The mythical creature from Blackpool
The English sports car manufacturer TVR has always put exceptional vehicles on the road. The brand's most popular model is the Chimaera V8 from the 1990s. The company's history is just as adventurous as its fast two-seaters.
In the parking lot, the fiery red convertible is often given a second glance: TVR, what is that? Although most people are familiar with the English sports car brands MG and Triumph, TVR has always remained an insider tip for fans of hardcore sports cars on the continent.
In 1946, Trevor Wilkinson founded the sports car company in Blackpool, to which he gave his shortened first name as a brand name. His recipe: proven V6 and V8 engines from Ford and Rover, embedded in a tubular frame and wrapped in a body shell made of fiberglass composite material. Over the years, however, the construction of its own R6, V8 and even V12 engines, as well as a constant stream of new bodies, led to several bankruptcies and new start-ups. Although there are plans for a new model today, the brand currently appears to be in a coma.
Mythological model name
In Greek mythology, Chimaera refers to a fire-breathing hybrid creature between a goat and a lion. From 1992 to 2002, TVR produced a 4-meter convertible with this name. Autosprint had the opportunity to take an extended test drive in the most successful model from Blackpool in terms of sales. The main characteristics alone were enough to make you sit up and take notice: standard drive with 4-liter V8 from Rover and 5-speed manual gearbox from Borg-Warner, vehicle weight only 1060 kilograms.
Even before the start, it becomes clear that everything is a little different at TVR. Instead of a door latch, for example, a push button on the underside of the exterior mirror is used to unlock the door. After driving, the door is opened by turning a spherical switch on the center console.
Even if the engine output of 240 hp seems rather modest from today's perspective, a real sports car feeling is created from the very first meter. The low seating position, the low vehicle weight, the double wishbone suspension all round and the pleasant V8 sound create a great atmosphere. Operating the clutch and manual gearbox requires almost forgotten physical effort, but this actually enhances the driving pleasure.
Without ABS and power steering
The Chimaera - with the roof stowed in the trunk - proves to be a perfectly balanced sports car on winding uphill stretches. The multi-disc limited slip differential ensures traction in bends, and the fact that the steering works without servo is only noticeable in small traffic circles or when parking. And although ABS and ESP began to gain a foothold in car production in the 1990s, such systems are missing in the Chimaera. TVR drivers have to master the driving dynamics without electric assistance - in wet conditions with a particularly sensitive foot on the accelerator.
