FRENCH TVR CHIMAERA 400 RHD
Discussion
Hi everyone,
My name is Olivier, and I m from the Bordeaux area in France.
My story with the Chimaera actually began in England in 1997. I had gone over there after finishing my studies to work and improve my English, with absolutely no idea what was waiting for me. My boss was the proud owner of a Chimaera British Racing Green, beige hood, beige leather and black carpet. I still remember the first day I saw it in the car park. Its sculpted shape seemed to catch my eye every single time under the grey English sky. I remember thinking that you really had to love convertibles to drive one in that climate!
For several months, whether at work or around town, I kept seeing it regularly. It never failed to catch my attention, and that V8 soundtrack always put a smile on my face.
At first, I was just the new guy among many others, but as I gradually worked my way up, I found myself crossing paths with my boss more often. One day, I finally plucked up the courage to tell him how fantastic his car was. He explained, with a certain amount of pride, that it was built by a small British manufacturer called TVR, and that it was perfectly normal for me not to know the brand in France.
Some time later, he asked me to move the car because he was busy. He handed me the keys, and I spent a good five minutes trying to work out how to open the door...
Once I was sitting inside, that was it for me!
There was probably only 20% of me left that hadn't already been completely infected by this wonderful machine the leather everywhere, the raw beauty of every single detail...
I turned the key, and that was the final blow.
The roar, the vibrations of the V8... I immediately switched the engine off when I saw the gear lever on the left, handed the keys back to him and explained that I had never driven a British car and really didn't want to damage such a beautiful machine!
Back in France, in my twenties, I eventually gave in and bought a VW buggy much more within my budget at the time, and a good way to have some fun.
But the Chim never left my mind.
It stayed there, like a promise I had made to myself.
In 2025, that promise finally became reality: I m picking up my 1998 Chimaera 400.
Almost 30 years later, the desire is still exactly the same.
Looking forward to getting to know you all, exchanging stories and sharing the passion!
Olivier
FRENCH version :
Salut à tous,
Je m'appelle Olivier, de la région bordelaise.
Mon histoire avec la Chimaera a commencé en Angleterre en 1997. J'étais parti là-bas après mes études pour travailler et perfectionner mon anglais, loin de me douter de ce qui m'attendait. Mon patron était l'heureux propriétaire d'une Chimaera verte anglais, capote beige, cuir beige et moquette noire. Je me souviens encore du premier jour où je l'ai vue sur le parking, sa ligne sculptée captant systématiquement mon regard sous le ciel anglais. Je me disais qu'il fallait vraiment aimer les cabriolets pour en conduire un sous ce climat !
Pendant plusieurs mois, que ce soit au travail ou en ville, je la croisais régulièrement. À chaque fois, elle ne me laissait jamais indifférent, et ce bruit de moteur me faisait sourire. Au début, je n'étais qu'un petit nouveau parmi tant d'autres, mais en prenant des galons, j'ai fini par croiser davantage mon patron. Un jour, je me suis lancé et lui ai dit que sa voiture était fabuleuse. Il m'a expliqué avec une certaine fierté que c'était un petit constructeur britannique, TVR, et que c'était normal que je ne connaisse pas en France.
Quelque temps après, il m'a demandé de la déplacer car il était occupé. J'ai pris les clefs, cherché pendant 5 bonnes minutes comment ouvrir la portière... Une fois assis dans l'habitacle, c'était déjà fini pour moi ! Il ne restait que 20% de mon être qui n'étaient pas encore contaminés par cette merveille le cuir omniprésent, la beauté brute de chaque détail... J'ai démarré, et là, ce fut le coup de grâce. Ce rugissement, les vibrations du V8... J'ai immédiatement coupé le moteur en voyant le levier de vitesse à gauche, et je lui ai rendu les clefs en précisant que je n'avais jamais conduit d'anglaise et ne voulais surtout pas abîmer ce bijou.
De retour en France, dans la vingtaine, j'ai craqué pour un buggy VW plus dans mes moyens à l'époque, histoire de m'amuser un peu. Mais la Chim, elle, n'a jamais quitté mes pensées. Elle est restée là, comme une promesse que je me suis faite.
En 2025, cette promesse est devenue réalité : une chimaera 400 de 1998.
Presque 30 ans plus tard, l'envie est toujours intacte.
Hâte d'échanger avec vous et de partager cette passion !
Olivier
My name is Olivier, and I m from the Bordeaux area in France.
My story with the Chimaera actually began in England in 1997. I had gone over there after finishing my studies to work and improve my English, with absolutely no idea what was waiting for me. My boss was the proud owner of a Chimaera British Racing Green, beige hood, beige leather and black carpet. I still remember the first day I saw it in the car park. Its sculpted shape seemed to catch my eye every single time under the grey English sky. I remember thinking that you really had to love convertibles to drive one in that climate!
For several months, whether at work or around town, I kept seeing it regularly. It never failed to catch my attention, and that V8 soundtrack always put a smile on my face.
At first, I was just the new guy among many others, but as I gradually worked my way up, I found myself crossing paths with my boss more often. One day, I finally plucked up the courage to tell him how fantastic his car was. He explained, with a certain amount of pride, that it was built by a small British manufacturer called TVR, and that it was perfectly normal for me not to know the brand in France.
Some time later, he asked me to move the car because he was busy. He handed me the keys, and I spent a good five minutes trying to work out how to open the door...
Once I was sitting inside, that was it for me!
There was probably only 20% of me left that hadn't already been completely infected by this wonderful machine the leather everywhere, the raw beauty of every single detail...
I turned the key, and that was the final blow.
The roar, the vibrations of the V8... I immediately switched the engine off when I saw the gear lever on the left, handed the keys back to him and explained that I had never driven a British car and really didn't want to damage such a beautiful machine!
Back in France, in my twenties, I eventually gave in and bought a VW buggy much more within my budget at the time, and a good way to have some fun.
But the Chim never left my mind.
It stayed there, like a promise I had made to myself.
In 2025, that promise finally became reality: I m picking up my 1998 Chimaera 400.
Almost 30 years later, the desire is still exactly the same.
Looking forward to getting to know you all, exchanging stories and sharing the passion!
Olivier
FRENCH version :
Salut à tous,
Je m'appelle Olivier, de la région bordelaise.
Mon histoire avec la Chimaera a commencé en Angleterre en 1997. J'étais parti là-bas après mes études pour travailler et perfectionner mon anglais, loin de me douter de ce qui m'attendait. Mon patron était l'heureux propriétaire d'une Chimaera verte anglais, capote beige, cuir beige et moquette noire. Je me souviens encore du premier jour où je l'ai vue sur le parking, sa ligne sculptée captant systématiquement mon regard sous le ciel anglais. Je me disais qu'il fallait vraiment aimer les cabriolets pour en conduire un sous ce climat !
Pendant plusieurs mois, que ce soit au travail ou en ville, je la croisais régulièrement. À chaque fois, elle ne me laissait jamais indifférent, et ce bruit de moteur me faisait sourire. Au début, je n'étais qu'un petit nouveau parmi tant d'autres, mais en prenant des galons, j'ai fini par croiser davantage mon patron. Un jour, je me suis lancé et lui ai dit que sa voiture était fabuleuse. Il m'a expliqué avec une certaine fierté que c'était un petit constructeur britannique, TVR, et que c'était normal que je ne connaisse pas en France.
Quelque temps après, il m'a demandé de la déplacer car il était occupé. J'ai pris les clefs, cherché pendant 5 bonnes minutes comment ouvrir la portière... Une fois assis dans l'habitacle, c'était déjà fini pour moi ! Il ne restait que 20% de mon être qui n'étaient pas encore contaminés par cette merveille le cuir omniprésent, la beauté brute de chaque détail... J'ai démarré, et là, ce fut le coup de grâce. Ce rugissement, les vibrations du V8... J'ai immédiatement coupé le moteur en voyant le levier de vitesse à gauche, et je lui ai rendu les clefs en précisant que je n'avais jamais conduit d'anglaise et ne voulais surtout pas abîmer ce bijou.
De retour en France, dans la vingtaine, j'ai craqué pour un buggy VW plus dans mes moyens à l'époque, histoire de m'amuser un peu. Mais la Chim, elle, n'a jamais quitté mes pensées. Elle est restée là, comme une promesse que je me suis faite.
En 2025, cette promesse est devenue réalité : une chimaera 400 de 1998.
Presque 30 ans plus tard, l'envie est toujours intacte.
Hâte d'échanger avec vous et de partager cette passion !
Olivier
Edited by olivierfr on Friday 21st August 09:05
Bonjour Olivier et bienvenu.
That just about exhausts my French, so switching to English!
That sounds like a wonderful car. I look forward to seeing some pictures. I also managed to buy my first TVR this year - after nearly 30 years of wanting one. But for me it was a Cerbera (I have a large dog, so need a semblance of a back seat!). I hope you find it as wonderful as I have.
That just about exhausts my French, so switching to English!
That sounds like a wonderful car. I look forward to seeing some pictures. I also managed to buy my first TVR this year - after nearly 30 years of wanting one. But for me it was a Cerbera (I have a large dog, so need a semblance of a back seat!). I hope you find it as wonderful as I have.
Welcome to the club, and congratulations for ticking off a bucket list item!
I bought mine 3 years ago after drooling over them in the 90s. Various obstructive combinations of poorly paid jobs, lack of storage, kids, mortgages and other stuff through the 90s and 00s meant it was never going to happen, but I finally treated myself to a 96 Chimaera 400 in 2023.
They are wonderful cars that really get under your skin. The owners club (join the TVRCC - it's well worth it) and the TVR community generally is fantastic. There's a really good technical group for the Griffith and Chimaera on Facebook as well, with loads of knowledge and experience, including a guy who is a genuine wizard with the Lucas Hotwire fuel injection system fitted to these cars.
They are great to drive, with a wonderful soundtrack, and the bit that surprised me was how useable they are. All day comfortable, great heater, huge boot, and the 400 will easily crack 30 mpg on a motorway run too.
Mine has been no less reliable than any other 30 year old car either. Just "old car" stuff (ignition coil, exhaust, power steering seal, minor electrical gremlins) that are certainly not specific to a TVR, and only once actually stopped the car working. My advice is to use the car as much as you can. It's widely accepted that they run better, go better, and are more reliable than cars that sit doing nothing for months at a time.
I bought mine 3 years ago after drooling over them in the 90s. Various obstructive combinations of poorly paid jobs, lack of storage, kids, mortgages and other stuff through the 90s and 00s meant it was never going to happen, but I finally treated myself to a 96 Chimaera 400 in 2023.
They are wonderful cars that really get under your skin. The owners club (join the TVRCC - it's well worth it) and the TVR community generally is fantastic. There's a really good technical group for the Griffith and Chimaera on Facebook as well, with loads of knowledge and experience, including a guy who is a genuine wizard with the Lucas Hotwire fuel injection system fitted to these cars.
They are great to drive, with a wonderful soundtrack, and the bit that surprised me was how useable they are. All day comfortable, great heater, huge boot, and the 400 will easily crack 30 mpg on a motorway run too.
Mine has been no less reliable than any other 30 year old car either. Just "old car" stuff (ignition coil, exhaust, power steering seal, minor electrical gremlins) that are certainly not specific to a TVR, and only once actually stopped the car working. My advice is to use the car as much as you can. It's widely accepted that they run better, go better, and are more reliable than cars that sit doing nothing for months at a time.
Edited by Limpet on Friday 21st August 10:33
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