CarVerify

Free Car Check

R5 LTR

1997 Tvr Chimaera

Purple Petrol 4997cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires3 Nov 2026
Tests28 (20 pass, 8 fail)
Pass rate71.4%

Mileage

51,885 mi
Last recorded51,885 miles
Recorded on27 Oct 2025
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

RegistrationR5 LTR
MakeTvr
ModelChimaera
Year1997
ColourPurple
Fuel typePetrol
Engine4,997cc

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

20 pass 8 fail
Pass 27 Oct 2025 51,885 miles
Pass 22 Oct 2024 51,580 miles
Pass 24 Oct 2023 51,328 miles
Pass 26 Oct 2022 50,646 miles
Pass 25 Oct 2021 49,538 miles

Nearside Rear Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Pass 14 Oct 2020 49,314 miles
Pass 4 Nov 2019 49,053 miles
Pass 30 Oct 2018 47,291 miles

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge wearing close to legal limit (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Fail 29 Oct 2018 47,276 miles

Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge wearing close to legal limit (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Pass 30 Oct 2017 46,010 miles

Body has slight corrosion all body to chassis mounting points corroded (6.1.B.2)

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

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

parking brake efficiency only just meets requirements

Pass 25 Oct 2016 45,619 miles

both front upper wishbones starting to corrode

chassis starting to corrode

Pass 27 Oct 2015 42,802 miles
Fail 26 Oct 2015 42,786 miles

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

Upper Steering column universal joint is excessively deteriorated (2.1.5)

Pass 28 Oct 2014 39,454 miles
Fail 27 Oct 2014 39,440 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage worn and seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Nearside Front Brake pipe excessively damaged (3.6.B.2c)

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage worn and seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Nearside Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)

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

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage worn and seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Offside Front Brake pipe excessively damaged (3.6.B.2c)

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage worn and seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

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

front shock absorbers have significantly reduced damping affect

Fail 21 Oct 2013 35,826 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

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

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

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Pass 21 Oct 2013 35,826 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

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

Pass 22 Oct 2012 34,401 miles

Nearside Front Upper Front suspension has slight play in a upper suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

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

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

Pass 26 Oct 2011 32,904 miles
Fail 25 Oct 2011 32,888 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

Pass 19 Oct 2010 32,001 miles

Both front antiroll bar drop links have slight free play.

Both front top wishbone arms in very rusty and poor condition.

Both headlight reflectors in poor condition.

Both rear brake calipers seizing on handbrake lever mechanisms.

Both rear hub seals leaking.

Offside outer constant velocity joint boot split and leaking, and nearside badly deteriorated.

Parking brake: parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)

Rear number plate illuminated from inside boot, spoke to Vosa who said it was ok.

Fail 18 Oct 2010 31,960 miles

Inner Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

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

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

Both front antiroll bar drop links have slight free play.

Both front top wishbone arms in very rusty and poor condition.

Both headlight reflectors in poor condition.

Both rear brake calipers seizing on handbrake lever mechanisms.

Both rear hub seals leaking.

Offside outer constant velocity joint boot split and leaking, and nearside badly deteriorated.

Rear number plate illuminated from inside boot, spoke to Vosa who said it was ok.

Pass 27 Jun 2009 30,962 miles

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

Fail 24 Jun 2009 30,950 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too high and too far to the right. (1.8)

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

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

Fail 26 Jun 2008 28,885 miles

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Pass 26 Jun 2008 28,885 miles
Pass 20 Jun 2007 26,364 miles
Pass 30 Jun 2006 22,509 miles

Offside Steering rack gaiter deteriorated (2.2.D.2d)

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

R5 LTR is a 1997 Tvr Chimaera in Purple with a 4,997cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 28 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 71.4%.

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 R5 LTR, 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 R5 LTR?

You can check the full history of R5 LTR by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R5 LTR registered?

R5 LTR is a 1997 Tvr Chimaera, first registered on 24 October 1997.

Is R5 LTR safe to buy?

The MOT history for R5 LTR shows 28 tests with a 71.4% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R5 LTR 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 R5 LTR. 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.