WHAT TO REPLACE A TVR CHIMAERA 500 WITH?

foibles

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511
Maybe this would suit you? With Maserati soundtrack and 480hp.
Forgive me as I don't know my tvr. I see this is a 96 model. Is that stock bodywork in terms of lights, nose cone, lowering, wheel arches, paint colour?

If so I suddenly have a craving for a tvr. I was tossing up between the griff and the chimaera, but this is just a stunning looking car.
 

rockits

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Messages
9,167
Forgive me as I don't know my tvr. I see this is a 96 model. Is that stock bodywork in terms of lights, nose cone, lowering, wheel arches, paint colour?

If so I suddenly have a craving for a tvr. I was tossing up between the griff and the chimaera, but this is just a stunning looking car.

A TVR is certainly a cracking experience and a real different thing to own and drive unlike anything on the market. I looked at a Tuscan SP6 4.0 initially but it wasn't a great example although it drove very well. I had a think and decided it had to be a Rover V8 engined car for that true old school TVR noise/feel. Also that a Chimaera represented much better value than the Griffith. This still is the case today as it every was. Not sure why there is a such a difference as they are pretty much the same car. Just different bodies.

I've had 2 x Chimaera 400's and now the current restored 500. The engine and power is so strong and actually have found maybe one not up passed where I would ideally like it. I think adding the CAT back in and maybe a remap or different cam would offer this likely. The V8D built engine produces circa 380bhp at the flywheel and circa 319bhp at the wheels so is way higher than even the very best factory engines. It is night and day different to the stock 400's I had which were factory stock and likely down on quoted power. The factory figures often seemed over inflated on paper to what they produced it seemed.

There are a lot of poorly maintained cars especially amongst the cheaper Chimera 400's. However there are some gems that have had a ton spent on them. I would buy on current condition to get the best as it is kind of irrelevant what happened 20+ years ago now.

Not sure where you are but you are more than welcome to pop round for a chat and look at my 500? I'm Hertfordshire just outside Potters Bar.
 

giorgio01

Member
Messages
223
Forgive me as I don't know my tvr. I see this is a 96 model. Is that stock bodywork in terms of lights, nose cone, lowering, wheel arches, paint colour?

If so I suddenly have a craving for a tvr. I was tossing up between the griff and the chimaera, but this is just a stunning looking car.
Hi,
It's not stock bodywork. Like you've said arches, bonnet scoop, lights (TVR made Tuscan style lights on Cerbera from 2000) nose are reworked. Paint is also not standard.
 

foibles

Member
Messages
511
The other bit with a CSL you probably will not lose any money when time comes to sell. Especially if you can get one starting with a 3.

Why on earth would brightwells stick to their 2500 registration fee? It simply kills off potential bidders. To think this car is still sitting at 25k plus commish. If it fetches below 34k hammer price then the auction format is an outright failure.
 

Andyk

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61,040
Why on earth would brightwells stick to their 2500 registration fee? It simply kills off potential bidders. To think this car is still sitting at 25k plus commish. If it fetches below 34k hammer price then the auction format is an outright failure.

So are you saying you have to pay a one off fee of £2500 before you can even bid...……...I'm out......What a rip off.....So they get that and commission on the sale......
 

foibles

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Messages
511
The 2500 is refundable if you don't win any bids, so it's just a registration fee, but it seems absurd to me. Most auction houses I'm aware of just take your card details, without asking such an outlandish fee.

I can't help but think this scares off many potential bidders.
 

rockits

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9,167
Well it stopped me from registering and bidding. Potential customer lost. Wouldn't want to list my car with them for this reason either. Very odd IMHO.
 

CatmanV2

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48,557
I don't get it either. I guess if it's a car your really keen on then OK, but how many of those are there that are not for sale some other route?

C
 

lifes2short

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5,821
if you are there in person to bid then most if not all auction houses simply ask you to register and provide 2 forms of ID such as the well known bigger boys, Bonhams, Coys, Silverstones, the only time I've had to pay a deposit was with Brightwells at a reasonable refundable £500 for a telephone bid and ACA who wanted a deposit even if bidding on site, asking for a deposit if bidding on site is a p1ss take and asking any more than £500 if wanting to telephone/internet bid is also a p1ss take
 

rockits

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9,167
What do people think is a fair price for this one:

It is a dealer that has taken in it part ex and seems a lovely guy on the phone. Just had a nice chat with him. Looks like a well looked after car but I've never been a fan of that light grey interior on a Maserati. I like the exterior and could get over the interior.

My thinking was another 4200 could make sense for me especially at the prices some of them are. To use more and be less precious about than the garage queen. Trouble is this is probably a bit too good and seemingly higher priced than I can justify. It won't be as good as my 4200 I have but is getting to the price I paid for that.

Although I don't think a manual 4200 is a brilliant example of a manual driving experience it would be something different to my CC. Just shame it isn't priced a little more keen.

I have contacted Steve @ Superior Cars about this one:

Seems like a decent enough example and more suitable to my requirements but still has the grey interior. A fair few higher miles in comparison but not silly high. Clutch and F1 Pump changed recently. Not a fan of the slatted grilles both have but not a deal breaker.

Any thoughts and comments oh wise ones? ;)
 

TimR

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2,656
Be nice to think that the decent cars, manuals being significantly fewer and further between than CCs, can still ask a decent price. Whether they yet command that value, who knows?
 

rockits

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9,167
Be nice to think that the decent cars, manuals being significantly fewer and further between than CCs, can still ask a decent price. Whether they yet command that value, who knows?

I think you are right to an extent and if the manual box/shift was a really nice one I am sure it would. I find the CC box really suits the 4200 and have no issues with it. The 4200 manual I had before you always had to work a little bit harder then I felt you should. It wasn't awful but certainly not the best manual experience I have ever come across.

Maybe if the interior was tan rather than the light grey I could get to warrant throwing more cash at it.
 

TimR

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2,656
I have to admit that interior design plays a key part for me too.

How about a Venturi Atlantique 300...?

 
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Lavazza

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1,060
See I always thought the F136 engine was a great and reliable powerplant.
For me, the F136 4.7 is brilliant. A better engine than the 4.3 in the Vantage, but the Vantage was a better handling car (I know they have different party tricks). Looks wise, I like both.
I'm tempted to go V12V.
 

rockits

Member
Messages
9,167
For me, the F136 4.7 is brilliant. A better engine than the 4.3 in the Vantage, but the Vantage was a better handling car (I know they have different party tricks). Looks wise, I like both.
I'm tempted to go V12V.
I'll take a V12V no problem if you fancy paying half
 

Ewan

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6,757
Having been down the Atlantique route, I’m not sure I’d go there again. It makes fixing a 3200 seem easy. It brings a whole new meaning to NLA when you want virtually anything, and that’s after you’ve eventually worked out what the part is that you want! Beautiful though, and great handling. In a slightly rattly GRP kind of way.

Of the two 4200’s, I’d have the blue CC car. Right colour, price and gearbox. And you could use it without worry or depreciation. Seems a bargain to me.
 
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rockits

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9,167
Glad you're saying that about the Venturi as closes that door nice and early!

The blue one suits my needs better. It does have some advisories of rear inner sill rust which seems rare but not a fairly common issues I have noticed before.