Can finally start search for my Chimaera!
Discussion
Well finally sold my car so can now start my search for a Chimaera in earnest!
Had a unfinished project lined up but day after selling my car it was bought by Mole Valley TVR, was really looking forward to restoring it too as new condition as well.
Think 450 model prefered but 400 gives more options due to shear numbers made, know there were only 600 500's made out of 6000 cars but how many 450's were made?
Can outriggers be properly inspected using a dentist type mirror as know its the upper part that holds water/muck and rots away.
Prefer the later facelift model dash, know not a major difference but think the warning lights look much neater and "factory" rather than the LED early ones, could a later dash be fitted to and early car? (like the proper wooden dash, not a fan of alloy, carbon ok but the dark walnut and light leather interiors to me are a major appeal of the car)Along with the soundtrack of course!
Had a unfinished project lined up but day after selling my car it was bought by Mole Valley TVR, was really looking forward to restoring it too as new condition as well.
Think 450 model prefered but 400 gives more options due to shear numbers made, know there were only 600 500's made out of 6000 cars but how many 450's were made?
Can outriggers be properly inspected using a dentist type mirror as know its the upper part that holds water/muck and rots away.
Prefer the later facelift model dash, know not a major difference but think the warning lights look much neater and "factory" rather than the LED early ones, could a later dash be fitted to and early car? (like the proper wooden dash, not a fan of alloy, carbon ok but the dark walnut and light leather interiors to me are a major appeal of the car)Along with the soundtrack of course!
The 450 versions are not much more common than the 500. According to howmanyleft, the DVLA's database:
http://www.howmanyleft.co.uk/vehicle/tvr_chimaera#...
There are about 460 500s left, and if you allow for the occasional incorrect engine capacity being recorded (i.e.4400cc ish), there are about 800 odd 450s. Over 2000 4.0s by the way.
http://www.howmanyleft.co.uk/vehicle/tvr_chimaera#...
There are about 460 500s left, and if you allow for the occasional incorrect engine capacity being recorded (i.e.4400cc ish), there are about 800 odd 450s. Over 2000 4.0s by the way.
In my opinion you can do a decent job of inspecting the chassis, there are other parts to look for along with the outriggers.
Warn the seller you want to jack it up and have a good poke around, if they say no they may be hiding something. You cant see the top of the outriggers directly but you might see more with a dentist type mirror or even better an endescope.
I bought my 98 450 this summer and the seller was happy for me to jack it up and inspect it with a screwdriver, pay attention to where the tubes between the outer tubes and the main backbone join up, you can get a long screwdriver in there and get a good idea it the tubes are solid, tap the tubes to make sure they sound solid, look out for excessively flaky coating that hasn't been treated with paint and waxoil, mine had the odd patch which I cleaned up gave a good coat of paint and then waxoiled too.
Pay attention to the outriggers and the tube and plates joining them to the main backbone, the areas in the engine bay near the headers and y piece (they get well cooked) and even check around the diff mounts, my mate had one which was starting to go in that area.
Good luck with your search.
Warn the seller you want to jack it up and have a good poke around, if they say no they may be hiding something. You cant see the top of the outriggers directly but you might see more with a dentist type mirror or even better an endescope.
I bought my 98 450 this summer and the seller was happy for me to jack it up and inspect it with a screwdriver, pay attention to where the tubes between the outer tubes and the main backbone join up, you can get a long screwdriver in there and get a good idea it the tubes are solid, tap the tubes to make sure they sound solid, look out for excessively flaky coating that hasn't been treated with paint and waxoil, mine had the odd patch which I cleaned up gave a good coat of paint and then waxoiled too.
Pay attention to the outriggers and the tube and plates joining them to the main backbone, the areas in the engine bay near the headers and y piece (they get well cooked) and even check around the diff mounts, my mate had one which was starting to go in that area.
Good luck with your search.
[quote=Leckypete]Well finally sold my car so can now start my search for a Chimaera in earnest!
know there were only 600 500's made out of 6000 cars but how many 450's were made?
I believe the 6000 total production was made up from 600 500's, 1800 450's & 3600 400's although these are, in true TVR style, estimates !
know there were only 600 500's made out of 6000 cars but how many 450's were made?
I believe the 6000 total production was made up from 600 500's, 1800 450's & 3600 400's although these are, in true TVR style, estimates !
ianwayne said:
The 450 versions are not much more common than the 500. According to howmanyleft, the DVLA's database:
http://www.howmanyleft.co.uk/vehicle/tvr_chimaera#...
There are about 460 500s left, and if you allow for the occasional incorrect engine capacity being recorded (i.e.4400cc ish), there are about 800 odd 450s. Over 2000 4.0s by the way.
Just 84 430's, and 40 of those are sorn'd http://www.howmanyleft.co.uk/vehicle/tvr_chimaera#...
There are about 460 500s left, and if you allow for the occasional incorrect engine capacity being recorded (i.e.4400cc ish), there are about 800 odd 450s. Over 2000 4.0s by the way.
nigelj77 said:
In my opinion you can do a decent job of inspecting the chassis, there are other parts to look for along with the outriggers.
Warn the seller you want to jack it up and have a good poke around, if they say no they may be hiding something. You cant see the top of the outriggers directly but you might see more with a dentist type mirror or even better an endescope.
I bought my 98 450 this summer and the seller was happy for me to jack it up and inspect it with a screwdriver, pay attention to where the tubes between the outer tubes and the main backbone join up, you can get a long screwdriver in there and get a good idea it the tubes are solid, tap the tubes to make sure they sound solid, look out for excessively flaky coating that hasn't been treated with paint and waxoil, mine had the odd patch which I cleaned up gave a good coat of paint and then waxoiled too.
Pay attention to the outriggers and the tube and plates joining them to the main backbone, the areas in the engine bay near the headers and y piece (they get well cooked) and even check around the diff mounts, my mate had one which was starting to go in that area.
Good luck with your search.
Thats the attitude i took 8 years ago and have no regrets with my original non corroded or holed out-riggers Warn the seller you want to jack it up and have a good poke around, if they say no they may be hiding something. You cant see the top of the outriggers directly but you might see more with a dentist type mirror or even better an endescope.
I bought my 98 450 this summer and the seller was happy for me to jack it up and inspect it with a screwdriver, pay attention to where the tubes between the outer tubes and the main backbone join up, you can get a long screwdriver in there and get a good idea it the tubes are solid, tap the tubes to make sure they sound solid, look out for excessively flaky coating that hasn't been treated with paint and waxoil, mine had the odd patch which I cleaned up gave a good coat of paint and then waxoiled too.
Pay attention to the outriggers and the tube and plates joining them to the main backbone, the areas in the engine bay near the headers and y piece (they get well cooked) and even check around the diff mounts, my mate had one which was starting to go in that area.
Good luck with your search.
and strangely the highest mileage car 
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