Buying advice - TVR Chimera 400
Discussion
Hi all,
After a few years away from cars I want to start working my way through my bucket list again and one of the cars on the list is a TVR.
After my friend ran a Cerbera that appeared to be cursed (R72 EAN I think it was) I’ve decided that I want to get something at the lower end of the price scale to avoid marriage-ending levels of bork.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/255498863880
This is the car I’ve seen which looks good, it’s my personal favourite colour scheme of dark green/cream interior, looks to have had all the big jobs done in the recent past and the advert seems genuine.
The only negatives I can pull is that it’s high mileage (compared to some peers) and it’s an ‘early’ car, but I don’t full get what this means and why (or even if) they should be avoided.
I’m planning on keeping the car outside during the summer with a cover over the roof, during the winter it’ll be put into storage.
What else should I be looking for or aware of when going to view?
After a few years away from cars I want to start working my way through my bucket list again and one of the cars on the list is a TVR.
After my friend ran a Cerbera that appeared to be cursed (R72 EAN I think it was) I’ve decided that I want to get something at the lower end of the price scale to avoid marriage-ending levels of bork.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/255498863880
This is the car I’ve seen which looks good, it’s my personal favourite colour scheme of dark green/cream interior, looks to have had all the big jobs done in the recent past and the advert seems genuine.
The only negatives I can pull is that it’s high mileage (compared to some peers) and it’s an ‘early’ car, but I don’t full get what this means and why (or even if) they should be avoided.
I’m planning on keeping the car outside during the summer with a cover over the roof, during the winter it’ll be put into storage.
What else should I be looking for or aware of when going to view?
if you've not done so join the TVR Chimaera owners & enthusiasts facebook group and ask all the questions you like there, we're a really friendly lot.
Early Chimaeras like that one have a rover gearbox as opposed to the later (and better) Borg Warner T5 box.
There are a few differences between earlier and later cars but the gearbox is the most significant
see you in the Facebook group!
Early Chimaeras like that one have a rover gearbox as opposed to the later (and better) Borg Warner T5 box.
There are a few differences between earlier and later cars but the gearbox is the most significant
see you in the Facebook group!
As per the previous post, there is a good book which covers this, however to answer a few questions:
- Not huge changes between the early cars and later versions - main one being the Rover LT77 gearbox in this version against the T5 box in later versions. easy to tell, LT77 has the door opener in the gear knob well, T5 is under your elbow
- Easy to tell the difference between Mk1 and Mk2, Mk2 have a bar across the front radiator opening and semi recessed rear number plate.
- Mk1 didn't have the "button under the mirror" door opening, it is via a button on the B pillar - 1993 will probably have a key rarther than remote unlocking.
- later Mk1 and Mk2 had serpentine belt engines with a different water pump housing.
- Minor changes to the dashboard buttons
90K is only about 3k per year so isn't huge, and these cars like to be used rather than sit. Chassis and outriggers are the most important points, so buy on condition and history rather than age /MK1/Mk2 etc.
- Not huge changes between the early cars and later versions - main one being the Rover LT77 gearbox in this version against the T5 box in later versions. easy to tell, LT77 has the door opener in the gear knob well, T5 is under your elbow
- Easy to tell the difference between Mk1 and Mk2, Mk2 have a bar across the front radiator opening and semi recessed rear number plate.
- Mk1 didn't have the "button under the mirror" door opening, it is via a button on the B pillar - 1993 will probably have a key rarther than remote unlocking.
- later Mk1 and Mk2 had serpentine belt engines with a different water pump housing.
- Minor changes to the dashboard buttons
90K is only about 3k per year so isn't huge, and these cars like to be used rather than sit. Chassis and outriggers are the most important points, so buy on condition and history rather than age /MK1/Mk2 etc.
Sorry to hear your friend had troubles with R72 EAN. I think I sold him it back in 2014. I had spent £15k on it over a 5,000 mile and 3 year ownership period. I would have expected it to have been slightly more manageable for the next person!
Anyway, onto the Chimaera. They are significantly easier to run and maintain than the equivalent Cerbera, they can’t really be compared on any level. I do seem to recall that both yourself and your friend (was it Matt?) had come from a background of Japanese cars, and the TVRs were a culture shock, let’s say. On that level, the Chimaera will be more of the same.
I always felt the Cerberas I have owned were all working every single component right on the limit of their capabilities. The Chimaera is a level below this; many more off the shelf parts, a lazier engine under less strain, less bespoke switchgear and control boxes etc, but the engineering methods are still the same. You’ll get 70 percent of the Cerbera experience, but it should be an easier ride, emotionally.
Good luck.
Anyway, onto the Chimaera. They are significantly easier to run and maintain than the equivalent Cerbera, they can’t really be compared on any level. I do seem to recall that both yourself and your friend (was it Matt?) had come from a background of Japanese cars, and the TVRs were a culture shock, let’s say. On that level, the Chimaera will be more of the same.
I always felt the Cerberas I have owned were all working every single component right on the limit of their capabilities. The Chimaera is a level below this; many more off the shelf parts, a lazier engine under less strain, less bespoke switchgear and control boxes etc, but the engineering methods are still the same. You’ll get 70 percent of the Cerbera experience, but it should be an easier ride, emotionally.
Good luck.
If you want to check the MoT history, the GOV.UK website lets you see the passes, fails and advisories going back many years :
https://www.check-mot.service.gov.uk/
Reg is K545 RUT.
https://www.check-mot.service.gov.uk/
Reg is K545 RUT.
KarlMac said:
Hi all,
After a few years away from cars I want to start working my way through my bucket list again and one of the cars on the list is a TVR.
After my friend ran a Cerbera that appeared to be cursed (R72 EAN I think it was) I’ve decided that I want to get something at the lower end of the price scale to avoid marriage-ending levels of bork.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/255498863880
This is the car I’ve seen which looks good, it’s my personal favourite colour scheme of dark green/cream interior, looks to have had all the big jobs done in the recent past and the advert seems genuine.
The only negatives I can pull is that it’s high mileage (compared to some peers) and it’s an ‘early’ car, but I don’t full get what this means and why (or even if) they should be avoided.
I’m planning on keeping the car outside during the summer with a cover over the roof, during the winter it’ll be put into storage.
What else should I be looking for or aware of when going to view?
I wouldn’t let the mileage put you off but it can affect resale should you want to move it on in the future, it is priced fairly enough though.After a few years away from cars I want to start working my way through my bucket list again and one of the cars on the list is a TVR.
After my friend ran a Cerbera that appeared to be cursed (R72 EAN I think it was) I’ve decided that I want to get something at the lower end of the price scale to avoid marriage-ending levels of bork.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/255498863880
This is the car I’ve seen which looks good, it’s my personal favourite colour scheme of dark green/cream interior, looks to have had all the big jobs done in the recent past and the advert seems genuine.
The only negatives I can pull is that it’s high mileage (compared to some peers) and it’s an ‘early’ car, but I don’t full get what this means and why (or even if) they should be avoided.
I’m planning on keeping the car outside during the summer with a cover over the roof, during the winter it’ll be put into storage.
What else should I be looking for or aware of when going to view?
At almost £5k I’d be expecting a full engine rebuild but knowing what specialists charge I doubt it.
As has been said the later T5 box is a much nicer stronger thing but the LT77 has been around for years and used in a lot of cars, can be tricky to rebuild these days as quality parts are rare.
Looks a tidy car for the money.
It's not relevant to the car advertised, but if looking at later ones it's not quite as simple as MKI and MKII: the Cerbera-type front (bar across front air- intake) was introduced a couple of years before the semi-recessed rear number plate.
The later ones (c1996-on) had slightly bigger brakes (as Griff 500). Diffs also different (early GKN, later (96?) BTR). Instruments different on early cars, although it's difficult to be precise on precise dates because of the way TVR introduced the changes.
The later ones (c1996-on) had slightly bigger brakes (as Griff 500). Diffs also different (early GKN, later (96?) BTR). Instruments different on early cars, although it's difficult to be precise on precise dates because of the way TVR introduced the changes.
Belle427 said:
At almost £5k I’d be expecting a full engine rebuild but knowing what specialists charge I doubt it.
It says it was 2004/05 so I would hope that would have been a full engine rebuild at that cost!For reference I had a full rebuild done on my 400 as recently as 2019 which included having the heads fully sorted, bores re-honed, new bearings, rings, camshaft, valvetrain etc. Also sorted out cracked manifolds and gaskets at the same time. Had a small amount of change from £5k, and that was at one of the main specialists.
Edited by Squirrelofwoe on Thursday 5th May 09:52
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