Griffith / Chimaera Windscreen crisis; Bulk purchase
Discussion
Thread re-started with Paul's permission
If any of you have needed a windscreen recently you may well know that the current batch of screens out there in TVR land just don't fit our Griffiths and Chimaeras properly. We have recently had two cars in that needed screens and tried three Multipart "TVR" windscreens before we settled on an aftermarket "safevue" screen. The "TVR" ones basically were the wrong shape, curving in too much at the sides and were too small by 5mm from top to bottom so basically just didn't go far enough onto the pillars and didn't allow the outer seal to overlap the edge of the screen.We had the first one fitted just before the Growl which is why it looked abysmal on the car we had on show (I hope nobody noticed!)After the show we had two further screens delivered from Multipart and compared them with the car's original screen which was still intact just cracked and the shape variance was ridiculous. We cut the new screen out of the car and it came out easily because it was hardly touching the pillars so was hardly sealed in, not good as the bonded windscreen makes up the majority of the strength in the screen structure. Multipart are blaming Saint Gobain who make the screens and Saint Gobain's response is that they are within tolerances and there is a distinctly apathetic attitude to do anything decisive about it.
We settled on the Safevue screen which was still 3mm too small but a much better shape and we managed to get the two cars sorted that we had in but again these screens are not perfect so if you haven't got an experienced fitter who knows where to "place" the screen it can be fitted in the wrong place and not touch the pillars properly which may be why a few cars have had screens fitted which have failed quite quickly and cracked. The main problem though is when we ordered the first Safevue screen they had 30 left in stock, when we ordered the second one about 3 weeks later they had 21. So here is the point of this long winded story and before you all go out and panic buy the last 21 screens, we have found a manufacturer in Finland (reknowned the world over for automotive glass production) that can make us a batch of windscreens by using the original TVR one we have (which was removed from an 02 plate Griffith) to make a new mould. If I put my publicity cap on (which I try not to do on here!) I would say "this is our next endeavour in keeping Griffiths and Chimaeras on the road" but its mainly from a selfish point of view, I don't want to ever be in a position again where we have just completed a full rebuild on a car and we can't finish it for the customer or get paid because I can't get a windscreen!
So we are going to invest in getting them made but we need your help as we need to make up a minimum order so if you are serious about keeping your car and keeping it on the road I am actually suggesting you buy a spare windscreen for you car and keep it in your loft for that rainy day when your car fails MOT on a cracked screen and you can't use it!
Current Multipart retail price supply only is £374+vat we are expecting our retail price to be around £270+vat and fitting when you need it is £100, if you buy one now, when the inevitable happens and you want to go through your insurance we can re-invoice your insurance company and refund your original purchase cost. So who's with me...........
email ian@sportmotive.com
If any of you have needed a windscreen recently you may well know that the current batch of screens out there in TVR land just don't fit our Griffiths and Chimaeras properly. We have recently had two cars in that needed screens and tried three Multipart "TVR" windscreens before we settled on an aftermarket "safevue" screen. The "TVR" ones basically were the wrong shape, curving in too much at the sides and were too small by 5mm from top to bottom so basically just didn't go far enough onto the pillars and didn't allow the outer seal to overlap the edge of the screen.We had the first one fitted just before the Growl which is why it looked abysmal on the car we had on show (I hope nobody noticed!)After the show we had two further screens delivered from Multipart and compared them with the car's original screen which was still intact just cracked and the shape variance was ridiculous. We cut the new screen out of the car and it came out easily because it was hardly touching the pillars so was hardly sealed in, not good as the bonded windscreen makes up the majority of the strength in the screen structure. Multipart are blaming Saint Gobain who make the screens and Saint Gobain's response is that they are within tolerances and there is a distinctly apathetic attitude to do anything decisive about it.
We settled on the Safevue screen which was still 3mm too small but a much better shape and we managed to get the two cars sorted that we had in but again these screens are not perfect so if you haven't got an experienced fitter who knows where to "place" the screen it can be fitted in the wrong place and not touch the pillars properly which may be why a few cars have had screens fitted which have failed quite quickly and cracked. The main problem though is when we ordered the first Safevue screen they had 30 left in stock, when we ordered the second one about 3 weeks later they had 21. So here is the point of this long winded story and before you all go out and panic buy the last 21 screens, we have found a manufacturer in Finland (reknowned the world over for automotive glass production) that can make us a batch of windscreens by using the original TVR one we have (which was removed from an 02 plate Griffith) to make a new mould. If I put my publicity cap on (which I try not to do on here!) I would say "this is our next endeavour in keeping Griffiths and Chimaeras on the road" but its mainly from a selfish point of view, I don't want to ever be in a position again where we have just completed a full rebuild on a car and we can't finish it for the customer or get paid because I can't get a windscreen!
So we are going to invest in getting them made but we need your help as we need to make up a minimum order so if you are serious about keeping your car and keeping it on the road I am actually suggesting you buy a spare windscreen for you car and keep it in your loft for that rainy day when your car fails MOT on a cracked screen and you can't use it!
Current Multipart retail price supply only is £374+vat we are expecting our retail price to be around £270+vat and fitting when you need it is £100, if you buy one now, when the inevitable happens and you want to go through your insurance we can re-invoice your insurance company and refund your original purchase cost. So who's with me...........
email ian@sportmotive.com
To be honest we are looking at a few months as I will get a sample made and fit it to a car before we commit to the full order although I have a customer in Finland with a Griffith so his can be the guinea pig and that will speed things up. Can you live with that cracked one in your car until then? just tilt your head to the left slightly?
Guys,
Would it not make sense to consider approaching this company to do the same for all the T cars too ??
Screens have to be removed to re-trim the top dash on some models.... which older T cars are doing a bit of...
And the original screens are sh*te - the black surround goes milky after two/three years and look rubbish.
Increase the volume, reduce the price ??
I would definitely buy a Sagaris windscreen if better quality than original.
Also, what about door glass ?? Can they manufactur door glass too ? I've heard that is becoming a pig to get hold of ?? I would probably buy a pair of those !!! (not that I worry or panic buy)
Look forward to hearing from you.
If it's possible, I'm happy to start polling all the Sag/T350 owners and compile a list for you.
Great work so far.
Would it not make sense to consider approaching this company to do the same for all the T cars too ??
Screens have to be removed to re-trim the top dash on some models.... which older T cars are doing a bit of...
And the original screens are sh*te - the black surround goes milky after two/three years and look rubbish.
Increase the volume, reduce the price ??
I would definitely buy a Sagaris windscreen if better quality than original.
Also, what about door glass ?? Can they manufactur door glass too ? I've heard that is becoming a pig to get hold of ?? I would probably buy a pair of those !!! (not that I worry or panic buy)
Look forward to hearing from you.
If it's possible, I'm happy to start polling all the Sag/T350 owners and compile a list for you.
Great work so far.
Edited by RedSpike66 on Friday 17th August 21:32
V41LEY said:
Can I check that this 'Finnish' screen fits all models of G's and C's irrespective of build date and/or model version ?
What he said.I have a '97 Chimaera 450 and I'd cheerfully buy a spare screen (mine is chipped & is going milky at the bottom) if I could be sure it would fit.
Some answers....yes Griffith and Chimaera windscreens are all the same, with regards to other TVRs yes we can get them made but there may not be any issues with the fit or availability of current stock like the Griff/Chim screen and we haven't had any problems getting them so far. I will investigate our suppliers to see what availability is first, we then need to get a new screen and compare its shape and size with an original intact screen so if there is anyone that currently needs a windscreen for any of the later cars let us know. Regards side glass I will also check current availability.
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