1998 TVR Chimaera 4.5L Petrol · TGF 777M

The 1998 TVR Chimaera presents as roadworthy with a stable maintenance trend. The most recent test on 7 August 2025 at 31,610 miles returned a pass with no defects recorded, and the prior annual test on 7 August 2024 at 30,652 miles also passed cleanly. The duplicate 7 August 2024 entry showing a fail at identical mileage and with no defects listed appears to be an administrative DVSA anomaly rather than a genuine mechanical fault, and the car has carried no advisories across the five tests on file. Recorded mileage sits at 31,610 against a 28-year lifespan, equating to roughly 1,129 miles per year. The records show gentle accumulation: 29,206 miles on 11 January 2022, 29,880 by 19 December 2022, then 30,652 in August 2024 and 31,610 by August 2025. A gap exists between the December 2022 and August 2024 tests spanning roughly twenty months, after which annual testing resumed. Low annual use of this order commonly accompanies prolonged standing periods, which on a TVR of this era raises the prospect of perished rubber suspension bushes, degraded brake caliper seals, and tyre sidewall cracking rather than high-mileage drivetrain wear. A buyer should physically inspect the chassis outriggers and floorpan for structural corrosion, as TVR's mild steel chassis is prone to rust where moisture collects. The absence of advisories means the tester noted no visible concern, but standing storage can hide internal bore corrosion in brake lines and silencer rot not evident on a lifted inspection alone. Verify the duplicate 2024 MOT entries against the DVSA portal before purchase, and commission a pre-purchase inspection focusing on suspension compliance, brake disc condition, and exhaust emissions under load given the car's light-use profile.