TVR Chimaera as a track car?
Discussion
OK, now that work regs / taxation has forced me into some sort of 'white goods' econobox for the station run, I'm turning my attention to the weekender.
I have a Mk1 MX5 at the moment and I like it. Some subtle upgrades (Gaz Gold coilovers, brake pads/discs/lines etc) mean that on track it is a hoot. Not the fastest, but it it has a nice balance and a raises a smile whenever I drive it. The other key point is that it is very low maintenace - it can be left unattended in the garage for months, then awoken, driven at 9/10ths on a track day and then tucked back into the garage and left.
Now, I'm hankering after a change: "TVR" and "V8" are both boxes that I need to tick at some point, so I'm having at browse at the cheaper end of the Chimaera scale.
Point is, what are they like as a track car? Do they stand the abuse? Do they suffer from hard use? The Mazda seems to love it and often drives better after a track day than before!
For some reason the standard car in my eyes comes across more "cruiser" than track car. But looking at the specs, this is a near 1000kg car, so pretty much the same as a Mk1 MX5.
Am I barking up the wrong tree or the right tree?
I have a Mk1 MX5 at the moment and I like it. Some subtle upgrades (Gaz Gold coilovers, brake pads/discs/lines etc) mean that on track it is a hoot. Not the fastest, but it it has a nice balance and a raises a smile whenever I drive it. The other key point is that it is very low maintenace - it can be left unattended in the garage for months, then awoken, driven at 9/10ths on a track day and then tucked back into the garage and left.
Now, I'm hankering after a change: "TVR" and "V8" are both boxes that I need to tick at some point, so I'm having at browse at the cheaper end of the Chimaera scale.
Point is, what are they like as a track car? Do they stand the abuse? Do they suffer from hard use? The Mazda seems to love it and often drives better after a track day than before!
For some reason the standard car in my eyes comes across more "cruiser" than track car. But looking at the specs, this is a near 1000kg car, so pretty much the same as a Mk1 MX5.
Am I barking up the wrong tree or the right tree?
Edited by Matt UK on Monday 21st February 20:06
Ig you know what you are doing and I don't see why not. Mostly mainstream parts under the skin. Body might be pricey to sort if you mess it up though.
If on a budget it might be worth looking for something like a TR7 V8. Similar size and weight to the TVR and powered by the same RV8 motors as well as a few other bits you might find on an early Chim too. Very good racing and rally pedigree, so loads of parts and track specific upgrades available.
If on a budget it might be worth looking for something like a TR7 V8. Similar size and weight to the TVR and powered by the same RV8 motors as well as a few other bits you might find on an early Chim too. Very good racing and rally pedigree, so loads of parts and track specific upgrades available.
Edited by 300bhp/ton on Monday 21st February 13:47
Loads of people use them in the TVR Sprint series to quite a bit of success, the Chim uses the same chassis as the Griff and that was sort of based on the Tuscan Racer Chassis so is proven pretty good on track. The rover lump will quite happily take the abuse and most of the car will too. However tyres might not last as long as they do on your MX5 
I've yet to put it to the test, but I can imagine the Chimaera would make quite a capable track car. My S-Series did. However, I would make a few observations:
- Noise is a killer. Even the standard cars are too noisy for some tracks without additional silencing. This is what actually led me to sell my previous TVR when I started doing a lot of track days.
- Bear in mind they have eight large cylinders, lots of torque and four large tyres. They're good value for what they are, but a Caterfield or MX5 is always going to be cheaper to run on track.
- Be very careful where you make the savings if you buy at the cheaper end of the market. An out-of-sorts example won't be much fun on track and will incur further costs down the line. That's not to say that cheap examples are inherently bad or that a car has to be concourse to drive well, but it does mean you have to know why it's at the lower end of the price range. A cat-D car might be a good bet if you're on a tight budget.
Some good points, thanks chaps.
Re running costs, I only do about 2,000 in the weekender, so not that fussed about petrol and tyres.
Noise is a good point though, hadn't thought of that one.
I won't be a dedicated track car, maybe 3 or 4 events a year plus a trip to the 'ring. So it will be used plenty on the road, but want to know that on track it can be driven hard and not suffer as result.
In terms of price I was just having a browse at this sort of thing - nothing obviously wrong, but would need to see it to be sure.
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2437126.htm
Re running costs, I only do about 2,000 in the weekender, so not that fussed about petrol and tyres.
Noise is a good point though, hadn't thought of that one.
I won't be a dedicated track car, maybe 3 or 4 events a year plus a trip to the 'ring. So it will be used plenty on the road, but want to know that on track it can be driven hard and not suffer as result.
In terms of price I was just having a browse at this sort of thing - nothing obviously wrong, but would need to see it to be sure.
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2437126.htm
Barkychoc said:
Does it have to be a Chim? There was a V8S on TVRCC Classifieds for £4750 I think. It has been a CatC but the repair was fully documented on the PH forums somewhere and the damage was pretty minimal.
Hi Chris, got to admire your dedication to the S series and the V8 S in particular. 
but what you said makes some sense. The V8S is smaller,a bit more nimble and could possibly make a very decent track day car. I cant speak from expierience but i would imagine the rear suspension on a chim would be better than the single trailing arm of the V8S. or is it? I can say that the S series cars, with their full tilt open bonnet, makes working on the engine in situ an absolute joy compared to the chim. Running repairs in the pit lane a lot easier!TJC46 said:
Barkychoc said:
Does it have to be a Chim? There was a V8S on TVRCC Classifieds for £4750 I think. It has been a CatC but the repair was fully documented on the PH forums somewhere and the damage was pretty minimal.
Hi Chris, got to admire your dedication to the S series and the V8 S in particular. but what you said makes some sense. The V8S is smaller,a bit more nimble and could possibly make a very decent track day car. I cant speak from expierience but i would imagine the rear suspension on a chim would be better than the single trailing arm of the V8S. or is it? I can say that the S series cars, with their full tilt open bonnet, makes working on the engine in situ an absolute joy compared to the chim. Running repairs in the pit lane a lot easier!
Personally I think the Chimaera has got more potential if you start developing things - largely because of its palpably higher chassis rigidity - but they're closer to each other in standard form than the price difference would suggest. It was the ex-Chimaera owner who bought my old S3 who first made that observation (with a rather shocked expression!) but I'm inclined to agree.
You can feel a very distinct family resemblance in the the meaty steering and the way they tuck into the corner and set up a nice throttle-adjustable stance. And although there is a significant difference in both grip and go you have to be trying pretty hard to really make use of it on 'fun' roads.
IMHO the Chimaera is a usefully better car if you're prepared to spend the extra money, but you can get fairly close with the S for a lot less dosh. If the budget is tight I'd seriously consider one as another option.
Funny really. A few years back I was considering an S instead of the MX5 and the internet opinion was "get the newer Chimaera instead"
Anyways, I like the looks of the Chimaera, so will likely continue having a look around. Thanks for the suggestions though.
Budget is not really 'tight' as such, but I'm not after a £15 pristine example to keep polished in the garage. The only reason I'm looking at the £8k mark is that there seem to be quite a few nice cars in that price bracket. But of course they may not be as solid as they look and could all be old nags. Also, higher miles does not really put me off if the history / condition is good and is priced accordingly.
If a couple of grands worth of chassis / brake mods improves things in a big way, then I won't rule that out of the picture either.
Anyways, I like the looks of the Chimaera, so will likely continue having a look around. Thanks for the suggestions though.
Budget is not really 'tight' as such, but I'm not after a £15 pristine example to keep polished in the garage. The only reason I'm looking at the £8k mark is that there seem to be quite a few nice cars in that price bracket. But of course they may not be as solid as they look and could all be old nags. Also, higher miles does not really put me off if the history / condition is good and is priced accordingly.
If a couple of grands worth of chassis / brake mods improves things in a big way, then I won't rule that out of the picture either.
I would suggest either buying one with uprated suspension or budgeting to allow to change it - When i compared my standard car to one with adjustable the difference was massive! THink price to change ranges from £700 - £1500 usually. Will make a massive difference if on the track (as im sure you know!)
probably look towards a 4.3 or 4.5 version too? ( or 5l if an affordable one comes up!) I'm certainly no expert and quite new to tvrs but from the cars I test drove I always felt the 4l was just abit lazy. I know that you can tune them etc but having the extra power and more free revving engine there already will mean you can spend more money on brake and suspension upgrades etc
I personaly can't wait to get my new chim on track, I think it will be a fantastic car for the job!
I personaly can't wait to get my new chim on track, I think it will be a fantastic car for the job!
probably look towards a 4.3 or 4.5 version too? ( or 5l if an affordable one comes up!) I'm certainly no expert and quite new to tvrs but from the cars I test drove I always felt the 4l was just abit lazy. I know that you can tune them etc but having the extra power and more free revving engine there already will mean you can spend more money on brake and suspension upgrades etc
I personaly can't wait to get my new chim on track, I think it will be a fantastic car for the job!
I personaly can't wait to get my new chim on track, I think it will be a fantastic car for the job!
£8k isn't too bad at all - when people talk about a cheap Chim they often mean 4...
Your cash will still go further with the older cars, though. And for that money I'd aim for a 430 - nice and revvy, rarest of all the engines, and almost as powerful as the 450. The bargain of the range IMHO.
Your cash will still go further with the older cars, though. And for that money I'd aim for a 430 - nice and revvy, rarest of all the engines, and almost as powerful as the 450. The bargain of the range IMHO.
I regularly track my 4.6 chim.
A couple of dozen T/D's under it's belt and it's been totally reliable.
Upgrade tyres, brakes and suspension, dial in a bit of experience and there won't be many cars passing you.
The good thing about a chim is it's affordable, goes well from standard and with a raft of upgrades available, you can do T/D's and improve it little by little as time goes by.
A couple of dozen T/D's under it's belt and it's been totally reliable.
Upgrade tyres, brakes and suspension, dial in a bit of experience and there won't be many cars passing you.
The good thing about a chim is it's affordable, goes well from standard and with a raft of upgrades available, you can do T/D's and improve it little by little as time goes by.
Chris71 said:
£8k isn't too bad at all - when people talk about a cheap Chim they often mean 4...
Your cash will still go further with the older cars, though. And for that money I'd aim for a 430 - nice and revvy, rarest of all the engines, and almost as powerful as the 450. The bargain of the range IMHO.
aye I went for the 430, was amazed by how it revved the 1st time I drove one, so smooth aswell for a v8 and seems a hell of a lot faster than the 4l much more of a sports engine imo. and only set me back 6k for a good example . they are few and far between though Your cash will still go further with the older cars, though. And for that money I'd aim for a 430 - nice and revvy, rarest of all the engines, and almost as powerful as the 450. The bargain of the range IMHO.
JonyTVR said:
aye I went for the 430, was amazed by how it revved the 1st time I drove one, so smooth aswell for a v8 and seems a hell of a lot faster than the 4l much more of a sports engine imo. and only set me back 6k for a good example . they are few and far between though
That 4.3 engine is a peach. Wasn't it supposed to be Peter Wheeler's pick of the Rover-based V8s? I very nearly bought a 430 myself. In the end I went for a 500 and the 430 went to another PHer who's actually owned the very same example before. He's had a fair number of TVRs over the years I believe, so it says something that he ended up coming from the other side of the country to buy his old 430 back.
It felt at least as quick as the 450s I drove, yet because all the 4.3s are early examples and they're not a well known engine they're somewhat undervalued. Great news if you're looking for a Chim on a budget though.
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