TVR Purchase / Upgrade Strategy

[GRC85]

Relocating back to the Uk and wanting to get either a Chim or Griff.

I ideally don’t want to spend more than 15-17k on the purchase, so that I have a small chunk left in reserve for any shocks in the short term and future upgrades to my specification.

The car I’m looking for needs to have a solid chassis with some restoration work done and if possible some receipts for engine work. The interior would be the next priority as I would plan to get the car painted 2-3 years down the line when I have off street parking. Having had a few fast cars, I would prefer the 500 or a minimum of 4.5 for the Chim.

With my budget it looks like the cars I can afford might have a cam refresh at best or could be an untouched engine above 70k. The Griff 4.0 appears to be a bit of a stretch with that budget but there are a few examples about that need some love.

My main dilemma is if I should go for a cheap 4.0 Griff, a well sorted 4.0 Chim or try get into a lower quality 4.5/5.0 Chim. The cost differences between a 4.0 and 5.0 are fairly significant and seem to average at least 4k for the Chims listed. Griffs appear to be all over the place.

Given the budget and my desire for torque and power, should I opt for the 4.0 and use the difference in cost plus some of my backup fund to build a higher power engine in the future a few years down the line?

I would assume that to get a 4.0 closer to a 500 I would be looking at a v8d 4.6 warrior or something like that? Are there any half way houses to be had that would come in less than the 4500 gbp plus vat that v8d quote? Something around the 280hp mark?

If I went with the warrior I’m assuming i would also need a remap? I would then be into the Lucas or aftermarket dilemma then and the additional costs associated to ignition side of things.

If I bought a 5.0, I am assuming a basic refresh including the top hat liner work would be much less than the v8d engine? Correct me if I’m wrong?

Appreciate these questions have been asked many times. Any help you could give a newbie would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Gareth

[Belle427]

I’m not sure if your part of the Griff Facebook group but a nice Griff 500 has just come up for sale at £18995 offers invited with a lot of nice work done, worth a look, mileage is up a bit but it has a rebuilt motor.
If I were buying again I’d try to get one that had key areas sorted, they do come up from time to time.
Pay a bit more at the start and just enjoy driving it and not wasting time doing work on it all the time.
Engine mods can become a very slippery slope and don’t really improve the cars enjoyment that much, your figure for a V8D engine is about right but they are one of the best in the business.

Edited by Belle427 on Tuesday 9th November 07:41

Edited by Belle427 on Tuesday 9th November 07:42

[Byker28i]

All TVR's are quick on the road and sound great. I wouldn't get hung up on engine size, power etc, but would instead concentrate on getting the one thats right for you, good chassis, right colour/interior, documented work and receipts etc.

[Trevor Lover 66]

I would completely agree with the previous posters here Gareth. I was in the market for a 450/500 Chim earlier in the summer and ended up buying a 400HC. It had had a full engine rebuild, upgraded shocks and a new ECU, silicone hoses and upgraded induction - however it is still on the original chassis which is solid (although I know it will need doing in a few years time), - and was around the price of your budget. When driving it - felt just as quick as a 500 and quicker than the 450 I drove.
In other words go for the condition/upgrades of the car you want first - don't get too hung up on the engine size.
Happy hunting.

[AKA PABS]

Hi Gareth, I got a Chimaera 500 with v8d’s rebuilt engine 329bhp, Ben Lang Bilstein set up (Tuscan S), new brakes, new rad, new starter, new heater matrix etc for 18K earlier this year. The chassis has had some attention by an eager past owner. So what your after is out there, it’s currently being re-trimmed, has had some paintwork done and it’s off to kits and classic for an emerald ecu in the new year. I love it, best car iv owned already looking forward to the spring. Happy hunting.

[PhilF329]

I agree with Byker - they are all quick. A Chim 400 is plenty quick enough in normal driving conditions and although slower when making real progress, in my view driving ability and overtaking skills are much bigger factors on most UK roads

[The Big G]

If you end up with a 4.0 as it’s the right car at the right price you can always upgrade the engine later on. Quite a few have put a turbo or two on. Which is easily done if the engine is in good shape. That’s if you’re open to going down the forced induction route.

[QBee]

This one would be very close to the top of my list:

click here

Full chassis restoration etc etc etc.