Chimaera/Griff Re-Body?
Discussion
I've been bouncing this one around my head for six months or so. It's a body shell designed for a Triumph Herald chassis but it seems there's only 1" difference in the wheelbase between a Herald and the Chimaera/Griffith chassis. The TVR is wider but the shell can be adapted fairly easily. The shell is in the development stages and has already had the 'snout'/grille area extended (shell in primer photo) to look a little more like the Lancia D24 (last pic) which is the sort of thing I'd like to end up with.
So I'll need a bodywork damaged Chimaera (easier to find than a Griff), some wire wheels, red paint, Mota-Lita steering wheel and stick on numbers. The new shell doesn't have doors. windows or a full windscreen so that's a bundle of electrics that won't need worrying about. There are a couple of problems to think around like boot access and the flip bonnet but given that the result is a simpler design than even the Chimaera it should be quite straightforward. The working name is the Spyder but I need something else. Chimaerati is too long.
What could possibly go wrong?
So I'll need a bodywork damaged Chimaera (easier to find than a Griff), some wire wheels, red paint, Mota-Lita steering wheel and stick on numbers. The new shell doesn't have doors. windows or a full windscreen so that's a bundle of electrics that won't need worrying about. There are a couple of problems to think around like boot access and the flip bonnet but given that the result is a simpler design than even the Chimaera it should be quite straightforward. The working name is the Spyder but I need something else. Chimaerati is too long.
What could possibly go wrong?
Edited by Flintstone on Sunday 19th December 13:59
phillpot said:
looks good, think I saw something very similar (Herald based) on Ebay recently 
That's the one.I don't think the bonnet will be a huge problem. Cutting off the outer panels should leave the inner wings, firewall etc. Enough of the original tub to retain structural integrity. The new shell is flip front as standard.
V8NRG said:
My first thought was the width of the chimaera chassis in the transmition tunnel area.
The chimaera is alot wider and taller in that area!
That was one of my first concerns but I'm told it's possible to widen the shell by splitting it and grafting a section in. Rather him than me!The chimaera is alot wider and taller in that area!
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