You Cannot TRULY Understand Britain Till You Know TVR - Chimaera 500 

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i had one, it used more water than petrol, it leaked, it had electric issues, no driver aids, the roof was drafty and it was always looking to kill me... . It was brilliant!

I've had a 4.5 for 14 years. It's been brilliant. In fact so brilliant, I've just bought another one. You can never have too many TVRs.

Had an S, V8S and a Griffith 500, all 3 were great cars and reliable apart from minor gremlins. Did loads of touring in them and never had a breakdown. What I really loved about TVR’s was they were classless, people would talk to you and ask questions whereas with some marques you get looked on as being a flash git.

TVR's philosophy was "put the most powerful engine you can find under the bonnet and make a featherweight chassis and body without any unnecessary electronic aids and complicated gadgets "..and after that pray to God to stay alive driving it.

Sounds gorgeous! Incidentally the Buick engine was originally designed as a marine engine, thus the reason it was made from all aluminium and not Detroit iron!

My uncle had one of these in period. I was only about 10 or so at the time and it was an absolute rocketship. It sounded amazing and I had never been in something so fast. He, and that car, sent me on course for a lifetime of loving cars. I remember sitting it in one day and I pressed the cigarette lighter in, when it popped out the entire mechanism popped out with it......

I owned a 450 for 13 years and after owning a 991, 997 and two 55AMG the TVR was my favourite. It never let me down always put a bug smile on my face and It had soul. Yes it didn't handle quite as well as the 991 but it was my best friend. My advice.... Buy the best you can afford and look after it and fix issues as they come up. Things do go wrong from time to time but you bond with them. In return you will have a car that you will be so connected with and raise your pulse. I miss that car. 😢.

I have just bought one in the last week! Been dreaming of getting one for 20 years and I love it. No driver aids and simple mechanics

Many many years ago I travelled the UK and saw one just like that (actually I heard it first and only some time later actually SAW it). Best sounding road car I've ever heard, to this day

I needed to get a TVR when I was young as I saw my first TVR in London in the 90’s… and was blown away!😊 Being German, it has proven to be a difficult task as for the German TÜV and other regulatories. Still, a strong desire always finds a way and I bought my first TVR at Fernhurst TVR, a Chimera 450, just about 10k miles on the clock and exported it to Germany…. ever since I was in love with British sportscars, and happily owned an Elise, an Exige, an XKR, a Morgan and some more…. Love England and moved to London 15 years ago, fab country and people…

Back in 1969 I had the opportunity to do a small bit of playing with an Americanized TVR Tuscan. Classic TVR chassis with a Ford 390 cu inch V8. It was a brute. Nothing truly refined about it. When cold and the choke was on it idled at 35 mph in first gear. It belonged to a small Sports Car dealer in Charleston, South Carolina. One night at about two in the morning we were sitting around the office and a siren went by. I looked at Don, Don looked at me and we both looked at Byron. Byron said "Not only no but hell no!" Sitting out front we had the TVR, a Ferrari 270 and an Iso Griffith. The Griffith was probably the slowest of the three at about 160/170. Charleston Corvette Club had the backing of one of the biggest dealers of the day. There were some pretty terrifying Corvettes in the club. But if you took the TVR into town and a Corvette was likely to be sitting next to you at a stop light it would do anything to not have to face off against the TVR. We finally sold it to an FBI agent. As a mechanic I have driven some of the best cars in the world at one time or another but nothing ever scared me like that lovely, wonderful, TVR Tuscan. It holds a special place in my heart.

Miss my TVR. Tried to kill me twice, bits fell off it. Loved it ❤

The exhaust note is definitely on point. The green and crème color is spot on too. Seems like a real good deal.

Owning a TVR is very much like owning a pet lion. Great fun and very very cool, until one day, and without any warning whatsoever, it just kills you! Didn’t stop me owning a Chimera and a Cerbera at different points… and yes, both tried to kill me…

Love my Chim 4L, great fun to drive and never let me down. Something quite unique being part of the TVR community, defo puts a smile on ya face.

Loads of fun! I feel the only thing missed was a quick peek at the madness that is the exhaust collector in front of the engine. A co-worker and friend of mine had one of these from new many years ago and let me tag along on several drives. It was a traditionally bonkers metallic yellow with purple interior. It reminded me of a mix of pure artwork and some sort of Miata-inspired supercar built atop a racing chassis by a complete madman. Just wonderful! All these years later still one of the most memorable cars to blast down a twisty road.

I bought a 400HC back in 96, then a 500 in 98. Had them over a total of 8 years. And truthfully the most reliable 8 years of motoring I've ever had. I've had a lot of Landrovers since then....

I reckon this video demonstrates how your videos have stepped up to another level of quality. I love the fact that in doing this you have not compromised your own perspective for views. Great video.

So glad you enjoyed your first TVR experience Jack! I'm on my second Griffith 500. Had it now for 12 years, absolutely love it. I often do the roads you take your cars on, above Burford 😀 great review and your comments were pretty much spot on.

.. and then there's the other minor car company with a three letter name that started in Blackpool, Jaguar the J in JLR, originally Swallow Sidecars.

Great contextual piece about Blackpool, its decline, and opportunities for rebirth. The Chimaera is a forgotten TVR that deserves more recognition. Thanks, Jack!

Great video again! Would love to see more of this British small number manufacturers - like Bristol or one of my favorites a Reliant Scimitar…

I seen a red one of these when I was a young lad, the guy floored it for us and that sound stuck with me forever. I love TVR's.

The big consideration when buying a Chimera is corrosion in the chassis. It is not so much underneath the vehicle as embedded in it. The plastic body may appear flawless while the tubes are filigrees of oxide. It is possible to repair or replace the chassis, but judging by the videos I've seen, the exercise can be classified as "non-trivial".

I’ve had mine since it was new in 1999 and as I’ve now owned it, and its 4 litre predecessor for more than a third of my life I’m still enchanted by it. It was 1963 when I saw a TVR Grantura and that was the itch that took until 1996 to scratch. Incidentally the 4.0L Chimaera is nowhere near as much fun as the 5.0L and I suspect the engines weight the same so the handling will be the same Jack.

Worked in Hanover Square in the West End in the eighties and nineties as a 'young professional'. The style and grunt of the TVRs in that era is unparalleled. They prowled the West End streets. Curves. Sound. Looks. Anything else needed?

Incredible cars. Almost identical to mine, except mine is the 450. I was going to sell it as it's sat in the garage, keeping dry for 6 months, but after watching this... Bring back the sunshine!! Great video as always!

As a German, I don't want to give the impression that I understand England, but I love my Chimaera 450. Bought from James Agger 13 years ago, it has been looked after with dignity ever since, it has always given me joy and has never let me down. We will remain “one team” for many years to come 😁

I started my TVR obsession with a Chimaera 450 in an almost identical colour combo to the car in this vid. It needed a chassis refurb, and while pricing that up a bargain popped up on a Tuscan, so I sold the Chim and took a gamble on it. Turned out to be a really good car. I have since added a Cerbera 4.2 V8, so have an example of each of the engines TVR built in-house. Those later cars are much more bespoke than the Chim, and it absolutely blows my mind when I think of what such a small company managed to achieve. They lacked the polish of the supercar competition but they had every bit as much soul, and in a straight line the TVRs were on the money. Really glad you enjoyed the Chimaera Jack - they are lovely burbly woofly things that as you say make great tourers, especially with that massive boot. They are really simple cars as well, and if you avoid the TVR tax that suppliers will charge for parts by doing some research into which parts bin TVR raided in the first place they are very cheap to run and DIY friendly.

As a Chimaera 500 owner I can confirm that they're great cars! BTW, apparently the story of the 'Ned-bite' indicator enclosure was made up - it was in fact a Marketing PR exercise that even Peter Wheeler went along with... 🙂

So glad to hear your opinion on the Chimaera. Great but under rated cars, 7 years later I still miss my 500, which I sold, fully working, MOT'd for £9500!!

Excellent review, I am very biased, I had a Griffith 500 for 13 years and did 70k in it, I still miss it.

I remember buying one of these ..a 4.5 variant ….loads of issues , no air bag but it was so comfortable. It had a noise to shatter windows , went like a proverbial bat of hell ….and man I loved it ..

Lovely! Considering the low volumes, and the tiny comparative development budget, TVRs of this era are exquisitely well designed cars - in my view they put some much bigger brands to shame in the looks and perception departments. The Rover 3500 based V8s would have been a good bet in terms of parts availability, and expertise to repair faults, but I gather from various road tests at the time that TVR’s own engine was problematic. Great cars though - I’d have one!

I had a TVR Tasmin in the late 80's and loved it. Just so different to the usual stuff on the road at the time. Called in to the TVR factory and was given the full guided tour, an incredible place with a great workforce.

Had a 500 with straight through sports exhaust. Front wheels are smaller than the back cos the front steers and the back has to have plenty of rubber to handle the power. You could hear it before seeing it. The roof would lift over 60 mph when up and needed persuasion to fold low enough so you could see out the back when down. NEVER completely floor it at low speed if you are not pointing straight ahead and have your hands firmly on the steering wheel unless you want to go drifting or the back to swap with the front. Found out the hard way. Driven with precision it was wonderful. Take your eye off the ball and it bights. Hugely rewarding, 0-60 in the mid 4’s if you keep it in a straight line so proper quick even now. Keeping the engine cool was not easy in heavy traffic. No nanny state traction control lane assist etc etc or even an air bag. You take responsibility for your own actions. Oh and it has a good boot as well. Lastly you need it shod with good quality recent rubber. Found that out the hard way too. All in all a proper British sports car with the best V8 sound track to keep you entertained.

Thanks for a trip down memory lane. I was lucky enough to get a new one in 1994.... Broke down on way home petrol pump failure. Number of other niggles and problems over the first year. Kept ypu on your toes every time you drove it, but boy did it settle down when you pushed it. A great car.

I thought I knew a lot about TVR having owned one however the level of detail is incredible! Bravo 👏🏻

Great video Jack! Had a Chimaera 400 prior to my 500 - this was also great. They're certainly performance car bargains!

Absolutely love my 1997 Cerbera GT. Looking forward to getting it back out on the road as the better weather comes along. Absolute weapon of a car. Expensive to run but it's a hell of a machine.

About time you got around to TVRs now finish the job properly and do the Cerbera, Tuscan & Sagaris.

Had a 400 and loved it! Tricky in the wet...only car I have spun into a field after planting my foot too hard after a wet bend 😊Took it down through France to southern Spain which was fun although when it is hot the glass fibre body and heat from the engine make it like sitting in an oven! But with the open roof and that noise from the V8 all the shortcomings are quickly forgotten.

Bought a 450 3 months back after Up n Down did his video's. Well impressed with it. Great tourer.

Years ago at an auto show TVR was there and the British model standing next to the car would say over and over "If excitement is what you want, excitement is what you'll get with the TVR" - One can only imagine what TVR's definition of "excitement" was! lol

Great cars, amazing value. I did a rally/treasure hunt in a Griff 500 once, mainly in the rain. Made you feel alive!

Very cool car. Fantastic intro with the higher. Thank you for show casing these cars I've only ever seen on Gran Turismo 4 and giving history behind the car, brand and country of production at the time. Keep up the good work.

Wonderful. Seems fun to tool along gently too, which is nice

The original TVR factory was directly under Blackpool tower. Thanks for posting

Beautiful car with a beautiful sound ....!

I had a Chimaera 500, still remember spinning it going in a straight line on Anglesey circuit. No harm done, these make you feel alive and are the perfect antidote to modern life. Just wish there was an equivalent being made today, these offered what was then monster power priced at a level for the normal driver…

Thanks for sharing this with us Victor.

Was waiting for you to finally bring a TVR to the channel. Always been in love with them since I was a kid. Never seen one in the flesh though (certainly not in Italy but neither when I come to the UK for work).

Great video Jack. Love my 500!

Mate of mine had one of these about twenty years ago (from memory I think it was the 4.3L). Great to drive, sounded fantastic. Spent (literally) more days in the garage being fixed than it did on the road ;)

I love everything about this car

Great video yet again. I looked at a few TVRs prior to buying my S2 Elise and most were falling apart in one way or another. It really says something when the build quality makes later S2 Eliges onwards look like an S-class 😆

Thanks for that great drive Jack, it looks like it gives you a big smile on your face every time it's out on the road. Good looking with a lovely interior. My late father in law actually lived around the corner from the Blackpool factory, which is now going through a lot of birth pains in Wales, I don't know when Shmee 150 will get his car though. Regards, Bob M. South Wales

Love it too ! That sound, wow !

Super personality of the presenter made this very pleasurable!

Well, Jack, looks like you have a number of the TVR-owning community in your fan club. You’re gonna have to try a few more! Get used to the driving style they desire and they become quite addictive. Always a smile inducer! Except when they make you grimace. As my own Chim 500 did yesterday with an electrical failure. Still, soul has no price, except patience 😅

I put a tvr 5 litre engine, fuel injection, with the t5 gearbox in my westfield kitcar. The tvr quoted power is a bit exaggerated but with a big valve head and wilder cam I managed to get 330bhp and 390 lb.ft torque. Performance is brutal. I would love to own a tvr with the big engine. Great video.

Great video - love TVRs! (Jaguar started in Blackpool too!)

Wonderful, Jack. I've always has a soft spot for TVR. Grossly under-rated car and company. Thanks so much for this.

What a great surprise to see this car with the exact specs as mine going on these roads. @number27 thanx for making this video. I actually chose this car over a porsche 996 coupe, and im so happy i did! This thing is so much fun and so easy to work on. I love it to bits. I read most are making around 270-280 HP. Mine is chipped and makes a healthy 300 at the crank. I think as a roadster, and also as a car to take long trips in, these things offer so much fun for the money. I love the fact that they are so practical and have so much room for tall people. What jack says about the way it handels, is certainly true, it doesnt want to bite your head off or kill you. Its much more friendly than that.

Beautiful car, thank you for the review/ presentation. Brings back sweet memories

Owned a 450 Chim for over 20 years now. Had a few memorable road trips across northern France/ Belgium/ Holland in it. The boot is very big for a sports car, it was marketed as the Gran Tourer of the range, supposedly softer. It has let me down twice, both times the failure of fairly inexpensive items, which I don't think is too bad given the reputation TVR's have. They always run very hot, it's the only car I've driven where my prime focus is often on the engine temp gauge...with an EV you have range anxiety, with a TVR I always have temperature anxiety ! Of course run faster and it cools things down......

Thanks for a most enjoyable review!🙂

Love the sound of the engine and the short gear change

Love them.The Buick 215ci motor,of course,became the Rover V8 which has powered umpteen cars & been successful in competion especially in the Rover SD1 works racer & rally cars of the early 80,s campaigned by luminaries such as Steve Soper,Tony Pond etc.They were quite difficult to get to get serious power from until fitted with the "wildcat" heads which allowed up to nearly 400bhp.TVR also had their own race series in years gone by.

Riddled with problems but you cannot fail to love the underdog😍

A family member had a nearly identical Chimaera but not the 500, though I have been on track days in a Griffith 500. The Griffith was left with me for a few months, about as wise as getting Fred West as a babysitter. I never did take it out on the road.... fascinating to sit in them and identify what cars you have previously seen some of the parts in.

You do realise that Jaguar started out in Blackpool don't you Jack? Perhaps it isn't such an unlikely place to start a car company after all...

Love the sound of the engine and the short gearchange

One of the best looking TVR cars ! Love it! What a beast

RE: Ned the dog bite , I believe that is just a myth I'm afraid. I remember a while back a few original TVR employees debunking it. Great Myth though. I suggested a TVR a while ago, great you've finally featured one 👍🏻

Saw a Purple Paradise 5 litre, on the front cover of TopGears April '98 magazine amd fell in love with this car since.

I've always been fascinated by the TVR marque, one of the few spotted was a Tasmin parked behind The Balmoral in Toronto during the 80's & 90's, then it was gone, a rare cat.

A dear friend of mine had a Tuscan. He took it the Blackpool factory many years ago and I followed him to bring him home. Because it was Sunday, the place was closed, but the security guard allowed me to go inside for a desperately needed wee. I was told to follow the yellow lines 'till I found the lavatory. The factory was silent but smelled wonderfully of glue and fibreglass (much like I imagined an old canoe factory). Despite the temptation, I didn't stray from the yellow lines for a 'nose about' though. I only saw a very small part of the place but it was wonderful all the same.

Lived within a couple of miles of the old factory all my life. Miss hearing them ripping around on test drives 😃🎶 Blackpool is still going strong don’t worry about that! Yea some places are in need of a good clean up , but not as bad as many places I’ve been to! Also remember , Jaguar cars originated in Blackpool. Only couple hundred metres from the seafront , near the football ground.

Cheers, Jack! TVRs are manic! 🎉🎉🎉

Brilliant vid Jack👏🏼

That sound, brilliant jack 👌😄

Great video. I’ve been thinking about buying a chimaera and seeing this video really helps. Think I want one.

Great revue, glorious sound. Victor wasn't hanging about.

I had a 4 litre Chimaera for 5 years and loved it - I used it daily for work too....absolutely NO reliability issues....and servicing was super cheap....lovely noise - surprisingly large boot without the top - I could get my inflatable yacht tender and outboard in there - the other gear (sufficient for a week's sailing) went on the large parcel shelf behind the seats....a great car....

What a stunner. Amazing noise, brilliantly quirky, handsome and desirable!

I looking forward to getting one of these soon, and I can't wait 😀.

TVRs are the grim reapers company car. Beasts

A car that has always been on my bucket list. One day I may even buy one.. have been close a couple of times.

I do know someone who worked at TVR and swears blind that the rumour about the dog is just that...a rumour invented by Peter Wheeler as a marketing ploy.

I remember being at a race meeting in Mondello, a track in Ireland, in the early '90s the TVR series came over. Can't remember which model it was but by far the best race of the day. They sounded and looked amazing ☺

This channel deserves more views 💯

I had one for 2 years. Such good fun with the rear being so light.

Because of this car I am now claustrophobic after shutting the door I couldn't find the door leaver, I then thought I would open the window but I couldn't find the switch. Do I nearly kicked the front screen out. I can't even go in a lift anymore. Thanks TVR.

Ya gotta love the story about the dog. Beautiful.

My overall impression watching this video is that it would be interesting and instructive to see a review of the "lower powered option". Partly because it may prove to be better balanced as you suggest but also because you would likely need to push the rev limit up to dig into the full power band; always a more fun experience than having such abundant low end torque. Either way another hugely entertaining outing.

I think TVR's can be underrated mostly because some people think of them as a kit car, I have never thought that to be so in the true sense of a kit car. I love the shape of the Chimaera and the sound is so good. The colour of this one is also nice. I do hope TVR come up with a new car for a new era at some point, there are rumours of a new engine but we shall see. Until then we have some great cars to choose from. I think you might be on the look out for a good one at some point on your bucket list! Thanks Jack a great review. 👍👍

What a car! Amazing sound and awesome power and quintessentially British ingenuity and engineering 👍

A guy on my road has a Chimera in that colour. He keeps it immaculate, very jealous whenever I walk past on the way to work.