1995 TVR CHIMAERA 500

This TVR Chimaera 500 is a superb example of the characterful British sports car, which benefits from a recent comprehensive body-off restoration, meaning this roadster is effectively now ‘future-proofed’ for many more miles. It is powered by the 5.0-litre naturally aspirated V8, coupled to a five-speed manual transmission. The odometer shows 88,797 miles, though of course its mechanical condition is closer to that of a car with only a few thousand miles on the clock.

First registered in November 1995, this Chimaera has just four previous keepers, and was acquired by the vendor just over one year ago. Its first owner is understood to have been Rodney Sneath, a pioneering orthopaedic surgeon, who reportedly even used the TVR for road trips to medical study group meetings in the Austrian Alps.

Between 2014 and 2015, this Chimaera was subject to a total ground-up restoration by Steve Darvill at SD Autotec, incorporating a complete refurbishment of the spaceframe chassis, while the interior was re-trimmed The Trim Technician (John Giddings) in Blackpool, and Rob Robertson of V8 Developments carried out a full rebuild of the engine and gearbox – including a new clutch and flywheel. The differential was also rebuilt, by Grantura Engineering.

The rebuild included a raft of improvements, including a new wiring loom, new and upgraded suspension, upgraded brakes, new brake lines and fuel hoses, and much more – all of which is detailed in the list at the end of the photo gallery. The work was well documented before, during, and after the process with photographs, which are also included in the gallery below.

The vendor is not aware of any prior damage to the bodywork, and indeed the Formula Red paintwork is believed to be original. It presents with a very slight fade line on the nearside front wing and a few minor cosmetic marks and blemishes that are to be expected of a car of this age. There are some obvious chips and imperfections on the lower front section in particular, and of course the next owner could choose to improve this in the future - or perhaps even give it a complete respray in a different colour. It rides on the correct seven-spoke alloy wheels, in 15-inch front and 16-inch rear fitment, which are in superb order and have recently been treated to new centre caps.

While the exterior remains stock, the interior has been treated to a comprehensive re-trim, with a custom finish throughout. The combination of grey leather with bright red accents complements the body colour perfectly, while there is a smart diamond-stitched pattern on the seat upholstery as well as the transmission tunnel. The leather remains in excellent condition, with very slight creasing from use, but no wear or discolouration. It has the original Nardi Personal steering wheel, which now has a smart patina, and the aluminium gear knob, handbrake grip and door opener are also original. The car is now equipped with a Sony stereo head unit with Bluetooth and USB connectivity. There are no known inoperative electrics, with the vendor noting only that the electric windows are slightly slow, which seems to be a common foible.

Its last scheduled maintenance was carried out in October 2020 at 88,758 miles, with a lubrication service at Bespoke Performance. Prior to this, it was also given a full service and some additional maintenance at 88,232 miles in January 2019. The vendor reports that the car drives very well, with the rebuilt and upgraded engine in great shape, and with a dynamometer print-out on file showing 317hp at the wheels. It is also fitted with a Clive F Performance Y-piece decat exhaust section, although the original part also comes with the car.

Its last MOT test was on 27 October 2020 at 88,761 miles, when it achieved a first-time pass with no advisories or defects. In fact, since June 2015, the car has covered around 4,000 miles and has been put through five MOT tests, all with the same clean result. The wheels are fitted with Toyo Proxes T1R tyres, date-coded to 2017, which remain in excellent condition with ample tread depth.

Accompanying the car is the original service book, as well as lots of history from 2015 onwards following the refurbishment, and of course extensive records and images of the restoration itself.

This TVR Chimaera 500 is an exciting and practical sports car, which is presented in excellent mechanical order with a full chassis restoration and a rebuild of the engine and driveline. While the next owner may choose to improve and renew the paintwork to complete this car’s extensive refurbishment, this is a modern British classic that is ready to thrill on the road right away, and one which has had all of the important ‘under the skin’ jobs already done by leading specialists.

The description of this auction lot is, to the best of the seller's knowledge, accurate and not misleading. Collecting Cars requests a range of detail about the lot from the seller, and performs a level of due diligence. However, bidders must satisfy themselves as to the accuracy of the description, and conduct any research they feel is necessary before committing to a bid. Please see our Terms and Conditions for full details.

All UK-registered cars and motorbikes on Collecting Cars are run through an online HPI check. This vehicle shows no insurance database markers for damage or theft, and has no finance owing.