Guess My 21 Year Old S/1998 Chimaera Total Spend From New ??

[rockits]

Well after several late nights carefully filling and ordering chronologically the extensive 21 year history on my S/1998 Chimaera it is all done! I have scanned in all bills/invoices and have every MOT from its first @ 3 years old.

No real upgrades or anything silly spent only the Speed 6 headlight conversion really other than routine servicing & required maintenance.

Have a guess how much has been spent that I know about and have bills/invoices for??? I think many will be surprised. I expected it to be a little less myself as it is a fairly basic/simple car.

 

[Ewan]

As a clue, how many miles has it covered in that time? And have you had to replace/rebuild the engine or the chassis/outriggers?

 

[tokyomb]

Absolute amount or % of the original purchase price?

Any paintwork? Most must have had at least one front-end respray by 21 years.

 

[rockits]

It is currently 85k miles and no engine rebuilds or anything odd/extra at all other the Speed 6 headlight conversion. It is a Chimaera 400 so a 4.0 Rover V8 with T5 box. All very simple, very strong and reliable. No silly Speed 6 or AJP engine rebuilds. Had a new roof , clutch, wishbones and outriggers in the last 3000 miles.

 

[rockits]

Only paintwork I believe is front end when Speed 6 headlight conversion was done. Can't see a bill for that only the £395 for the headlight/conversion kit. No bill for the fitting, glass fibre or spray works. That is on top!

Amount is probably easier.

 

[rockits]

1st MOT was at 44208 so a certain Mr J May as the 1st owner certainly enjoyed his first 3 years

 

[rockits]

I love stuff like this as well. The original pics of the 1st owner that bought the car new visiting his car on the production line. Then signing it. You don't always get so much complete history with a car from new now which is shame.

 

[Ewan]

It's a TVR. So if your paper-work for 21 years and 85,000 miles of ownership adds up to less than £40k, some's gone missing!

 

[rockits]

This one has been a bargain then.....just over £20k plus the Speed 6 headlight conversion works.

 

[tokyomb]

I had in mind about 50% of the initial purchase price so probably not too far off.

 

[Scaf]

This one has been a bargain then.....just over £20k plus the Speed 6 headlight conversion works.

Or it needs £20k spending on it !

 

[rockits]

I had in mind about 50% of the initial purchase price so probably not too far off.

Not too far off. I reckon it was circa £30k new so maybe more like 65-70%

 

[rockits]

Or it needs £20k spending on it !

LOL....it is pretty good so not anticipating too much.

Going in for an annual service @ Bespoke Performance in Ware tomorrow so I guess we will find out soon enough.

 

[Hurricane52]

I think that’s pukka man maths. So about £20 a week? No one can argue with that. Unless you can’t bring yourself to part with it. Ever.

BTW - James May hasn’t aged too well, has he?

 

[Ewan]

So, about 50p per mile in servicing costs during your ownership. I wonder how a similar era Maser, such as a 3200, would compare?!

 

[rockits]

I think that’s pukka man maths. So about £20 a week? No one can argue with that. Unless you can’t bring yourself to part with it. Ever.

BTW - James May hasn’t aged too well, has he?

Makes it a bargain at £20 pw

It was Jason May funnily enough rather than James. He looks young though. I was 26yo when that was new.

 

[rockits]

So, about 50p per mile in servicing costs during your ownership. I wonder how a similar era Maser, such as a 3200, would compare?!

My 4200 has been cheaper if I ignore the exhaust mod costs.

I guess any decent performance car is going to be £1-3k per year so I guess £1k is pretty good.

 

[Ewan]

I’d say it’s quite cheap. As with a car like that you’d expect to get heavily stung at some stage over such a long ownership period. Well done TVR.