1997 TVR CHIMAERA

A well-cared-for and largely original TVR Chimaera 4.0, finished in Cooper Green—an original TVR colour—with cream leather and green carpets. First registered on 18 April 1997 and showing just 63,915 miles.

Both outriggers were replaced by respected TVR specialists Lloyd Specialist Developments in 2021, as part of £5,948 of major work that also included a new clutch, engine and gearbox mounts, braided brake hoses, upgraded fuel hoses and a major service.

The car comes with an exceptional 68-page digital history file, a stamped service book containing 17 entries, MOT paperwork and invoices and receipts totalling more than £18,800, including work by recognised TVR dealers and specialists such as H.R. Owen, Lloyd Specialist Developments and Southways Automotive.

Powered by the characterful 4.0-litre Rover V8 and paired with a five-speed manual gearbox, the car runs and drives very well, brakes well and all electrics work as they should.

This is an honest, properly maintained and very usable Chimaera rather than a concours example. It has been well cared for, sounds fantastic and is ready to enjoy.

DESIRABLE NON-POWER-STEERING MODEL

Importantly, this is the desirable non-power-steering model, regarded by many enthusiasts as the one to have for its greater feel, feedback and the 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 the cleaner bodywork without conventional exterior door 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.

Crucially, all outriggers were replaced with the body in situ by Lloyd Specialist Developments in 2021. Photographs of the work are included with the car and in the advert.

A replacement hood, complete with plastic rear screen, remains in good condition.

The staggered wheels comprise 16-inch rears fitted with Uniroyal RainSport 5 tyres and 15-inch fronts with Toyo Proxes. All four tyres have good tread.

EXTENSIVE DOCUMENTED HISTORY

The car has an unusually comprehensive history stretching back to its original dealer PDI.

Notable documented work includes:

* 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 and 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 approximately 53,400 miles (2021), including replacement of both outriggers, major two-year service, clutch kit, rear main seal, sump reseal, engine and 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 and 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.

The comprehensive 68-page digital history file includes the original dealer PDI, stamped service book with 17 entries, invoices from recognised TVR dealers and specialists, MOT paperwork and numerous parts receipts.

Documented invoices and receipts total more than £18,800, including £5,948 spent with Lloyd Specialist Developments during the major work in 2021.

INTERIOR AND EQUIPMENT

Cream leather and green carpets give the car the traditional British sports-car cabin that suits the Cooper Green exterior particularly well.

Sensible additions include a Pioneer SPH-20 DAB head unit, aftermarket speakers and a useful 3D-printed cup holder.

A new battery has recently been fitted, along with a longer boot strut which makes access considerably easier when refuelling.

The car is supplied with both keys and two Meta alarm remote fobs.

The troublesome original immobiliser has been deleted, a common modification on these cars.

CONDITION

This is not being presented as a concours or show car. It is an honest, largely original, properly maintained and very usable Chimaera with the minor cosmetic imperfections you would expect of a car of this age.

More importantly, it has benefited from substantial specialist expenditure over its life, including replacement outriggers, clutch and numerous other significant maintenance items.

It starts, runs, drives and brakes as it should, all electrics work, and it has proved reliable during my ownership.

It sounds exactly as a 4.0-litre Rover V8 TVR should.

REASON FOR SALE

I bought the car earlier this year and have thoroughly enjoyed owning it, covering only minimal mileage and attending to a few small jobs during my ownership.

I'm now rationalising the number of vehicles I own and need to free up garage space, hence the realistic asking price and relatively short period of ownership.

There is no hidden story behind the sale.

Overall, this is a sound, honest and characterful Chimaera with an impressive history file, replacement outriggers and substantial documented specialist expenditure.

For somebody looking for a Chimaera to drive and enjoy rather than simply polish and display, I think it represents a very appealing example.

Sensibly priced for a straightforward sale.