the old one and fit the new one. I suspect there will be an excess charge to remove all the excess underseal to be able to remove the old chassis!
Depends what your looking for really.
If it’s a first entry into the Tvr world then it would be better to pay a bit more and find a sorted car.
It doesn’t make any sense really buying these cars to restore unless they are cheap or you have the skills to do most of the work.
Costs soon add up on them quickly as suggested.
If it’s a first entry into the Tvr world then it would be better to pay a bit more and find a sorted car.
It doesn’t make any sense really buying these cars to restore unless they are cheap or you have the skills to do most of the work.
Costs soon add up on them quickly as suggested.
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