Hello again chaps, it's been a while.
Discussion
Where did those years go? I was a frequent Chim page user a few years back, owning both a 430 and 400, I must have sold the last one probably 6-7 years ago now.
The forum was a godsend with the advice I got and contacts and friends I made and I'm hoping a lot of the old names are still in touch and posting. From replacing dashboards to engine detailing, to fixing speedo's to being steered in to what bits to buy for useful mods.....I was helped with the lot, and hopefully gave some advice back when I got to know the cars.
Anyway I thought that was that and returned to the Lotus and Caterham fold once more.....still owning a Lotus as it happens,never really thought about another TVR, until Thursday.
So I was tipped off a local chap to me was parting with his Chimaera 400, like most of you probably I'm part of the local "odd ball" and classic car scene so your name tends to come up when something like this is touted......and usually luckily before it goes live on an advert. As was the case here.
I was told it was a "Nice" car by a mate who'd MOT'd it last week and was told the seller was no mug, he just needed out of it now after long ownership to create space for a new incoming toy.
He named a price and made the car available to me to get it back up on the ramps at the test station, I was expecting an underneath covered in stone chip and underseal.....like the ones I used to view.
Chassis I learned back in the day was the be all and end all for these and I agree, simple cars on the whole that can be repaired cheaply at home as I found, but a chassis job is a step to far for me on my own in the garage.
So the car went up in the air and I opened my eyes, peering through my fingers
I was praying it'd be fine as I'd decided to have a dabble if I could get a deal........once I heard it fire in to life it took me back in time and I decided to revisit the marque if poss.
Relieved to see no underseal, just the nice factory paint the still there and unharmed for the length of the chassis. Outriggers also looked to be well solid from what you can see. Nitrons had been fitted and I was shocked to see two front upper wishbones had been recently fitted too.....as they were snagged as a precautionary on the last MOT for rusting, they looked as solid as heck and I'd have never changed them.
So that's it I made an offer, man made a counter offer, I said yes and paid for it. It's in the garage now tucked up and I'm pleased to report no horrible finds, it is what the man said it was and its 45k mileage is fully backed up.
As per usual as we all do I've found a few smaller jobs I'd now like to do, one being giving the engine bay a good spruce and to get rid of the layer of honest oil mist that that is on it. I had everything powder and spruced on that one and fitted a lot of ACT goodies. I'm wondering whether to do the same here or just give it a good steam clean as it's so honest and unmolested.......will it take a steam clean?
I'll post up over the weekend the couple of small issues I want to address and I'm confident I'll get the advice I need. Only small things but I think the car deserves it.
Anyway waffle over and it's really great to be back......quite comforting in fact in these crap and surreal times. Thanks guys
Kenny
[url]
|https://thumbsnap.com/r6mQCf1Z[/url][url]
|https://thumbsnap.com/Sw22LqVw[/url][url]
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The forum was a godsend with the advice I got and contacts and friends I made and I'm hoping a lot of the old names are still in touch and posting. From replacing dashboards to engine detailing, to fixing speedo's to being steered in to what bits to buy for useful mods.....I was helped with the lot, and hopefully gave some advice back when I got to know the cars.
Anyway I thought that was that and returned to the Lotus and Caterham fold once more.....still owning a Lotus as it happens,never really thought about another TVR, until Thursday.
So I was tipped off a local chap to me was parting with his Chimaera 400, like most of you probably I'm part of the local "odd ball" and classic car scene so your name tends to come up when something like this is touted......and usually luckily before it goes live on an advert. As was the case here.
I was told it was a "Nice" car by a mate who'd MOT'd it last week and was told the seller was no mug, he just needed out of it now after long ownership to create space for a new incoming toy.
He named a price and made the car available to me to get it back up on the ramps at the test station, I was expecting an underneath covered in stone chip and underseal.....like the ones I used to view.
Chassis I learned back in the day was the be all and end all for these and I agree, simple cars on the whole that can be repaired cheaply at home as I found, but a chassis job is a step to far for me on my own in the garage.
So the car went up in the air and I opened my eyes, peering through my fingers
I was praying it'd be fine as I'd decided to have a dabble if I could get a deal........once I heard it fire in to life it took me back in time and I decided to revisit the marque if poss.
Relieved to see no underseal, just the nice factory paint the still there and unharmed for the length of the chassis. Outriggers also looked to be well solid from what you can see. Nitrons had been fitted and I was shocked to see two front upper wishbones had been recently fitted too.....as they were snagged as a precautionary on the last MOT for rusting, they looked as solid as heck and I'd have never changed them.
So that's it I made an offer, man made a counter offer, I said yes and paid for it. It's in the garage now tucked up and I'm pleased to report no horrible finds, it is what the man said it was and its 45k mileage is fully backed up.
As per usual as we all do I've found a few smaller jobs I'd now like to do, one being giving the engine bay a good spruce and to get rid of the layer of honest oil mist that that is on it. I had everything powder and spruced on that one and fitted a lot of ACT goodies. I'm wondering whether to do the same here or just give it a good steam clean as it's so honest and unmolested.......will it take a steam clean?
I'll post up over the weekend the couple of small issues I want to address and I'm confident I'll get the advice I need. Only small things but I think the car deserves it.
Anyway waffle over and it's really great to be back......quite comforting in fact in these crap and surreal times. Thanks guys
Kenny
[url]|https://thumbsnap.com/r6mQCf1Z[/url][url]|https://thumbsnap.com/Sw22LqVw[/url][url]|https://thumbsnap.com/vf6Ym2Ch[/url]Relayer said:
I'm relatively new here......however welcome back. Your car is almost identical to mine inside and out (Paris Blue) with the one exception that mine has all the Leven stuff fitted.
Nice one and thanks for that. So many different shades of blue on these cars isn't there. My last 2 were the darker Starmist blue. I pick up all the paperwork and service records for the car today but going off its body code plate this car is Eclipse blue.......I'll check out Paris blue now.And yes the Leven bits are superb, I fitted them last time around, quality stuff.
I had my first Griffith in 1994 then Tuscans in 2000 and 2001 then built myself a Duratec R400 in 2007 so think I remember you from Blatchat Kenny. Ran that for 7 years thinking I’d got TVR out of my system but then went onto another Griffith then another Tuscan and now have a pre-cat Griffith and am Exige 380. Don’t think I’ll ever get TVR out of my system lol
MikeE said:
I had my first Griffith in 1994 then Tuscans in 2000 and 2001 then built myself a Duratec R400 in 2007 so think I remember you from Blatchat Kenny. Ran that for 7 years thinking I’d got TVR out of my system but then went onto another Griffith then another Tuscan and now have a pre-cat Griffith and am Exige 380. Don’t think I’ll ever get TVR out of my system lol
Hiya Mike and thanks for that, I'm certain I remember you too. Probably the best times I've had back in those days of Blatchat, great old days. Yes, what are we like? just cannot get it out of the system not to have a Caterham, Lotus or TVR in the garage, about the only Brit sports car I didn't get on with was the Morgan I got from Oakmere a couple of years back. I sold it back to them 6 months later with 800 miles on the clock, as they say "you either get them or you don't", sadly I didn't.
Great garage you have too with the 380 and the Griff, fantastic
MikeE said:
I had my first Griffith in 1994 then Tuscans in 2000 and 2001 then built myself a Duratec R400 in 2007 so think I remember you from Blatchat Kenny. Ran that for 7 years thinking I’d got TVR out of my system but then went onto another Griffith then another Tuscan and now have a pre-cat Griffith and am Exige 380. Don’t think I’ll ever get TVR out of my system lol
Hi Mike,Can you tell me a little about the Exige? I have a Chimaera 450 and keep looking at the Exige too... Are they as exciting as the Chimaera? I'd expect the handling to be in another league but do they also deliver the big shove in the back when you open the taps? I'd initially planned on building a fast Caterham but my wife fell pregnant at the time and wanted to have the summer whizzing around with me and 6 point harnesses were a no go.
I love my 450 but I already want...more.
I'd appreciate your thoughts seeing as you've owned and do own all cars on my immediate pre-40 bucket list!
Mark
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