TVR Chimaera, £13,995: For all their faults, a TVR still sets the pulse racing. Among the most plentiful is the Chimaera of 1993- 2003.
It started life powered by a choice of 4.0 and 4.3-litre V8 Rover engines. A high-compression version of the 4.0 replaced the 4.3 in 1994. The 5.0-litre Chimaera arrived in 1995. Then, in 1996, the 4.0 HC gave way to a 4.5, producing 285bhp. With all of them, power went to the rear wheels through a five-speed gearbox.
The first major facelift was in 1996, when the Chimaera acquired a new Cerbera-like face with split intake design. Faired-in headlights and new tail-lights were adopted in 2001.
There are some choice Chimaeras in the classifieds but our eye was caught by a 1998/R-reg 4.5. It has done 71,000 miles and the service history goes back to 2004. (Why do people lose service histories?) It has recently had a bundle of new parts fitted, including alternator, Bilstein rear shocks and carpets. The last MOT had no advisories.
So a good start, but before having it professionally inspected, we’d run a few checks. With the car on a ramp, examine its chassis for rusting outriggers, especially on the nearside. Check, too, that fresh Waxoyl isn’t hiding anything.
With the car back on the floor, fire up the engine, listening for a noisy timing chain. Turning to the suspension, push down the car at each corner, watching for it bouncing. Regarding the gearbox, changes should be smooth and precise. Fortunately, the later Borg Warner gearbox is a solid affair.
Check all the electrics work. ECU, battery and relays are all in the front passenger footwell and hellish messy to work on. Still keen? Have a go.
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