1999 TVR Chimaera 4.0

This model is the 4.0, which refers to the volume of its Alloy V8 engine which produced 240BHP and 310lbs/ft of torque. The Chimaera came with a high compression engine in the same 4.0litre guise, however, there have been reports by owners that they would cause issues to the car if not properly maintained, so the 4.0 is seemingly the one to have. This 1999 low mileage and low owners example then is perhaps the best bet for a reliable and long-lasting Chimaera, and with this one being in this good condition, it’s definitely one you should consider taking home.

This car also has a nice background considering it is a one family-owned car with the father owning the car and passing it down to his son when driving became too difficult, the son would then drive the father round in the car occasionally until he sadly passed away. As we’ll go into depth more so below this car is in fantastic condition due to the family who owned the car, and the current owner, keeping it in a luxury, heated and ventilated garage. The current owner has owned the car for 3 and a half years after buying it as an early retirement present, its only now due to a house move and a downsize that the car is up for sale.

Lets start by saying this must be one of the best surviving examples out there. 

With the TVR being a 22-year-old British sports car, there are some small things we would like to point out for your consideration and our transparency and honesty, whilst these might not be major issues and could fall into the category of general wear and tear, we would like to highlight them nonetheless. Around the bottom of the windscreen around the rubber seal, it looks to have let moisture in and caused a rippling in the tint, something that might warrant looking further into, we can’t imagine it would get any worse or cause anything too drastic but good information to know regardless.

The body and paint have some general minor wear and tear, and whilst not visible in the pictures will be in person. Around the car are the usual stone chip issues which could be filled in with a paint pen or for a small outlay with a local body shop, the ones to point out being on the rear quarter panel, near the driver’s headlight, on the front driver’s side quarter panel and some minor damage to the paint near the passenger mirror.

With that highlighted and from what you can see in the gallery below, these are minor points to raise and could easily be fixed with minimal financial outlay. As the photos do show, this really is a fantastically presented example, with a very strong, simple and effective colour combination with the interior really setting off the exterior nicely. All the sleek and stylish lines topped off nicely with the recessed headlights and those familiar, iconic TVR rear light clusters, as well as having a carbon fibre Targa top (see photos of it in the boot) which is reportedly in pristine condition.

The interior really is the highlight of this car with its tan or ‘butterscotch’ full leather interior, which was an optional extra from factory, with half leather being standard. It really comes to life against the contrast of the silver paintwork brining an extra level of class to this grand tourer.

The owner clearly shares our enthusiasm for the interior of the car as it is in immaculate condition with the seats having no wear or rips in the leather, the carpet not being discoloured and the lacquer on the wood trim looking almost untouched. The steering wheel looks to be in great condition as well, no fraying of the stitching or wear to the leather, the inside of this TVR looks incredibly welcoming and is somewhere we could definitely see ourselves crunching the miles in.

All the interior switches, dials and gauges are in working order, the hood mechanism is in good order and condition and the boot looks as if it’s not had anything in it since it was new. The interiors of TVR always were special places to be and this one is no exception.

It has been rumoured that the chassis on the Chimaeras were notorious for being especially susceptible to rust despite the body being fibreglass. This is reportedly down to TVR foregoing the zinc plating process on the chassis from the factory, causing a quicker deterioration than owners were expecting.

The example offered here has seemingly managed to avoid much of this heartache, due to it being Waxoiled from new, and also because it has been looked after and kept dry and out of the damp. There is some minor rust around the jacking point as can be seen in the gallery below (just before the paperwork photos begin), this is reportedly just surface rust down to the jack taking the Waxoil covering off. For future longevity it would be worth treating and sealing again so the chassis can continue in its good condition.

The only other point worth mentioning is the signs of a previous oil leak under the oil filter housing, the owner confirmed that this could be someone forgetting to clean the oil spillage from the last oil filter change or a seal around that area, with no previous leaks being highlighted in the service history or in the owner’s memory. The new owner might want to have the car checked for anything in the engine bay, anyway, as should be done on a 22 year old car just for peace of mind.

Underneath this 22-year-old British sports car is as good as it could be without having a full expensive restoration and we are sure the fixes would not be anything drastic, more preventative to ensure the longevity of this fine example of the mark.

We have taken this car for a test drive and report back that it drives fabulously (so much so that the test drive was slightly extended...). The car feels tight, all the functions work brilliantly and genuinely, this reviewer would hazard it would be difficult to find a better example. The only issue that could be found was that the drivers' mirror struggles to move up (the other 3 directions are fine!) - we are not sure how many of Blackpool's finest could have just that as a sole issue. Great colour, great condition, why not.

As with most cars that come to us from loving and careful owners this TVR looks to have a fairly comprehensive service history with the service book, V5, owner’s manual and a full HPI check. There are TVR dealer stamps in the service book and MoT certificates, with the latest MoT running out on the 23rd September 2021.

Some bits in the service history to highlight would be the new fuel pump in July of this year, ensuring the big V8 lump is fuelled correctly. It looks like the car has had a paint refresh in 2007 as well as new ball joints in 2014. Otherwise, it has been regular maintenance and small fixes like light switches, a testament to how well this car must have been looked after by its 2 previous owners.

TVR was a proud British sports car manufacturer, and they created some truly great cars during their time, the Chimaera can definitely take its place amongst some of the most important and influential models for the brand.

Beside that heritage and prestige, it was a lightweight body housing a big burbling V8 powerplant giving the car the credibility to back up its stylings claims. The story of the Chimaera’s design, the usability of the long-distance tourer mated to the thundering V8 engine and head turning looks make this TVR one to put firmly in the list for a usable classic, especially one that’s been taken care of this well. Buy it now before they examples in this condition are too rare to afford. We estimate £16,000 - £21,000.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon. Our offices are open Mon-Fri 9.00 am to 5.00 pm. To arrange an appointment 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, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions'.