I bought "that" Griffith.... yellow LS3 content inside

[zed4]

Hi all,

I've not been in here before! I'm usually found in the Chimaera forum, but I've just sold my Chim and have bought Christian's (7TVR) old Griffith, via Topcats.

I thought I'd share some photos of my new toy. I bought it to sit alongside the Z4M and to replace my TVR Chimaera. The idea was to completely restore my Chimaera, new paintwork, new interior, new roof etc. But then I came across this, sold my Chimaera and bought it!

It was a very difficult decision to sell the Chimaera. I'd owned it for 4 years and I loved that car. We took it on holiday every year and we had so many happy memories in that car. I really miss it! But I'm hoping the new toy will be just as much fun!

I'm sure most of you already know the car, but brief details are:

1996 TVR Griffith 500
Topcats Racing engine conversion - new LS3 6.2 V8
Tuned to around 530hp and 515 ft lbs torque with swtichable Emerald ECU
Accusump oil surge system
Engine bay trimmed in gold leaf heatshields
Tremec TKO 600 gearbox
Complete bare chassis restoration from the ground up. New outriggers, new bushes, new wishbones etc.
Custom valved coilovers
17/18" wheels with R888 tyres
Complete bare body repaint in original yellow
Custom fitted larger headlights
Custom fitted bonnet vents
All new custom interior in black and yellow with Lotus seats
Custom roll cage
New roof
New carpets

Many other bits too!

Pics...

16422369_10158203384910302_6437950778332023911_o (1) by Daniel Yeates, on Flickr

16463142_10158203386480302_8298575004065096680_o by Daniel Yeates, on Flickr

Untitled by Daniel Yeates, on Flickr

16463573_10158203387180302_547375377581887305_o by Daniel Yeates, on Flickr

16463579_10158203386530302_3061515393410503367_o by Daniel Yeates, on Flickr

16602769_10158220423180302_8664424203811082830_n by Daniel Yeates, on Flickr

16402754_10158203386605302_2450143353445212590_o by Daniel Yeates, on Flickr

15267754_10154756994638185_6756788198333264637_n by Daniel Yeates, on Flickr

TVR Griffith by Daniel Yeates, on Flickr

Untitled by Daniel Yeates, on Flickr

Untitled by Daniel Yeates, on Flickr

Untitled by Daniel Yeates, on Flickr

16463761_10158203385910302_790549788793051430_o by Daniel Yeates, on Flickr

[Matthew Poxon]

Very nice indeed. I remember following your thread on the Chim in the main reader's cars section. It seems you have upgraded somewhat!

That car is immense, I have seen Christian a couple of times in it and every time a look at it the attention to detail of every aspect blows my mind. I know it goes without saying but LS3 + R888s - be careful if you intend on driving it in this weather!!!!

The only thing I would change on that car is shortening the gear lever so it is back in the stock position. I ended up with a similar length gear lever when I did my S10 conversion to my T5 and could not get on with it so high. I had mine shortened back to stock and was much more pleasant to rest you arm on the centre console and flick through the gears. All personal preference of course and not trying to take anything away from this awesome machine.

Congratulations on your purchase sir, definitely one of the best Griffs in the country that and most likely the fastest. Would be great to see you at the Growl this year if you can make it.

[TV8]

Love that car, so well built and looks fantastic. You must be very pleased

[carsy]

You are a very very lucky man.

That is one very special Griff indeed.

Enjoy

[davetripletvr]

Lovely car Dan, looks the dogs bks Also goes without saying, Best Colour

[mk1fan]

Just needs some Corrado or TT mirrors to be perfect, imho.

Awesome.

[theholygrail]

Good God! That is mind-blowing. What an amazing project. The sort of car I must never drive, otherwise my Griff is going to seem forever lacking by comparison! Oh and it seems amazing value when you think that that standard Griff sold for £75k recently! Enjoy.

[RichB]

zed4 said:

Hi all, I've not been in here before! I'm usually found in the Chimaera forum, but I've just sold my Chim and have bought Christian's (7TVR) old Griffith, via Topcats.

Well, that looks fantastic. I'm sure it's fun to drive too!

[ianwayne]

theholygrail said:

...Oh and it seems amazing value when you think that that standard Griff sold for £75k recently! Enjoy.

I must have missed that. A Sagaris maybe but a Griffith!

[DuncV8]

Awesome car, great choice. It should be really reliable as well. Have many miles of fun.

[andy43]

Fantastic looking thing.
Does seem to be missing the exhaust manifolds though... they must have widened the chassis rails as Sportmotive do - it's weird looking at the underbonnet pics without the boiler room plumbing everywhere
Very cool and an ace colour combo.

[mybrainhurts]

Very nice.

Thought for the day...

If you get another one, you'll have a pair of yellow baps.

[phazed]

Beautiful car, probably the best in the world imho.

Drove it briefly when it was completed, made mine feel tame!

Just watch that throttle, so easy to spin the rears in first, second and third in the dry!

[KSV]

Fantastic looking car, I was fortunate enough to have a look over it in the summer at Topcats the attention to detail is incredible and having had my Tuscan Ls3 Topcats conversion for a year now you will not be disappointed the engine just gets better and better with the more miles you do.

As others have rightly said be very careful with the power it's awesome!!!!

[zed4]

andy43 said:

Fantastic looking thing.
Does seem to be missing the exhaust manifolds though... they must have widened the chassis rails as Sportmotive do - it's weird looking at the underbonnet pics without the boiler room plumbing everywhere
Very cool and an ace colour combo.

As far as I'm aware, they haven't modified the chassis rails. It's got custom made manifolds. I must admit, it looks so much better without the exhaust manifold reaching over the engine bay!

[zed4]

Matthew Poxon said:

Very nice indeed. I remember following your thread on the Chim in the main reader's cars section. It seems you have upgraded somewhat!

That car is immense, I have seen Christian a couple of times in it and every time a look at it the attention to detail of every aspect blows my mind. I know it goes without saying but LS3 + R888s - be careful if you intend on driving it in this weather!!!!

The only thing I would change on that car is shortening the gear lever so it is back in the stock position. I ended up with a similar length gear lever when I did my S10 conversion to my T5 and could not get on with it so high. I had mine shortened back to stock and was much more pleasant to rest you arm on the centre console and flick through the gears. All personal preference of course and not trying to take anything away from this awesome machine.

Congratulations on your purchase sir, definitely one of the best Griffs in the country that and most likely the fastest. Would be great to see you at the Growl this year if you can make it.

Yes, I might do that. Fifth gear is difficult to engage, the other gears are fine though. I did like the short gear stick on the Chimaera. There's actually an invoice for a custom made gear stick in the history, so I'm guessing this was specially made.

[zed4]

Thanks for all the kind comments. It’s certainly the quickest car I’ve ever been in!

Went for a drive in it yesterday, it’s just so fast! Endless power, I’m yet to open it up fully and take it round the redline. The roads are too cold to get proper traction. My brother was following me yesterday and enjoyed the huge flames it shoots out! It handles so well too. Topcats did a really good job with the chassis. It’s so tight and precise. Nothing like my last TVR, much more Lotus like.

[HarmeetJohal1]

Wow a true Weapon of mass destruction...
Lucky boy but drive safe

[stevesprint]

andy43 said:

Fantastic looking thing.
Does seem to be missing the exhaust manifolds though... they must have widened the chassis rails as Sportmotive do - it's weird looking at the underbonnet pics without the boiler room plumbing everywhere
Very cool and an ace colour combo.

No the chassis is not widened, those exhaust manifolds are specially made and typical of Christian's meticulous attention to detail. I've been for a ride with Christian at the wheel and was surprised the driveshafts didn’t break until Christian explained they also had to be upgraded.
Enjoy.

[mjlloyd500]

smashing car