CarVerify

Free Car Check

J12 BUL

1997 Tvr Chimaera

Blue Petrol 3948cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires1 May 2027
Tests23 (19 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate82.6%

Mileage

17,836 mi
Last recorded17,836 miles
Recorded on23 Apr 2026
Typical for 1997 Tvr Chimaera48,002 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

4 checks still locked for this Tvr
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
Unlock full report — £4.99
Instant £30k guarantee
or single check £9.99

Not all car check providers offer a guarantee. Don't risk buying from services that can't back their data. CarVerify reports include a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

Vehicle Details

RegistrationJ12 BUL
MakeTvr
ModelChimaera
Year1997
ColourBlue
Fuel typePetrol
Engine3,948cc

All premium checks include

50+ data points
Finance Check (Experian) Insurance Write-off Salvage Auction Stolen Check Previous Owners Ex-Taxi, Police, NHS Mileage Anomaly Import / Export Scrapped Check Plate Changes

MOT History

19 pass 4 fail
Pass 23 Apr 2026 17,836 miles

Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Nearside front (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Tyres are 20 years old

Pass 2 May 2025 17,674 miles

Oil leak, but not excessive oil leaks (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 4 Mar 2024 17,466 miles
Fail 26 Feb 2024 17,458 miles

Offside Rear Lower Anti-roll bar linkage attachment bracket/mounting fractured mount to suspension arm (5.3.3 (b) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Nearside Rear Lower anti-roll bar mount to suspension arm is corroded

Pass 24 Feb 2023 17,345 miles

Oil leak, but not excessive engine/gearbox (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 25 Feb 2022 16,857 miles

Oil leak, but not excessive engine/gearbox (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 25 Feb 2021 16,316 miles

Nearside Rear Position lamp slightly affected by the operation of another lamp (4.2.3 (c))

Oil leak, but not excessive engine/gearbox (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Fail 20 Jan 2021 16,215 miles

Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (8.2.1.2 (c))

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))

Exhaust carbon monoxide content at idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

Exhaust hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))

Nearside Rear Position lamp slightly affected by the operation of another lamp (4.2.3 (c))

Oil leak, but not excessive also engine oil level is low (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 16 Jul 2019 15,893 miles
Pass 3 Jul 2018 15,451 miles
Pass 21 Jun 2017 14,877 miles
Pass 28 Apr 2016 14,039 miles
Pass 21 Apr 2015 13,136 miles
Pass 16 Apr 2014 12,779 miles
Fail 25 Mar 2014 12,773 miles

Brake pedal feels spongy with the vacuum fully depleted (3.3.C.2) DANGEROUS

Brake pedal spongy (3.3.B.1b) DANGEROUS

Service brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.C.1a) DANGEROUS

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

power steering rack/pump/pipes weeping fluid.

Pass 19 Mar 2013 11,684 miles
Pass 28 Jul 2011 10,125 miles
Pass 27 Jul 2010 9,000 miles

1.o/s/r top wish bone rear bush rubbing.2.slight power steering leak

Pass 29 Jul 2009 7,474 miles

Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Power steering component(s) has slight seepage from a component (2.3.3b)

Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

offside front upper ball joint dust cover/gaitor insercure.

offside rear upper suspension arm, rear bush/mount very close to chassis/mount.

oil leak(s).

slight scratches on windscreen.

Fail 24 Jul 2009 7,474 miles

Nearside Front Direction indicator not working (1.4.A.2c)

Nearside Front Headlamp aim not tested (1.8.A.1c)

Nearside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Steering rack gaiter split (2.2.D.2d)

Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Power steering component(s) has slight seepage from a component (2.3.3b)

Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

offside front upper ball joint dust cover/gaitor insercure.

offside rear upper suspension arm, rear bush/mount very close to chassis/mount.

oil leak(s).

slight scratches on windscreen.

Pass 31 Jul 2008 6,241 miles

Anti-roll bar linkage rubber mounting deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Offside Rear Upper Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Power steering component(s) has slight seepage from a component (2.3.3b)

Rear position lamp(s) slightly affected by the operation of another lamp (1.1.A.3f)

slight scratches offside screen

stickers on screen in wiper sweep

Pass 6 Jun 2007 5,406 miles

Rear Parking brake: parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.C.1b)

Pass 28 Apr 2006 4,236 miles

How Reliable is the Tvr Chimaera?

Based on 74,906 MOT tests across 4,721 vehicles.

81.6%
Pass Rate
855
Miles/Year
33
Year Lifespan
4,721
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 1,285
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 1,258
Steering rack gaiter split 1,113
Headlamp aim too high 1,041
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 977
Full Tvr Chimaera reliability report

Don't risk it. Know before you buy.

Not all vehicle check providers are the same. Some don't offer a data guarantee, which means if their information is wrong, you're on your own. Every CarVerify report is backed by a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

£30k guarantee Instant results Cancel anytime

J12 BUL is a 1997 Tvr Chimaera in Blue with a 3,948cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 23 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 82.6%.

Across all 1997 Tvr Chimaera models, the average MOT pass rate is 81.8% with a typical mileage of 48,002 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

The most common reason a Tvr Chimaera fails its MOT is parking brake: efficiency below requirements, accounting for 1,285 recorded failures. If you're considering buying J12 BUL, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Tvr Chimaera typically stays on UK roads for around 33 years. At 29 years old, this Tvr Chimaera is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of J12 BUL?

You can check the full history of J12 BUL by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was J12 BUL registered?

J12 BUL is a 1997 Tvr Chimaera, first registered on 4 March 1997.

Is J12 BUL safe to buy?

The MOT history for J12 BUL shows 23 tests with a 82.6% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does J12 BUL have outstanding finance?

Finance checks require a premium vehicle report. This checks against all major UK finance providers to see if there is any outstanding finance on J12 BUL. If you buy a car with outstanding finance, the finance company can repossess it.

No warranty or guarantee of accuracy is provided for any free data on this page. The data guarantee applies only to information obtained through the purchase of a full check.