Early Chimaera Door Release Mechanisms
Early Chimaera Door Release Mechanisms
Author
Discussion

AlexHillTVR

Original Poster:

264 posts

162 months

Sunday 1st December 2013
quotequote all
Such a rubbish title.

Hello everybody, it has become apparent in my first 7 months of TVR motoring that my very early Chim has something I have never seen in interior pictures.

Now we all are familiar with the door release knob; twist left to open the left door, twist right to open the right door. Most people I think assume this was placed in 2 positions throughout the Chimaera's history. One further forward and one further back. But what is so intriguing about my car is that there is no door twisty knob!

In fact, tucked into the cushy bit (in front of the gear knob and handbrake, but directly back from and underneath the radio) are 2 paddles. One for the left and one for the right. Simply pull upwards and the doors pop open.

Has anybody had any experience with these cars and do I have something one of a kind, or is it an early Griff thing stuck on with wood glue to the earliest of Chimaeras.

Many thanks,

Alex

Discopotatoes

4,101 posts

251 months

Sunday 1st December 2013
quotequote all
Pictures?

900T-R

20,406 posts

287 months

Sunday 1st December 2013
quotequote all
I've only seen this on a pic of a pre-production car (which also had the Gottis a la early Griff) scratchchin

Trevor450

1,936 posts

178 months

Sunday 1st December 2013
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One of our Tees Valley guys had an very early Chimaera with these. I think they were only used on the prototypes/pre production cars.

Bassfiend229hp

5,530 posts

280 months

Sunday 1st December 2013
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  • chuckle* ... are you sure that you weren't sold a Griff instead? If so then you were done! hehe

AlexHillTVR

Original Poster:

264 posts

162 months

Sunday 1st December 2013
quotequote all
I'm pretty sure it's not a Griffith with a Chimaera body haha! It's all very genuine and has a full history across the years. I can take some pictures.

But in the meantime if you scroll down exactly halfway on the link, there's a very grainy picture of what looks a lot like my car and it's (original) interior. That's the configuration I have >>> http://www.philseed.com/taxonomy/term/2

It was first purchased at the beginning of March 1993 from Henley, but I have no idea when it was made!

s p a c e m a n

12,105 posts

178 months

Sunday 1st December 2013
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Ooooh, that looks weird.


AlexHillTVR

Original Poster:

264 posts

162 months

Sunday 1st December 2013
quotequote all
I'm starting to really hope it was the one used at the 1992 Birmingham motor show, which was coincidentally green and had bright white headlamp lens'. scratchchin

900T-R

20,406 posts

287 months

Sunday 1st December 2013
quotequote all
Does your car have the regular bonnet vents that look like someone took a samurai sword to it? The Birmingham show car had rectangular vent holes either side more like the Cerbera's...

AlexHillTVR

Original Poster:

264 posts

162 months

Sunday 1st December 2013
quotequote all
I'm not really sure what's classed as normal to be honest! They look pretty standard but it is 20+ years old and might have had a new bonnet in that time. Any more information on the motorshow car?

It looks like it didn't have the TVR logo on the bonnet in the pictures.

Philup

49 posts

174 months

Monday 2nd December 2013
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The pics in the -undated- brochure I scanned are pretty small, but on closer inspection the car looks very much like the prototype described: no badge on the bonnet, rectangular slots instead of the "samurai" vents and the front face of the door looks unfinished...

Andy_mr2sc

1,236 posts

206 months

Monday 2nd December 2013
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My first Chimaera had the same door openers. It was an early '93 400 and according to the chassis number was number 19 off the production line.