TVR Griffith Vs C3 Corvette
Discussion
Hi - I'm finally narrowing down my search for a fun and interesting classic car and the shortlist has come down to 2 of my favourites, the TVR Griffith and the C3 Corvette.
If someone has owned both, I'm keen to find out which would be better in terms of:
Reliability (assuming both are well maintained examples)
Fun to drive (I'm aware the Griff will be much faster than most late 70's / 80's vettes, but I will mostly be using the car for touring)
Potential to appreciate in value
Many thanks for your thoughts!
If someone has owned both, I'm keen to find out which would be better in terms of:
Reliability (assuming both are well maintained examples)
Fun to drive (I'm aware the Griff will be much faster than most late 70's / 80's vettes, but I will mostly be using the car for touring)
Potential to appreciate in value
Many thanks for your thoughts!
Coincidence as I have owned both !
I shipped this totally rot free Daytona Yellow 69 4 speed 350cu Stingray back from Florida in August 91. It had been my dream car since I was about 13 years old.
It’s second owner bought it in California in 1970 and lent it to his Brother whilst he flew combat in Vietnam ( Helicopters )
It’s non original motor was shot ( threw a rod en route home from Southampton docks ) so I built an Edelbrock Performer RPM equipped 4 bolt main 350cu motor for it. It went well, but needed Edelbrock alloy cylinder heads ( but the shister firm I was working for, gave me the heave ho, on New Years Day, 1992, so I had no regular ££ salary, for alloy heads and all of the Many other tweaks that I had planned for it.
I did lots to it, inc brakes, the diff ( a nightmare ) rear wheel bearings ( another nightmare )
Stupidly sold it, to buy my first E Type in July 95. I believe it went to France, I’ve been trying to track it down for 15 years now.
However, it was a tad disappointing to drive, it’s width and weight are formidable, forget going fast down a B road unless it’s deserted and very wide.
From memory a 69 small block Stingray weighs circa 3,200lbs ( circa 1560kgs I think ? ) and is in desperate need of shedding some lard. The side glass for example is very thick.
The Griff on the other hand, weighs just 1060kgs.
The Yank did between 9 and 11 to the gallon as well.
Vivid memories of a very brief “ tear up “ with either a newish Griff 400 or 500 one eve in Woodford East London.
Bought my first Griff 500, in August 07. A 95 500HC model in the scarce Mallard blue / green.
A Griff is a far more practical car, I would jump in my late 500 now and head off to the Sth of France in it, yes you could do the same in the Stringray if you could afford the fuel bills.
The Stingray suffers in being fairly low geared and having an ( excellent ) 4 speed Muncie box but 5 speed upgrades are readily available.
Had owned the first Griff for a week, before an ex g/f and I set off for the Black Forest.
A Griff makes a fairly good touring car for 2, if you pack lightly and are hoteling it.
If you find a Griff with an after market replacement alloy dash, replace it with a wood one, as the heat thrown back @ ones face and eyes from the alloy dash in the summer, was absolutely diabolical.
Bought my current Griff 500 in 2010. It’s for sale. Pm me if interested.
Edited by neutral 3 on Friday 2nd April 18:10
Edited by neutral 3 on Monday 5th April 07:59
Edited by neutral 3 on Monday 5th April 17:34
I can’t speak for the Corvette but I’m on my third Griff 500. Actually just returned from a trip out in it this morning. I think the Griff is a far better looking car than the Corvette. It gives me plenty of smiles and the noise is wonderful when you press on the loud pedal. From a practicality side (touring) It also has a deceptively large boot given the overall dimensions of the car albeit space is compromised when you store the targa roof panel.
The Griff is also relatively easy to maintain, yes they are not niggle free but most of the cars that are out and about on the road now have been well maintained by proper enthusiasts.
The Griff is also relatively easy to maintain, yes they are not niggle free but most of the cars that are out and about on the road now have been well maintained by proper enthusiasts.
P5BNij said:
Sorry for butting in gents, but I thought the 'Vette was relatively narrow compared to most yank metal....?
1.76m vs 1.85m.Interestingly the Griff at 1.85 is pretty much the same as a e60 5 series beemer which is the widest car I’ve owned but still ok.
Lhd certainly wouldn’t help the vet though.
Ive owned C3's and TVR 's early C3's are different to later cars smog cars, the later ones are softer,slower, The 69' 350/350 was a manual, quicker in spades but more hard work, all C3's are pinched in the middle so cabin space is rubbish, and as like all Yank stuff of the time so is the quality of the interior/trim.
The TVR is a completely different animal , driving, performance, road manners, and its modern !
You need to come up a few Vette numbers before any sort of comparison can be made!
I assuming youve based your wants purely on the visual side, you really need to drive/ride both!
The TVR is a completely different animal , driving, performance, road manners, and its modern !
You need to come up a few Vette numbers before any sort of comparison can be made!
I assuming youve based your wants purely on the visual side, you really need to drive/ride both!
Well I havent driven a C3 but I too wanted one at one time. But I have been in a Mustang of a very similar vintage and you cant really compare it with a Griffith in any meaningful way.
In every measurable way the Griffith is much much better but if it's a C3 Corvette you want then that's what to get. But in terms of useability I would take a Griffith. Mine has just come out of winter hibernation. It lives in a garage on a battery conditioner and it fired up immediately. They cost peanuts to run and easily manage 27 mpg.
In every measurable way the Griffith is much much better but if it's a C3 Corvette you want then that's what to get. But in terms of useability I would take a Griffith. Mine has just come out of winter hibernation. It lives in a garage on a battery conditioner and it fired up immediately. They cost peanuts to run and easily manage 27 mpg.
Comparing two cars twenty/thirty years age difference doesn't seem, to me, a fair comparison.
A C5 Corvette and a Griffith would seem a better match in many ways. I chose a C5 over a Griffith back in 2000 primarily because I was driving a lot in France and left hand drive was desirable.
Nowadays I'm fairly sure, given the same choice I would pick the Griffith. I do have a '69 C3 Corvette now and I couldn't compare it at all to the Griff, I wouldn't say no to a '60s Griff though as that's always been one of my dream cars if I ever win the lottery.
A C5 Corvette and a Griffith would seem a better match in many ways. I chose a C5 over a Griffith back in 2000 primarily because I was driving a lot in France and left hand drive was desirable.
Nowadays I'm fairly sure, given the same choice I would pick the Griffith. I do have a '69 C3 Corvette now and I couldn't compare it at all to the Griff, I wouldn't say no to a '60s Griff though as that's always been one of my dream cars if I ever win the lottery.
The last C3s had a paltry 190hp and the steering isn't great and they are cramped. Only the final model had a hatch.
I am not a great fan of the Griffith though it looks pretty.
In terms of an appreciating asset that is eminently practical, the 4th gen LS1 engined Trans Am WS6 are in the ascendant, T-topped and fast though some stiffening bits are recommended.
The C4 Corvette is also a good car if you can find a good one. The C5 is at the bottom of its depreciation curve but has less character.
I am not a great fan of the Griffith though it looks pretty.
In terms of an appreciating asset that is eminently practical, the 4th gen LS1 engined Trans Am WS6 are in the ascendant, T-topped and fast though some stiffening bits are recommended.
The C4 Corvette is also a good car if you can find a good one. The C5 is at the bottom of its depreciation curve but has less character.
P5BNij said:
Sorry for butting in gents, but I thought the 'Vette was relatively narrow compared to most yank metal....?
The Stingrays driving / seat position is low. The cars high front wheel arches really impede vision, plus the T top cars suffer from poor rear 1/4 vision, all of which make it a very tricky car to place accurately on the road. A roadster would be an easier car to drive quickly. If I ever buy another one ( assuming I can’t find my old 69, it will most likely be a 69 Roadster, ideally in Fathom Green or Riverside Gold.
However, that car was such an “ Occasion “ to drive, that one could forgive its numerous failings.
My one had no servo ( it stopped well ) no PAS either, but I found the steering ok.
Ex wife and I ran a lovely R5GTTurbo @ the same time and the lanes that I would throw the turbo down, were a chore and very hard work, in the Stingray.
However, on decent ( lowered stiffened suspension and decent tyres ) they handle well, lots of grip.
Two acquaintances also had 69s, one of which was a “ mildly tweaked, scruffy red “ 427 4 speed car. We went out for a “ hoon “ in it one day, in summer 95, it’s still the scariest car I’ve been in, it’s torque was incredible.
xyyman said:
Comparing two cars twenty/thirty years age difference doesn't seem, to me, a fair comparison.
Indeed, does seem an odd choice of two, being so far apart generationally?Despite all its faults I'd still have the 'vette of the two, because it's of 'my generation'.....although it would have to be a chrome bumper C3, although a '65 or '66 C2 Corvette would be my lottery win 'vette.
neutral 3 said:
P5BNij said:
Sorry for butting in gents, but I thought the 'Vette was relatively narrow compared to most yank metal....?
The Stingrays driving / seat position is low. The cars high front wheel arches really impede vision, plus the T top cars suffer from poor rear 1/4 vision, all of which make it a very tricky car to place accurately on the road. A roadster would be an easier car to drive quickly. If I ever buy another one ( assuming I can’t find my old 69, it will most likely be a 69 Roadster, ideally in Fathom Green or Riverside Gold.
However, that car was such an “ Occasion “ to drive, that one could forgive its numerous failings.
My one had no servo ( it stopped well ) no PAS either, but I found the steering ok.
Ex wife and I ran a lovely R5GTTurbo @ the same time and the lanes that I would throw the turbo down, were a chore and very hard work, in the Stingray.
However, on decent ( lowered stiffened suspension and decent tyres ) they handle well, lots of grip.
Two acquaintances also had 69s, one of which was a “ mildly tweaked, scruffy red “ 427 4 speed car. We went out for a “ hoon “ in it one day, in summer 95, it’s still the scariest car I’ve been in, it’s torque was incredible.
As I said in the yank thread just now, I'm looking forward to a very different experience to my little Cooper S.
P5BNij said:
Thanks for that, and posting those pics
As I said in the yank thread just now, I'm looking forward to a very different experience to my little Cooper S.
My pleasure, I really enjoy our little chats on here, your Knowledge is encyclopaedic !As I said in the yank thread just now, I'm looking forward to a very different experience to my little Cooper S.
So are you going after a Yank ??
Go on, you know you want one......
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