Early TVR Pictures
Discussion
GTRene said:
does that car have a V6? 
is there a story to tell?
Yes, its not a huge secret! is there a story to tell? I have spoken to the guy who owns it at a couple of the pre 80s meets. He had been looking for an early TVR for some time and came across an advert for a Griff in the paper. He was the first to go round to see it and, of course, bought it on the spot.
The car has an interesting history. When the current owner bought it, I think he said it had an MG engine in it, although the vendor was adamant that it was a genuine Giff. It also had a very particular type of custom made, dismantlable roll bar. It had apparently been on the production line when TVR went bust and was one of the legendary cars that were said to have been sold out the back door at the time, to keep the company going. Whoever bought it apparently never got around to installing a V8.
Some time after he bought it, the present owner apparently bumped into a guy at a show, who told him he had ordered a Griff from the factory, and paid a large deposit for it, but never received it due to the bankruptcy. He had ordered it with a custom, dismantlable, roll bar.
When the car "broke cover" several years ago, there was a lot of discussion about its provenance, as you can imagine.
No doubt the cognoscenti who have looked over the car can give their opinion, which I would love to hear.
[quote=Astacus]
Some time after he bought it, the present owner apparently bumped into a guy at a show, who told him he had ordered a Griff from the factory, and paid a large deposit for it, but never received it due to the bankruptcy. He had ordered it with a custom, dismantlable, roll bar.
/quote]
Bet that was an awkward moment
Some time after he bought it, the present owner apparently bumped into a guy at a show, who told him he had ordered a Griff from the factory, and paid a large deposit for it, but never received it due to the bankruptcy. He had ordered it with a custom, dismantlable, roll bar.
/quote]
Bet that was an awkward moment
Pretty much as said, though it had the Essex in when John bought it which is why it has the odd bonnet hump.
This car had been advertised in the local Autotrader for some time before and all us experienced TVR owners ignored it because it was quite obviously going to be a badly modified Grantura. Then John looked at it, did the research and proved us wrong...
There is some info about the car in Roger Shackleton's book on the modern TVR Griffith.
Oliver.
This car had been advertised in the local Autotrader for some time before and all us experienced TVR owners ignored it because it was quite obviously going to be a badly modified Grantura. Then John looked at it, did the research and proved us wrong...
There is some info about the car in Roger Shackleton's book on the modern TVR Griffith.
Oliver.
oliverb205 said:
Pretty much as said, though it had the Essex in when John bought it which is why it has the odd bonnet hump.
This car had been advertised in the local Autotrader for some time before and all us experienced TVR owners ignored it because it was quite obviously going to be a badly modified Grantura. Then John looked at it, did the research and proved us wrong...
There is some info about the car in Roger Shackleton's book on the modern TVR Griffith.
Oliver.
Thanks Oliver its a really pretty car and was so nice to see it this year I really hope it stays the way it is as a V6 it makes a Rather practical car and its history is interesting to.This car had been advertised in the local Autotrader for some time before and all us experienced TVR owners ignored it because it was quite obviously going to be a badly modified Grantura. Then John looked at it, did the research and proved us wrong...
There is some info about the car in Roger Shackleton's book on the modern TVR Griffith.
Oliver.
There are interesting cars out there I received a series of pictures of one today but awaiting permission before I post them here its the ultimate TVR Time capsule
A
Astacus said:
Yes, its not a huge secret!
I have spoken to the guy who owns it at a couple of the pre 80s meets. He had been looking for an early TVR for some time and came across an advert for a Griff in the paper. He was the first to go round to see it and, of course, bought it on the spot.
The car has an interesting history. When the current owner bought it, I think he said it had an MG engine in it, although the vendor was adamant that it was a genuine Giff. It also had a very particular type of custom made, dismantlable roll bar. It had apparently been on the production line when TVR went bust and was one of the legendary cars that were said to have been sold out the back door at the time, to keep the company going. Whoever bought it apparently never got around to installing a V8.
Some time after he bought it, the present owner apparently bumped into a guy at a show, who told him he had ordered a Griff from the factory, and paid a large deposit for it, but never received it due to the bankruptcy. He had ordered it with a custom, dismantlable, roll bar.
When the car "broke cover" several years ago, there was a lot of discussion about its provenance, as you can imagine.
No doubt the cognoscenti who have looked over the car can give their opinion, which I would love to hear.
Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. It's amazing if you tell the same story often enough you begin to believe it yourself. John Horne knows as well as anyone else that this is not a TVR, it's not a Griffith, it has no legitimate identity. I have spoken to the guy who owns it at a couple of the pre 80s meets. He had been looking for an early TVR for some time and came across an advert for a Griff in the paper. He was the first to go round to see it and, of course, bought it on the spot.
The car has an interesting history. When the current owner bought it, I think he said it had an MG engine in it, although the vendor was adamant that it was a genuine Giff. It also had a very particular type of custom made, dismantlable roll bar. It had apparently been on the production line when TVR went bust and was one of the legendary cars that were said to have been sold out the back door at the time, to keep the company going. Whoever bought it apparently never got around to installing a V8.
Some time after he bought it, the present owner apparently bumped into a guy at a show, who told him he had ordered a Griff from the factory, and paid a large deposit for it, but never received it due to the bankruptcy. He had ordered it with a custom, dismantlable, roll bar.
When the car "broke cover" several years ago, there was a lot of discussion about its provenance, as you can imagine.
No doubt the cognoscenti who have looked over the car can give their opinion, which I would love to hear.
It would appear that I know more about it than he does and that's unlikely. Putting badges on a bittza and bulls******g does not make it an more real. I have never heard him relate this fantasy in front of anyone who knows what it really is. The only credible thing about the "story" is that it is a genuine "GIFF", Freudian slip or not.
Well here are some pictures of I guess what could be described as the most original Griffith in the World but also the most neglected.
Its Chassis 153 and was purchased by a dealer before it could be taken for a test drive as was normal it was picked up by trailer and taken home the Dealer passed away shortly after and his Wife re married the car sat there under a cloth cover outside and as you can see there is one mile on the clock the pictures don't show how bad the decay is however a fantastic time warp car and further detailed pictures would be fantastic for reference to help others trying to restore cars to original spec.
The Car is for sale but not exactly marketed where I can post a link the seller has a price in mind which would shock some so in case of causing a sudden death from shock I wont post
That Dash really does help to indorse the story its rather stunning.
A
Its Chassis 153 and was purchased by a dealer before it could be taken for a test drive as was normal it was picked up by trailer and taken home the Dealer passed away shortly after and his Wife re married the car sat there under a cloth cover outside and as you can see there is one mile on the clock the pictures don't show how bad the decay is however a fantastic time warp car and further detailed pictures would be fantastic for reference to help others trying to restore cars to original spec.
The Car is for sale but not exactly marketed where I can post a link the seller has a price in mind which would shock some so in case of causing a sudden death from shock I wont post
That Dash really does help to indorse the story its rather stunning.
A
GTRene said:
that one and I have more with the owner on it, was the one I talked about before I bought the car I know have, this one was also on my shopping list, I had some e-mails and pictures change with the owner back then
I believe he spoke about 425hp back then on 675kg...must be fast.
.. 425hp ... maybe possible, but 675kg? – never for a Griffith Series 200 ... let him say what he want. Homologation weight for a racing Griffith is 890kg. And even that is hard to archive. I believe he spoke about 425hp back then on 675kg...must be fast.
Regards, A.
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