First Move into TVR Ownership - Recommendations

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Evening All

I have a varied car ownership over the years. Never had an Alfa until last year which was resolved with a nice Alfa GT 3.2 V6 Busso. Have delved into Maserati ownership in the last 3 years with a mint 2007 4200 then adding a 2007 QP Exec GT ZF last year. I have a Volvo XC90 V8 as a daily with the QP. An older 1998 306 GTi-6 with a 1999 R129 SL500 competing the current line up. Oh and the wife's Freelander 2 SD4 HSE.

I have had an itch for a TVR for some years but now in a position to push the button now. I have ruled out the Cerbera as looking for a full or partial roof either full convertible or targa. The Chimaera's and Griffith's seem to be the obvious choice. There isn't a fixed budget but anything up to £20k would be preferred with £15k ideal.

After many months of gathering info there seems to be many options as to 400/450/500.

Are there any obvious do's or don't with regards to what to look at or avoid?

Thanks in advanced for any welcomed replies.

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Thanks. Now that is a lovely car but maybe a bit over what I would prefer to spend and maybe a little lacking firepower.

I agree I could do with something older but not sure I quite have the time yet. Just trying to get a 4 post lift into the garage then I won't be far off being ready for something older in a year or two.

Any slightly more modern recommendations?

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Thanks all.

Trying to work out if a 400 would suffice and would feel quick enough. It is not about total speed for me so 240bhp in a car weighing a smidge over a ton seems decent enough. I guess I need to get out to see a couple and drive a couple to see what they drive like.

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Have picked out a couple of options that seem viable. There are a couple of choices:

1994/L Chimaera 400 Pre-Serp - Reg: L3O UUD - Blue - Looks like well looked after car from PTHOLT & TV8 on here as current & previous owners - Few Upgrades - 50k miles. Priced @ £10,750
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...


1993/L Chimaera 430 BV - Reg: L7 DWW - Looks like well looked after car from known member on here as current owner - 54k miles. Priced @ £14k with std roof & £14550 with Surrey Roof


1995/M Griffith 500 - Reg: M3 STK - Not sure it is known to anyone here. Black - 22k miles - 4 Owners - Was for sale at Hamilton Grays a year ago - New interior retrim in tan was black leatherette. Priced @ £21k
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...



Anyone have any opinions or preferences as to what would be a better bet I'm all ears

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No chassis work or replacement on 400/1st first one although it has been bi-annually wax-oiled and inspected.

Seems like same for 430/2nd one so original chassis but in good condition with no issues.

The 500/3rd one is unknown at this stage. But has had recent service at James Agger so I expect any issues to have been raised.

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Thanks All

The Chimaera is popping out as the obvious choice at the moment. I have no cosmetic preference of a Griffith over a Chimaera or vice versa. The Griffs seem a little less better value for money pound for pound. The 430

I know these are not out and out sports cars and won't be demanding too much from it. It won't get used tons as I have a few other cars and don't do as many miles these days as I used to. However I have garage space in a dehumidifer set at 55% RH so it will be looked after to keep it nice. It will also get moved and run up to temp when not used and sat on a trickle charger under a cover. So it will live a charmed life. Will sit next to the 4200

I an reasonably handy with a spanner and will be getting a 4 post lift into the garage/workshop soon

I am going to see the Griff 500 on Friday morning and likely the Chim 400 on Saturday morning. Although I have earmarked up to £25k I always like to get good value for my purchases. The 400 and 430 seem decent enough levels. I am not sure the prices of some Griff 500's represent such good value for money though.

I know what I like and what drives well or not as have driven/owned plenty of cars over the years. I think once I have seen and driven one or two I will know what I will prefer. At least by seeing the Chim 400 and the Griff 500 I will see and experience something a liitle different in each case.

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TV8 said:

On the road, the Blue 400 will do all that you need it to. That car had a very strong engine and I only changed it for the 5.3 for track days where the likes of Phazed and co were all at 60+ bhp more.

The irony is that the 5.3 has only seen the track a couple of times and whilst the power is addictive, for 95% of the time, you don't need any more than the 400!

Also, it will be safer (and for me more fun) to drive harder. I have over 300lb of torque at 1500 revs and need to be very sure of your grip before pushing too hard on the throttle and it has stepped out of line quite badly on more than one occasion at the hint of damp or cold tyres!

Who owns the 430? I know someone who has bought one of those and that is another nice car if it is the one I am thinking it is.

I'm inclined to agree that a 400 is likely plenty fast enough in the real world. I can see what I think of the 400 and the 500 so by Saturday I should have a good inclination of what is required.

The 430 is owned by Chris Wood.

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TV8 said:

I don't know what Peter has had done to the engine but it had 240 bhp / 270 lb torque on two rolling roads when I had it and pulled very well!

I'm not sure Peter has that right and may be mistaken with the 280bhp bit. I can see your dyno print out showing the 240bhp from earlier posts. I take it that this wasn't a rebuild in your ownership and was from a previous owner?

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Just got my brother to do me a couple of vehicle checks. The Griff 500 has 4 previous owners which is good but the Chim 400 has 9 previous which is a shame. Doesn't rule it out certainly but it won't be so easy to sell an 11 owner car to the 12th owner when/if required. Something certainly to bear in mind.

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I agree & the number of owners doesn't put me off. We know it is a decent example so that is one question removed from discussion. It is something to consider & price in though as the next owner likely will.

If you said 10k for the blue 400 then 14k for the 430 or 20k for the Griff 500 they are all seemingly priced about right. It is like buying a house. One always grabs you and tells you to buy it. Maybe we will see which one in the next few days.

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brownspeed said:

or if your budget will stretch, you could do what I did........
I wanted a Griffith originally, then changed my mind and looked at Tuscans before finally settling on a Tam. No regrets.
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

Thanks.....I think. Just when I was making sense of a complicated situation it has another twist!

I have had an influx of people contact me after the posts on the forum and now have 6 cars to consider and they are a real mix. A Chim 400, 430, 450, 500 & 530. Then a Griff 500. Now a Tam.

I think it will all become clearer once I have seen and driven a couple. I have never been in a TVR even as a passenger short of sitting in a few at Motor Shows over the years. So unusual for me to have no yardstick at all. I have generally owned, driven, been driven or know someone who has had most cars/models. Not a TVR though.

It is a little bit of a minefield as so many different cars and options. Also pricing. It is hard to value some of these cars as they are so variable. Not sure any other marque has so many variations over comparatively small numbers of cars. I am nearly there though after a lot of reading and research.

I still have no number one candidate yet though. The Tam looks good but have not even had Tams on the radar so not read or researched anything about them. I looked at a Tuscan last year but it needed a full respray and didn't seem the best example out there. it was cheap but the numbers didn't stack up once you spent a load on it. It was better to buy a better one in the first place. I learnt this when buying the 4200 and bought the very best I could find.

Certainly has been a challenging exercise to get to the bottom of what is the best option.

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LeeHodges said:

I'm sure you're aware, but the V8 and Speed-6 experience is *totally* different; both are great but go about their work in entirely different ways. I couldn't decide and so kept both (for now!)

Haha....best of both worlds then

Yes, I drove the Tuscan 4.0 Speed 6 last year and was very impressed. It felt like a proper race car. However I think a Rover V8 is where I want to be with this car I think. I have a Maserati 4200 with the Ferrari N/A 4.2 V8 that is very much a race engine and experience. It is very free revving and loves to rev and hit I think the rev limiter at 7k ish. Speed 6 would be too similar I think so the Rover V8 makes more sense as will be a slightly more torqueyer lazier drive.

The thing that worries me a bit more about the Speed 6 is the rebuild issues and buying one that hasn't had a rebuild. The Rover V8 seems a better bet.

Just realised and am revising my statement now as I said I had never been in or drive a TVR. Old age creeping in as forgot I looked at the Tuscan last year!

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Not sure if the one that Brownspeed linked to earlier is cheap or not a good one but seems well in budget:

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

I'm not sure a Speed 6 will be for me though from the sound of it.

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billynobrakes said:

My Speed 6 has 414BHP and 368Lb/ft of torque more torque than most Rover V8,s looks like I will be meeting Saturday at Greenwich Park

Gees, that sounds pretty impressive! Every day is a school day and I stand corrected. Graham just made me aware of the Greenwich Park meet. It would be great to attend but I had arranged with Peter to view his Chim 400 in Crawley at 10am. What time is the meet from/to on Saturday? Might see if I can juggle stuff around.

I am booking my Maser 4200 with a workshop and Maser specialist in Ashford so might be dropping the car off there afterwards then training back to Potters Bar.

Edited by rockits on Thursday 20th July 13:18

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billynobrakes said:

To be fair my engine has been rebuilt from a standard 3.6 to 4.5, we meet at about 10.30am through till 12.30, I thought Chris Wood was going to meet you there must have got wires crossed, I will be in my 450SE be good if you could make it and kill a few birds as they say you could always meet Peter earlier then drive to the park

Yes, agreed. Going to see if I can juggle things around to get to the meet and see Chris and his 430 at the same time. WOuld be good to meet a few of you that have kindly posted on this thread just to say hello and thanks.

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Am I right in saying there is a small meet in Greenwich Park 10.30>12.30pm on Saturday 22nd? Then a bigger event on Sunday 23rd all day at Bentley Wildfowl, Lewes, East Sussex?

I am guessing you guys are talking about and going to the meet on Sat @ Greenwich Park?

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Well I have finally managed to hatch an audacious plan that looks achievable for tomorrow.

Early rise for 6.30am departure from Hertfordshire to drop the Maser with Aldous Voice (AV Engineering, Maser Indy) for 8am in SE3. Then a little walk over to meet Chris Wood with his Chimaera 430 and other TVR guys at the Greenwich Park Observatory meet for circa 10am.

Then possibly a depart at 11.30am if it leaves enough time to walk across to Greenwich Station to get a train to Crawley for 12 noon. Arrive in Crawley at 1:30pm with quick taxi to Peter Holt's to see his Chimaeara 400. Then taxi back to station and train back to Potters Bar, Herts.

I reckon 6.30am departure and 6.30pm return so a reasonably long day but I am sure it will be worth it. Looking forward to meeting any of you that will be there tomorrow morning.

Shame I will be walking and won't have the Maser as I am sure you guys would have appreciated the sound she makes. The twin secondary decat and twin rear box delete really opens up her vocal chords a bit

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Great, thanks. Yes Chris mentioned by the Observatory. I've been there before so know roughly where it is.

Have a good evening all & see you in the morning.