1997 TVR Chimaera 400

Highlights

• Beautifully presented following a comprehensive refresh 2021

• Full interior retrim, new roof and new walnut dashboard

• Just 50,000 miles from three former keepers

• 11 years in current ownership

• Documented chassis outrigger renewal

Overview

Some cars rely on a spec sheet to win you over. The TVR Chimaera just needs to fire up. Arriving in 1992 as the roadster you could genuinely live with, it took the raw drama of the Griffith and gave it longer legs, a bigger boot and a friendlier temperament, all wrapped in curvaceous glassfibre over a tubular steel backbone. Feed it a good B-road and the Rover-derived V8 does the rest, and if you have ever wondered why PHers talk about these cars with a daft grin, and five minutes behind the wheel will tell you everything.

What makes this particular Chimaera stand out is how freshly it presents. In 2021 the cabin was comprehensively retrimmed in a striking two-tone scheme of cream leather with contrasting deep-red, a colour combination that suits the car beautifully and lifts it well clear of the ordinary. A new burr walnut dashboard, a new roof and a new stereo went in at the same time, so you step into something that feels properly loved. Outside, the deep metallic red paint carries a strong, even gloss, and the refurbished alloys sit over red-painted calipers for a purposeful stance.

Better still, it is honest underneath the shine. The backbone chassis is solid and waxoiled, the outriggers were renewed back in 2014, and with only 50,000 miles on the clock this is a Chimaera that has clearly been cherished. Three former keepers and roughly 11 years with its current owner tell the story of a car people tend to keep.

In deep red over cream and red leather, this is a genuinely handsome, hand-built British V8 roadster that is ready to be driven home and enjoyed from the very first turn of the key.

History and Documentation

• Registered 10 June 1997

• Service book stamped as follows: Jun 1997 @ 21 miles, Jul 1997 @ 1,050 miles, Dec 1997 @ 6,281 miles, Mar 1999 @ 10,191 miles, Jan 2000 @ 14,116 miles, Dec 2001 @ 15,324 miles, Sep 2002 @ 21,319 miles, Sep 2003 @ 27,412 miles

• Chassis outriggers replaced on both sides and the rear anti-roll-bar drop links renewed by a marque specialist in 2014

• Comprehensively refreshed in June 2021 with a full interior retrim, new black roof, new walnut dashboard, new Pioneer DAB stereo and new carpets

• New clutch hydraulic kit comprising master, slave and pushrod fitted in January 2021

• Three former keepers, with the car in current ownership for around 11 years

• Original TVR owners handbook and service book present, along with a folder of invoices and old MOT certificates

• Two sets of keys

• Current MOT expires 4 August 2027

• HPI report clear

Interior

• The cabin was comprehensively retrimmed in 2021 in a striking two-tone scheme of cream leather with contrasting deep-red door cards and transmission tunnel

• Cream leather seats carry embossed TVR headrest logos and neat contrast stitching, with taut bolsters and only light natural creasing

• A new burr walnut dashboard sets off the cream-faced TVR instruments and analogue clock

• Polished aluminium ball gear knob and matching handbrake lever add to the hand-built feel

• Three-spoke Personal steering wheel wears a gold TVR boss and shows light patina to the rim

• Pioneer DAB head unit is fitted alongside door-mounted speakers

• Tan carpets with red piping complete the cabin, though the aftermarket rubber overmat in the driver's footwell is worn

• Twin polished stainless rollover hoops sit behind the seats with a wind deflector between them

Exterior

• Finished in deep metallic red with a strong, even gloss that flatters the curvaceous glassfibre body

• Panels are straight with consistent shut lines

• Age-typical minor chips and light scratches are present, including a couple of small chips on a lower front wing edge

• Refurbished multi-spoke silver alloys wear yellow TVR centre caps over red-painted calipers, with light rim wear to one wheel

• Four matching tyres are fitted with healthy tread

• Headlamp lenses are clear, the amber indicators intact and the rear light clusters unmarked

• Black fabric hood and a removable Targa roof panel are both present, the hood sound with a clear rear window

• Displayed in the windscreen is a TVR Car Club sticker

Mechanical

• The 4.0-litre Rover-derived V8 wears a '400'-badged alloy plenum and produces approximately 240bhp

• Drive goes to the rear wheels through a five-speed manual gearbox

• A good example will crack 0-60mph in under five seconds, and the soundtrack is pure hand-built British V8

• Documented work includes the 2014 chassis outrigger and drop-link renewal and the January 2021 clutch hydraulic kit

• According to the vendor it has a new battery and a replaced alternator, with the original immobiliser occasionally temperamental

• That aside, the vendor reports it starts first time, idles cleanly and drives beautifully, ready to enjoy straight away

Summary

This is a Chimaera bought with the eyes and kept with the heart, a deep red 4.0 V8 roadster whose 2021 retrim and fresh cabin make it feel far younger than its 50,000 miles suggest. It presents beautifully inside and out, it is solid and waxoiled underneath, and with supporting history in the folder it is a car you can simply get in and enjoy. For a hand-built British V8 with this much character and this much presentation, there has rarely been a better time to jump in.

To arrange a viewing, click the 'Book Viewing' button located under the 'Place Bid' button. Viewings can be booked up until the day before the auction ends, after which the option will change to 'Contact Seller' for further enquiries. This seller is located in Padworth, Reading, Berkshire.