Thursday 26th May 2016

TVR Griffith 500: Spotted

If a new Griffith is the next TVR then it's got a lot to live up to

---

This year should be an exciting one for TVR - the new car is making progress, the level of popular support is growing and, perhaps most excitingly of all, PistonHeads is chatting with Les Edgar. Today. Plenty to keep TVR fans entertained over the coming weeks and months then.

Now while we know little about the new car, there has already been a name suggested: Griffith. An iconic nameplate from TVR's recent and more distant past, it's one that will be fondly remembered by enthusiasts.

Lots of engine, not a lot of mass - perfect!

Furthermore, recreating the Griffith formula for the 21st century sounds very promising: a light and pretty body, combined with a powerful and proven V8, all offered for a price that undercuts cars of similar performance.

But while we're waiting for TVR to deliver on the modern day Griffith - we can but hope - here's one from the back catalogue to whet the appetite.

The 90s Griffith was a hugely significant car for TVR, taking the brand from the Wedges and S Series into the world of Chimaeras, Cerberas and Tuscans. Originally offered as just 'Griffith' with a 4.0-litre version of the Rover V8, more powerful 4.3 models and the 5.0-litre '500' V8 followed. The very final SE Griffiths are arguably the most desirable now; see the PH drive feature here for why.

This Griffith plucked from the classifieds is a 500 from 1994, owned by the current owner for 16 years. Already a good start. It has been kept in a heated garage, only driven in the dry and the chassis is said to be fully cleaned and protected. More encouraging signs.

Looking good; looking great in fact

The pictures look great as well, with gleaming paint, a reasonably fresh interior and unmarked wheels. These things always need further inspection, but the advert bodes very well.

At £22,000 this is one of the more affordable Griffiths too. Truly immaculate cars are now over £30,000, with this restored and very low mileage car on offer at nearly £60K. There is of course the potential - best stress that word potential - that the older TVRs could become more in demand as the new model gets closer.

As cars become further sanitised and detached, so the appeal of a TVR arguably becomes even stronger. If the new model can encapsulate what so many loved about this era of Griffith with some worthwhile modern updates, TVR could be on to a winner.

---

TVR GRIFFITH 500
Engine: 4,998cc, V8
Transmission: 5-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 345@5,500rpm
Torque (lb ft): 350@4,000rpm
MPG: N/A
CO2: N/A
First registered: 1994
Recorded mileage: 55,000miles
Price new: N/A
Yours for: £22,000

See the original advert here

 

[BogBeast]

I do miss mine. One of the cars I would have again, maybe with a LS3/7 or Ford Coyote next time..

[C6NL]

Mine was a 1993 4.3 Griffith, if it wasn't for an electrical fire which totalled the car I would still drive it today. I hope they get it right with the new TVR formula, the old one was magic.

[ilovequo]

Is this really an appealing prospect at £30k?!
A 22yr old car with doubtful reliability...
A mint e92 M3 looks a better v8 prospect to me

[Danattheopticians]

^^^Throw some eyes in the direction of an M3 and they will fall on the floor! Start up an M3 and it sounds like another BMW. Don't get me wrong the BMW is a great piece of technical engineering, the TVR is a real enthusiasts car and has stood the test of time, still great today, unlike the E30 M3, which is the fair test from the same era.

[Squirrelofwoe]

ilovequo said:

Is this really an appealing prospect at £30k?!
A 22yr old car with doubtful reliability...
A mint e92 M3 looks a better v8 prospect to me

Each to their own, but I can't imagine anyone seriously interested in a TVR Griff 500 is going to think of an E92 M3 as a genuine alternative!

I'd consider one a fast, loud, brash, in-your-face convertible for disturbing the local wildlife on sunny days, and the other a fast, very accomplished, discrete looking, do-everything coupe that you can use every day and park anywhere without anyone but die-hard petrolheads ever noticing it.

Very different cars, purchased for very different reasons.

[Phil Dicky]

Why oh why did I sell mine...stupid boy !!!!!!

[Squirrelofwoe]

Phil Dicky said:

Why oh why did I sell mine...stupid boy !!!!!!

If I'm ever lucky enough to own one, the keys would need to be prised from my cold dead fingers to let it go!

I'm intending to buy a Chimaera later this year which might be as close as I get looking at the way the Griff prices are going.

[LordGrover]

Phil Dicky said:

Why oh why did I sell mine...stupid boy !!!!!!

If yours was anything like mine, it had reached the end of its [practical] life. Mine was 20 years old, well north of 130,000 miles (never sure how north because speedo rarely worked) and was costing more than I was willing to pay to maintain.
If you really love them then be prepared to spend a few bob keeping them in decent running order but too much for a non-TVR enthusiast I fear.
I hope there are many out there who are willing to upkeep them - still love to see and hear them - just never want another.

[J4CKO]

ilovequo said:

Is this really an appealing prospect at £30k?!
A 22yr old car with doubtful reliability...
A mint e92 M3 looks a better v8 prospect to me

Its 22k.

[jodypress]

I loved my Griff 500. Had a great trip down to Le Mans in 2003. Never skipped a beat in the few years I had it. A beautiful car to look at and be in too. Epic soundtrack (I had the baffles removed)

I've since grown up and have a XKR convertible, an older man's Griff perhaps?

[DonkeyApple]

Phil Dicky said:

Why oh why did I sell mine...stupid boy !!!!!!

You're not the only idiot.

[Impasse]

Did they ever make those numbers on a dyno in the real world?

[jamesbilluk]

Not had my Griff long, but thrilled with it! The sound is addictive Really looking forward to going to Le Mans Classic in it this year.

[Buff Mchugelarge]

[redacted]

[Esceptico]

Back when they were new I was interested in buying a TVR - although more interested in the Chimera than the Griffith. Went for a test drive (had 944 Turbo at the time). From the passenger seat the Griffith 500 felt great but scary. When it was my turn I had a short drive on country roads before turning left onto the A1. Roads were dry but I had gone through a small puddle so wheels a little wet. Even though I was very conservative with the throttle the back stepped out. Not sure if there was a skid mark on the road but definitely a (metaphorical) one in my pants! The A1 went to 3 lanes and it was completely clear so the sales guy suggested I bury the throttle. I duly obliged. Epic acceleration ensued. After a few seconds I figured we were going quickly enough (cough) and I could see some cars in the distance. I came off the throttle and pushed fairly gently on the brakes to brush off some speed. Griffith moved sideways from lane 2 to lane 1! Lucky that the road was empty. Salesman said that moving from accelerator to brake had caused weight shift and that has unsettled the balance. Mmmm. I've driven hundreds of cars since and never experienced anything similar...except for in another Griffith 500! One of the partners in our office had one and had let one of the senior managers (a fellow car fanatic) take it out one lunchtime. He asked if I wanted to join him. He had a test for how fast a car was: join what was the M10 in the direction of the M1 and see what speed you could reach by the time you reach the first bridge. It was my job to spot the speed. He managed around 120 from memory. That went okay and he slowed a bit on the rest of the M10. About half way down and for no reason we could discern the Griffith stepped sideways by a few feet. We both looked at each other with wide eyes. Presumably such bad manners could be cured by work on the suspension set up but it didn't make the car appeal to me.

[jakesmith]

[redacted]

[drmark]

jakesmith said:

I wondered how fast these are in moderns terms and was dissapointed to see that my 997 C4S is faster in launch & rolling acceleration. I know the 997 is 10 years newer in theory (although its contemporary, the 1996 996 has the same power to weight ratio roughly) but I still expected a 5.0 V8 in such a light chassis to be quicker.
http://www.zeperfs.com/en/duel725-1651.htm

My 500 was definitely quicker than my 997s (C4s and C2s) up to sensible speeds. The torque / instant hit felt in a different league. But they do vary a lot, don't go round beds too well, and mine spent far too long at the dealer or back at TVR
And it smelt like a caravan
Loved it though.

[swanny71]

[redacted]

[rigga]

Never selling mine.



Just wish they don't call the new one Griffith (if they do) a third incarnation of the name is a bit much, new company, new car, new name.

[Danattheopticians]

Yea I agree it needs a new name. Cergrichim SEAC! , homage to the wheeler era!