Financial mistake… (TVR content)
Discussion
After selling my old Skyline GTR (seen here: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&... ) I’ve had four and a bit years where the most interesting thing I’ve driven is a Audi A6 Allroad with a V6 TDI in it. Tragic.
I’ve been floating round in company cars for a while and finally got to the end of my tether and decided I needed something fun again.
Having had a load of mid 90s Japanese stuff before this was my first go too. I’ve not tracked prices for 5 years so I was quite upset when I saw what people are now asking for 25 year old rot boxes
After scouring online for other options I decided to tick the ‘V8’ box off my bucket list.
Presenting the daftest thing I’ve done in ages:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CdYlwLxI76H/?igshid=Nm...
Popped up locally at a dealer selling on behalf of an elderly owner that could no longer use it. Paid a decent wedge under asking and the dealer was less than 2 miles from my home.
Good bits
- factory white
- recent respray
- recent trims
- low mileage (37k)
- ‘later’ car with t5 and later bodywork
- outriggers fresh-ish but need a scrub and a waxoyl
Bad bits
- that respray isn’t the best and needs attention
- fuel gauge/sender needs attention
- pass seat belt doesn’t return.
Dealer is taking the car back at the weekend to fix the fuel gauge and seat belt and I’ll get the detailer booked to sort the ‘fish eyes’ in the paint.
All in all it’s cheap enough to not to be too worried and has enough little projects to keep me entertained. From 6ft away it looks perfect.
Off out to the pub now for tea. Update later on if I (or the car) don’t die.
I’ve been floating round in company cars for a while and finally got to the end of my tether and decided I needed something fun again.
Having had a load of mid 90s Japanese stuff before this was my first go too. I’ve not tracked prices for 5 years so I was quite upset when I saw what people are now asking for 25 year old rot boxes
After scouring online for other options I decided to tick the ‘V8’ box off my bucket list.
Presenting the daftest thing I’ve done in ages:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CdYlwLxI76H/?igshid=Nm...
Popped up locally at a dealer selling on behalf of an elderly owner that could no longer use it. Paid a decent wedge under asking and the dealer was less than 2 miles from my home.
Good bits
- factory white
- recent respray
- recent trims
- low mileage (37k)
- ‘later’ car with t5 and later bodywork
- outriggers fresh-ish but need a scrub and a waxoyl
Bad bits
- that respray isn’t the best and needs attention
- fuel gauge/sender needs attention
- pass seat belt doesn’t return.
Dealer is taking the car back at the weekend to fix the fuel gauge and seat belt and I’ll get the detailer booked to sort the ‘fish eyes’ in the paint.
All in all it’s cheap enough to not to be too worried and has enough little projects to keep me entertained. From 6ft away it looks perfect.
Off out to the pub now for tea. Update later on if I (or the car) don’t die.
drgoatboy said:
Don't recall ever seeing one in white before. I think I like it!
Suppose to be super rare, but I don’t know if that’s just dealer patter. I wasn’t sold on it from the photos but in the metal (or should it be GRP?) it looked a lot more modern than the green one he had in.
Quite possibly the most predictable thing in the world has happened.
Faultless drive out, now the passenger door won’t close. Fiddled with the latch, door looks in the right place so it’s not dropped out anything, but when you close the door it feels like the catch is hitting something solid before it closes all the way up.
This TVR owning thing is going to be fun isn’t it?
Faultless drive out, now the passenger door won’t close. Fiddled with the latch, door looks in the right place so it’s not dropped out anything, but when you close the door it feels like the catch is hitting something solid before it closes all the way up.
This TVR owning thing is going to be fun isn’t it?
If it's any help Karl on my old Chim I used to have to peel the carpet back just behind the door/beside the seat back and manually move the locking solenoid arm on occasion, no rhyme or reason to it just TVRness. They are great fun but fundamentally quite crap, crucially they do make a lovely noise and go fairly well
KarlMac said:
Presenting the daftest thing I’ve done in ages:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CdYlwLxI76H/?igshid=Nm...
I’ve got some bad news for you Karl. The purchase is only the start of the financial ruin. Just wait until you come to restore one !https://www.instagram.com/p/CdYlwLxI76H/?igshid=Nm...
I don’t believe I’ve ever seen a Chim or a Griff in white. I’ve seen a couple in Pearl, but never white. I’ll keep an eye out for you around Sheffield. If you have the roof up in anything other than a torrential downpour, you’ll be letting the side down.
For servicing I can wholeheartedly recommend RT Racing, (or Central / RT as I think it’s now called). Even though Richard Thorpe sadly passed away a couple of years ago, Boggy, Darren and a couple of other guys are still working there. They’re based not too far from Killamarsh / Drakehouse.
Enjoy the ups and downs of ownership and the sheer drama every time you fire up the beast
105.4 said:
For servicing I can wholeheartedly recommend RT Racing, (or Central / RT as I think it’s now called). Even though Richard Thorpe sadly passed away a couple of years ago, Boggy, Darren and a couple of other guys are still working there. They’re based not too far from Killamarsh / Drakehouse.
Perfect, I’m up in North Anston so that couldn’t be any closer really. The car has a load of receipts for work done at SD Auto so having somewhere closer is great. There’s a blue chim somewhere around Dinnington so if your on here hello new TVR friend!
KarlMac said:
This TVR owning thing is going to be fun isn’t it?
Great stuff, like others I don’t think I’ve ever seen a white Chimaera. I think Amore had a white Wedge a while ago. Having had a few TVRs along with a few other types, they are great for giving you little tasks to keep you busy. And grind your teeth.
However I’m not sure financial ruin is one of likely outcomes. Compared with other comparative stuff, fun factor etc, the cost of bits is refreshingly cheap. I don’t lie awake at night worrying about the cost of a hood mechanism when it wouldn’t close fully as I did with the Maser etc. Currently waiting for a full set of HT leads to cure a slight misfire and replace the plug extenders, £66 and made bespoke for my Griff. I can live with that.
Have fun with it. I think the Chimaeras are exceptional value compared with most classic stuff now for a car that can still be used pretty much daily.
KarlMac said:
Perfect, I’m up in North Anston so that couldn’t be any closer really. The car has a load of receipts for work done at SD Auto so having somewhere closer is great.
There’s a blue chim somewhere around Dinnington so if your on here hello new TVR friend!
As RicP mentioned above, the cost of parts can be very economical.There’s a blue chim somewhere around Dinnington so if your on here hello new TVR friend!
If you search on eBay there should (still?) be a guy who sells a parts catalogue that details where all the various bits from the Griffs / Chims comes from, (the slave cylinder is off of a Hillman for example).
When I bought my copy 10+ years ago it only cost me about £15, but it was an invaluable resource.
Looks great in white and l love the headlamp overs. I also wouldn't be worried about running costs. 18 years in one so far and it has appreciated by rather more than l have spent on it. Only one proper breakdown ever. Other unscheduled halts were all battery related.
But you want to minimise the number of times you have to go near the design disaster that is the battery box. Get a good new battery and keep it on a trickle charger. I also fitted an Alexander connector under the bonnet. Hot start kit is good too.
But you want to minimise the number of times you have to go near the design disaster that is the battery box. Get a good new battery and keep it on a trickle charger. I also fitted an Alexander connector under the bonnet. Hot start kit is good too.
lockhart flawse said:
But you want to minimise the number of times you have to go near the design disaster that is the battery box. Get a good new battery and keep it on a trickle charger. I also fitted an Alexander connector under the bonnet. Hot start kit is good too.
The man speak the absolute truth!!Trickle charger will save the physio / orthopaedic specialist’s bill in the long run. Must have been Mr Wheeler’s idea of a sick joke.
First commute to work ticked off. Absolutely faultless except I’ve arrived at work with a mild dose of tinnitus and smelling of petrol. However a quick spot of research tells me this is perfectly normal.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cdc04WzOqTW/?igshid=Nm...
It’s actually much easier to drive than my old Skyline, that was a reyt old bus with the maddest power band. This is much more progressive and the clutch is arguably easier in traffic.
Gearbox is properly manly though. Grrrr.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cdc04WzOqTW/?igshid=Nm...
It’s actually much easier to drive than my old Skyline, that was a reyt old bus with the maddest power band. This is much more progressive and the clutch is arguably easier in traffic.
Gearbox is properly manly though. Grrrr.
Edited by KarlMac on Thursday 12th May 09:10
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