FP Technology's Chimaera 400
Discussion
Last Friday afternoon, I had the pleasure of meeting up with Matt Faulks again, who pulled up in the motorway services parking lot with the current object of my desire - a 1997 (P) Chianti Starmist Chimaera 400 that had just spent three weeks and a half on ramps for a comprehensive overhaul (engine, transmission, supsension, brakes, the lot). Although I'm going to leave the details of the complete spec to Matt should he be so inclined (the basics in shorthand: rebuilt 400 engine w/gas flowed heads, 40/35 mm valves, pre-cats AWOL, lumpy cam 
, shorter trumpets - power in the region of 250 bhp; Cossie 283 mm front discs/calipers, Gaz shocks/springs) I just want to take the opportunity to tell what a well-balanced package he has come up with, concentrating on the exact areas where the original could bear improvement and sensibly foregoing the over-the-top kind of modding that usually serves to stain ones underpants that much quicker and nothing else.
After re-familiarisation with the heavy clutch and throttle operation (been a long while since I've driven the Dutch importers demo Chim 400) and despite me sitting at the wrong side of the car, I soon felt reassured and 'as one' with the car in a way I don't think I could in any factory standard RV8 Tiv, such was the composure of this particular example on the usual B-road stuff. This was complemented by the delivery of the engine - here, stump-pulling and ultimately unsettling low-down torque as per the larger-engined versions was sacrificed for a much revvier and more progressive, more 'modern', heck, properly sporting style which aided driveability no end. It all amounted to a Chimaera that I felt I could really drive the way it's intended. A short drive it was, granted, but enough to convince me that this is the way to go for an everyday useable TVR rather than ever bigger capacity engines. I told Matt on the spot that he should consider offering this conversion as a package to his customers, which of course would make best financial sense when seen as a revitalisation of older/higher mileage cars (this one had 83,xxx miles on the odo).
Oh, and the Wall Of Sound of course...
Personally, I can't think of a more complete V8 roadster experience at any price. I alsways maintained that the Griffmaera could be as good as it gets for roof-down V8 thrills if built properly - as per usual, I was right.
As for this particular car - sorry folks, I'll be taking it from Matt's hands towards the end of the year when he's done with it (I understand it's his daily driver, currently) and I have the readies in hand.
To say I'm thrilled would be an understatement.
Which brings me to an aside - although gorgeous as Chimaeras in nice colours naturally are, there were enough minor cosmetic issues with this well-used example to surely put some of you off if looking to buy. Things like a windscreen that's delaminated and cracked in places (will be replaced), the usual stone chips, some scratching on the paint on one of the front fenders (as far as I can see it, a good polish would rectify about 90% of it), the offside mirror glass fell off the day before - all more or less standard issue on the lower end of the Chimaera market. My point is, one could spend many thousands more on a low mileage 'minter' that has sat covered under duvets in the garage for most of its life and (as a result?) actually drives not that well, or buy one that's been properly used and sort it mechanically with the money saved. After driving FP's car, I know what I'd rather do.
, shorter trumpets - power in the region of 250 bhp; Cossie 283 mm front discs/calipers, Gaz shocks/springs) I just want to take the opportunity to tell what a well-balanced package he has come up with, concentrating on the exact areas where the original could bear improvement and sensibly foregoing the over-the-top kind of modding that usually serves to stain ones underpants that much quicker and nothing else. After re-familiarisation with the heavy clutch and throttle operation (been a long while since I've driven the Dutch importers demo Chim 400) and despite me sitting at the wrong side of the car, I soon felt reassured and 'as one' with the car in a way I don't think I could in any factory standard RV8 Tiv, such was the composure of this particular example on the usual B-road stuff. This was complemented by the delivery of the engine - here, stump-pulling and ultimately unsettling low-down torque as per the larger-engined versions was sacrificed for a much revvier and more progressive, more 'modern', heck, properly sporting style which aided driveability no end. It all amounted to a Chimaera that I felt I could really drive the way it's intended. A short drive it was, granted, but enough to convince me that this is the way to go for an everyday useable TVR rather than ever bigger capacity engines. I told Matt on the spot that he should consider offering this conversion as a package to his customers, which of course would make best financial sense when seen as a revitalisation of older/higher mileage cars (this one had 83,xxx miles on the odo).
Oh, and the Wall Of Sound of course...
Personally, I can't think of a more complete V8 roadster experience at any price. I alsways maintained that the Griffmaera could be as good as it gets for roof-down V8 thrills if built properly - as per usual, I was right.
As for this particular car - sorry folks, I'll be taking it from Matt's hands towards the end of the year when he's done with it (I understand it's his daily driver, currently) and I have the readies in hand.
To say I'm thrilled would be an understatement. Which brings me to an aside - although gorgeous as Chimaeras in nice colours naturally are, there were enough minor cosmetic issues with this well-used example to surely put some of you off if looking to buy. Things like a windscreen that's delaminated and cracked in places (will be replaced), the usual stone chips, some scratching on the paint on one of the front fenders (as far as I can see it, a good polish would rectify about 90% of it), the offside mirror glass fell off the day before - all more or less standard issue on the lower end of the Chimaera market. My point is, one could spend many thousands more on a low mileage 'minter' that has sat covered under duvets in the garage for most of its life and (as a result?) actually drives not that well, or buy one that's been properly used and sort it mechanically with the money saved. After driving FP's car, I know what I'd rather do.
Edited by 900T-R on Tuesday 6th June 10:31
900T-R said:
My point is, one could spend many thousands more on a low mileage 'minter' that has sat covered under duvets in the garage for most of its life and (as a result?) actually drives not that well, or buy one that's been properly used and sort it mechanically with the money saved. After driving FP's car, I know what I'd rather do.
Indeed.. that reminds me of something I posted a few years back..
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?p=1&f=8&t=83969&h=0
Cheers,
Matt
Thanks for the glowing review Eric,
I'm really pleased with how the cars turned out, a few people have driven it now and commented on just what a complete package it feels - it's certainly not the fastest or best handling Chimaera but as a whole it works very well together and as a road car that's used daily I feel you'd struggle to better it whilst still keeping running costs to sensible levels.
Oh and it's got a new mirror glass now and if I can summon up the energy I might get the G3 out and see about those scratches on the front wing
I've posted the engine spec previously so I'll skim over that for now but it's essentialy JE Cam, Gas flowed heads with ports mathched to inlet manifold, 40mm inlet valves, vernier sproket, all new top end bits (lifters, rockers etc.) and fresh bearings in the bottom end.
Suspension is GAZ adjustables front and rear with my own geo setup and drop links.
Brakes are Saph Cosworth 2WD discs with Cosworth 4X4 calipers and Ferrodo DS2500 friction material.
Matt
P.S. Put another 200 miles on it this morning!
I'm really pleased with how the cars turned out, a few people have driven it now and commented on just what a complete package it feels - it's certainly not the fastest or best handling Chimaera but as a whole it works very well together and as a road car that's used daily I feel you'd struggle to better it whilst still keeping running costs to sensible levels.
Oh and it's got a new mirror glass now and if I can summon up the energy I might get the G3 out and see about those scratches on the front wing
I've posted the engine spec previously so I'll skim over that for now but it's essentialy JE Cam, Gas flowed heads with ports mathched to inlet manifold, 40mm inlet valves, vernier sproket, all new top end bits (lifters, rockers etc.) and fresh bearings in the bottom end.
Suspension is GAZ adjustables front and rear with my own geo setup and drop links.
Brakes are Saph Cosworth 2WD discs with Cosworth 4X4 calipers and Ferrodo DS2500 friction material.
Matt
P.S. Put another 200 miles on it this morning!
Edited by Matt_ on Tuesday 6th June 13:43
M@H said:
900T-R said:
My point is, one could spend many thousands more on a low mileage 'minter' that has sat covered under duvets in the garage for most of its life and (as a result?) actually drives not that well, or buy one that's been properly used and sort it mechanically with the money saved. After driving FP's car, I know what I'd rather do.
Indeed.. that reminds me of something I posted a few years back..
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?p=1&f=8&t=83969&h=0
Cheers,
Matt
Agreed. Seem to recall you me and Johno singing the virtue of well used and maintained cars in the S forum a few years back too.
900T-R said:
My point is, one could spend many thousands more on a low mileage 'minter' that has sat covered under duvets in the garage for most of its life and (as a result?) actually drives not that well,
Hey, my Tiv has been known to nestle under duvets - altho' now we're in the Summer season, I'm using Egyptian cotton sheets, and he didn't miss a beat on a 2-hour non-stop drive last Sunday!
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