The TVR Chimaera is a two-seater roadster that was introduced to the TVR range in 1993, less than a complete year following the launch of the Griffith.  The car used the same chassis as the Griffith, but had a slightly larger body and a softer ride. It also used the same engine as fitted to the Griffith, initially in 4-litre form, this being a modified V8 Rover unit, the original version having been used in the production of the Rover P5 and P6 saloons, as well as the later SD1 and to the Range Rover, and actually dates back to the 1960's.

Whilst being very fast the Chimaera was easier than the Griffith to live with as an everyday car, and it attracted enough orders to put TVR production through the 1,000 units per year barrier for the first time.  In December 1993 production of the TVR Griffith for the UK market was actually halted to allow time for export orders for the Chimaera to be fulfilled.  This was definitely a car that gave TVR a big surge forward in popularity.

In 2003 the Chimaera was officially and sadly dropped from the TVR model range, but it will be remembered as the most popular TVR of them all.  The Chimaera 450 was the only engine variant being made at the end of the production run.

Over the course of its production life the Chimaera was available in 4-litre, 4.3-litre, 4.5-litre and 5-litre form, withthe 4.3 being droppped at an early stage in its production run.  Badges relating to engine size would be found on the 4.5 or 5.0-litre models, these displaying the digits 450 or 500 respectively and coresponding to the engine size.

At the time the Chimaera was conceived, it was normal pactice for TVR to make pre-production mock-ups of the car bodies from expanded foam and then sculpture it to shape. It is alledged that after the foam pattern of the Chimaaera was made, that a dog, owned by Peter Wheeler, the principle of the company, took a bite out of the pattern in the area of a front corner. This unsceduled feature inspired Peter Wheeler, who instructed his team of designers to make a recess at that location in which to mount the front indicators lamps.

Technical Specification 4.0-litre

90 degree alloy V8 engine
Capacity 3950cc
Bore/stroke 94x71mm
Compression ratio 9.8:1
Max rpm 6,250
Max power 235 bhp @ 5,500 rpm
Max torque 260 ft lbs @ 4,500 rpm
0 to 60 mph 4.8 secs
0 to 100 mph 12.2 secs
Maximum speed 152mph

Technical Specification 4.5-litre

90 degree alloy V8 engine
Capacity 4546cc
Bore/stroke 94x82mm
Compression ratio 9.5:1
Max rpm 6,250
Max power 285bhp @5,500 rpm
Max torque 300 ft lbs @ 4,500 rpm
0 to 60 mph 4.7 secs
0 to 100 mph 11.2 secs
maximum speed 160 mph

Technical Specification 5.0-litre

90 degree alloy V8 engine
Capacity 4988cc
Bore/stroke 94x90mm
Compression ratio 10.0:1
Max rpm 6,000
Max power 320bhp @ 5,500 rpm
Max torque 320 ft lbs @ 4,000 rpm
0 to 60mph 4.1 secs
0 to 100 mph 10.5 secs
Maximum speed 167mph