What do we think of Tuscan headlight conversions?

[FlyingPanda]

I'm off shopping tomorrow, and one of the Chimaeras I'm looking at has this done to the front end, albeit very professionally. (PS: this is not the actual car, BTW)



Does it make for a nice modern take on the Chimaera, or does it look altogether wrong and will cause people to stop in the street, point and laugh?

Answers on a postcard please...

[DonkeyApple]

I think it looks perfectly innocuous and if you want a more modern looking Chim then a quality conversion seems to achieve that well.

Plus, if in time the mod transpires to significantly damage the value then it's not exactly a chore to revert to original.

And if anyone ever points and laughs at you in the street it'll just be because it's not a Griff.

[Danattheopticians]

Although it looks good, I personally prefer the original look. Often this would be done after the car was being rebuilt after an accident, often this could be on cars which are registered as Cat C/D on HPI, not always a problem if this is the case but check the history and make sure if it is a Cat C/D car that it's reflected in the price.

[N7GTX]

Quite like it.

Many Cerbs also done in a similar way:




I think I prefer the Mk3 conversion though:

[davetripletvr]

You will have those that love it and those that hate it, its all down to personal prference. I have the MK3 lights and some say they prefer the earlier headlights. I had mine converted because i prefer the MK3 Lights.
Your car your choice and your money, but do your homework on the car concerning cat C/D damage as was mentioned earlier.

Good luck

[FlyingPanda]

It's funny, but on that Cerb the lights just look 'right'. On the Chim, I can't quite decide.

The car I'm considering apparently doesn't have any dodgy history and it is a well-respected dealer as well. (The car in the pic does however have a Cat C history, and so that proves the point that it is always worth checking - thank you!)

[N7GTX]

FlyingPanda said:

It's funny, but on that Cerb the lights just look 'right'. On the Chim, I can't quite decide.

Maybe the orange indicators on the Chim look out of place perhaps?

[Dominic TVRetto]

^^^ totally agree with this FlyingPanda, but for the life of me I can't work out why - slight differences in the lines or length, but what..?!

[thrashermax]

I'm guessing it's this car...



I prefer original but the blue one can be easily switched back... if it is this car, it will be a good one as the dealer is brilliant, I've just bought the red one!

[FlyingPanda]

Aha! yes, Thrashermax, you are quite correct! I have an appointment with the legendary Woody tomorrow (I had been going to look at the Red one too, until he told me that it had been sold whilst I was dithering!)

[DonkeyApple]

Dominic TVRetto said:

^^^ totally agree with this FlyingPanda, but for the life of me I can't work out why - slight differences in the lines or length, but what..?!

I think it's because the Chim has an overall slightly 'classic' feel to it whereas the Cerb is more modern?

I think the Mk3 lights look nice because they hark back to the Tuscan Racers.

[mk1fan]

I like the 70mm light conversions in the pods behind a fairing for the Chimp and Grief. Flush mounting them seems disproportionate.

All IMHO.

[FlyingPanda]

DonkeyApple said:

I think it's because the Chim has an overall slightly 'classic' feel to it whereas the Cerb is more modern?

I think the Mk3 lights look nice because they hark back to the Tuscan Racers.

I think you might have something there. If you cover up the roof in the Chim pic (with your hand I mean, don't be setting off to Hampshire...) it looks OK. I think the hood arrangement makes it look more 'old skool' and with the sleek low roof of the Cerb the modern lights seem to fit better.

I might just ask the dealer for a quote to switch to Mk 3 lights whilst I'm there. Seems a shame but, if everything else is OK...

[portzi]

FlyingPanda said:

DonkeyApple said:

I think it's because the Chim has an overall slightly 'classic' feel to it whereas the Cerb is more modern?

I think the Mk3 lights look nice because they hark back to the Tuscan Racers.

I think you might have something there. If you cover up the roof in the Chim pic (with your hand I mean, don't be setting off to Hampshire...) it looks OK. I think the hood arrangement makes it look more 'old skool' and with the sleek low roof of the Cerb the modern lights seem to fit better.

I might just ask the dealer for a quote to switch to Mk 3 lights whilst I'm there. Seems a shame but, if everything else is OK...

There is nothing wrong with any of the popular conversions on the chimaera, Macs car is a prime example, his Tuscan conversion looks excellent. It's all about the quality of the craftsmanship right through the job from the cutting and filling to the sanding down and prep work, before a top quality paint job is applied.

If you buy that blue one in the picture make sure it's then head lights you want, as your talking around £1500 to change it back.

[thrashermax]

FlyingPanda said:

Aha! yes, Thrashermax, you are quite correct! I have an appointment with the legendary Woody tomorrow (I had been going to look at the Red one too, until he told me that it had been sold whilst I was dithering!)

I was quick off the mark, Woody has such a good reputation and all the major work was done. I preferred the standard one, I didn't see the blue one in the flesh but looking at the work that's been carried out it looks like a well sorted car.

[CHIMV8 500]

Keep original for me

[macdeb]

[quote=N7GTX]Quite like it.

Many Cerbs also done in a similar way:




^^^ This. For me it isn't a Tuscan conversion but a Cerbera LW conversion and the 'frenching' matches that of the lower 'dog bite' cut outs. I have it on mine and this is the look I wanted and before anyone says then why not buy a Cerbera, I wanted a convertible and I wanted something quicker
I would love a Cerbera also as I think they are awesome cars but can't afford that luxury. As 'portzi' pointed out [oh, and thanks bloke] there are some variations on this conversion and the one in question from the photos looks like a 'speed six' conversion [the name of it] there are at least two others available one with an extra light for indicators and one with no side light accommodation. Then there is who fitted it and why. Me, It was the first thing I had done by 'Option One' [top class work] as I wanted that Cerbera lok as said and dare I say it, take away the MGB look and bring it up to date. I had it done when the car had only 4.5k miles done and 'cus I wanted it. [not accident damage].
Some look just right like the car shown and err',,,, ahem, mine. Others do not. Your choice, I think a good one, you wont find anyone laughing and for those who go on about trying to look like a Tuscan? Well they don't know much worth knowing.
Good luck with the purchase which ever way you choose a they can be great cars.

Edited by macdeb on Wednesday 12th October 18:18

[ChilliWhizz]

Tuscan light conversion on a Chim looks crap... Except for Mac's.... Obviously.... Mac has the best looking Chim on the planet. Apart from Mac's they look cheap, false. and generally cheap... But Mac's is awesome... I would never buy a Chim with this awful mod... unless it was Mac's... The best looking Chims have faired in headlights... no question... unless it's Macs car, which looks awesome... OK not totally awesome but it's not far off..

So, in summary... Never buy a Chim with that awful Tuscan headlight conversion... unless it's Mac's... which probably aint gonna happen... And anyway, my Chim with the faired in headlights looks way better than Mac's....

[macdeb]

you're so right bloke

[macdeb]

IT IS NOT A TUSCAN CONVERSION
and ,,, breath.