Why do Griff values hold so well?
Discussion
I must confess, the Griff has never been top of my TVR want list. That is not to say I do not think they are beautiful machines. But I am curious as to why they hold their values so much better than say the Chimaera (and Tuscan)? Is this tantamount to them being more reliable in general? Or is it more of a cult thing?
My basic undercurrent through this message is that I am trying to identify which TVR is the least likely to let me down! I would certainly consider a Griff if I knew there was a reason for them being relatively dearer.
My basic undercurrent through this message is that I am trying to identify which TVR is the least likely to let me down! I would certainly consider a Griff if I knew there was a reason for them being relatively dearer.
it is down to the marketing, ie they 4.0/4.3 giff not many of, came out before the chim
stopped griff production to put ajp v8 in, (never happened cam back as 5.0l rv8)
marketed.launched 4.0/4.3 chims sold well similar prices to 4.0/4.3 griff (now stopped production)
Bought back the griff ( by urgent demand as a 500) at importantly here, at a higher price than the chimaera, ie entry level model chim 4.0 working up to flagship model griff 500)
consequently a new griff 500 was quite a few £k more than a chimeara, and sold less..
allowed dealers to get people new to TVR in a 4.0/4.3 chim - UNTIL you get used to the power sir, the griff 500 is a bit of an animal (pure spin - v similar really to a 4.3 chim performance wise) and then get another sale a bit later as you traded up to a griff 500... or a more powerful chim
Some chim onwers persuaded tvr, to put the 500 in a chimaera after a few years.
towards the end produced 4.5's, lots of people think this is the nicest vchim, but is just subjective really.
So it is supply and demand. if you comapre like for like ie a chim 500 is rarer than most 4.0/4.3/4.5 chims, and if you really want one you might have to pay more for it.....
Arguably, also the griff was the car that made tvr's name in the 90's, a pretty car, won a design award (basically spitfies vs hurricanes - argument, ie spitfire prettier less of them, both did the business)
basically their are 3 times as many chims on the road as griffs, and for sale proportionally
POssibly, the majority of owners look after griffs a bit more, where, some chims suffer from, seeming cheap, bought for a bit of fun then sold on, with maybe short term owners not looking after it as well, which effect condition and prices. (note - many chims are really loved and kept in good condition, but to the uninitaieted, they might see superficially the same car in autotrader, many k cheaper - but a money pit, and are not prepared to pay a premium for a good one - as their are less griffs for sale at anyone time nationally, this effetc is less likely)
bit of a ramble there
BAsicallly if you compare like for like, ie a good chim 500 is no more/less a risk than a good 500, depending on age they are identically mechanically, it just comes down to whichever car you see (chim/griff) has been best looked after by the owners..
Buy on condition,
prices vs tuscan, well just had a good look at griffith threads vs tuscan threads, for how many times rebuild is mentioned
B
stopped griff production to put ajp v8 in, (never happened cam back as 5.0l rv8)
marketed.launched 4.0/4.3 chims sold well similar prices to 4.0/4.3 griff (now stopped production)
Bought back the griff ( by urgent demand as a 500) at importantly here, at a higher price than the chimaera, ie entry level model chim 4.0 working up to flagship model griff 500)
consequently a new griff 500 was quite a few £k more than a chimeara, and sold less..
allowed dealers to get people new to TVR in a 4.0/4.3 chim - UNTIL you get used to the power sir, the griff 500 is a bit of an animal (pure spin - v similar really to a 4.3 chim performance wise) and then get another sale a bit later as you traded up to a griff 500... or a more powerful chim
Some chim onwers persuaded tvr, to put the 500 in a chimaera after a few years.
towards the end produced 4.5's, lots of people think this is the nicest vchim, but is just subjective really.
So it is supply and demand. if you comapre like for like ie a chim 500 is rarer than most 4.0/4.3/4.5 chims, and if you really want one you might have to pay more for it.....
Arguably, also the griff was the car that made tvr's name in the 90's, a pretty car, won a design award (basically spitfies vs hurricanes - argument, ie spitfire prettier less of them, both did the business)
basically their are 3 times as many chims on the road as griffs, and for sale proportionally
POssibly, the majority of owners look after griffs a bit more, where, some chims suffer from, seeming cheap, bought for a bit of fun then sold on, with maybe short term owners not looking after it as well, which effect condition and prices. (note - many chims are really loved and kept in good condition, but to the uninitaieted, they might see superficially the same car in autotrader, many k cheaper - but a money pit, and are not prepared to pay a premium for a good one - as their are less griffs for sale at anyone time nationally, this effetc is less likely)
bit of a ramble there
BAsicallly if you compare like for like, ie a good chim 500 is no more/less a risk than a good 500, depending on age they are identically mechanically, it just comes down to whichever car you see (chim/griff) has been best looked after by the owners..
Buy on condition,
prices vs tuscan, well just had a good look at griffith threads vs tuscan threads, for how many times rebuild is mentioned
B
Edited by bjwoods on Thursday 23 November 10:48
DJC said:
They made less of em than the Chimp and because the car is a damn legend! Its the best looking sports car since the E-type and frankly rivals the E as *the* best looking sportscar.
Legend - Spot on, owned both and to be frank the Griff is a pain in the arse after the Chim (see storing roof
) I loved the Chim but the Griff is an obssession, it has something intangible that very few cars have. 
Second hand prices of the Griff are likely to stay higher than the Chim due to availability. However, this does not necessarily mean they are cheaper to own. Prices tend to drop on a percentage basis and as an equivalent Chim is considerably cheaper, costs of ownership are probably a little lower. Further, due to their similarity, Griff prices are unlikely to soar in comparison.
Another advantage in buying a Chim is that there is a much bigger selection and you are more likely to be able to find a colour/interior combination you like. The bigger boot on the Chim is a distinct advantage for touring in company.
But, of course, if you prefer the Griff and buy a Chim, you'll always know it was second best.
No difference in reliability that I know of.
If TVR Turin takes off and ends up producing 5000pa spread across the European mainland then demand for older TVRs is likely to increase with buyers wanting to extend their enthusiasm for the marque. Whether they will appreciate the Griff over the Chim is anyone's guess.
Another advantage in buying a Chim is that there is a much bigger selection and you are more likely to be able to find a colour/interior combination you like. The bigger boot on the Chim is a distinct advantage for touring in company.
But, of course, if you prefer the Griff and buy a Chim, you'll always know it was second best.
No difference in reliability that I know of.
If TVR Turin takes off and ends up producing 5000pa spread across the European mainland then demand for older TVRs is likely to increase with buyers wanting to extend their enthusiasm for the marque. Whether they will appreciate the Griff over the Chim is anyone's guess.
Legend83 said:
I must confess, the Griff has never been top of my TVR want list. That is not to say I do not think they are beautiful machines. But I am curious as to why they hold their values so much better than say the Chimaera (and Tuscan)? Is this tantamount to them being more reliable in general? Or is it more of a cult thing?
My basic undercurrent through this message is that I am trying to identify which TVR is the least likely to let me down! I would certainly consider a Griff if I knew there was a reason for them being relatively dearer.
Basically the Griffith is the TVR that really kick started the modern era cars. Icould bang on for hours but if you have to ask you obviously don't get the Griff thing so best buy a Chimaera 4.5 My basic undercurrent through this message is that I am trying to identify which TVR is the least likely to let me down! I would certainly consider a Griff if I knew there was a reason for them being relatively dearer.
Rich...
I think the pre-cat Griffiths were probably the most reliable TVRs yet made. The Chimaera was a later car and pretty much all of them had cats. Also, the early Griffiths went into production pretty much exactly as they left the drawing board. Peter Wheeler largely left the (young and quite keen to prove themselves) engineering team to their own devices without introducing specification changes part way through the design process. I think all these things had an effect - as well as it being a damned pretty car. I was quite surprised that the Chimaera sold in such larger numbers but was frequently told that it was because it had a boot big enough for a set of golf clubs!
Avocet said:
I think the pre-cat Griffiths were probably the most reliable TVRs yet made.
Really can't see what cat's have got to do with anything. Certainly TVRs usually improve with development e.g. the twin-fan set up was more reliable than those fitted to the pre-cat cars so I really not sure where you are coming from here.
it really is a bit meaningless trying to compare reliability of a 4.0 griff built in 92, with a 4.0 litre chim built in 98. ie any car that is six years older than another is going to have age related issues...
similarly trying to compare a 93 griff 500 with a 2000 chim/griff 500.
It is totally down to how well it has been maintained and serviced, and how it has been driven.
B
similarly trying to compare a 93 griff 500 with a 2000 chim/griff 500.
It is totally down to how well it has been maintained and serviced, and how it has been driven.
B
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