The early to mid 1990s was a burgeoning time for the automotive sector. Everywhere around the world manufacturers were busy launching new innovative models and cars that actually made us Petrolheads want it so badly. It was a time where things happened in a big way even in Malaysia. Proton just launched the Wira to great acclaim (and a waiting list of over five months). Bufori decided to start producing cars in Malaysia and we had the great British sportscar manufacturer TVR deciding to build cars in Malaysia too.
I remember listening to some friends of mine who actually visited the factory in the late 1990s. It was a typical Malaysian factory. This meant cheap steel structure with zinc roofing, a dog or two in the yard, some dirt here and there and within the totally Malaysian surrounding, we had TVR moulds being used to make the fiberglass body and the smell of fiberglass resin everywhere in the air. But since TVRs were all made of glassfibre, this was a norm. I suppose the workers got high almost everyday. Of course, by the end of the 1990s, the Malaysian and Asian economics crashed. This actually meant that the markets in this region dried up. By the early 2000s TVR packed up and left Malaysia. By 2006, TVR closed its doors and to this day we have been hearing of its revival. I hope its soon.
Anyway, this here is one of those cars which could have been made in Port Klang. Imagine that, a real British roadster with its Rover 4.0liter V8 engine built right here in Malaysia. You could be the proud owner of a British designed sportscar that was Malaysian made if you had RM58,000.
You must remember that TVRs of this era are actually quite psychotic. Firstly, they had no visible door release handles inside and outside. It has the door release button under the side mirrors on the outside and one knob in the center console on the inside. It was also made out of fiberglass, so if it was new, it would smell like you bought lots of glue and spilled it everywhere. If you drove it angrily, it would angrily bite you back and then try to kill you if you aren't prepared for that rear-wheel drive and traditional (meaning, typical oversteer at every prod of the throttle type macho handling) especially in the wet. Of course, this was a typical British sportscar with a big engine. They usually like to make its drivers pee in their pants occasionally. Or find themselves going boot first into an English hedge mid corner.
The power of the Chimaera from that Rover 4.0 V8 is approximately 240 bhp and about 366 N·m torque at 4000 rpm. This allowed a maximum speed of 245 km/h and a 0-100kmh time of 5.1secs with its standard 5 speed manual gearbox. It was actually a combination of the lightweight tubular framed chassis and fiberglass body that gave it a reasonable power to weight ratio. The 5.0liter variant was even more mad - 0-100kmh in 4.1seconds and a top speed of 282kmh. This was in the mid-1990s. And it was cheaper to buy than a Porsche 911 Turbo.
But the main thing about any V8 TVR is the exhaust note. It is gloriously loud and heavenly from inside and out. The traditional Rover V8 is actually one of those engines that burble and rumble all the time. It has that sense of occasion that not many other cars have.
So if you can afford its asking price and its RM6,405.00 annual roadtax, go ahead. This is truly a car to experience.
Seller Says
TVR Chimera
Metallic Midnight Blue
New Cream Leather Interior
Lovely V8 exhaust note
Buy and Drive
