1999 TVR Griffith 500

Highlights

• Head-turning looks

• 5.0-litre V8 with full engine build by well respected TVR specialist

• Stunning Copper Cascade flip paint

• Comprehensive service history from specialist workshops

• Thoroughly prepared chassis with professional corrosion protection

Overview

The TVR Griffith arrived in 1992 as Blackpool's answer to a question nobody had quite dared ask: what happens when you drop a thumping great V8 into a chassis light enough to embarrass a Lotus? Well, what happened was one of the most exciting front-engined sports cars of its generation, and one of TVR's best-ever sellers. 

The 500, introduced in 1993 with a 5.0-litre Rover-derived V8 producing 340 bhp, could crack 0-62 mph in 4.1 seconds and deliver an exhaust note that rattled fillings three streets away. In-gear acceleration was the party trick, performance sat alongside the 911 Turbo and Testarossa of the era, and the price of entry was a fraction of either. Production ran until 2001, by which time the Griffith had cemented itself as a genuine modern classic.

This particular car has had a rather more interesting life than most. Delivered new through H.R. Owen in London in 2000, it passed through a handful of careful owners before landing with its current custodian in September 2013. In those 12-plus years, just 8,000 dry-weather miles have been added.

The headline, though, is what Powers Performance did to the engine. Their Taraka 500 blueprint is a comprehensive reworking of the V8 by one of the most respected names in the TVR world. By completely replacing the notoriously temperamental factory Lucas 14CUX distributor and airflow meter with a modern wiring loom, coil packs, and trigger wheel, the car is fully mappable. The result is total reliability, flawless hot/cold starting, and a smooth, brutal torque curve. It's the kind of specialist attention that transforms an already characterful engine into something genuinely special, marrying the V8 drama TVR owners crave with the sort of reliability you can actually plan a weekend around.

Resprayed in Copper Cascade flip paint (a colour change carried out in 2004 over the original black, which shifts between gold, copper, and purple depending on the light) and trimmed in Biscuit leather, this is a Griffith that stands out from the crowd.

History and Documentation

• First registered 30 Jun 2000

• Three former keepers; in current ownership since September 2013

• Stamped service book with 11 entries: Jan 1999 @ 24 miles (PDI, H.R. Owen), Oct 2002 @ 9,781 miles (Mole Valley TVR), Jul 2003 @ 9,677 miles (Mole Valley TVR), Jul 2004 @ 16,570 miles (Webb's Autos), Dec 2006 @ 32,243 miles (Castle Race Engines), Feb 2014 @ 42,631 miles (TVR Power), Jan 2015 @ 44,383 miles (TVR Power), Jul 2016 @ 45,976 miles (TVR Power), Nov 2017 @ 47,865 miles (Prestige Performance Cars), Jun 2020 @ 49,176 miles (TVR Power), Aug 2021 @ 49,471 miles (workshop not stamped)

• Full colour change to Copper Cascade in June 2004 at Webb's Autos, alongside headlamp conversion, wheel refurbishment, engine mounts, rear discs and pads, and rear lamp conversion

• Powers Performance Taraka 500 engine blueprint #013 completed December 2004 (ported heads, solid lifters, balanced bottom end, 10.5:1 compression ratio)

• MBE ECU conversion and exhaust manifold work by Powers Performance in February 2014

• Lambda sensor and alternator renewal by Powers Performance in July 2014

• Rear screen replaced by Swann Systems in October 2014

• New tyres fitted (225/45/16) at 49,471 miles in June 2021

• Radiator re-cored by Leicester Radiators in June 2021, followed by new dual cooling fans from Powers Performance in July 2021

• Full chassis and linkage clean with Lanoguard coating applied under current ownership at 49,471 miles

• Cobra alarm and immobiliser replacement by HF Solutions in November 2024

• Pioneer head unit backlight repaired by Revive Car Audio in January 2025

• The vendor tells us the car has been freshly serviced approximately 500 miles ago, with a new Exide battery also fitted

• The seller informs us that there is also a substantial file of additional invoices and further documentation

• MOT valid to 7 Apr 2027

• HPI clear

Interior

• Full Biscuit leather upholstery in excellent condition with no tears, cracks, or notable wear

• Engine-turned aluminium Leven trim enhancers fitted to the centre console and door cappings

• Black carpets throughout, clean and well-kept

• Pioneer face-off radio/cassette unit with door-mounted speakers

• Factory air conditioning

• The seller reports that the clock does not keep accurate time

• One 3.5 cm scuff on the centre column leather

• Boot area tidy, housing the original spare wheel and tool kit

• Complete key set comprising two keys and two Cobra alarm fobs

Exterior

• Copper Cascade flip paint presents beautifully, shifting through gold, copper, and purple tones

• Minor unbroken micro-blistering visible mainly on the rear panel and rear wings at close inspection; not obvious at any distance

• Small touch-ups beneath the offside front headlight and offside rear tail light

• Driver's door Griffith entry plate and door aperture show scuffing from use

• Body panels are straight with even shut lines and no dents

• Estoril alloy wheels in excellent condition throughout; one tiny chip on an offside front spoke

• Rear tyres approximately 1,000 miles old; good tread depth across all four corners

• Soft-top in good condition with a clear rear window

• Minor stone chips on door shut edges, consistent with age

• Upgraded clear lights fitted front and rear

• Underside cleaned and Lanoguard treated

Mechanical

• 5.0-litre (4,997 cc) Rover-derived V8 with Powers Performance Taraka blueprint #013 producing approximately 340 bhp

• 5-speed Borg Warner T5 manual gearbox

• Rear-wheel drive

• Factory figures: 0-62 mph in 4.1 seconds; top speed 169 mph

• MBE Systems ECU with custom wiring loom, multi-coil packs, and fully mappable fuel and ignition

• Factory power steering

• Gaz Gold adjustable front dampers with refurbished rear shocks

• Stainless steel exhaust system in excellent condition

• Radiator re-cored with new dual cooling fans

• New discs and pads fitted

Summary

This is a Griffith 500 that looks to have been genuinely cherished. Twelve years of careful, dry-weather ownership, a comprehensive specialist engine build, thorough chassis preparation, and a striking colour that few others carry make it a car with real depth of character. 

The stamped service book, clean MOT record, and clear HPI provide reassurance, while the Taraka engine and MBE ECU deliver the excitement. For the buyer who understands that the best TVRs are the ones that have been properly looked after by people who know what they are doing, this one deserves serious attention.

To arrange a viewing, click the Book Viewing button located under the Place Bid button. Viewings can be booked up until the day before the auction ends, after which the option will change to Contact Seller for further enquiries. This seller is located in Oadby, Leicestershire.