Calling yellow Chimaera owners ...can you post a pic?
Discussion
As per the title really. Partly just curiosity, but also very interested to see how the various wheel options look...
I think I'm probably going to put mine back on 15/16" wheels and OE-spec tyres (as opposed to the current aftermarket 18" giants with very low profile rubber) and curious to see how the other setups look. I presume Estorils would have been the original fitment for a 1997 Chim 500?
Many thanks,
Chris
I think I'm probably going to put mine back on 15/16" wheels and OE-spec tyres (as opposed to the current aftermarket 18" giants with very low profile rubber) and curious to see how the other setups look. I presume Estorils would have been the original fitment for a 1997 Chim 500?
Many thanks,
Chris
simonej said:
Here's mine with Estorils finished in Anthracite.
I think that could be the best option for mine. I'm actually rather partial to the look of the silver Spyders (sp?) on the 400s, but I can imagine it'd raise a few eyebrows if I came to sell it with the 'wrong' wheels for a 500. Could you order Estorils in anthracite originally or have they been coated at some point?
While I was looking round for a good example I actually had this old press shot as my desktop wallpaper:
Chris, mine were refurbished in anthracite. I've no idea whether the factory offered them that colour but most wheel refurb places will be able to. Only problem is you then have the extra £250 (ish) to fork out on top of the cost of buying Estorils and new tyres.
Some people also go with satin black on yellow cars, which looks OK but it's a bit too dark for my taste.
I actually keep looking at some of the Compomotive wheels, this one in particular (16" front and 17" rear);
On the plus side it looks like you got a cracking deal on the car so you should have a bit of extra money to play around with for the Estorils.
Some people also go with satin black on yellow cars, which looks OK but it's a bit too dark for my taste.
I actually keep looking at some of the Compomotive wheels, this one in particular (16" front and 17" rear);
On the plus side it looks like you got a cracking deal on the car so you should have a bit of extra money to play around with for the Estorils.
Go on ok.
few more here http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
The wheels are OZ superleggra's in anthracite better pic here of them clean. look black when dirty.
few more here http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
The wheels are OZ superleggra's in anthracite better pic here of them clean. look black when dirty.
So the Imolas are standard fit on the 400s and 450s, but the Estorils appeared as standard on the 500s and as an option on the later cars?
Does anyone know if any 500s left the factory with the 400 wheels?
Are there any significant differences in unsprung weight etc?
Oh, and can someone remind me exactly what size wheels and tyres a 1997 non-PAS 500 should be on? I gather the smaller engined cars and the PAS-equipped cars are different, but is that just the tyres or do the rim sizes change to?
Anyone know what the going rate for a set of Estorils is?
Does anyone know if any 500s left the factory with the 400 wheels?
Are there any significant differences in unsprung weight etc?
Oh, and can someone remind me exactly what size wheels and tyres a 1997 non-PAS 500 should be on? I gather the smaller engined cars and the PAS-equipped cars are different, but is that just the tyres or do the rim sizes change to?
Anyone know what the going rate for a set of Estorils is?
Edited by Chris71 on Monday 8th November 18:08
simonej said:
Chris, mine were refurbished in anthracite. I've no idea whether the factory offered them that colour but most wheel refurb places will be able to. Only problem is you then have the extra £250 (ish) to fork out on top of the cost of buying Estorils and new tyres.
Some people also go with satin black on yellow cars, which looks OK but it's a bit too dark for my taste.
I actually keep looking at some of the Compomotive wheels, this one in particular (16" front and 17" rear);
On the plus side it looks like you got a cracking deal on the car so you should have a bit of extra money to play around with for the Estorils.
Did you get them refurbed by a wheel specialist or were they powder coated by a powder coating company? I would like to get my wheels refurbed in Anthracite, not sure where to go?Some people also go with satin black on yellow cars, which looks OK but it's a bit too dark for my taste.
I actually keep looking at some of the Compomotive wheels, this one in particular (16" front and 17" rear);
On the plus side it looks like you got a cracking deal on the car so you should have a bit of extra money to play around with for the Estorils.
Hi Chris,
If like me you prefer the standard Imolas a good option would be to try and source two sets of rears give you 16" wheels all round.
This gives you a much wider tyre choice and in my opinion looks better too.
The last of the Griffiths had 16" Estorils all round so even TVR thought it was a good idea.
I know its not yellow but here is my car with 16"s all round.
You can see it when Eric gets back from Vietnam, I think we are planning a beer for us North London Chim owners.
Welcome to the fold, Dave.
If like me you prefer the standard Imolas a good option would be to try and source two sets of rears give you 16" wheels all round.
This gives you a much wider tyre choice and in my opinion looks better too.
The last of the Griffiths had 16" Estorils all round so even TVR thought it was a good idea.
I know its not yellow but here is my car with 16"s all round.
You can see it when Eric gets back from Vietnam, I think we are planning a beer for us North London Chim owners.
Welcome to the fold, Dave.
Mr Plow said:
Did you get them refurbed by a wheel specialist or were they powder coated by a powder coating company? I would like to get my wheels refurbed in Anthracite, not sure where to go?
They were done by a powder coating company that specialises in wheels. One thing I would say is go somewhere that has a decent reputation as mine are now starting to bubble a little and it's only 18 months since they were done - not too happy really. As I understand it, PX Wheels have a decent reputation so you could try them. Chimpafrolic said:
Hi Chris,
If like me you prefer the standard Imolas a good option would be to try and source two sets of rears give you 16" wheels all round.
This gives you a much wider tyre choice and in my opinion looks better too.
The last of the Griffiths had 16" Estorils all round so even TVR thought it was a good idea.
I know its not yellow but here is my car with 16"s all round.
You can see it when Eric gets back from Vietnam, I think we are planning a beer for us North London Chim owners.
Welcome to the fold, Dave.
16 rear 15 frontIf like me you prefer the standard Imolas a good option would be to try and source two sets of rears give you 16" wheels all round.
This gives you a much wider tyre choice and in my opinion looks better too.
The last of the Griffiths had 16" Estorils all round so even TVR thought it was a good idea.
I know its not yellow but here is my car with 16"s all round.
You can see it when Eric gets back from Vietnam, I think we are planning a beer for us North London Chim owners.
Welcome to the fold, Dave.
V8FROG said:
aiyo ur car looks amazing as it is.just leave it alone!!!yellow/orange with black rims look pretty nice
You know what, having seen it in the flesh I agree with you - looks wise - but it's the handling aspect that concerns me. It will probably spend quite a lot of time on track, so the tall-ish 15/16" wheels that the suspension was originally designed for may well work better than the current rubber bands. Part of the way that tyres generate slip angle feedback (basically self centering torque) is through deformation of the sidewall - less sidewall height usually means less warning of impending breakaway. Even if I wanted to, I'm not sure there's the wheel arch clearance to run higher profile 18s.So just how difficult is it getting tyres in the 15/16" sizes? I've still yet to work out exactly what width and profile it should be on for that matter. I gather the non-PAS cars' tyres are slightly smaller on the front? Although there's also some suggestion this may induce understeer, so maybe I'll just run a PAS style setup and MTFU. I can't say I found the normal 15" front wheels too heavy on other non-PAS examples, and even this one is more or less okay on the move. Parking is character-building (well, muscle building) though.
Golflion said:
Chimpafrolic said:
Hi Chris,
If like me you prefer the standard Imolas a good option would be to try and source two sets of rears give you 16" wheels all round.
This gives you a much wider tyre choice and in my opinion looks better too.
The last of the Griffiths had 16" Estorils all round so even TVR thought it was a good idea.
I know its not yellow but here is my car with 16"s all round.
You can see it when Eric gets back from Vietnam, I think we are planning a beer for us North London Chim owners.
Welcome to the fold, Dave.
16 rear 15 frontIf like me you prefer the standard Imolas a good option would be to try and source two sets of rears give you 16" wheels all round.
This gives you a much wider tyre choice and in my opinion looks better too.
The last of the Griffiths had 16" Estorils all round so even TVR thought it was a good idea.
I know its not yellow but here is my car with 16"s all round.
You can see it when Eric gets back from Vietnam, I think we are planning a beer for us North London Chim owners.
Welcome to the fold, Dave.
225/50/16 REAR
205/55/15 FRONT
Toyos stock the above
It's a strange thing, even with the yellow body I think some designs (notably Imolas) work better in the usual silvery sort of colour, but some, like the pics above, definitely work better in a darker shade.
If I bought a set that needed a bit of tidying I'd be up for darkening them to black or anthracite in the process (I presume it wouldn't add that much expense?)
If I bought a set that needed a bit of tidying I'd be up for darkening them to black or anthracite in the process (I presume it wouldn't add that much expense?)
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