End of Chimaera?

End of Chimaera?

Author
Discussion

simpo one

Original Poster:

87,088 posts

272 months

Monday 15th July 2002
quotequote all
I saw today in Sprint that the factory were making Tuscans, Cerberas and Tamoras but no Chimaeras.

Has the model quietly been phased out after 9 trusty years? Or will they do a 'Special Edition' like the late Griffith?

raceboy

13,274 posts

287 months

Monday 15th July 2002
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As I read it, they are just being built to order, so expect the end soon, never really liked the last face lift though, the headlights just didn't look 'right' to me

simpo one

Original Poster:

87,088 posts

272 months

Tuesday 16th July 2002
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What! I post on the Chimaera group that the Chimp is about to be killed off and nobody cares. Oh well. Back to my Griff...

Gaffer

7,156 posts

284 months

Tuesday 16th July 2002
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The last Chim was built about 2 weeks ago from what I can gather.

Griffithy

929 posts

283 months

Wednesday 17th July 2002
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Another silent death

Anto

125 posts

289 months

Wednesday 17th July 2002
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A sad day indeed!

Still I managed to get the last ever Chim 500 to leave the factory

Anto

MikeyT

16,929 posts

278 months

Wednesday 17th July 2002
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Sad day indeed. The best looking car TVR have produced IMO.

R6CKT

89 posts

270 months

Wednesday 17th July 2002
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Anto just out of interest when did the last 500 leave the factory and has it got the enclosed headlights etc etc ?

And another thing TVR anounced back in Feb / March that they were stopping the chimaera and were going to build 450's in limited batches (18 per batch from memory) which in most peoples view will never happen.
It seems from looking for my 500 (for a year) that there were very few chimaeras made in 99,00,01,02 doent know exact numbers but it must be in the low 000's if that.
And then when you come to 500's it must be less than a 100 I would have thought.

>> Edited by R6CKT on Wednesday 17th July 09:07

Anto

125 posts

289 months

Wednesday 17th July 2002
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quote:

Anto just out of interest when did the last 500 leave the factory and has it got the enclosed headlights etc etc ?

>> Edited by R6CKT on Wednesday 17th July 09:07



R6CKT
I believe that mine left the factory on the 19-6-02 and it does have the enclosed lights, the new seats etc.


Anto

p7ulg

1,052 posts

290 months

Wednesday 17th July 2002
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Having owned a Cerbera and a Tuscan which were blindingly fast I have had the most enjoyment out of my Chimaera.Given a sunny day there is nothing to touch it (Cerbera was a great car but the roof did'nt come off!).As for the Tamora well it is growing on me but still not sure about the shape, and it does'nt have a V8.Having seen the new Tuscan R it is a little worrying that TVR is heading into the Ferrari territory of the seriously well off and most dyed in the wool TVR owners will never aspire to one of these cars.The Chimeara represented an affordable sportscar with good looks, performance and usability.

RIP Chimaera.

plotloss

67,280 posts

277 months

Wednesday 17th July 2002
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A damned shame on the whole I reckon.

Still, at least it means that mine will be a bit more of a rarity which is something I suppose!

Matt.

simpo one

Original Poster:

87,088 posts

272 months

Wednesday 17th July 2002
quotequote all
'it is a little worrying that TVR is heading into the Ferrari territory'

Yes. I feel that with the Griffith and Chimaera gone, an era has passed, and whilst their replacements may be very competent and spaceage, I don't want one.

But that's probably what an earlier generation felt when the first Tasmin hit the streets and kicked the Vixens and Ms into history...

JonRB

76,113 posts

279 months

Wednesday 17th July 2002
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To be honest, it doesn't surprise me in the least that the Chimaera is going out of production. Dropping the 500 and 400 and only offering the 450 "to order" was a thinly disguised model retirement anyway.

Also, with the list price of the 450 only £1,500 less than the Tamora it was obvious that it couldn't survive.

Its a great pity. The last of the Rover V8 cars - an end of an era.

plotloss

67,280 posts

277 months

Wednesday 17th July 2002
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quote:

Also, with the list price of the 450 only £1,500 less than the Tamora it was obvious that it couldn't survive.



Up until recently at the dealer I bought my Chim from the Chim was still outselling the Tamora, bizzare I know, but true.

Matt.

CleG

567 posts

271 months

Wednesday 17th July 2002
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I hear they are stopping the Chimaera to start making Griffs again

ap_smith

1,997 posts

273 months

Wednesday 17th July 2002
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What I'm about to say will probably be deeply unpopular, and lead to me being flamed to eternity but....

I've always felt the Chimaera was the ugliest TVR in the line. It seemed like an fat, overweight version of the Griffith with it's rounder, middle age spread, curves rather than the dagger like aggression of the Griff.

No doubt that my opinion isn't shared by a huge number of owners/admirers and the Chimaera is partly responsible for TVR's success.

I'll put my smoking jacket on now

p7ulg

1,052 posts

290 months

Wednesday 17th July 2002
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Not as ugly as the convertable Subaru on your page Andy!Sorry

You better make that a nomex suit and not a smoking jacket.

shpub

8,507 posts

279 months

Wednesday 17th July 2002
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quote:


I've always felt the Chimaera was the ugliest TVR in the line.



It's code name wasn't Ugly Pig for nothing!

Steve

JonRB

76,113 posts

279 months

Wednesday 17th July 2002
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quote:
I've always felt the Chimaera was the ugliest TVR in the line. It seemed like an fat, overweight version of the Griffith with it's rounder, middle age spread, curves rather than the dagger like aggression of the Griff.


A little harsh, but I guess you wanted to provoke a reaction.

Personally I was quite "take it or leave it" on the Chimaera's styling when I bought a 500 a year ago. I bought it for its performance and touring ability.
However, I've fallen in love with its looks as well now.

However, we're all entitled to our opinion, so I'll leave you to have yours, and me to have mine.

>> Edited by JonRB on Wednesday 17th July 11:46

plotloss

67,280 posts

277 months

Wednesday 17th July 2002
quotequote all
I've often thought that the last version Chims, as they are identical to Griffs underneath should have come with replacement body parts a la Smart cars, then if you fancied a griff one day you stuck the griff panels on and if you fancied a chim you stuck the chim panels on.



Matt.