Outstanding TVR Chimaera Restoration in 2023 For Sale

A unique opportunity to purchase a full restoration TVR Chimaera by Central TVR at a cost of £27590.

Vehicle History:

The Chimaera has had 7 owners and has a lot of invoices for services and MoT’s dating back to 2009.

In 2008 the car was registered at its MoT as having done 61,565 mi, and for the last 17 years the car has averaged 870 mi per year.

The service history was lost by the Garage who sold me the Car in 2023, however looking at the invoices and the annual milage the car was serviced every 3 to 4 years and MOT annually.

In 2001 the car was registered as being in a light cosmetic accident, where the bonnet and front vallance needed replaced, however this coincided with the Manufacturer TVR going into liquidation also in 2001 and all assets were frozen for a period of 2 years during a period of sequestration meaning no parts where available from factory, therefore the insurance company had no option but classified the car as a Cat C. The owner at the time then bought back the car and had fitted second hand parts, which are still on vehicle 24 years later.

For Information:

A Category C (Cat C) car is a vehicle deemed repairable after a minor non-structural accident, flood, or part are no longer manufactured, the insurance company will then write the car off because repair costs exceed its market value.

Based on the CAT C and on completion of the full restoration done in 2023 by myself, I requested Central TVR send a closed structural copy report to my insurance company who agreed the vehicle was in exceptional mechanical and cosmetic condition and issued a guaranteed insurance valuation certificate of £25000 regardless of a non removable CAT C tag, see pictures for copy of certificate.

Taking ownership of WIB5087:

The Chimaera was a Green 4-litre V8 TVR Chimaera. The fibreglass body was intact with no accident damage but suffered from major crazing and blistering common on old fiberglass.

The chassis was pristine and still had the original white powder coating.

Interior: black leather and aluminium dash with light green carpets.

Phase 1

Mechanical Restoration Phase:

As stated, the chassis was in immaculate condition and still had full white powder coating, however, the outriggers had worn consistent with age and were replaced.

All mechanical bearings were also replaced regardless of condition.

All four suspension arms replaced with new bushes and bolts.

All new four wheels painted in gun metal grey and 4 black standard adjustable dampers fully fitted, with ride height set for performance.

Phase 2

Full Engine Re-build:

Although the engine was operating perfectly a decision was made that with only partial record of the WIB5087’s service history book being lost a compression test, bore-scope inspection and engine strip-down would be carried out.

The compression test and bore-scope inspection showed no issues.

On strip down the cam shaft lifters were identified as worn and replaced. The cam shaft was deemed in perfect condition.

As part of the rebuild every gasket and sensor and rubber hose was replaced as was engine wiring and connectors.

Phase3

Full body respray:

Initially the car underwent a total strip-down and removal of the old paint. Repair of blistering was carried out and the fibreglass resealed, at which point the car went through a full body respray in a classic Land Rover Light Green colour code LRC799, first used on the 1958 series one Land Rover.

Phase 4

Full dashboard rewiring and engine bay wiring upgrade:

Traditionally TVR utilised a Range Rovers wiring harness, however, for the Chimaera this is heavily modified for LED lighting in the dash. This was fully rewired, and the old engine bay harness modernised with new insulation and connectors, where necessary, as part of the overall engine rebuild in phase 2, and a new veneer dash installed.

Phase 5

Full interior leather refit:

The original leather was black and in fine condition. However, the black was never part of the redesign of this TVR, based on a traditional retro and classic paint and interior colour combination design linked back to Land Rover heritage.

The leather chosen was a traditional Land Rover and Aston Martin supplier, Leather code 4648-Market Tan.

New charcoal grey carpet was also commissioned and installed.

Phase 6

New soft top and T-top fabric and front windscreen replacement:

The soft top of a TVR Chimaera is a two-part system - a hard, carbon fibre top section and a combined soft rear section which includes the rear window.

All the canvas and rear window sections were replaced. The mechanism was in flawless order and remains original.

As part of the renovation the black trim on the front window had suffered water damage, therefore a new windshield was commissioned and installed.

Conclusion:

This fit out was extensive, however the quality of work coupled with the professionalism and care along with some very good advice that Adrian and his team at Central TVR and effort put into this project is visible in the quality of the product and genuinely inspiring.

With regards Central TVR's full restoration coupled with my insurance company guaranteed valuation of £25000 regardless of the CAT C,

* I BELIEVE BASED ON ALL ABOVE I FEEL I HAVE PRICED THIS CAR AS A TRUE BARGAIN AND THEREFORE I WILL NOT BE ACCEPTING ANY LOW-BALL BIDS*