Factory De-Cat Chimaera 400
Discussion
Hi Chimaera fans
I have a 1995 TVR Chimaera "Factory De-Cat", right hand drive, 17k miles, I wondered how rare this model is?
I have no idea how many were made but I would be interested to find out.
I have been told it could be 260 bhp+, I don't know, just that it is very fast.
Thanks in advance for any well-informed comments.
I have a 1995 TVR Chimaera "Factory De-Cat", right hand drive, 17k miles, I wondered how rare this model is?
I have no idea how many were made but I would be interested to find out.
I have been told it could be 260 bhp+, I don't know, just that it is very fast.
Thanks in advance for any well-informed comments.
My guess is the OP's car was one of TVR's dodgy Jersey loophole cars?
TVR used a dodge to get around the EU emissions law where by they first registered the car in Jersey, the emissions rules there didn't exist at the time (and still don't) so the car could be cat free. Jersey’s status as a Crown dependency gives the Island constitutional rights of self-government and judicial independence. Jersey has a considerable measure of autonomy within its constitutional relationship with the United Kingdom although it is not independent of the UK.
Jersey has a special relationship with the European Union (EU) too, in simple terms, the Island is treated as part of the European Union for the purposes of free trade in goods, but otherwise is not a part of the EU. This sounds just like Theresa's dream for Brexit, Jersey is and never has been part of the EU so they didn't and still don't need to follow EU emissions regs.
And here's the big one, still to this day Jersey doesn't even have an MoT system! In 2013 the Environment Department said emissions and road worthiness checks would make sure vehicles are kept within EU standards, currently only buses, taxis and trucks have annual tests but a study found 40% of cars do not meet EU regulations.
Jersey's Environment Minister, Deputy Rob Duhamel, said vehicle standards needed to be addressed.
"Clearly this is not satisfactory and in order to weed out those vehicles that are perhaps more polluting than their modern counterparts I think some serious discussions will have to take place with the transport minister about the introduction of MoT tests," he said.
Air quality surveys run jointly by the Health & Social Services and Planning & Environment departments help shape the States air quality strategy. As recently as 2015 the Jersey Transport Minister was urged to look again at whether to bring in MOT testing for all vehicles, deputy Eddie Noel said he doesn't think the island is ready for the test to be introduced, which shows whether cars are roadworthy. In an Environment Scrutiny Panel meeting, Constable Simon Crowcroft rejected the Minister's claim that islanders have no appetite for MOTs.
So back in the day TVR would register the new Chimaera in Jersey on a 'J' plate (they probably had a tame dealer on the island helping them) then immediately re-registered it on a UK plate, and probably one of the hundreds of TVR numbers they some how managed to scam out of DVLA. The truth is the car almost certainly didn't even touch Jersey soil or even go near the island, but being first registered in Jersey it didn't need to conform with EU emissions regs.
Hey presto a brand new UK registered 1995 factory D-Cat Chimaera
Like most loopholes it didn't last long but it does tell you TVR must have thought it was worth the hassle and owners must of thought it was also worth paying a premium for, this in turn tells us all to get shot of our cats if we can, mine certainly felt faster and brighter on the throttle the moment I ditched my cats.
The OP should check to see if his TVR was first registered in Jersey on a 'J' plate as this may help solve the mystery of the 1995 RHD factory D-Cat Chimaera.
Edited to add this link....
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=11...
TVR used a dodge to get around the EU emissions law where by they first registered the car in Jersey, the emissions rules there didn't exist at the time (and still don't) so the car could be cat free. Jersey’s status as a Crown dependency gives the Island constitutional rights of self-government and judicial independence. Jersey has a considerable measure of autonomy within its constitutional relationship with the United Kingdom although it is not independent of the UK.
Jersey has a special relationship with the European Union (EU) too, in simple terms, the Island is treated as part of the European Union for the purposes of free trade in goods, but otherwise is not a part of the EU. This sounds just like Theresa's dream for Brexit, Jersey is and never has been part of the EU so they didn't and still don't need to follow EU emissions regs.
And here's the big one, still to this day Jersey doesn't even have an MoT system! In 2013 the Environment Department said emissions and road worthiness checks would make sure vehicles are kept within EU standards, currently only buses, taxis and trucks have annual tests but a study found 40% of cars do not meet EU regulations.
Jersey's Environment Minister, Deputy Rob Duhamel, said vehicle standards needed to be addressed.
"Clearly this is not satisfactory and in order to weed out those vehicles that are perhaps more polluting than their modern counterparts I think some serious discussions will have to take place with the transport minister about the introduction of MoT tests," he said.
Air quality surveys run jointly by the Health & Social Services and Planning & Environment departments help shape the States air quality strategy. As recently as 2015 the Jersey Transport Minister was urged to look again at whether to bring in MOT testing for all vehicles, deputy Eddie Noel said he doesn't think the island is ready for the test to be introduced, which shows whether cars are roadworthy. In an Environment Scrutiny Panel meeting, Constable Simon Crowcroft rejected the Minister's claim that islanders have no appetite for MOTs.
So back in the day TVR would register the new Chimaera in Jersey on a 'J' plate (they probably had a tame dealer on the island helping them) then immediately re-registered it on a UK plate, and probably one of the hundreds of TVR numbers they some how managed to scam out of DVLA. The truth is the car almost certainly didn't even touch Jersey soil or even go near the island, but being first registered in Jersey it didn't need to conform with EU emissions regs.
Hey presto a brand new UK registered 1995 factory D-Cat Chimaera
Like most loopholes it didn't last long but it does tell you TVR must have thought it was worth the hassle and owners must of thought it was also worth paying a premium for, this in turn tells us all to get shot of our cats if we can, mine certainly felt faster and brighter on the throttle the moment I ditched my cats.
The OP should check to see if his TVR was first registered in Jersey on a 'J' plate as this may help solve the mystery of the 1995 RHD factory D-Cat Chimaera.
Edited to add this link....
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=11...
Edited by ChimpOnGas on Thursday 1st June 15:31
I think that the car might have been supplied NEW to an owner from the Channel Islands, since there MOT Laws are different to the Mainland UK's.
After 1992 all cars registered to the Mainland UK, had to have Catalytic Converters fitted.
I might be wrong, but feel sure that someone may know more.
After 1992 all cars registered to the Mainland UK, had to have Catalytic Converters fitted.
I might be wrong, but feel sure that someone may know more.
citizen smith said:
I think that the car might have been supplied NEW to an owner from the Channel Islands, since there MOT Laws are different to the Mainland UK's.
After 1992 all cars registered to the Mainland UK, had to have Catalytic Converters fitted.
I might be wrong, but feel sure that someone may know more.
I make you right After 1992 all cars registered to the Mainland UK, had to have Catalytic Converters fitted.
I might be wrong, but feel sure that someone may know more.
Well thanks for your informative replies and the links. However, to the defense of Jersey, a vehicle control system does exist and involves regular check points and vehicle controls. Offenders, driving unroadworthy vehicles, have to do something like stand up in the Parish Hall and beg for forgiveness to the Centenier, pay fines, which is far worse than failing an MOT. The ultimate penalty for driving a badly maintained vehicle, and failing to get along with the Centenier, is a Wicker Man type finale. Imagine that. The MOT is much more forgiving I am told.
Resurrecting this topic as I have just bought a 1995 Chimaera myself that had no cat fitted from the factory as evidenced by the chassis number beginning SDLDCN. I was told that the car spent the first 7 years of its life in Southern Ireland and indeed the V5 lists the date of first registration as 2002 when it came back over here to the mainland. Owner was said to be the chairman of the TVR owners club over there? I was wondering if I might have any hassle come MOT time depending on how they want to test it? I have copies of previous MOT so assume it should be OK.
Col
Col
citizen smith said:
I think that the car might have been supplied NEW to an owner from the Channel Islands, since there MOT Laws are different to the Mainland UK's.
After 1992 all cars registered to the Mainland UK, had to have Catalytic Converters fitted.
I might be wrong, but feel sure that someone may know more.
[pedant mode] After 1992 all cars registered to the Mainland UK, had to have Catalytic Converters fitted.
I might be wrong, but feel sure that someone may know more.
They don't have to have a catalytic converter fitted, they just have to have emissions so low that normally, only the use of a catalytic converter could get them low enough, although there are tales of cars with very lean settings and no cat that can pass.
[/pedant mode]
There was a 'grace' period for cars manufactured at the end of 1992 that didn't get registered until early 1993, the Ford Sierra is one that comes to mind. There are K reg Sierras with no cat that are perfectly legal
Also discussed here, because imported cars up until 1995 (e.g. TVRs from Jersey, or Ireland) didn't need a cat:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
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