Griffith B275

Griffith B275

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andy43

Original Poster:

9,548 posts

253 months

Monday 20th October 2014
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I’m now the proud UK owner of a Japanese market 1998 Griffith 4.0.

My new car is a ’98 Griffith B275, which I have never heard of. Turns out TVR Japan had their own models made – the B340 and the B275, as well as the 500 we know in the UK. Because of the language barrier finding this out has taken me hours. The cars were exported to Japan between ’94 and 2000 – have a look here for a very rough google translation.

The B340 is the Griff 500 as seen in Gran Turismo etc. B for Blackpool, 340 for 340 bhp (Blackpool marketing dept figures….).
The B275 – this is where it gets strange, because it has a 275 bhp Chimaera 4.0 HC serp engine from the factory, built on a 500 chassis with T5 box, rear ARB as on the 500, and also has aircon.
Apparently some 4 litre engines refused point blank to go in a Chimnea, preferring instead the svelte lines of a Griffith hehe

The major downside of the Jap cars is the rear numberplate recess – it is huge and absolutely bloody hideous.

The plus sides of imports are no or little road salt in Japan, an incredibly tough and costly MOT-type bi-annual ‘shaken’ test and the fact this car has only done 20,000 miles.
More googling has thrown up another B275 that came over as a write off last year, and ended up being put back on the road by TVRGlen. Whether it’s now a 500 with the UK rear end glued on I don’t know, but the guy who imported it said it definitely wasn’t broken for spares.

So there ya go. A very odd Griffith smile

Barreti

6,680 posts

236 months

Monday 20th October 2014
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Really interesting bit of Griffith history. Thanks for taking the time to write it.

So it's effectively a 500 with a 4litre engine then?
Why though - Tax reasons do you reckon?

Are you keeping the original 'ugly' rear plate recess or going to have it Anglicised

andy43

Original Poster:

9,548 posts

253 months

Tuesday 21st October 2014
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Yep, a 500 but with a wimps engine wink
I haven't had a chance to explore the power yet - weather is awful, plus it's only just running right as it's needed stepper, plugs, timing - but it should do for me and my semiskilled driving abilities. My old 430 (I broke it - but it's now in the Netherlands) was a bit quicker than a 450 Chimaera and wasn't far off the 500, and I'm guessing this 4.0 won't be breaking any records as it's standard and still catted.

No idea why they did them like this - you could well be right about tax implications.
The Jap prices look mega expensive when new - the B275 was 7 million Yen which is over 40 grand at current exchange rates, the B340 another 6 grand on top, so maybe the tax was a factor in creating a 4 litre.

I haven't decided about the rear plate - it would easily be four figures to let in a proper UK rear section, so I'm kind of thinking about a UK shaped backlit plate with an ally plate sprayed green above/below it to cover the exposed bits of the Jap recess. Keep it tight to the edges of the recess, get a curve on it to match the body, and a neat bead of TVR silicone to seal it and it might not look too bad.
Or I might learn to live with it hurl

Moycie

536 posts

196 months

Tuesday 21st October 2014
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Thanks for the post - interesting to read what they did for the Japanese market. I would keep it as it is, you have a nice story to tell people!

FFMan

410 posts

248 months

Friday 24th October 2014
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keep it as is. its part of the cars history and a talking point.

Unless you are trying to disguise its origins, it is what it is - an interesting import, and as you point out, their stringent MOT means it was probably kept in better fettle for being in Japan than in the UK.

C15

350 posts

242 months

Friday 24th October 2014
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I would say the shaaken is no tougher than the MOT having lived in Japan for a number of years. The costly bit is because it is also the road tax. No modifications are allowed to japanee cars on the road, if you go by the shaaken rule book. If you want them, then the cost increases, not unlike the german TUV! As it takes time to check them, and both testers are privately run companies.... smile. The Japanese shaaken was a copy the TUV..

andy43

Original Poster:

9,548 posts

253 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
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Looks like the consensus is to keep the rear as it is. It's kind of growing on me.
I think moving the plate forward and getting it backlit like the UK cars could be worth a try.

C15 - interesting stuff thankyou - there's so much third hand info about the Japanese market because of the distance and the language barrier it's good to get some correct info about what it actually involves.
I spoke to a campervan importer this week and he waffled on about how tough and expensive it is to get a car through the test - I suppose it would be if it includes the road tax. Interesting that it could be based on the TUV.

Don't suppose you could translate all the paperwork I have here then hehe
The only stuff I can read is the chassis number and mileage. I reckon it's a service history rather than test certificates as it shows little pics of a spark plug, engine pulleys etc.
But also has length, width and weight of car, along with emissions.
Weird smile

Another thing - what looks like dates - I have paperwork 'dated' 19/5/1, 21/5/26, 23/5/26, and 25/5/30 for example - do they have their own calender?

C15

350 posts

242 months

Sunday 26th October 2014
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Hi Andy,

BTW nice looking car. Regarding the docs, send them over ill see what i can do, most things are simple to read others a little more complicated for me. Regarding the years, yes japanese goes on numbers of years the emporer is reigning.
So the current year is Heisei 26, so you can work backwards from this.

The shaken is based on the TUV because the Japanese used several german systems after the germans visited to implement and improve their society. IT only has to be done every two years, it also increases in cost based on the age of the car, and the emissions.

C15

350 posts

242 months

Sunday 26th October 2014
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Forgot dates are Y/M/D, you have shown the dates the shaken was completed i take it?

simonwedge

743 posts

179 months

Sunday 26th October 2014
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Brilliant, social history education and TVRs all rolled into one!

Hedgehopper

1,537 posts

243 months

Sunday 26th October 2014
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C15 said:
Regarding the years, yes japanese goes on numbers of years the emporer is reigning.
So the current year is Heisei 26, so you can work backwards from this.
It never ceases to amaze me what you can learn on Pistonheads!

Doc Toad

490 posts

149 months

Sunday 26th October 2014
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Nice looking car, interesting back story and it's in the best colour too biggrin

Congratulations!

andy43

Original Poster:

9,548 posts

253 months

Sunday 26th October 2014
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C15 - I was kidding about a translation service but it would be very much appreciated even if it just gives me the basics of what history paperwork I have - YHM.
If current year 2014 is their Heisei year 26, then that gives me biannual documents from year 13 to year 25 ie 2001 to 2013. Good news smile

andy43

Original Poster:

9,548 posts

253 months

Sunday 26th October 2014
quotequote all
Doc Toad said:
best colour
My 4.3 was an almost identical shade of green.