Looking to buy a Chimaera
Discussion
The TVR market is mental, and is defiantly for buyers but should be for sellers. You cannot buy a Handmade V8 for the same money anywhere,
People go mad about chassis condition but it is a reasonably cheap fix and a good bargaining tool for buyers.
If you like the colour, and it’s in good condition and has
Has a good service history buy it. As you would with any other car.
If it has been modified and the mods are what you like, buy it. Modified TVRs are supercarbeaters fact.
Brilliant cruiser, great continental cruiser and a track day fun car if you wish
People go mad about chassis condition but it is a reasonably cheap fix and a good bargaining tool for buyers.
If you like the colour, and it’s in good condition and has
Has a good service history buy it. As you would with any other car.
If it has been modified and the mods are what you like, buy it. Modified TVRs are supercarbeaters fact.
Brilliant cruiser, great continental cruiser and a track day fun car if you wish
Shorty4291 said:
Ive heard that there isn’t that much difference between engines and the main thing is to buy the best car you can for your money , that’s exactly what I’m looking to do , I’m not in a rush so want the best car I can get , I’ve been to see a couple at HHC which is fairly local to me and have been keeping an eye out on the classifieds. My budget is around the £15k mark and I’m looking for a late car in a good colour combination, and with all the obvious things such as a good chassis , service history, good paintwork etc .
You're right that condition is key. But personally, I wouldn't worry too much about finding a late example and I think it is worth taking a look at the different engines. From memory of test driving them: The 400 is very smooth and perhaps the best resolved in standard form, the 430 is a wonderfully revvy engine that feels the sportiest as standard, the 450 often cited as the best overall compromise and the 500 is notably stronger than the others, but it's very much biased towards torque in standard form so feels less energetic. It's true that a really well prepared 400 can be quicker than a tired 500, but there are noticeable differences in both performance and character if you compare like-for-like mods and condition.One thing I would add is to try and find one with power steering. I've got a 1997 500 (which I think runs on slightly wider tyres than some of the earlier cars?) without PAS and it is a real bicep builder at low speeds. I say that as someone used to driving old cars too. PAS was not a major factor for me, but I did lean somewhat towards non-PAS cars. That was after I'd noticed that almost every PAS-equipped example I'd seen had a history of niggling faults in the steering - leaky hoses and things like that. On reflection, though, I'd have accepted the extra hassle. The non-PAS steering on mine takes so much effort that you have to hold back a bit at low speeds for fear that you couldn't wind on opposite lock quick enough if things got out of shape! I'd gladly trade a little bit of feel - which I seem to remember the PAS rack still has in abundance - for a bit more agility.
Congratulations and very nice too.
Shame we are not closer as I'm looking to convert my sleeved exhaust back to the quiet times. Had it sleeved with all cats still in place for 4 years and it's been brilliant but I must be getting old now as I just want it a bit more peaceful. I've just swapped my Powers sports box on the T350 back to standard. That was just to boomy in the cabin.
Hope the collection all goes to plan.... couple of sleepless nights coming your way
Shame we are not closer as I'm looking to convert my sleeved exhaust back to the quiet times. Had it sleeved with all cats still in place for 4 years and it's been brilliant but I must be getting old now as I just want it a bit more peaceful. I've just swapped my Powers sports box on the T350 back to standard. That was just to boomy in the cabin.
Hope the collection all goes to plan.... couple of sleepless nights coming your way
Thanks for the comments everyone, as far as wheels go I was only thinking Estorils as they could have been specced from new , I like the look of some other wheels but can’t help thinking that TVR used that size for a reason ?!
Hopefully getting it this weekend ! Day off tomorrow so sorting the garage !
Hopefully getting it this weekend ! Day off tomorrow so sorting the garage !
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