1998 TVR Chimaera

This is the second time we have sold this lovely 1998 TVR Chimaera 4.0 British classic. The previous keeper enjoyed it for two summers and ticked the TVR Chimaera off his list of cars to own. 

The vendor purchased it in November 2023. Upon collection, it was driven onto the trailer and taken straight to Str8 Six Ltd for them to service and carry out any work needed to prepare it for the summer months. Since then, it has covered just 23 miles, with 50ft of that being driven by the vendor and the rest driven by Str8 Six whilst on test. 

So, after spending well over £2,000 getting everything ship-shape, why decide to sell it? As many classic car owners know, there is always something else just itching to be ticked off your list, and with now four TVRs owned, his head has been turned towards another classic.

What's not to love about the TVR Chimaera? Not a lot! 

When the Chimaera was launched in 1991, the styling was ahead of its time. In the looks department, it ticks all the right boxes: smooth styling, vented bonnet, cool-shaped doors, and, on this particular model, the fantastic Rosso Pearl paintwork. 

There are some very minor marks here and there, which may be reduced with a machine polish, but overall, considering the car is 26 years old, it is doing remarkably well. 

Starting at the front of the car, the bonnet aligns well, and to the eagle-eyed amongst you, the headlights may remind you of another car. You would be right, as TVR used the same headlights a Porsche used in the 964 911. These, along with the indicators, are free from damage. There are some minor age-related stone chips, which are inevitable with the low and painted front end. 

Looking along the car's flanks, the doors align well on both sides. Opened via the button under the mirrors, they open as you would expect. The removable roof section is in good condition, the folding rear half sits tightly with no damage, and the plastic rear window is in excellent condition. 

The smooth rear end sees the two tailpipes. There is a tiny scratch on the edge of the bumper, but it could probably be touched in quite easily. One for the eagle eyes again, the rear lights are Mk3 Ford Fiesta units with smoked covers bonded to the body. The boot lid aligns as it should, with an equal gap on each side. 

Fitted with the original 16” five-spoke alloy wheels. These are in good condition with no signs of damage or corrosion to the faces. They have just been fitted with a new set of Continental tyres, which are the correct size and rating for the TVR, and have covered less than 30 miles.

With a bright exterior, it would have been rude to finish TVR with something darker. The Magnolia leather lifts the cabin to make it nice and bright, even with the roof on. 

The seats (mainly the driver's) have a small amount of patina that could possibly be reduced with some leather conditioner. Both door cards are finished with red leather, a deep pile carpet, and a Magnolia leather armrest; plus, Pioneer speakers provide the music - not that it’s necessary with a 4.0-litre V8 soundtrack. There are a couple of minor marks on the Magnolia leather, but nothing excessive. 

The red leather-topped dashboard is in good condition, all of the switchgear is reported to work correctly, and the odometer shows a reading of 32,361 miles. The walnut fascia has a couple of cracks in the lacquer, mainly noticed around the head unit and heater controls. 

The aluminium switchgear and controls all work as they should and show no real signs of age. A Kenwood head unit is fitted and connected to the boot-mounted Pioneer CD multi-changer. The vendor has recently had fitted a new passenger window motor and a door pin that was causing a slight battery drain. 

The deep-pile red carpets are in very good condition, thanks to the low miles covered. Inside, the boot area is clean and tidy. There is an Accumate battery conditioner ready for the winter months when the car is not used as much.

Fitted with the Rover 3,950 cc alloy V8 engine, the TVR fires up on the button without hesitation and runs superbly with no issues reported, thanks to a recent service and inspection by Str8 Six Ltd TVR specialists. 

The five-speed manual gearbox makes a precise change; as expected, the car pulls strongly through the gears. It is also worth noting that the car has power steering, making driving around town much more effortless. 

Part of the recent service work included fitting four new driveshaft and steering rack gaiters. The team at Str8 Six also fitted new wishbones, modified to stop the common problem of the bushes from sliding out of their position. 

The brakes were also inspected and given the all-clear, with no signs of significant wear to the discs or pads. 

The chassis is another common area of concern on any TVR of this age. This was also checked and reported to be in good order, and aside from some minor scratches, the floor area appears to be in good order.

Even though the Chimaera has only covered 32,361 miles the servicing record is excellent. The service book and invoices from relevant specialists also back this up.

Below is a breakdown of the services/repairs which have been carried out: 

• 20.11.1997 - customer handover stamp at 19 miles by Hawthorns SHG-TVR 
• 23.03.1998 and 1,084 miles - 1000-mile service by Hawthorns SHG-TVR 
• 03.12.1998 and 5,950 miles - 6000-mile service by Henley Heritage TVR 
• 26.07.1999 and 10,935 miles - 12,000-mile service by The Chequered Flag 
• 20.07.2000 and 14,595 miles - 18,000-mile service by G&M Autos 
• 19.11.2001 and 20,000 miles - 24,000-mile service by Offord Limited, a TVR specialist 
• 17.01.2003 and 23,786 miles - 30,000-mile service by Motorvation Motorsport 
• 03.11.2004 and 26,043 miles - 36,000-mile service, clean and Waxoyl chassis gussets plus a new wiper relay by Elmwood Vehicle Services 

Other routine maintenance work includes: 

• 21.05.2012 - new Bosch Powermax fuel pump from Powerspark 
• 20.11.2017 – Waxoyl to the underside, replacement passenger seatbelt mechanism, and alarm system fault remedied by Techniques 
• 22.11.2017 - wiper motor upgrade kit by Techniques 
• 27.03.2018 - new fuel hose and PAS fluid top-up by Prestige Performance Cars 
• 02.09.2019 – installation of a security system by Solutions 
• 20.09.2019 - new high-torque starter motor and cabling by Techniques 
• 15.07.2021 - new clutch slave cylinder and power steering pump by MTR vehicle repairs 
• 10.04.2024 - Service, new battery, door pin switch, upper front wishbones, 4 x driveshaft gaiters, steering rack gaiter, electric window motor by Str8 Six Ltd 

The car also comes with three keys and several previous MoT certificates. The current MoT is valid until 2nd April 2025 and it passed with no advisories. 

The vendor also mentioned that Jason at Str8 Six Ltd is happy to try to answer serious bidders' questions regarding the car's condition.

With summer just around the corner, anyone looking to purchase a British two-seater sportscar in a superb colour that has been well-maintained, has an excellent service history and is a low-mileage example should look no further than this lovely 1998 TVR Chimaera. 

We estimate this 4.0-litre powerhouse of fun will fetch in the region of £12,000 - £16,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at the Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are strictly by appointment. To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.