Discussion
Our '95 model was a sub-£7k car with PAS, serp engine and a T5 box. Around 79-80k miles now, its got a good service history and runs like a dream with a solid chassis. Only real let down is the paintwork which is sporting some scars (it lost some battles with a mop and someone who didn't know you can burn paint), but I'd much rather have that than a rotten outrigger as I can actually see the paintwork and know what I'm dealing with! It looks fine from 15foot 
The paint will be sorted after the summer I expect, funds permitting.
Other than that, it had one odd tyre (not mentioned in ad, but now sorted) and the clutch is on death's door (hadn't noticed until recently!), but with V8 Developments fantastic prices and the facts its a straight forward Cossie box on a fairly straight forward Rover V8, the price to put that right isn't as bad as you'd think.
But basically, yeah in my opinion good cars can be had for little money, but I'd say more care and attention to detail is needed when viewing. We spent 90mins going over ours before stumping up, but now very happy we did. Cheap cars will nearly certainly be private examples, so forget warrantys etc and buy a car on it's merits.
The paint will be sorted after the summer I expect, funds permitting.Other than that, it had one odd tyre (not mentioned in ad, but now sorted) and the clutch is on death's door (hadn't noticed until recently!), but with V8 Developments fantastic prices and the facts its a straight forward Cossie box on a fairly straight forward Rover V8, the price to put that right isn't as bad as you'd think.
But basically, yeah in my opinion good cars can be had for little money, but I'd say more care and attention to detail is needed when viewing. We spent 90mins going over ours before stumping up, but now very happy we did. Cheap cars will nearly certainly be private examples, so forget warrantys etc and buy a car on it's merits.
I paid 6.5K for my 1996 400 with T5, PAS, including full TVR history, waxoyled and lots of money spent, with new cam, tyres, clutch, brakes etc,etc because it had a misfire. The vendor said he would pay to have the misfire fixed.
I wasn't worried by this as I wanted to tune up the engine anyway and do a rolling restoration. £42 got the misfire basically sorted so I took the cost. The car would have been pretty good just leaving it like that.
To make it a really nice example will take some time and several grand though; I have already spent about £2200, but I will have the car I want in the end.
These cars are brilliant fun, but my experience is that they take quite a bit of maintenance and having a local specialist is of great benefit. I am running a diary at http://www.tvrchimaera400.blogspot.com/
I wasn't worried by this as I wanted to tune up the engine anyway and do a rolling restoration. £42 got the misfire basically sorted so I took the cost. The car would have been pretty good just leaving it like that.
To make it a really nice example will take some time and several grand though; I have already spent about £2200, but I will have the car I want in the end.
These cars are brilliant fun, but my experience is that they take quite a bit of maintenance and having a local specialist is of great benefit. I am running a diary at http://www.tvrchimaera400.blogspot.com/
rod29 said:
bought mine 5 weeks ago ,talk about taking a chance no tax or mot but with full service history, faults perished fuel pipe faulty otter switch, brake caliper seized, new wipers passed mot no problem £4700 1993 4.0
Sounds like you had a result there, wouldn't mind one like that myself. Changing the subject it seems like the odometers can be a bit dodgy, seems to explain all the low milers around, lol.
Gassing Station | Chimaera | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff