Earlier this year TVR announced its long-awaited comeback with the new Griffith, a car which continues the V8, rear-wheel drive, two-seater sports car layout from the 1990’s original. After hearing this news I found it impossible not to reminisce over one car in particular, the Chimaera — the company’s best-selling model.
At the time of the Chimaera’s release in 1993, it was quicker and significantly cheaper than a Porsche Carrera 2, BMW 840Ci or Maserati Ghibli. The ‘S’ series styling continued on from its predecessor (the original Griffith), to give the Chimaera its classic British sports car lines. Underneath the long, loping bonnet was the legendary aluminium Rover V8 which powered everything from MGs to Range Rovers between 1967 and 2006. Yes, this engine was originally conceived by Buick in the late 1950’s but after four decades of racing, off-roading and commuting, it became a symbol of the British automotive scene and the power plant of many TVRs.
With a mix of raw speed and a lack of safety features such as traction control and airbags, TVRs grew a reputation for being dangerous. Add in the lack of sound deadening and cheap plastic interiors and the experience of driving a TVR could be equated to diffusing a bomb while riding a rollercoaster.
With these preconceptions in the forefront of my mind I met with Gavin Deans — a Chimaera owner. Gavin’s Chimaera is a 2000-year model with the mid-range 4.5 litre V8 producing 285bhp and 310ft lb of torque. With the absence of any traction control, those figures seem much more daunting.
On a sunny but damp autumnal morning I was lucky enough to ride in a Chimaera for the first time and within a mile I could understand the appeal of owning a TVR. The roads were still drying after a heavy downpour the night before and I presumed this would highlight the tail-happy characteristics of the car and thrust us into some unwelcome slides. Thankfully, the reputation preceding TVRs did not ring true and I was relieved to see the car hugging the road with poise and stability.
As the drive went on I could see the healthy respect Gavin had for his Chimaera. The car responds well to smooth and gentle inputs from the driver and while it’ll do 0–60 in 4.7 secs and roar onto a top speed of 160mph, this is certainly not a car built for tearing round a track. The Chimaera was billed as a softer, more practical and civilised alternative to the Griffith and became the easiest way to enjoy TVR ownership. Despite this, if you bury your right foot into the thickly carpeted floor, the surge of power combined with the reassuring rumble of that glorious V8 makes for an intoxicating experience.
Arriving back at Gavin’s home he tells me almost all the TVR owners he had spoken to prior to buying his Chimaera had been in serious accidents with theirs. I’m thankful he chose to tell me after the drive as I could then understand the perceived lack of safety only adds to its distinct charm.
After its 11-year production run, the Chimaera’s competitors such as the Jaguar XK8 and obligatory 911s now look sedate and predictable in comparison. Being different and an interesting alternative, the Chimaera rightfully earned its fan base. And the fan base is considerable. There are at least 70% of the original production Chimaeras still on the road — more a testament to the various TVR owners’ clubs, rather than the actual reliability of the cars themselves.
TVRs divide opinion, some commend the radical thinking and unorthodox design whereas others disapprove of the lack of finish quality and reliability, whenever you stand on TVR, you cannot deny they did things their way. In a world of cars made for pedestrian safety and fuel efficiency, TVR’s daring uniqueness should be respected.
Read more posts by Allie Crooks in Let’s Drive on DriveTribe the new website by Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May.
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