Another new Chimaera owner
Discussion
Hi All
Having sold my wedge last summer, via Pistonheads, after 2 ½ years or ownership. I have at last, after 3 months of looking, bought a Chimaera. Picked it up last night and drove it back the 70 odd miles from Reading to Bedford. Mostly motorway and apart from being well and truly gritted twice, the car ran beautifully. Bought from an advert here on Pistonheads, from a very decent chap called Steve.
Took it very gently as considerably more grunt than the old wedge, however, did open the taps a little on a nice dry straight bit or road near home wow! Very nice. I have a little tidying up to do on it which includes changing the ally dash back to a veneered one (I like wood) make it weatherproof and a full re-carpet. Emailed Coverdale last week and within three days I had carpet samples in the post, well impressed.
I have not done a search yet but has anyone used Renovo to change the colour of the hood? Mine is a rather faded dark blue and I would prefer black.
Well here’s too many happy hours of driving, tinkering and contributing (I hope) to discussions on this forum.
Terence
Having sold my wedge last summer, via Pistonheads, after 2 ½ years or ownership. I have at last, after 3 months of looking, bought a Chimaera. Picked it up last night and drove it back the 70 odd miles from Reading to Bedford. Mostly motorway and apart from being well and truly gritted twice, the car ran beautifully. Bought from an advert here on Pistonheads, from a very decent chap called Steve.
Took it very gently as considerably more grunt than the old wedge, however, did open the taps a little on a nice dry straight bit or road near home wow! Very nice. I have a little tidying up to do on it which includes changing the ally dash back to a veneered one (I like wood) make it weatherproof and a full re-carpet. Emailed Coverdale last week and within three days I had carpet samples in the post, well impressed.
I have not done a search yet but has anyone used Renovo to change the colour of the hood? Mine is a rather faded dark blue and I would prefer black.
Well here’s too many happy hours of driving, tinkering and contributing (I hope) to discussions on this forum.
Terence
Engine size is 4.0l I thought this would be plenty to start with. I am just south of Bedford in Ampthill but will certianly be out and about.
Interesting on the Renovo front. I will have a closer look at the hood in daylight as I covered the car up last night. The alarm is a tad sensitive though the GF wanted to see what colour the paintwork is when she left this morning I only lifted the corner of the cover and the alarm triped.
The diff was recently replaced with a second hand unit by a Indi TVR specialist (looking through receipts) but it seems to make quite a hissing (not really the typical whine) noise at speed so will check oil level before doing any distance.
Interesting on the Renovo front. I will have a closer look at the hood in daylight as I covered the car up last night. The alarm is a tad sensitive though the GF wanted to see what colour the paintwork is when she left this morning I only lifted the corner of the cover and the alarm triped.
The diff was recently replaced with a second hand unit by a Indi TVR specialist (looking through receipts) but it seems to make quite a hissing (not really the typical whine) noise at speed so will check oil level before doing any distance.
Welcome. I moved from a wedge to a Chimaera 400 two years ago. Still very pleased!
I'm thinking of changing my pealing veneer dash for nice ally one. The Chimaera dash is prone to problems as it's veneer on steel rather than the ply of the wedges. There have been report of refurbished dashes not lasting long at all. I'm not sure if anyone does a proper wooden one.
I used some Renovo water proofing stuff in an attempt to hide some minor scuff marks. Once dry it looked no different. A change of hood fabric will cost you about £800 at a stealer or 2/6 if you do it youself.
I'm thinking of changing my pealing veneer dash for nice ally one. The Chimaera dash is prone to problems as it's veneer on steel rather than the ply of the wedges. There have been report of refurbished dashes not lasting long at all. I'm not sure if anyone does a proper wooden one.
I used some Renovo water proofing stuff in an attempt to hide some minor scuff marks. Once dry it looked no different. A change of hood fabric will cost you about £800 at a stealer or 2/6 if you do it youself.
Terrance and Wicker Man - You could swap dashes. One of you has an ally dash and one has a veneer dash (albeit with some cracks in it). Would be cheaper to get a old veneer dash re-veneered than buying a whole new dash.
London Carriage Craft are supposed to do a good job and I believe give a good price to TVRCC members (about 25% discount according to the TVRCC site). www.london-carriage-craft.com/
London Carriage Craft are supposed to do a good job and I believe give a good price to TVRCC members (about 25% discount according to the TVRCC site). www.london-carriage-craft.com/
congratulations! sounds like you got yourself a good'un there!
i know Ampthill very well theres some truly great driving roads out around that way, particularly around Woburn, so i may just see you out and about next time i'm out that way.
good luck with the Chim!
FMC
>> Edited by forthright mc on Friday 3rd March 11:51
i know Ampthill very well theres some truly great driving roads out around that way, particularly around Woburn, so i may just see you out and about next time i'm out that way.
good luck with the Chim!
FMC
>> Edited by forthright mc on Friday 3rd March 11:51
Nice one Terence, 
Geo28 said:
Nice purchase, I just recently bought a 4.0l Starmist blue one.
Live in MK and can vouch for the roads around woburn and ampthill.
Had some great fun there already
I'm often in MK on my weekend hoons (used to live there - Shenley Church End) so I'll keep my eyes open for you.
Presumably you'll be going to the Austec TVR day at Santa Pod? (see thread in Gen TVR)
Thanks for the welcome and congrats guys. Zipee Indeed I am hoping to get to the Santa pod do am down in Devon the week before but will hopfully be back in time.
It sounds as though there are a few of us in the Bedford/MK area. I regularly go up to Stratford On Avon and its a lovely run along the A421 and A422. And of course the A421 around MK all duel with 13 roundabouts used to be an absolute hoot in the wedge.
It sounds as though there are a few of us in the Bedford/MK area. I regularly go up to Stratford On Avon and its a lovely run along the A421 and A422. And of course the A421 around MK all duel with 13 roundabouts used to be an absolute hoot in the wedge.
aaandy said:
Terrance and Wicker Man - You could swap dashes. One of you has an ally dash and one has a veneer dash (albeit with some cracks in it). Would be cheaper to get a old veneer dash re-veneered than buying a whole new dash.
London Carriage Craft are supposed to do a good job and I believe give a good price to TVRCC members (about 25% discount according to the TVRCC site). www.london-carriage-craft.com/
Currently renovating my veneered dash and radio panel after reading the 'how to reveneer dash' article on the tvr wedge pages website. Managed to buy a piece of walnut burr veneer big enough to do the job without joins for £30. Read somewhere that London Carriage Craft charge something like £300.
There was a thread somewhere on here recently that had a link to a company in Aylsbury, I think, that sells veneer in various sizes. I guess I could use my ally dash as a base.
Need to give the interior a good clean first and than see just how water tight it is.
Plus drivers side window seems to be out (away from roof pannel) at the top. I am hoping that I can adjust the runners to push the top inwards as the door looks to be pretty well in line.
No shortage of jobs ot do but then I spotted all of these before making an offer so no nasty surprises yet. That may change when I get it on a ramp this weekend though.
Need to give the interior a good clean first and than see just how water tight it is.
Plus drivers side window seems to be out (away from roof pannel) at the top. I am hoping that I can adjust the runners to push the top inwards as the door looks to be pretty well in line.
No shortage of jobs ot do but then I spotted all of these before making an offer so no nasty surprises yet. That may change when I get it on a ramp this weekend though.
I found it very hard to find a single piece of veneer big enough to cover the dash without a 'join'. I did manage to track down two pieces that would be big enough, one in London - Exotic veneers, but they required collection in person, so opted for the other source. At one point I resigned myself to the fact that I would have to use a join in the veneer (mirror image) and bought some matched/book leaves (only one join would be needed using the size of pieces I bought. If I do a good enough job without having to re-try using the leaves I'll be looking to move these on).
I read on another forum that the dashboard veneer comes away as TVR don't 'key' the metal enough and use an expoxy glue as opposed to a contact adhesive to attach the veneer to the metal backing. They also didn't use a laquer which contained a 'plasticiser' (spelling?) Tracking down the best lacquer is next on the list.
I read on another forum that the dashboard veneer comes away as TVR don't 'key' the metal enough and use an expoxy glue as opposed to a contact adhesive to attach the veneer to the metal backing. They also didn't use a laquer which contained a 'plasticiser' (spelling?) Tracking down the best lacquer is next on the list.
terence said:
There was a thread somewhere on here recently that had a link to a company in Aylsbury, I think, that sells veneer in various sizes. I guess I could use my ally dash as a base.
Need to give the interior a good clean first and than see just how water tight it is.
Plus drivers side window seems to be out (away from roof pannel) at the top. I am hoping that I can adjust the runners to push the top inwards as the door looks to be pretty well in line.
No shortage of jobs ot do but then I spotted all of these before making an offer so no nasty surprises yet. That may change when I get it on a ramp this weekend though.
Have just read somewhere that there is an adjustment screw for the window down between the glass and the door to realign it.
Gassing Station | Chimaera | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff