TVR chassis what years were good?

[pigeondave]

Hi,
I have been lurking for a long time and am looking to buy a TVR in the near future. I'm looking at getting a Chimaera. Does anyone know what years were better for chassis powder coating. It looks as if from the chim forum that '98 cars are to be avoided. Can anyone give me some other dates?
Also a member on here (TSS) has made a TVR Tuscan Buying Checklist, has anyone done a Chimaera one?

Thanks

[The AJP Griff]

Is that really true about the particular model year being worse,it doesnt sound sensible to me,really.I'd ignore choosing by the model year and buy with the eye when it comes to chassis.I've certainly seen older cars with better chassis than newer ones,as well as vice versa.It's more likely to come down to the life it's had imho.

Edited by The AJP Griff on Friday 23 November 20:40

[rev-erend]

Just because one guy starts an unsubstanciated rumour on the net - does not make it true.

These are area's that can rust and when a particular car has spent most of it's life outside and if the rubbish (dirt etc) has not been cleaned out of the outrigger and no wax oil added then the outrigger will go quicker than a well cared for car.

To put this into perspective - a Triumph TR6 of the same age would have been much worse and much more expensive to fix.

[Gazzab]

It is true that approx pre 97/98 and post 00/01 are the better chassis'.
they were paitning and preparing the chassis' better when demand was lower.

Edited by Gazzab on Friday 23 November 20:32

[ray_von]

Gazzab said:

It is true that approx pre 97/98 and post 00/01 are the better chassis'.
they were paitning and preparing the chassis' better when demand was lower.

Edited by Gazzab on Friday 23 November 20:32

I was told this by a well respected dealer, however I also agree with rev-erend, a well looked after one has a better chance of not rotting

[Hoover.]

I agree with the fact a well looked after chassis helps with its preservation.......

however there are a significant amount of 98 cars that have suffered chassis rot, not just in out rigger areas......

this would therefore suggest a quality issue at the factory... OR due to the success of TVR a lot more owners not knowing about chassis mainatance...... reality is its probably a combination of both

Just an observation, and my opinion ..... rightly or wrongly

[James MK]

Back in the 70s and early 80s there was a 12 year warranty against chassis corrosion. I wonder if anyone ever successfully made a claim?

[shorts!]

ray_von said:

Gazzab said:

It is true that approx pre 97/98 and post 00/01 are the better chassis'.
they were paitning and preparing the chassis' better when demand was lower.

Edited by Gazzab on Friday 23 November 20:32

I was told this by a well respected dealer, however I also agree with rev-erend, a well looked after one has a better chance of not rotting

It may be true, it may be not but even a well respected dealer may not always tell/know the truth . . .

[cloggy]

pigeondave said:

Hi,
Also a member on here (TSS) has made a TVR Tuscan Buying Checklist, has anyone done a Chimaera one?

Thanks

There is a buyers guide on the Chimaera pages.

http://www.chimaerapages.com/

[penno]

I have a 98 Chimaera and the chassis is in very good condition. It's how the car as been treated and looked after that counts not the year

[VARLEYHYD]

Well here's my 99 Chim!





G

[Zippee]

Mines an early 97 on a P plate and the chasis is perfect. Regularly stripped and wax oiled and very solid.
Whilst there may/may not be problems with some years the best bet is not to avoid a particular year at all costs but get the chassis properly checked over. If it's solid to begin with and you regularly keep an eye on it/treat it then I can't see why you'd have a problem!

[SimonV8ster]

VARLEYHYD said:

I've got a very presentable underside !

Now thats just showing off !!

[OscarT]

Of course how a chassis is maintained is important BUT I also believe that certain periods of production had better chassis treatment and storage. For example in the first year of Griffith production chassis were put into production as soon as they were fabricated such was the demand, whereas in later years chassis were stockiled, sometimes outside (Blackpool is beside the sea) and manhandled a lot more. These chassis may have gone into production with rust and joint damage already present.

OscarT

[jimed]

I did hear that some Chims were imported from Malaysia as they were also made there some years ago. It is possible that those chassis may not have been so well protected?? Does anyone know about the import thing or is it just a rumour??
Jim

[Paxo1]

Gazzab said:

It is true that approx pre 97/98 and post 00/01 are the better chassis'.

Edited by Gazzab on Friday 23 November 20:32

I was also told this by a very respectable TVR dealer, they changed the procedure during this time and i understand a decision was made not to degrease the chassis prior to the coating being applied. The chassis colour in question was definitely white during this time. Hence the pot luck on a good chassis from this period...how it has been treated during the interim will also have an effect..i think the answer is just to check that the chassis on the car you are buying is ok...especially one with a white coating from around '98