23 TVR Chimaera

Blackpool favourite TVR enjoyed a golden period in the 1990s, owing much of its success to the Chimaera that, along with its Griffith sibling, soon became one of the manufacturer’s bestselling models. Usually marked out by loud paint – and an even louder exhaust – the Chimaera offered something different to mainstream sports cars: stunning looks, face-melting performance and a return to the no-nonsense, unassisted dynamics of an earlier era.

Beneath that curvaceous glassfibre bodywork with its smooth, handle-free doors lay a fairly agricultural tubular backbone chassis, into which was dropped a variety of Rover V8 engines depending on the car’s age: the earliest were fitted with 4-litre units, while the run-out Chimaera 500 boasted the most powerful 340bhp 5-litre powerplant. Even the early cars put out 240bhp, however: combine that with a kerbweight of just over 1050kg and it makes the Chimaera one of the most exciting cars in our selection.

The prettier and rarer Griff is now outside our budget, but Chim prices start at around £10,000 for usable examples, increasing in accordance with condition and spec. For £15,000 you’re sure to find a beautiful car, but make sure you have an inspection carried out by a specialist before parting with your money, because mint plastic bodywork can easily hide serious chassis corrosion. Buy well and you’ll own an appreciating asset that’s a blast to drive.