1998 TVR Chimaera |

Sold

1998 TVR Chimaera

This vehicle has now been sold - click ‘Register Similar’ below to get notified when we consign a similar vehicle.

Sold Price

£10,600

Mileage~63,700
TransmissionManual
Engine4.0L
LocationStocksfield

SOLD

1998 TVR Chimaera

I WANT ONE

Introduction

Isaac Wass

Professional Consignor

A lightweight fibreglass shell combined with the tried and tested Rover V8 makes for a very quick and accessible performance focused car.

TVR is notorious for doing things a little differently. The Blackpool-born company started around 1947 and has produced some of the most iconic lightweight sports cars the UK has ever seen. The Chimaera hits the sweet spot between a highly focused performance car and a useable weekend toy. Under the lightweight fiberglass bonnet you'll find the Rover V8 - built around simple and strong mechanics and underneath the body, the Chimaera was based on the same tubular chassis as the Griffith, but with more forgiving suspension and more luggage space. As time passed it quickly became TVRs best-selling model, surpassing the Griffith and despite its laid-back setting many actually preferred the handling balance of the Chimaera.

This stunning Chimaera comes to market from ~16 years ownership. Finished in "Cuirass Blue" with cream leather interior, the car has just 2 former keepers registered, and comes with a great service history which includes new outriggers being fitted in 2015.

This listing was written from information supplied by Isaac after meeting John the owner, and having visited and photographed the vehicle.

Secure Auctions

We verify all our sellers and buyers to keep our community safe whilst also providing the highest levels of website security.

Full Transparency

8 out of 10 people that buy cars via our service don’t feel the need to visit due to the transparency and thoroughness of our listings.

Vehicle Delivery

We're there every step of your buying journey and will even arrange pick-up and delivery of your new vehicle.

Secure Auctions

We verify all our sellers and buyers to keep our community safe whilst also providing the highest levels of website security.

Full Transparency

8 out of 10 people that buy cars via our service don’t feel the need to visit due to the transparency and thoroughness of our listings.

Vehicle Delivery

We're there every step of your buying journey and will even arrange pick-up and delivery of your new vehicle.

Meet the owner

From the wild roads of Scotland's NC500 to the twisting streets of Monte Carlo, the Chimaera has never let me down.

John first purchased the TVR in 2007 after a successful year in business as a treat to himself, he opted for the Chimaera as it was not only incredible bang for buck, but also less gaudy than the Griffith. Over the years John has enjoyed many trips in his Chimaera, including the revered NC500 and even having driven the car to Monte Carlo to drive the Monaco Grand Prix circuit.

During this time he has never had the car let him down and, despite the general consensus of TVR’s being unreliable, John likes to think his Chimaera has been the perfect balance of workhorse and fun during his ownership. He's kept on top of servicing when the car has been in regular use, he kept the car off the road for much of the first years of ownership before starting to use it on the road trips mentioned above. However as with all good things it must eventually come to an end and with a house move on the horizon, the car comes to sale with us. John will be happy to answer any questions on the car in the comments section below.

John

Vehicle Owner

John saved £1,800* when they
sold their TVR with us.

SELLING MADE EASY

We'll take the photos & create the listing.
We'll market it to our 62K buyers & online.
You'll keep your car until it's paid for.

PEACE OF MIND FOR BUYERS

They can fully review our cars online.
They can buy on our trusted platform.
They're able to buy without leaving home.

LEARN MORE

EXTERIOR VIDEO

Exterior

The Chimaera is a tastefully designed car, with its distinctive curves and styling cues making it a British poster icon for many in the late 90s.

Wheels and Tyres

The 5 spoke alloy wheels are in good condition, with no major damage present on any of the four corners. There is a light scuff on the passenger side wheel but this is the only obvious visible imperfection to any of the wheels.

The wheels are dressed in Toyo Proxes T1R tyres, a well rounded and balanced performance tyre in the mid-range budget, and these are DOT marked 2005. Whilst being fairly old, they still have a reasonable amount of tread left and do not suffer from any sidewall damage that we could see.

Bodywork

The bodywork of the TVR Chimaera is fibreglass and for a fibreglass car the panel fitment is well above what we’ve come to expect. With all panel gaps lining up as expected and no obvious cracking to any of the panels, the bodywork is in good shape and is obviously immune to corrosion or rot.

We've highlighted in more detail our observations through our high resolution images and videos, so please take time to look through all the media files for a detailed view at what’s on offer, and for you to assess the condition of the car for yourselves.

Paint

The TVR Chimaera is wearing a interesting colour that goes by the name of "Cuirass Blue", a blue toned silver paint with light flecks of purple metallic throughout. The paintwork is in good condition, free of any major scuffs, scratches, or other such damage. The front end has a peppering of stone chips, however this is hard to see in detail due to the fly splattered front end - the bane of country side living.

Again, we have taken high resolution images and videos of the car for you to assess the condition of the bodywork for yourselves. The images are taken from a few different angles to show off the car as you would see it if you were standing there for yourselves. So please take the time to fully assess these high resolution images and videos of the car, for you to make up your own minds about the condition of the paint.

Glass and Trim

The glass on the car is in good condition, with no evident chips, cracks, or scratches to any of the panes. Likewise the rear plastic window is in good condition too - with slight creases from use over the years but otherwise free of damage, and the fabric roof is in good condition.

VIEW ALL

INTERIOR VIDEO

Interior

The all-leather interior is a charming place to be with a performance focused layout evidently on the minds of the designers at the time.

Seats and Carpets

The cream leather interior is in good condition, with no major damage or wear to any of the seat bolsters, and no rips or tears present on either seat. The only detractor is a small spot of very light wear to the drivers seat bolster, but this is hardly noticeable and could easily be taken care of by a leather care specialist.

Dashboard

The all leather dashboard is wrapped in contrasting navy leather and is in great condition, with no damage to be seen on the hide and no visible damage to the wooden inlay of the dash face either.

Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

The black leather steering wheel is also in good condition, with no major wear present to wheel and with all stitching intact too. Likewise the turned aluminium gear knob is in good condition, with no major damage to the metal or to the navy leather gaiter surrounding it.

VIEW ALL

'ON THE ROAD' VIDEO

Mechanics

The tried and trusted 4.0L Rover V8 offers ~240BHP and a top speed of ~150MPH, coming together to provide a 0-60 time of 4.6s, an incredible amount of performance.

Engine and Gearbox

The Rover V8 was used due to its simple and strong mechanical foundation, providing easily accessible power in a naturally aspirated format. During our time with the car the vehicle started first time and without issue, and performed faultlessly out on the road. This can be seen during our ‘On The Road’ video.

Likewise the gearbox performed without fault, providing slick and firm gear changes throughout the range. When speaking with John he commends the gearbox for feeling so incredibly tight and precise in spite of its age and mileage.

Suspension and Brakes

The suspension of the TVR Chimaera is undeniably stiff, after all the heart of the TVR’s focus is performance, but this doesn’t mean the ride is uncomfortable - on longer journeys the comfort of the cabin makes up for the stiffness of the suspension.

During our time with the car we noticed no knocks or untoward noises from any of the suspension components and can safely say the brakes are in fully working order, with the lightweight chassis of the Chimaera providing the car with massive braking effort at the touch of the pedal. The outriggers were replaced in 2015 as detailed in the history section.

The Drive

The TVR Chimaera was designed with performance in mind, this is evident in its lightweight fibreglass shell, 240bhp Rover V8 engine, and stiff suspension. With breathtaking acceleration and undeniably good cornering ability, the Chimaera offers one of the best true sports car experiences at an entry level price and you’d be hard pushed not to find yourself smiling from ear to ear after even a short B-road blast.

Electrics and Other

During our time with the car we noted all electronics to be working, with no fault lights present on the dashboard and all interior lights, gauges, and blowers working as expected. The exterior lights are also in fully working order, with no faults to mention there either.

VIEW ALL

History and Paperwork

A very special car that was designed to look amazing and go fast, very fast, this example comes from long ownership of ~16 years and just 2 former keepers registered.

This 1998 TVR Chimaera comes to market from a ~16 year ownership with John the 3rd owner, showing only ~63,700 miles on the odometer and coming with a complete service history with gaps between 2007 and 2015 being accounted for by the car being dry stored. A fast, fun, and budget beating sports car, the TVR offers anything but entry level performance and yet remains accessible to all.

We’ve done all our usual seller checks including photo ID, V5 and also actioned a HPi check on the vehicle.

We've summarised our own view on the car based on information gained from the seller in the listing above, however, and as you can see, we go to great lengths to photograph and video the car in high resolution detail - this has been done for you to make your own assessment from the comfort of your sofa. So please sit back, have a cuppa and take your time to review everything on this listing in order to make your own assessment on the vehicle's condition. Viewings are also welcomed with all our listings, so please get in touch with us to arrange a suitable time - we just need to speak to you first and receive a valid photo ID before confirming.

If there's anything you're unsure about, no matter how small, then please first ask the owner in the comments area below before placing your bid/s, as bids can't be retracted and form a binding contract if you win the car - just like a traditional auction house.

Service History

Date	Type	Mileage
22.04.1998	Pre-Delivery Inspection	38
01.06.1998	1,000 Mile Service	822
16.07.1998	6,000 Mile Service	2,928
17.05.2002	12,000 Mile Service	7,476
05.12.2002	18,000 Mile Service	14,418
30.07.2003	24,000 Mile Service	20,000
29.10.2003	24,000 Mile Service	24,692
14.06.2004	30,000 Mile Service (Oil and Filter Only)	30,647
10.10.2004	36,000 Mile Service	35,824
17.07.2005	42,000 Mile Service	41,800
22.12.2005	48,000 Mile Service	47,524
20.06.2006	54,000 Mile Service	52,950
25.05.2007	12 Month Service	55,049
04.09.2015	Lubrication and Inspection Service	56,885
28.04.2016	Levels Check and Engine Oil Top Up	57,623
22.09.2021	Engine Oil Top Up	61,677