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R496 BLD

1997 Tvr Chimaera

Blue Petrol 3952cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires21 Apr 2027
Tests23 (18 pass, 5 fail)
Pass rate78.3%

Mileage

35,662 mi
Last recorded35,662 miles
Recorded on22 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
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationR496 BLD
MakeTvr
ModelChimaera
Year1997
ColourBlue
Fuel typePetrol
Engine3,952cc

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

18 pass 5 fail
Pass 22 Apr 2026 35,662 miles
Pass 19 Mar 2025 35,631 miles
Pass 17 Apr 2024 35,586 miles
Pass 19 Apr 2023 35,560 miles

Nearside Rear Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

Pass 8 Apr 2022 35,478 miles
Pass 12 Mar 2021 35,269 miles

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Fail 3 Mar 2021 35,240 miles

Emissions not tested (8.2.1.2 (d))

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Pass 6 Mar 2020 35,238 miles
Pass 16 Feb 2019 35,194 miles

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Pass 23 Feb 2018 34,775 miles

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

Pass 11 Mar 2017 34,241 miles
Pass 12 Mar 2016 33,650 miles
Pass 14 Mar 2015 32,829 miles
Pass 26 Mar 2014 32,169 miles
Fail 15 Mar 2014 32,153 miles

Nearside Front Windscreen wiper not operating over a large enough area to give an adequate view (8.2.1c)

Offside Front Front position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)

Offside Front Windscreen wiper not operating over a large enough area to give an adequate view (8.2.1c)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Pass 12 Oct 2010 31,143 miles
Pass 9 Oct 2009 29,174 miles

wiper motor smokeing

Pass 8 Aug 2008 28,963 miles

both front headlamp beam reflectos slightly deteriorated image fine

both front upper arms slightly corroded

both rear shocker upper bushes slightly deteriorated

o/s seat belt slow to recoil

o/s+n/s rear upper wishbone all bushes slightly deteriorated

slight play upper steering colum

v/slight bind both rear brakes

v/slight warp front discs

Pass 1 Sep 2007 28,136 miles
Fail 10 Aug 2007 28,117 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive (7.3.D.4)

Front Windscreen wiper not operating automatically when switched on (8.2.1b)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Pass 11 May 2006 27,128 miles
Fail 8 May 2006 27,127 miles

Nearside Ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)

Nearside Front Suspension has inadequate clearance with the bump stop (2.4.A.1a)

Nearside Front Upper Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Offside Front Front wheel bearing rough when rotated (2.5.A.2)

Offside Front Suspension has inadequate clearance with the bump stop (2.4.A.1a)

Offside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Offside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

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

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

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

alternator not charging. properly lighting is pulsing!

bad oil leak from gearbox tail shaft

oil leak from engine sump/rear main

Fail 2 May 2006 27,062 miles

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)

Nearside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Offside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

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

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R496 BLD is a 1997 Tvr Chimaera in Blue with a 3,952cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 23 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 78.3%.

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 a lower pass rate than the average for its year, which may indicate maintenance issues worth investigating.

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 R496 BLD, 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 R496 BLD?

You can check the full history of R496 BLD by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R496 BLD registered?

R496 BLD is a 1997 Tvr Chimaera, first registered on 1 August 1997.

Is R496 BLD safe to buy?

The MOT history for R496 BLD shows 23 tests with a 78.3% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R496 BLD 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 R496 BLD. 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.