They’ll take very hard use – but you have to service them much more often than a high-volume sportscar because they’re highly specialist

If you listened to those who prop up the bar at the Red Lion, the chances are that you’d never even consider buying a TVR. After all, they apparently leak like sieves, are guaranteed to break down
at least weekly and are driven only by those who are built like Viz magazine’s Buster Gonad. But the reality is rather different; not only are these cars more usable than you’d think, but they’re not inherently unreliable – as long as they are properly looked after.

Steve Reid of Classic TVR sums it up perfectly: ‘TVRs are too often bought by people who are used to the reliability of a modern mass-market car. They think they can get it serviced every 10,000 miles and thrash it mercilessly without it breaking. These motors will take very hard use – but you have to service them much more often than a high-volume sportscar because they are highly specialist machines.’

The unveiling of the Griffith prototype at the 1990 British Motor Show meant TVR could leave the Tasmin and S-Series cars behind, and move into a new era of much more powerful, aggressively styled models. This first offering was essentially a rebodied V8-S, with a chassis that could cope with little more than 240bhp.

TVR boss Peter Wheeler knew the Griffith would ultimately offer much more than this, so a fresh platform had to be devised. The solution was to base the new car on the Tuscan racer’s frame, and at the 1991 motor show a completely rejigged Griffith was unveiled. The first cars were delivered
in 1992, with either 3948cc or 4280cc Rover V8s, but within a year a 5.0-litre unit was the sole choice.

While the Griffith looks fabulous, it doesn’t offer much in the way of practicality – and even enthusiastic drivers sometimes need a healthy dose of usability. That’s why the Chimaera was devised; it’s a Griffith with a bigger boot and softer suspension, so it’s just as fast but easier to live with – and some would also say more discreetly designed, too.

With the apparent demise of TVR and the fact that it’s already six years since the final Chimaera was built (and seven since the last Griffith was produced), values for these cars are lower than ever. Indeed they’re still a bit unstable, with good 5-litre examples sometimes advertised for the same money as ropey 4-litre ones, so shop around to get the best model for your money.

An early (4-litre) Griffith is now down to around £10,000, but for little more you can have a 4.3-litre example, while £13,000 buys you a good 5-litre edition. Some optimistic dealers are still asking the thick end of £20,000 for a really good, low-mileage Griffith, but you don’t need to pay that sort of money; £16,000 will net you something that’s really superb.

If you’d prefer a Chimaera you’re in luck because values are down a bit on the Griffith. These cars are more common and seen as less of a driver’s machine, and as a result they’re not so sought after – especially as these recent TVRs are now occasional playthings for most owners.

A decent 4-litre Chimaera can be yours for just £8-9000, while 4.5-litre editions are typically £11,000 for something nice. Pick of the bunch is definitely the 5-litre model, but just 10 per cent of the 6000 Chimaeras built were fitted with this engine; if you want one you’ll need to find £15,000 if you’re not to acquire a liability. After all, you wouldn’t want to be joining the pundits at the Red Lion’s bar, nodding in agreement at everything they say.