Used car buying guide: TVR Chimaera

In 1996 a more thorough overhaul of the Chimaera was undertaken. The 285bhp 4.5-litre engine replaced the high-compression 4.0, and the chassis and brakes were tweaked, as was the exterior. A new split grille design, new tail-lights and door locks in the mirrors are how you can identify facelifts cars. The final update to the model (in 2001), which some refer to as the Mk3, is the rarest and featured fared-in headlights and seats from the Cerbera.

In a 1999 triple test against the Porsche Boxster and Honda S2000, we were still amazed by how well the car rode and handled. Our tester said: “It does not have to be driven in an extreme fashion to provide great entertainment, something that cannot be said of the Honda S2000.” The Chimaera certainly was, and still is, an impressive sports car.

What we said then

12 May 1999: “Old fashioned, perhaps, but the feeling of intimacy with the car, of being in something special, is how it should be.”

An expert's view

James Agger, James Agger Autosport TVR Specialists: “I’ve been selling and servicing Chimaeras since 1998. It’s a surprisingly practical car, but you have to look after it. Preventative maintenance — checking the chassis and treating any corrosion, and replacing old hoses and bushes, for example — will save you a lot of grief later on. It’s all about future-proofing the car. Anticipate and fix problems and a Chimaera will give you miles of faithful service. I’ve been to Le Mans and back five times in mine. Any bargains you see will need work doing, no question.”

Buyer beware

Engine: Mostly good news under the bonnet. The Rover V8 is tried and tested, and spare parts are readily available. The timing chain should be replaced every 100,000 miles, oil and filter every 6000 miles. The header tanks and cooling system could be problematic, bit this should have been solved with post-1994 Chimaeras.

Body: Again, mostly good news here, because the plastic body doesn’t rust. Be aware of stone chips, scratches and poor repairs, which can be expensive to rectify, especially on some of the more complex colours.

Chassis: More to worry about under here. Stones and scrapes can wear off the powder coating, especially on the outriggers, and create a serious rust problem with no visible evidence from the outside. Some cars will have been professionally zinc plated to prevent this, while others which have been Waxoyl’d at home could be hiding some nasty surprises.

Suspension: Check the condition of the springs by pushing the car down at each corner: it should return without bouncing. Wishbones are steel and cheap to replace.

Electrics: Check everything works, including the instrument panel backlight. TVRs don’t like sitting idle and electrics can get damp. The ECU, battery and relays are all in the front passenger footwell and difficult to work on.

Interior: Damp can peel and crack dashboard veneers; look for garage-stored cars and check for rips in the hood.

Also worth knowing

While many cars may be in near-concours condition, others will have fared much worse because their affordability has allowed them to slip into neglect: if a car is being sold cheap it will probably need some work to bring it up to a good standard. 

TVR as it was doesn’t exist, but there are many dedicated aftermarket specialists, such as Sportmotive and Racing Green Cars. Starting from less than £10,000, the Chimaera really is a bargain, especially when you consider its sister car, the Griffith, will cost at least £20,000.

The Chimaera was set up to be a little more relaxed, with slightly softer springs and a slightly longer wheelbase, but TVR still claimed the same 1060kg kerb weight as the Griffith. 

How much to spend

£8000–£11,999: Cars with high mileages and in the scruffiest condition, often with lots of owners. That doesn’t guarantee a nasty surprise, but spending more buys extra peace of mind.

£12,000-£17,999: Where the biggest selection is found, many with mileages in excess of 50,000 and five owners or more, but some come with extensive service and chassis refurbishment history (specifically the outriggers).