Survey of ownership cost v buying a sorted example .
Discussion
If you get serious on a light conversion, I think Central TVR do the full install of the Tuscan style for a reasonable price including a front end respray as part of the job.
Might stone two birds with one kill.
http://www.centraltvr.com/model/chimaera/category/...
Scroll down to near the bottom left
Might stone two birds with one kill.
http://www.centraltvr.com/model/chimaera/category/...
Scroll down to near the bottom left
Myself, I'd go 'Option One' everytime. They've done work on TVR's past for me with excellent and long lasting results. I know of 'other' recommendations that are still not resolved fully. Oh it's actually called a 'speed-six' conversion, not 'Tuscan'. (there is one called 'speed twelve' but too much for my taste)They did mine years ago and it still looks great, albeit in another owners hands. Brings it up to date akin to the Cerbera LW and nobody calls that a Tuscan conversion. Also, get this, you can see when you drive at night! Yes, unbelievable but true. 
Option One, Ive heard of them, trouble is most of us go to the few that are well known so you assume that’s all who can do it in your area.
It was only when I joined Sprint years ago and used the adverts did I even join up the various dealers and parts suppliers and who did what.
I’d not discovered PH at that point so it all seemed like a secret club.
Anthony it’s ok talking about re sprays or anything else on here. It’s relevant as it’s surely a mod or at least classed as a re fresh. This is what Tvr ownership is largely about, continuous ongoing improvement.
That happens if you buy one for 12 or 25k I reckon.
It was only when I joined Sprint years ago and used the adverts did I even join up the various dealers and parts suppliers and who did what.
I’d not discovered PH at that point so it all seemed like a secret club.
Anthony it’s ok talking about re sprays or anything else on here. It’s relevant as it’s surely a mod or at least classed as a re fresh. This is what Tvr ownership is largely about, continuous ongoing improvement.
That happens if you buy one for 12 or 25k I reckon.
I bought mine for £7500 back in 2014 and could have just continued to drive it as outriggers were done previously and the paint was in good condition, again looked as if it had been painted before.
Got well looked after by enthusiast pevious owner.
I think I've spent around £5k on it doing wheels refurb, shocks service, engine mods/refresh, new alarm system , battery cables etc.
I see it being worth around £12k today, I'm not sure what else you can buy that's as much fun for near that.
Got well looked after by enthusiast pevious owner.
I think I've spent around £5k on it doing wheels refurb, shocks service, engine mods/refresh, new alarm system , battery cables etc.
I see it being worth around £12k today, I'm not sure what else you can buy that's as much fun for near that.
macdeb said:
Myself, I'd go 'Option One' everytime. They've done work on TVR's past for me with excellent and long lasting results. I know of 'other' recommendations that are still not resolved fully. Oh it's actually called a 'speed-six' conversion, not 'Tuscan'. (there is one called 'speed twelve' but too much for my taste)They did mine years ago and it still looks great, albeit in another owners hands. Brings it up to date akin to the Cerbera LW and nobody calls that a Tuscan conversion. Also, get this, you can see when you drive at night! Yes, unbelievable but true.
Any pictures Mac? 
The Cerbera look was more what I was meaning.
Option 1 are actually slightly closer to me than Central too.
So even with the present low resale values as they appear depressed to me it’s a very difficult thing to get a a sorted car ( which itself is open to debate ) for 12-15k unless it’s a 4.0 and even then probably needs ongoing work to maintain its condition.
None of this surprises me as what car can you buy that has supercar levels of acceleration and power, a roof that comes off and pretty as a peach for this money that isn’t a much more technical beast or more costly car to run.
Ive heard this quote a few times
“They are a little gem or a car” but rarely does it apply with such relevance.
It’s the audacity of Tvr I like so much, how dare they make cars like these when everything had already been sanitised in the motor industry in the 1990’s let alone now.
Just imagine if Wheeler had’nt bothered, no Tvr as we know it, imagine how dull life would be and how every boys dream of owning a race/ supercar would be that much harder to fulfill in the U.K.
Other than the few high end luxury sportscars which 95% cant afford where would a young ambitious british man or woman go to buy something home grown back then let alone now.
Sadly the reputation of Tvr outways these facts which in the case of the RV powered cars is largely unfair as they are easily the most reliable cars TVR ever produced and in most cases still are reliable.
Why are 1060-70’s motorbikes still so popular in the U.K. because you can fix em in a shed.
Tvr are like the last and final breed of British car you can buy with that level of engineering that also go like a stabbed rat.
Brutal
It just doesn’t exist anywhere else as far as I can see.
Ok you can build Cobra kit cars or Race Car one offs or home brew specials but none cut it against a Tvr. Tvr are like the pinnacle of our shed mentality and represents the last of a long line of independents and tiny car companies punching above their weight.
All those greats names from the past from Triumph to Coventry Climax to Healy and Jenson,
Tvr are like a homage to that great era to me and why I found them to be such an exciting brand.
It seemed like the only car company producing racing levels of power for realistic money.
That was 30 years ago or more !!! What’s apparent is nothing has come along to change that and Tvr are still the hairy chested Man’s car for sensible money.
Ok you don’t get much luxury but f
k me have you ever been in a true race car,,,,,,
I think Tvr softened them down quite well to be honest
None of this surprises me as what car can you buy that has supercar levels of acceleration and power, a roof that comes off and pretty as a peach for this money that isn’t a much more technical beast or more costly car to run.
Ive heard this quote a few times
“They are a little gem or a car” but rarely does it apply with such relevance.
It’s the audacity of Tvr I like so much, how dare they make cars like these when everything had already been sanitised in the motor industry in the 1990’s let alone now.
Just imagine if Wheeler had’nt bothered, no Tvr as we know it, imagine how dull life would be and how every boys dream of owning a race/ supercar would be that much harder to fulfill in the U.K.
Other than the few high end luxury sportscars which 95% cant afford where would a young ambitious british man or woman go to buy something home grown back then let alone now.
Sadly the reputation of Tvr outways these facts which in the case of the RV powered cars is largely unfair as they are easily the most reliable cars TVR ever produced and in most cases still are reliable.
Why are 1060-70’s motorbikes still so popular in the U.K. because you can fix em in a shed.
Tvr are like the last and final breed of British car you can buy with that level of engineering that also go like a stabbed rat.
Brutal
It just doesn’t exist anywhere else as far as I can see.
Ok you can build Cobra kit cars or Race Car one offs or home brew specials but none cut it against a Tvr. Tvr are like the pinnacle of our shed mentality and represents the last of a long line of independents and tiny car companies punching above their weight.
All those greats names from the past from Triumph to Coventry Climax to Healy and Jenson,
Tvr are like a homage to that great era to me and why I found them to be such an exciting brand.
It seemed like the only car company producing racing levels of power for realistic money.
That was 30 years ago or more !!! What’s apparent is nothing has come along to change that and Tvr are still the hairy chested Man’s car for sensible money.
Ok you don’t get much luxury but f
k me have you ever been in a true race car,,,,,, I think Tvr softened them down quite well to be honest
Very well said.
For me, my dream would be an early Pantera or a GT40 rep- proper old fashioned, mechanical, hard work, smell the petrol performance. Between the price of one of those, and the £16k I've so far sunk into my Chimaera, I struggle to think of much else that offers a similar experience. Sure there are plenty of classics out there, but to get the outrageous looks and genuinely quick performance, you are looking at stuff that is now easily approaching the cost of those two examples mentioned.
Stuff like the big Healeys are now nudging £50k, and even those don't have the performance of a 'lowly' 4.0 Chim. Yet in terms of overall experience, the TVR doesn't feel that dissimilar- it certainly has a lot more in common with a big Healey than it does with anything else from 90's/2000's.
My point being, TVR aside, what else can you buy (even at £20k!) that offers the quintessential 'classic sports car' experience, combined with serious performance, gorgeous looks, and a glorious old fashioned V8 soundtrack? Heck I've even stuck a wooden wheel on mine as it just feels more 'right'!
For me, my dream would be an early Pantera or a GT40 rep- proper old fashioned, mechanical, hard work, smell the petrol performance. Between the price of one of those, and the £16k I've so far sunk into my Chimaera, I struggle to think of much else that offers a similar experience. Sure there are plenty of classics out there, but to get the outrageous looks and genuinely quick performance, you are looking at stuff that is now easily approaching the cost of those two examples mentioned.
Stuff like the big Healeys are now nudging £50k, and even those don't have the performance of a 'lowly' 4.0 Chim. Yet in terms of overall experience, the TVR doesn't feel that dissimilar- it certainly has a lot more in common with a big Healey than it does with anything else from 90's/2000's.
My point being, TVR aside, what else can you buy (even at £20k!) that offers the quintessential 'classic sports car' experience, combined with serious performance, gorgeous looks, and a glorious old fashioned V8 soundtrack? Heck I've even stuck a wooden wheel on mine as it just feels more 'right'!
Squirrelofwoe said:
Very well said.
For me, my dream would be an early Pantera or a GT40 rep- proper old fashioned, mechanical, hard work, smell the petrol performance. Between the price of one of those, and the £16k I've so far sunk into my Chimaera, I struggle to think of much else that offers a similar experience. Sure there are plenty of classics out there, but to get the outrageous looks and genuinely quick performance, you are looking at stuff that is now easily approaching the cost of those two examples mentioned.
Stuff like the big Healeys are now nudging £50k, and even those don't have the performance of a 'lowly' 4.0 Chim. Yet in terms of overall experience, the TVR doesn't feel that dissimilar- it certainly has a lot more in common with a big Healey than it does with anything else from 90's/2000's.
My point being, TVR aside, what else can you buy (even at £20k!) that offers the quintessential 'classic sports car' experience, combined with serious performance, gorgeous looks, and a glorious old fashioned V8 soundtrack? Heck I've even stuck a wooden wheel on mine as it just feels more 'right'!
For me, my dream would be an early Pantera or a GT40 rep- proper old fashioned, mechanical, hard work, smell the petrol performance. Between the price of one of those, and the £16k I've so far sunk into my Chimaera, I struggle to think of much else that offers a similar experience. Sure there are plenty of classics out there, but to get the outrageous looks and genuinely quick performance, you are looking at stuff that is now easily approaching the cost of those two examples mentioned.
Stuff like the big Healeys are now nudging £50k, and even those don't have the performance of a 'lowly' 4.0 Chim. Yet in terms of overall experience, the TVR doesn't feel that dissimilar- it certainly has a lot more in common with a big Healey than it does with anything else from 90's/2000's.
My point being, TVR aside, what else can you buy (even at £20k!) that offers the quintessential 'classic sports car' experience, combined with serious performance, gorgeous looks, and a glorious old fashioned V8 soundtrack? Heck I've even stuck a wooden wheel on mine as it just feels more 'right'!
And I might still do so
Well I couldn’t have put that better either
I can unreliably report that I have lost at least 9k by not buying a Chimaera in 2014. This is due to the fact that I bought a 530D motorway vehicle instead. If I had paid 15k for a Chim back then it would still be worth that now. Plus I could have spent the 9k on it rather than losing it in depreciation and end up with a reasonably sorted classic which would probably be worth around 18k now. In that case I would only be down 6k rather than 9.
I'm ignoring the fact that back then i needed something for regular commutes from the south west to norwell in Notts. I could have used the other half's car for that. These days my car sits at the railway station mostly so I could have bought a 3k car for that as well. That would mean I would still be 9k down in total but with an extra car plus a nice Chimaera. (Can you tell I'm not an accountant?)
So my man maths tells me that I have lost money by not owning a TVR. Hope that makes you all feel better
I'm ignoring the fact that back then i needed something for regular commutes from the south west to norwell in Notts. I could have used the other half's car for that. These days my car sits at the railway station mostly so I could have bought a 3k car for that as well. That would mean I would still be 9k down in total but with an extra car plus a nice Chimaera. (Can you tell I'm not an accountant?)
So my man maths tells me that I have lost money by not owning a TVR. Hope that makes you all feel better
Matthew Poxon said:
QBee said:
I just daren't post..... 
Edited by QBee on Friday 8th February 08:16
You are an accountant so you know exactly how much you have spent!You cannot out a price on happiness though
sapper said:
I bought mine 7 years ago for £9000, it was completely standard.
I’ve replaced the outriggers and all the bushes.
Carl Baker replaced the alarm and immobiliser .
Eann Whalley turbo charged it for me and an Emerald ECU was installed Joolz of Kits and Classics.
New carpets were fitted by Dave the Trimmer.
Upgraded headlights Tuscan front indicators and new paintwork by EX Works TVR.
Additional upgrades and work includes
New intercooler and oil cooler. I upgraded the brakes with larger discs and cosworth 888/887 calipers and braided brake lines. New fuel pump, sender and all fuel pipes replaced. The water pump is new as are all the coolant pipes and a high flow aluminium radiator has been fitted.
New power steering pump and hoses. Even the wiper motor is new. All the leven shiny bits for the interior including the rare TVR wooden steering wheel.
Also fitted the ACT cherry bomb exhaust and SP12 alloys.
All in I’ve spent well over £10k.
I was selling it last year but I couldn’t see anything that I’d rather have for less than £30k.
So I’m having a new engine built.
Car look stunning.I’ve replaced the outriggers and all the bushes.
Carl Baker replaced the alarm and immobiliser .
Eann Whalley turbo charged it for me and an Emerald ECU was installed Joolz of Kits and Classics.
New carpets were fitted by Dave the Trimmer.
Upgraded headlights Tuscan front indicators and new paintwork by EX Works TVR.
Additional upgrades and work includes
New intercooler and oil cooler. I upgraded the brakes with larger discs and cosworth 888/887 calipers and braided brake lines. New fuel pump, sender and all fuel pipes replaced. The water pump is new as are all the coolant pipes and a high flow aluminium radiator has been fitted.
New power steering pump and hoses. Even the wiper motor is new. All the leven shiny bits for the interior including the rare TVR wooden steering wheel.
Also fitted the ACT cherry bomb exhaust and SP12 alloys.
All in I’ve spent well over £10k.
I was selling it last year but I couldn’t see anything that I’d rather have for less than £30k.
So I’m having a new engine built.
What engine are you going for?
Great thread gents. I have really enjoyed reading through.
Peter I cannot believe you have spent so little on your car with what you have achieved as a result. Very impressive and testament to doing work yourself and not paying specialist labour rates.
I dare not add mine up, I have documented all the work completed to mine on my blog: https://matthewpoxon.wordpress.com
I do not mind spending money on mine whether it be maintenance / upgrades etc, it is part of the enjoyment of ownership IMO. The way I look at is if you buy a Porsche Cayman for instance, maintenance will be much less but the amount you will pay in depreciation will eclipse that of TVR ownership. At the end of the day we all have appreciating assets which is very rare for car ownership. As CoG stated as hobbies go, TVR ownership dare I say it is cheap compared to smoking, golf, football drinking etc.
Peter I cannot believe you have spent so little on your car with what you have achieved as a result. Very impressive and testament to doing work yourself and not paying specialist labour rates.
I dare not add mine up, I have documented all the work completed to mine on my blog: https://matthewpoxon.wordpress.com
I do not mind spending money on mine whether it be maintenance / upgrades etc, it is part of the enjoyment of ownership IMO. The way I look at is if you buy a Porsche Cayman for instance, maintenance will be much less but the amount you will pay in depreciation will eclipse that of TVR ownership. At the end of the day we all have appreciating assets which is very rare for car ownership. As CoG stated as hobbies go, TVR ownership dare I say it is cheap compared to smoking, golf, football drinking etc.
Matthew Poxon said:
Peter I cannot believe you have spent so little on your car with what you have achieved as a result. Very impressive and testament to doing work yourself and not paying specialist labour rates.
I was lucky to find a car with loads of good bits on it but in poor condition. According to Rob from V8D, The cost of the engine when I bought the car was as much as I’d paid for the whole car itself. Unfortunately the block developed a split but I managed to source a very reasonably priced block and start all over!Gassing Station | Chimaera | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff