1997 TVR CHIMAERA

1996 TVR Chimaera 4.0 | Cooper Green | 63,915 Miles | Extensive History

A handsome, well-cared-for and largely original Chimaera 4.0 in Cooper Green—an original TVR colour—with cream leather and green carpets. First registered 18 April 1997, with nine previous keepers.

This is not a concours example, but it is an honest, very usable and reliable Chimaera with plenty of life left. It has been well cared for, sounds fantastic and is sensibly priced to sell.

Its characterful 4.0-litre Rover V8 is paired with a five-speed manual gearbox. At 64k miles, it runs and brakes well, and all electrics work as they should.

Importantly, this is the desirable non-power-steering model—regarded by many enthusiasts as the one to have for the greater feel, feedback and direct driving experience a lightweight TVR should provide. It also has the slightly later dashboard with rotary headlight control and the proper door-release buttons beneath the wing mirrors, giving cleaner bodywork without conventional exterior handles.

ORIGINAL AND UNMODIFIED

The fibreglass body retains the Chimaera’s distinctive original appearance, with no unnecessary changes to the indicators, wheels or exhaust; it looks and sounds as TVR intended.

The chassis is straight and retains its original chassis number. All outriggers were replaced with the body in situ by TVR specialists Lloyd Specialist Developments in 2021 (see pics).

A replacement hood, complete with plastic rear screen, remains in good condition. Staggered wheels comprise 16-inch rears with Uniroyal RainSport 5 tyres and 15-inch fronts with Toyo Proxes; all four have good tread.

EXTENSIVE DOCUMENTED HISTORY

Notable history:

• Mole Valley: original PDI at 24 miles; 1,000-mile service at 1,192 miles (May 1997).

• Mole Valley: 12,000-mile service at 3,631 miles (November 1998), including rear brake pads and alternator drive belt.

• H.R. Owen: 18,000-mile service at 11,416 miles (April 2000), replacement clutch slave cylinder and front brake hoses.

• H.R. Owen: work at 17,073 miles (July 2001), including 24,000-mile service, radiator, rear shock absorbers, front wishbone components and sump gasket.

• H.R. Owen: 30,000-mile service at 20,271 miles (February 2003), including front/rear brake discs, rear pads, front lower wishbones and bushes, rocker-cover gaskets and sump gasket.

• Dream Machines: service and sump-gasket replacement at 26,380 miles (August 2003).

• Dorset Jaguar & Sports Cars: 12,000-mile service at 41,972 miles (June 2010), including accessory belt, distributor cap, rotor arm, HT leads, fuel hose, throttle cable and rear exhaust mounting bracket.

• Dorset Jaguar & Sports Cars: 6,000-mile service at 43,032 miles (January 2012), including exhaust-manifold gasket work, removal of the right-hand cylinder head to extract a broken manifold stud, replacement engine mounts and ignition-control module.

• Lloyd Specialist Developments: major work at about 53,400 miles (2021), including both outriggers, major two-year service, clutch kit, rear main seal, sump reseal, engine/gearbox mounts, stainless braided brake hoses, upgraded Gates Barricade R14 fuel hoses, upper rear differential bush, roof/window seals and replacement headlamp reflectors.

• Motorcare: service at 57,573 miles (April 2023), including oil/filter, rear brake pads and attention to ignition-switch wiring.

• Southways Automotive: service at 60,240 miles (February 2024), including new clutch master cylinder and fabricated link pipe, headlamp bulbs and headlamp protection panel.

• Motorcare: sump reseal and oil/filter change at 62,836 miles (January 2025).

• Southways Automotive: service at 62,901 miles (March 2025), including gearbox and limited-slip differential oil changes. An apparent engine-oil leak was traced to the oil-pressure sender threads; the sender was removed, resealed with a new O-ring and tested, with no leak present.

A comprehensive 68-page digital history file includes the original dealer PDI, a stamped service book with 17 entries, invoices from recognised TVR dealers and specialists, MOT paperwork and numerous parts receipts. Documented invoices and receipts total over £18,800, including £5,948 spent with Lloyd Specialist Developments during major work in 2021.

INTERIOR AND EQUIPMENT

Cream leather and green carpets create a traditional British sports-car cabin. Sensible additions include a Pioneer SPH-20 DAB head unit, aftermarket speakers and useful 3D-printed cup holder.

A new battery is fitted, plus a longer boot strut for easier access when refuelling. Supplied with both keys and two Meta alarm remote fobs. The troublesome original immobiliser has been deleted, a common mod.

A sound, honest and characterful Chimaera with an impressive history file and substantial documented specialist expenditure. Not presented as concours, but as a complete, well-cared-for, reliable and very usable example, ready to enjoy and driving and sounding as a TVR should.

Priced to sell.