What month did Griffith production start?

[geeman237]

What month did Griffith production start? Am I right saying production started in 1991?
I live in the USA and you can only (legally) import a car here without restrictions if its over 25 years old and that it is based on the date of manufacture.
Under 25 years you might as well forget it, no matter what anyone says.

Thanks

[cavebloke]

I think the first of the production pre-cats went out in May and June 1992 - first to magazines for tests and then to customers shortly after. There may also be some earlier pre-production cars.
Simon

[davep]

There were three production cars, including the first customer car, at the October 1991 Earls Court Motor Show, so September/October 1991, probably.

[geeman237]

Thanks for this. Is there any easy way to tell the exact build date of a Griffith? Car Club records? Date on the VIN plate?
Is there a good survival rate of early cars?
Are there many good ones around?
Current approx. value for a really nice one?
Did they have air conditioning as an option?
Were the 4.3/BV options available from the start too?

[FlipFlopGriff]

davep said:

There were three production cars, including the first customer car, at the October 1991 Earls Court Motor Show, so September/October 1991, probably.

One of these was Al's (tweety on here) which was a canary yellow colour. The earliest registered car we've had at the Growl is 31st Jan 1992 (400) with many following quickly but most from April/May onwards so not sure how many made between the motor show and full production runs.
FFG

Edited by FlipFlopGriff on Thursday 19th November 10:40

[FlipFlopGriff]

geeman237 said:

Thanks for this. Is there any easy way to tell the exact build date of a Griffith? Car Club records? Date on the VIN plate?
Is there a good survival rate of early cars?
Are there many good ones around?
Current approx. value for a really nice one?
Did they have air conditioning as an option?
Were the 4.3/BV options available from the start too?

Mine is the first BV registered June 1992.
FFG

[thicksliced]

My 4.3 was first registered on the 14th April 1992 if that helps.

[DavidY]

There were 3 customer cars at Blackpool Back Home in April 92, one of them belonging to a certain Martin Lilley!!!

[seaside]

My 4.3 is 5th May 1992

[hillclimbmanic]

My 400 was first registered on 14th Feb. 1992...1991 written all over the car, under the carpets, etc...



Manic

Edited by hillclimbmanic on Thursday 19th November 08:00

[FlipFlopGriff]

I've checked my records and there was a 400 at the Growl in 2012 registered 31st Jan 1992 so a very early car.
FFG

[carsy]

geeman237 said:

What month did Griffith production start? Am I right saying production started in 1991?
I live in the USA and you can only (legally) import a car here without restrictions if its over 25 years old and that it is based on the date of manufacture.
Under 25 years you might as well forget it, no matter what anyone says.

Thanks

I friend of mine who has family in the States made comment recently to this effect. He said that the Yanks were patiently waiting for Griffs to hit the 25yr mark so they could get their hands on them. No doubt some will be lost from this country when this happens which is a shame but it will certainly push prices up.

[MPO]

geeman237 said:

What month did Griffith production start? Am I right saying production started in 1991?
I live in the USA and you can only (legally) import a car here without restrictions if its over 25 years old and that it is based on the date of manufacture.
Under 25 years you might as well forget it, no matter what anyone says.

Thanks

So, if the USA is looking at date of manufacture rather than road registration. It needs to be clear how this is found….

Would the Chassis number and the accurate deciphering of it be the only way?

MPO

[geeman237]

I wouldn't worry about loosing too many Griffiths to the US fans. 9/10 American's won't touch a RHD car, they think they are too difficult or dangerous to drive. I have a couple of RHD cars here (I moved to the US from the UK in 2004) and you would be amazed at how many times I get asked if the pedals and shift pattern is reversed in a RHD car.....I kid you not.
Also, finding a garage who would know how to service/repair them would be nigh on impossible, so that would scare some off.
I imported my Triumph Herald into the US and there are 2 forms to complete and I am sure one requires the date of manufacture rather than registration.
The US Customs have been clamping down hard on vehicle imports, mostly because of questionable practices with Land Rover Defenders and Mini's, and it is quite possible you could have your car impounded and crushed if the paperwork is not accurate and properly filled in.
It looks like I would have to wait until mid 2017 before I could confidently import a Griffith, so that gives me time to consider selling my Lotus Esprit Turbo, Daimler SP250 and Reliant Scimitar to make room for a Griffith ;-)

[Hoover.]

Mines March 92

[V8 GRF]

The chassis # is indeed the key to the age of the car.

The following is I believe how the VIN # for the Griffith is deciphered.


First 3 letters. SDL is TVR's individual manufacturer identifier.
D = Model = Griffith.
Next 2 characters are engine variation.
P = petrol.
Next number is random security number.

The next two are the year and month identifiers relevant to this topic.

Next letter is the build year (A=1980 B=1981 and so on - i is not used) - Build years started in September for the October Motorshow apparently - so it is possible to have a 1990 registered car on a 1991 build year.

Next letter is the build month (A=Jan B=Feb and so on - i is not used)

Next 2 numbers are place of manufacture(?)

Final 4 numbers shows the build #/unique identifier element.

8. SDL D G N4 P * ** 01 **** : Griffith 400 non catalyst (1991 – 1992)
9. SDL D G C4 P * ** 01 **** : Griffith 400 catalyst (1991 – 1993)
10. SDL D G N3 P * ** 01 **** : Griffith 430 non catalyst (1991 – 1992)
11. SDL D G C3 P * ** 01 **** : Griffith 430 catalyst (1991 – 1993)
12. SDL D G C5 P * ** 01 **** : Griffith 500 (1993 – 1997)
13. SDL A A 04 R * ** 00 **** : Griffith 500 and 500SE(1998 – 2002) (Code numbers changed from 1998 on)

[Pete Mac]

geeman237 said:

......Is there any easy way to tell the exact build date of a Griffith? .......

This is the plate on the chassis of my Griff 500 I'm rebuilding, so clearly the chassis was manufactured 20th July 1995.

The Vehicle Registration says the car was first registered 1st December 1995

If I follow the previous reply the letters are SJ, which if I follow the guide correctly, means the car was manufactured September 1997...... (clearly not)

I guess if I was trying to convince the American Authority then I would go with the chassis plate (providing all chassis had this date plate on)

Sorry, probably not much help as it has left more confusion.

Pete

[FlipFlopGriff]

Not so good if your car as had a new factory fitted chassis? My chassis is 2001, car registered June 1992.
FFG

[hillclimbmanic]

My vin is SDL-D-GN-*-P-*-NA-01****

Does anyone know the significance of the GN (engine).??



Manic

[stevesprint]

V8 GRF said:

The chassis # is indeed the key to the age of the car.
The following is I believe how the VIN # for the Griffith is deciphered......

V8 GRF
Brilliant post and very well explained, thanks. This means my Griff was manufactured in April 1992 which sounds right for a car first registered in July 1992. You can also identify a very early Precat chassis, as they don’t have the roll over bar mounts on the top chassis rail that you can see though the rear arches.

hillclimbmanic said:

My vin is SDL-D-GN-*-P-*-NA-01****

Does anyone know the significance of the GN (engine).??
Manic

Manic,
I guess in yours and my case Griffith No cats.

The 500SEs are a mystery especially the fuel type of R.