Here in America, TVR never sold any of its most modern sports cars so this 1994 Chimaera is a rare sight. Equipped with a special 400HC (high compression) package, this super slick-looking sports car is actually for sale. And it’s had a deeply thorough review by none other than Doug DeMuro.
For the unaware, the Chimera is one of many punchy British sports cars made by TVR. This particular example has lots of stuff that enthusiasts appreciate like lightweight construction, a V8 engine, and a manual transmission. It’s also full of specific quirks that only TVR would have built a production car with.
For example, there’s a weird quarter-window frame at the front of each door. It’s not useful or functional in any obvious way. In fact, when the window is up, it simply covers the whole section of the door so it doesn’t have any obvious utility. We’re guessing it’s possible that without it the window might not seal as well.
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In addition, once inside the Chimaera, there are no door handles to escape the vehicle. Instead, there’s a knob in the center console that you twist to pop the door latch open. It operates both doors though so you’ll have to take turns using it with your passenger.
A passenger might be important in this car too because the turn signal indicator is basically on their side of the car. So if you forget to turn yours off (they don’t self-cancel btw), the passenger is more likely to notice than you might be from behind the wheel.
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At least the turn signal information is easy enough to figure out though. Knowing how to work the lights or other features involves just learning which unlabeled buttons do what. That’s kind of a key feature of its own. Driving the Chimaera is meant to be an experience that melds the driver with the car so they’re as one being.
DeMuro loves it too, calling it a thrill and a mix of a Dodge Viper in the footprint of a Mazda Miata. It’s over on Cars and Bids right now for auction and ends in a week. If you want a convertible V8 with a manual transmission that will turn heads wherever you go, the Chimaera might be for you.
