High mileage chimaera
Discussion
if you arent handy with spanners forget a TVR as long as you dont have a vallet full of money and expenses do not relate on "i need my money also for my house, my wife , my children...etc..."
i paid 7.5k for a car with a new chassis and new suspension, new brakes and new clutch....the 5th gear on LT77 box was repaired shortly b4 my ownership....and it again shows problems.
i had some problems with the dizzy-drive (material 50pound, labour = myselves) and some other bits&pieces....where i would have spent hundreds of labour costs in a garage.....the paintwork is far beyond from prestine, interior shows its age....but the car could be used as a daily driver (obviously only in summer).....
but when i calculate what i have paid, the transport costs to me, plus all the little bits & pieces i could have bought a better one.
prices for "specialists" cars like tvr are not on the sunny side at the moment.....especially not the volume-model chimaera
i paid 7.5k for a car with a new chassis and new suspension, new brakes and new clutch....the 5th gear on LT77 box was repaired shortly b4 my ownership....and it again shows problems.
i had some problems with the dizzy-drive (material 50pound, labour = myselves) and some other bits&pieces....where i would have spent hundreds of labour costs in a garage.....the paintwork is far beyond from prestine, interior shows its age....but the car could be used as a daily driver (obviously only in summer).....
but when i calculate what i have paid, the transport costs to me, plus all the little bits & pieces i could have bought a better one.
prices for "specialists" cars like tvr are not on the sunny side at the moment.....especially not the volume-model chimaera
I guess we all pays our money and take our choice. Only thing that has gone wrong withine a year is an indicator bulb needing replacing so I have been OK.
I guess if I decided to sell mine I could let it go £1k cheaper as that is what I have earmarked to spend with Bespoke. So £11.5k maybe £11k at a push.
Previous owner changed clutch, outriggers and lots of other things and previous owner to last had the Speed 6 front headlight conversion done.
Ian @ Sportmotive did a few bits before he sold it to me so it seemed fairly sorted to me. The main attraction for me was it wasn't silly expensive, was a lovely colour and had the Speed 6 headlight conversion which I really like.
I guess if I decided to sell mine I could let it go £1k cheaper as that is what I have earmarked to spend with Bespoke. So £11.5k maybe £11k at a push.
Previous owner changed clutch, outriggers and lots of other things and previous owner to last had the Speed 6 front headlight conversion done.
Ian @ Sportmotive did a few bits before he sold it to me so it seemed fairly sorted to me. The main attraction for me was it wasn't silly expensive, was a lovely colour and had the Speed 6 headlight conversion which I really like.
LLantrisant said:
That one has no service history and a slightly unusual MOT history - 'unreadable' mileage in 2019, no MOT in 2018, a few fails in 17 / 15 / 11 / 10 / 08 / 07, and no odometer (?) between 2008 and 2011. Also a suggestion the current owner hasn't owned it that long.
Doesn't look as good a bet.
rockits said:
I guess we all pays our money and take our choice. Only thing that has gone wrong withine a year is an indicator bulb needing replacing so I have been OK.
I guess if I decided to sell mine I could let it go £1k cheaper as that is what I have earmarked to spend with Bespoke. So £11.5k maybe £11k at a push.
Previous owner changed clutch, outriggers and lots of other things and previous owner to last had the Speed 6 front headlight conversion done.
Ian @ Sportmotive did a few bits before he sold it to me so it seemed fairly sorted to me. The main attraction for me was it wasn't silly expensive, was a lovely colour and had the Speed 6 headlight conversion which I really like.
I could spend 11/12k but would require some considerable man maths - I was originally looking at SLK55's, decided too expensive and would rather spend less c 5 to 7k, so started looking at Alfa GTV's / Spyders / TVR 350is, saw this Chimaera at 7.5k and said oh could strech to that - 12k would be another jump I guess if I decided to sell mine I could let it go £1k cheaper as that is what I have earmarked to spend with Bespoke. So £11.5k maybe £11k at a push.
Previous owner changed clutch, outriggers and lots of other things and previous owner to last had the Speed 6 front headlight conversion done.
Ian @ Sportmotive did a few bits before he sold it to me so it seemed fairly sorted to me. The main attraction for me was it wasn't silly expensive, was a lovely colour and had the Speed 6 headlight conversion which I really like.
What colour is it?
Condition, Condition, really makes me laugh when owners think FSH on a 20/25 year old car guarantees a peach of an example 
or a new engine etc is going to net trouble free motoring 
its just not that simple I suggest if you dont know what your looking at take someone that does or your liable to get stung , I would look at that car linked above with no service history if its cheap and if its sound whats not to like? I have seen cars with receipts service's etc that would fill a shoe box yet are sheds 
or a new engine etc is going to net trouble free motoring its just not that simple I suggest if you dont know what your looking at take someone that does or your liable to get stung , I would look at that car linked above with no service history if its cheap and if its sound whats not to like? I have seen cars with receipts service's etc that would fill a shoe box yet are sheds Sardonicus said:
Condition, Condition, really makes me laugh when owners think FSH on a 20/25 year old car guarantees a peach of an example or a new engine etc is going to net trouble free motoring its just not that simple I suggest if you dont know what your looking at take someone that does or your liable to get stung , I would look at that car linked above with no service history if its cheap and if its sound whats not to like? I have seen cars with receipts service's etc that would fill a shoe box yet are sheds
Agreed, but repeatedly failing MOTs doesn't suggest a careful owner and I am always suspicious about 'lost' service history! I am getting the one I am looking at inspected but at £250 a pop I would want to make sure the car being inspected is half decent before paying for an inspection! or a new engine etc is going to net trouble free motoring its just not that simple I suggest if you dont know what your looking at take someone that does or your liable to get stung , I would look at that car linked above with no service history if its cheap and if its sound whats not to like? I have seen cars with receipts service's etc that would fill a shoe box yet are sheds Integroo said:
I could spend 11/12k but would require some considerable man maths - I was originally looking at SLK55's, decided too expensive and would rather spend less c 5 to 7k, so started looking at Alfa GTV's / Spyders / TVR 350is, saw this Chimaera at 7.5k and said oh could strech to that - 12k would be another jump
What colour is it?
Nothing wrong with a littl ebit of light man maths What colour is it?
I looked at SLK55's as well after having an SL55 a while back. I drove one and it just didn't float my boat. Nothing like a TVR and just a bit too dull really with not too much engagement. The TVR's are completely different and a real event every time you drive it. Even looking at it is even enough for me!
Mine is Amaranth Purple which is a kind of two tone pearl paint. Looks dark blue in some lights and purple in others. A proper TVR colour for me. Being a Mk2 with the Speed 6 headlight conversion, later rear lights so I think it is the perfect looking Chimaera IMHO.
rockits said:
The TVR's are completely different and a real event every time you drive it. Even looking at it is even enough for me!
Even with all the colossal expenditure on mine, I couldn't imagine changing it for anything other than another TVR- would love to try a Tuscan next. In a lairy reflex colour it is pretty much peak TVR for me, although I would miss that RV8 sound...
phazed said:
And the engines flexibility!
It is hard to beat a sensibly tuned Rover V8. Plenty of torque which is just so useful on today’s roads and enough power to satisfy.
That too- I've not actually driven a Speed-6 car yet so my plans might change when I finally do. There is an awful lot to like about the RV8 engine- not so much mine, as it's currently in bits about 30 miles away, but in general It is hard to beat a sensibly tuned Rover V8. Plenty of torque which is just so useful on today’s roads and enough power to satisfy.
Integroo said:
That is what is attracting me to TVRs. What else, outside a handful of American LHD cars, offers a v8 in a 2 seat convertible package for sub 10k?
This ^ late 60's Camaro's Nova's Barracuda's etc were not in budget so ...... the LHD never bothered me I once owned a Firebird and driven loads over the years in my trade Integroo said:
It is lovely - agree the colour is stunning. Let's see how tomorrow's inspection goes before I get carried away ...
I think so. There is a Paradise Purple I saw which is one colour purple and often has purple interior which I wasn't a fan of. Sorry if I am offending anyone on here btw!I love TVR's in what I would regard as proper TVR colours. The flip and reflex paints with some more extravagant colours really suit a TVR IMHO.
No worries either way. Obviously if the other one checks out it is a cheaper option that may suit you better.
To be fair none of us know what we are buying when our first Tvr comes along, I thought I knew enough about cars to buy something decent, over the years since and after leaning home mechanics on here I knew sweet bugger all about both.
Take an experienced owner friend or travelling specialist, not to knock spots off a car but evaluate it correctly if you haven’t already got the knowledge.
It seems like a minefield the way these pages read but truth is this is a very simple old car, some are more (done up than others) that’s about it.
Chassis is probably the most expensive item to address unless you are very hands on.
Everything else can be replaced rather more easily.
The trick is buying one with all those things sorted,,, pays ya money.
I value my Chim not on the sum of its total parts but more by what could I get to replace it like for like for similar money.
That’s where it stops because nothing adds up like a Tvr.
I firmly believe once you get a car that’s as sorted as any car being used can be, they then become the cheapest car you run.
Remove known age related rot/wear issues from the equation add a few modern bits or just re fresh ( if needs be ) a few important parts they then become very useable reliable cars.
My car has done 75,000 miles I’ve done nearly half its overall mileage myself, it was totally original with barely a jubilee clip loosened in its life,,,, good and bad comes to mind but it never broke down since day one I believe.
Speedo now plays up, Ive replaced stuff cos I liked the idea, never because it was broke other than a Dif and clutch and purely because I broke them.
Silver lining is new clutch and Dif are sublime and add hugely to my driving pleasure.
I’ve spent £££££ but still believe my car would fundamentally be working as before I started on it, it now just works better so pleases me even more.
Coupled with it looking sharpe, beautiful unique things to own and play with.
Take an experienced owner friend or travelling specialist, not to knock spots off a car but evaluate it correctly if you haven’t already got the knowledge.
It seems like a minefield the way these pages read but truth is this is a very simple old car, some are more (done up than others) that’s about it.
Chassis is probably the most expensive item to address unless you are very hands on.
Everything else can be replaced rather more easily.
The trick is buying one with all those things sorted,,, pays ya money.
I value my Chim not on the sum of its total parts but more by what could I get to replace it like for like for similar money.
That’s where it stops because nothing adds up like a Tvr.
I firmly believe once you get a car that’s as sorted as any car being used can be, they then become the cheapest car you run.
Remove known age related rot/wear issues from the equation add a few modern bits or just re fresh ( if needs be ) a few important parts they then become very useable reliable cars.
My car has done 75,000 miles I’ve done nearly half its overall mileage myself, it was totally original with barely a jubilee clip loosened in its life,,,, good and bad comes to mind but it never broke down since day one I believe.
Speedo now plays up, Ive replaced stuff cos I liked the idea, never because it was broke other than a Dif and clutch and purely because I broke them.
Silver lining is new clutch and Dif are sublime and add hugely to my driving pleasure.
I’ve spent £££££ but still believe my car would fundamentally be working as before I started on it, it now just works better so pleases me even more.
Coupled with it looking sharpe, beautiful unique things to own and play with.
Edited by Classic Chim on Wednesday 7th August 15:10
Edited by Classic Chim on Wednesday 7th August 15:10
Just had mine MOT'd as didn't want to wait a few week until the Bespoke service as it needing doing.
The guy said all was good with the car other than minor rear diff leak and recommending the tyres get replaced as are quite old.
I will get the tyres done now and will get Bespoke to look at the minor diff leak when they have it for service. The guy said it might be the seal my have dried/perished so hopefully just a simple fix on that one then all good for another year
I bought a set of Kahn 17" alloys from a guy who had sold his Griff and had them left. Not sure whether I should try these first or stick with the Imola's. Might pop them on see what they look like.
Rears fitted with 235/40/ZR17
Fronts fitted with 215/40/ZR17
The guy said all was good with the car other than minor rear diff leak and recommending the tyres get replaced as are quite old.
I will get the tyres done now and will get Bespoke to look at the minor diff leak when they have it for service. The guy said it might be the seal my have dried/perished so hopefully just a simple fix on that one then all good for another year
I bought a set of Kahn 17" alloys from a guy who had sold his Griff and had them left. Not sure whether I should try these first or stick with the Imola's. Might pop them on see what they look like.
Rears fitted with 235/40/ZR17
Fronts fitted with 215/40/ZR17
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