TVR chimaera 400 V8 - Drive and Review after 10 years

[@ABrown-dp3gv]

Agree with your observations and comments. Huge amount off fun and a great drive for not huge amounts of money. I toured Europe in my TVR's and made so many happy memories. plenty to choose from and many are now well restored so grab yourself a bargain and enjoy the summer !

[@RetroRatchet]

No cheapies any more which is a shame!

[@I999-g2s]

There is nothing (this side of a classic Ferrari/Lamborghini) that stirs the soul like a well-sorted Wheeler-era TVR. Back in the day, I drove Wheeler’s own 4.3HC at Goodwood and then got treated to a couple of laps in the same car, but this time driven by one of the Tuscan race car drivers, OMG, I was hooked.

[@R1CH130]

One is definitely on my wish list, to the point where the next car I buy, WILL be a Chim!

[@RetroRatchet]

Good choice!

[@wideshadyy]

I'm only 16 but for the past couple years I have lusted over this car. One day I will own one, and it will be the best decision I'll ever make (until I spin out into a tree)

[@kl468]

I felt the same - one day and all that. Basically I wanted one since I was 15. I’m now 24 and over the past few years I’ve worked and saved so hard to have fast cars and wound up with a “really” fast daily but never really have been truly satisfied, because I just really wanted that V8-ness which is so hard to get with the UK insurance nightmare. Last year I bought a chimaera as my second car. I’m so proud of it. It’s not as fast as my stage 3 daily mqb but it’s such an experience and you *can* do it if you want! What struck me is it’s actually super easy to drive. You don’t need to be scared as long as you’re not stupid with it. I love working on it as well. Really the best thing I’ve ever done. So yeah, do it when you can! It might not be too far away - 16 to 24 is actually only a heartbeat. I was in uni for four of those years and it’s my second car. If you just want one as a daily it’s quite easy but you have to know about the chassis issues. Anyway good luck! Keep the V8 alive 🙂

[@broomad]

Sounds fantastic - even better than my S550 5.0 Mustang !!

[@RetroRatchet]

Ah u have a s550 mate. I had a grabber blue manual a few yrs back! Yeah the tvr does sound better. I found the mustangs were either too quiet or too loud

[@richardwalker6417]

They've always looked well and still look quite fresh today, as with most TVRs it's just a shame how quickly the chasis rots out, shame they couldn't nail that one given the cost of the car new.

[@grahambell4298]

@@richardwalker6417 Yes, the outrigger rot is a problem, but my 1999 model has never had them replaced thanks to the problem areas having been protected by waxoil since its early days. Looks messy because all the road muck sticks to it, but I'd rather have a mucky solid chassis than a rusty one.

[@peverington]

Excellent video Chris, brings back good memories. I have never seen a car that I have lifted on KZbin before 😂

[@RetroRatchet]

Haha cheers, yeah great memories and a good laugh!

[@duncanwood4313]

Yes, a fabulous-sounding V8. I had the 4.0 HC (270bhp supposedly) for three years and LOVED it - and still miss it. I think the 500 was rated at 340bhp.

[@dawid8844]

I put a TVR engine(450) into a mark 1 MX5 and did and awful lot of research into them. The TVRs made nothing like the power they claimed. The engine I bought had a different cam to the 4.6 in the range rover (same engine) and possibly some larger valves. It put out 240bhp with full compression on all cylinders. It's a great car and has the most beautiful engine note.

[@alanjm1234]

​​@@dawid8844 I think TVR claimed about 275 for the 4.5. Still, 240 is a lot in such a light car, especially with the torque.

[@andymyers2759]

great review and lovely car.

[@lookupparagliding]

OMG! Your video came up as the first recommended when I opened KZbin app on my Telly. Nothing surprising there but then at the 1.20ish mark I said to myself, I recognise that road and that sign for Skelton/Upleatham. Even though I live in Leeds, we use to have family in Skelton. We go to the tiny church in Upleatham every year as my auntie has a small stone there near the main door. We always drop into Saltburn afterwards for a walk around the Valley gardens. Great video btw, the V8 was the draw :) Completely off topic comment, so massive apologies for that.

[@Steviegtr52]

Great revue. I recently bought the MK3 450. Lovely car but i am at present doing a youtube series on the suspension & brake refurb & upgrade to Brembo. Thanks for sharing. Steve.

[@RetroRatchet]

Cool, ill need to check that out mate

[@davidstuart4915]

lovely accent - Lovely car, the pre-cat Griff 4.3 is the best configuration and best sounding :)

[@davekennedy6315]

Truly stunning car! Your car has the nicest colour scheme dash I've seen in a TVR, which is proper praise! I LOVE TVRs, back to the wedge V8s and Capri engined earlier 80s cars. But i especially love the 90s cars like yours and the Griff through to the Cerbera, Tuscan etc. It was a sad day when TVR closed.

[@paulleach5894]

I have a 500 but no longer standard, v8 developments engine, stealth cam, 72mm plenum blended trumpet base, smooth bore induction emerald ecu, and it makes 333bhp and 360ft/lb. It’s rapid.

[@RetroRatchet]

Bet that goes well! Be interesting to drive one of them

[@davekennedy6315]

All that tuning and it still makes less than Wheelers bollocks figures! No offence intended I LOVE TVRs but never understood why Wheeler was so dishonest and dodgy the whole time. The cars were RAPID there was no need to lie about power figures? Its sad as he made TVR great, made some truly staggeringly cool cars but was also doing awful stuff like nicking the engines from cars in for a service and fitting them into brand new cars. The Speed Eight and Speed Six Al Melling designed engines COULD have been incredible but Wheeler cut corners and used cheap shite components that failed in cars with only 20-30k!

[@Carrera-gp9od]

@@davekennedy6315 Did that actually happen stealing engines from cars that were getting serviced ??

[@alanjm1234]

​@@Carrera-gp9odprobably not engines, because they have numbers on them. But there are stories about other bits.

[@nickwatson2167]

I couldn't ever own that car . I have dyslexia and its name runs through my brain . A wood burning stove or possibly a region south of Ukraine which the Russians took lol What a sound . Ill have three in Hibs racing green colours please

[@RetroRatchet]

Haha plenty green ones out there

[@nickwatson2167]

@@RetroRatchet yeh my neighbour worked for the dealer in Edinburgh and got a company car . said it was the new widow maker

[@davekennedy6315]

Natural pops n bangs! A much nicer, more genuine feature than today's silly ECU 'tunes' designed just for that reason.

[@alanjm1234]

You get used to a heavy clutch. I used to own a Bolwell mk7, which was an Aussie kit car. It had an incredible heavy clutch. After a couple of weeks I didn't even notice it. Until I drove a mates 2 litre Escort, and nearly stomped his clutch pedal through the floor...

[@RetroRatchet]

yeah agreed, ive not owned one in a few years.

[@Izzy111R]

Sadly i wrote mine off in a small accident in the wet but i still look in the classifieds! Ive currently got an Elise 111R but it doesnt really stir the senses like one of these. I do fancy going back to a mostly restored one as you say as what you spend on them soon adds up.

[@RetroRatchet]

bet that Elise goes well! yeah would have to be a big justification to restore another in 2024

[@mgbroadsterJ]

You can buy a clutch slave to whi h will lighten the clutch feel .

[@iaincampbell7185]

Fantastic car and awesome sound 👍🏻 Some machine to do a tip run in too… assuming that’s what all the black plastic bags are 😉

[@RetroRatchet]

Absolutely 👍🏻

[@severinhendrikx7893]

I have a 500 with just chiptuning. It has made 299 on the dyno.

[@sams8591]

4.3 pre cat Griffith (I think all Griffs which were 4.0 or 4.3 were no cats) owner here. Mine is standard apart from a v8 developments stealth cam and it was dynod at 283bhp and feels really quick. Tvr power figures are all over the place and it’s best to ignore the factory numbers and get a car dynod to see what the figure is. I’ve heard that it’s very rare for standard 500s to make 300bhp. Was your previous tvr a catted or non cat 4.3? I wonder if the Chimaera is different to the Griffith in the 4.3 having cats.

[@RetroRatchet]

hi, my 430 chip was fitted with cats, (pre cats were missing). ive just done a review on a griff 430 pre cat, would like like to own one actually!

[@simonhodgetts6530]

Yes. Easy!

[@RetroRatchet]

nice one!

[@huwjones5809]

Can you put TC on these without breaking the bank? racelogic or similar?

[@RetroRatchet]

Hmmm im not sure actually, maybe some of the more current tvr owners can confirm?

[@lookupparagliding]

OMG! Your video came up as the first recommended when I opened KZbin app on my Telly. Nothing surprising there but then at the 1.20ish mark I said to myself, I recognise that road and that sign for Skelton/Upleatham. Even though I live in Leeds, we use to have family in Skelton. We go to the tiny church in Upleatham every year as my auntie has a small stone there near the main door. We always drop into Saltburn afterwards for a walk around the Valley gardens. Great video btw, the V8 was the draw :) Completely off topic comment, so massive apologies for that.