FIVE TRIALs
We enjoy the TVR Chimaera and put it fully to the test
1 DailY DriViNG
Slotting a Chimaera into town isn’t that difficult, provided you realise its limitations. Its tractable engine means that barely any effort is needed on that long-travel throttle; brakes and clutch are standard NinetiesNoughties fare with servo assistance. Not all models have power-steering however, so pulling away from kerbs and tight reverse parking can be something of a wrench. Ground clearance is fine save for the vulnerable front splitter, which can ground out on sleeping speed humps, even if taken gently.
2 iN tHE sErViCE BaY
A raft of TVR specialists can help to keep a Chimaera happy; provided oil changes and servicing are frequent, there’s not much that goes wrong – and if it does, it can be easily replaced from the Ford, Vauxhall and Land Rover service bins that TVR used to make the Chimaera steer, stop and go. Nowunfashionably small 15- and 16-inch wheels have a wealth of decent compound, affordable replacement tyres available, too.
3 oN tHE sHoW CirCUit
Few classic shows would turn a Chimaera away because it ticks so many of the boxes that organisers love. Large gatherings of TVRs often bring the bass baritone to any showground scenario. When you’re finished displaying statically, why not put a few laps in on a track day? Race-bred suspension and V8 power mean that any Chimaera can hold its own at an event, provided your driving skills can fully exploit it.
4 tHE loNG WEEKEND
There may only be room for two inside, but they’ll be comfortable. Mechanical longevity is not the issue that many naysayers suggest; Chimaera owner, Ben Coombs, managed a 27,000-mile, 25-country jaunt between pubs in a high-mileage Chimaera 400 with only a failed clutch stopping play. Softer, differently specified and longer travel Bilstein suspension means a Chimaera is better suited to the long haul than the more glamorous Griffith; a wider and longer body also means a roomier cabin and a capacious boot – famously designed to accommodate two bags of golf clubs.
5 tHE B-roaD Blast
Faster B-roads are the Chimaera’s element – it copes just fine with twists, off-camber bumps and undulations, while straighter sections allow the engine to flex its muscles. Unassisted steering comes to life at speed – and proper footwork mitigates the lack of ABS and traction control. The Chimaera might be tame by TVR standards but it’s still a lightweight rear-wheel drive V8 sports car. A rear anti-roll bar helped wheel deflection from day one – it didn’t appear on the twitchier Griffith until 1996.