1998 TVR Chimaera |

Closed Auction- Unsold

1998 TVR Chimaera

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Mileage~43,153
TransmissionManual
Engine4.0L
LocationLightwater

AUCTION CLOSED

1998 TVR Chimaera

Introduction

Darren Rungasamy

Automotive Editor, Photographer and Consigner

Seriously quick, this old-school roadster also has a touch of class and refinement to it.

TVR was a formidable name to be reckoned with, guided by a sporting pedigree that allowed a successive series of razor-sharp handling cars to emerge from the Blackpool factory. Their cars never lost that edge, and no one could ever accuse the company of making a "soft" car. However, aware that concessions to comfort and quality were needed to help the company survive the 1990s, the Chimaera not only met those requirements but became their best-selling model in the process. First introduced in 1992, it used the thunderous Rover 4.0-litre V8 engine, helping it establish a reputation for modest maintenance costs with devastating performance. In addition, it used other manufacturers' parts, which helped maintain a good level of reliability too. With its newfound attributes of ride comfort, a lavish cabin, unmistakable styling and an exhaust note that could register on the Richter scale, the TVR Chimaera is an ideal entry point to V8-powered goodness.

This facelifted 1998 car comes to market from ~2 and a half years ownership. It is in excellent order, both inside and out, having seena service around ~1,500 miles ago. Finished in a luscious "Rosso Pearl" red, it comes with an MOT to March 2024 with no advisories noted, two keys and its original sales invoice. The private plate "E16 HOT" also comes with the car.

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

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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

Of the 4 Chimaera's I've owned in the past, this one has been the best example!

Trusting our auction, Steve purchased this car in 2021 from us, and has not added much mileage to the car since. He's covered ~2,500 miles in that time, and saw it was serviced last year. This is his 4th Chimaera and used it as a leisure car for weekend blasts.

The car has been kept in secure and dry storage, and so it comes to market in much the same condition as when it was sold with us in 2021. Due to the lack of recent use, the car comes to market with us on auction, Steve will be happy to answer any questions on it in the comments section below.

Steve

Vehicle Owner

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Exterior
Interior
Mechanics
History
All Images

EXTERIOR VIDEO

Exterior

Beautifully presented, the exterior betrays the cars 25 years of age and looks fantastic in this colour.

Wheels and Tyres

The five spoke TVR alloys are in excellent condition all round, we didn't observe any obvious defects in them. They are fitted with Dunlop tyres up front and Toyo's on the rears, all are older than 10 years old but appear to still retain a healthy amount of thread.

Bodywork

The exterior is really very neatly presented, with no immediate signs of ageing, cracks or crazing noted on the gel coat. The panel gaps are even, with all doors opening and closing with ease. The structure as far as we could discern appears to be in good order, with no issues noted underneath the car.

We've highlighted in more detail our observations through our hi-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 "Rosso Pearl" finish is even throughout, with a very deep lustre. We could not spot any significant marks or blemishes on the surface, asides from a handful of minor stone chips on the nose of the car. A sign of a considerate series of owners, there appears to be very little of note in terms of paint blemishes.

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 hi-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 and its seals are in very good shape, the trim appears to be intact too. The lights and lenses are decent, with minor signs of age noted on the rear lamp seals.

VIEW ALL

INTERIOR VIDEO

Interior

Sumptuous with aluminium, leather and wood veneer, the cabin is in excellent shape with very few signs of its age.

Seats and Carpets

The leather heated seats are in excellent condition, with nothing more than the expected light creasing noted on the driver's side bolster.

The wool carpets are in decent shape with some signs of UV fade noted in places, a typical attribute of red carpets. A little mild dampness was noted on the driver's side footwell but not excessively and there was no evidence of water buildup.

Dashboard

The dashboard has been remarkably well preserved, the leather padding and stitching completely intact. The burr walnut facia too, its impressive array of instrumentation is beyond any criticism in terms of their appearance and condition. All of the dashboard functions are reported to be operational.

The door cards are intact, with the roof panel carbon fibre in excellent shape. The car is also fitted with dealer-fit rear speakers, although there is no stereo currently fitted.

Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

The steering wheel is in excellent condition, a "Personal" branded 3 spoke item, wrapped in black leather. No issues noted in regard to the gear lever and its gaiter.

VIEW ALL

'ON THE ROAD' VIDEO

Mechanics

Free of any driver aids, the Chimaera demands a measure of skill and respect from the driver.

Engine and Gearbox

The engine fires up immediately, with no issues in terms of dashboard warning lights. It idled smoothly, with no undulations. On tick-over, the engine was free of any unwanted noises. The car is fitted with an over-ride switch, as a precaution if stuck in traffic but Steve reported that he has not needed to use it. The engine presents very nicely, with intact hoses and ancillaries.

There have been no oil pressure issues either and while we were photographing the car there were no signs of fluid leaks on the ground. The gearbox appears to be slick with no reported issues and the clutch is said to be healthy.

Suspension and Brakes

The ride was typically firm, but not uncomfortable, with the car dealing with the uneven road without any issues with no untoward bangs, clunks or knocks over bumps and potholes.

It brakes perfectly, with no observations of unwanted noise or judders.

The Drive

The raw appeal of the Chimaera is down to the visceral direct driving experience, the short shifts, the grip and the howl of the V8. We were treated to those delights, where Steve opened up the horses, and provided us with a sample of that gutsy 4.0-litre V8 engine.

The car felt taut around the corners, with no unwanted noises heard coming from the wheels, and no signs of knocks or thuds from the suspension. The power-assisted steering was vibration free and without any strain from the motor. No whine was heard from the differential. For a car that has a reputation for brute force, it was remarkably happy pottering around at town speeds, but of course, that's not the point...

Electrics and Other

The colour-coded hood and carbon roof are in excellent condition, with no evidence of outdoor elements, it was retrimmed in 2020. During his ownership, Steve has never folded the roof down, in fear of damaging the back screen. As a result, it is free of creases or damage. It also comes with a hood cover and a roof panel storage jacket.

The neat door-opening mechanisms mounted under the door mirrors are fully operational and a joy to use.

VIEW ALL

History and Paperwork

A car that has clearly been pampered by successive owners, it comes to market from ~2 year ownership, and with what can be considered low miles for this model.

First registered by TVR main agents Newtown Motors, Cwmbran in June 1998, it has seen a healthy amount of servicing over its lifetime, with stamps up to 2019 and a further service invoice for 2022. Asides from coming with a good percentage of previous MOTs, the car also comes with its original sales invoice, outlining its fitted extras and total costs.

There are also a number of invoices to support its regular upkeep, the most recent items asides from servicing include a Clutch slave cylinder, a new starter motor and a prop shaft. Historical invoices include an ECU repair in 2009.

The car also comes with a bespoke plush red indoor car cover, a full tool kit and a POS TVR banner. The car has an MOT to March 2024 and comes with its owner's wallet and two keys.

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 hi-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
16-03-2023	MOT	42,803
28-02-2022	Service	41,752
10-02-2022	MOT	41,742
03-03-2021	MOT	40,779
23-08-2019	Service	39,635
20-08-2019	MOT	39,640
06-08-2018	Service	38,399
04-08-2018	MOT	38,399
24-08-2017	Service	36,637
04-08-2017	MOT	36,494
26-12-2016	Service	35,847
05-08-2016	MOT	35,474
17-10-2015	Service
08-08-2015	MOT	33,410
26-07-2014	MOT	33,343
27-07-2013	MOT	32,999
27-07-2012	Service	32,006
27-07-2012	MOT	32,006
20-07-2011	MOT	31,168
26-06-2010	MOT	29,970
27-06-2009	MOT	27,872
29-05-2008	MOT	26,029
31-05-2007	Service	25,014
29-05-2007	MOT	25,014
18-05-2006	MOT	23,341
17-05-2006	Service	23,339
22-06-2004	Service	20,747
16-10-2002	Service	12,856
24-05-1999	Service	2,782
03-09-1998	Service	1,641