Oh help, oh no, it’s a Griffalo!
Discussion
Good morning Readers’ cars fans.
I’m starting a new thread because I’m off up North tomorrow to pick up one of my ‘dream garage’ cars.
A 1996 TVR Griffith 500.
I’ve always wanted one & drove a 1992 Pre-Cat 400 back in about 1999, which astonished me!
Genuinely intimidating & coming from a Capri seemed like an epic and insane car. Every prod of the throttle felt like unleashing an explosion of noise & acceleration.
Unfortunately I never been in the right place to indulge such a car, too little money, then too little space, then lost my garage while re re-jigged the house & gardens…
Well now that’s changed & I want to scratch my TVR itch.
There will be lots to add once I collect it. But in the meantime here’s what I know.
N500GFF, a 1996 Griffith 500.
Built in Jan ‘96.
Originally N62 XKE
Everything I’ve seen so far gives me confidence so I put a deposit on & will be trekking up to John Ashley TVR on Friday the 13th, providing the car looks as good in real life as it does in the pictures of the above & below I was sent then I’ll be driving home to Somerset in it.
Friday the 13th, to collect a nigh on 29 year old car hardly famed for it’s reliability in the first place…
…what could possibly go wrong?
So welcome to a thread that hopefully (for me) will be very dull indeed (for you dear reader).
I’m starting a new thread because I’m off up North tomorrow to pick up one of my ‘dream garage’ cars.
A 1996 TVR Griffith 500.
I’ve always wanted one & drove a 1992 Pre-Cat 400 back in about 1999, which astonished me!
Genuinely intimidating & coming from a Capri seemed like an epic and insane car. Every prod of the throttle felt like unleashing an explosion of noise & acceleration.
Unfortunately I never been in the right place to indulge such a car, too little money, then too little space, then lost my garage while re re-jigged the house & gardens…
Well now that’s changed & I want to scratch my TVR itch.
There will be lots to add once I collect it. But in the meantime here’s what I know.
N500GFF, a 1996 Griffith 500.
Built in Jan ‘96.
Originally N62 XKE
Everything I’ve seen so far gives me confidence so I put a deposit on & will be trekking up to John Ashley TVR on Friday the 13th, providing the car looks as good in real life as it does in the pictures of the above & below I was sent then I’ll be driving home to Somerset in it.
Friday the 13th, to collect a nigh on 29 year old car hardly famed for it’s reliability in the first place…
…what could possibly go wrong?
So welcome to a thread that hopefully (for me) will be very dull indeed (for you dear reader).
Stick Legs said:
vixen1700 said:
Nice one! 
Just be careful on your journey home.
Oh I will be! Slow in, careful out for a bit.Just be careful on your journey home.
I will also be scrutinising the date codes on the tyres.
The ad says ‘new Toyos’. (Puts on best Scottish accent) ‘I’ll be the judge of that laddie!’
Congrats OP. I'm sure you wont be disappointed once you have bedded her in and learnt about any foibles. I had a Chimaera 450 for seven years and it never failed me once. It was, of course, after all the changes/upgrades I chose to undertake, much like Triggers Broom by the time I sold it!!
As previously mentioned, take great care on your homeward journey, especially if it is wet. TVRs are well known for drifting into hedges backwards!
JM
As previously mentioned, take great care on your homeward journey, especially if it is wet. TVRs are well known for drifting into hedges backwards!
JM
Stick Legs said:
Good morning Readers’ cars fans.
I’m starting a new thread because I’m off up North tomorrow to pick up one of my ‘dream garage’ cars.
A 1996 TVR Griffith 500.
I’ve always wanted one & drove a 1992 Pre-Cat 400 back in about 1999, which astonished me!
Genuinely intimidating & coming from a Capri seemed like an epic and insane car. Every prod of the throttle felt like unleashing an explosion of noise & acceleration.
Unfortunately I never been in the right place to indulge such a car, too little money, then too little space, then lost my garage while re re-jigged the house & gardens…
Well now that’s changed & I want to scratch my TVR itch.
There will be lots to add once I collect it. But in the meantime here’s what I know.
N500GFF, a 1996 Griffith 500.
Built in Jan ‘96.
Originally N62 XKE
Everything I’ve seen so far gives me confidence so I put a deposit on & will be trekking up to John Ashley TVR on Friday the 13th, providing the car looks as good in real life as it does in the pictures of the above & below I was sent then I’ll be driving home to Somerset in it.
Friday the 13th, to collect a nigh on 29 year old car hardly famed for it’s reliability in the first place…
…what could possibly go wrong?
So welcome to a thread that hopefully (for me) will be very dull indeed (for you dear reader).
That looks like it'll be a lot of summer fun I’m starting a new thread because I’m off up North tomorrow to pick up one of my ‘dream garage’ cars.
A 1996 TVR Griffith 500.
I’ve always wanted one & drove a 1992 Pre-Cat 400 back in about 1999, which astonished me!
Genuinely intimidating & coming from a Capri seemed like an epic and insane car. Every prod of the throttle felt like unleashing an explosion of noise & acceleration.
Unfortunately I never been in the right place to indulge such a car, too little money, then too little space, then lost my garage while re re-jigged the house & gardens…
Well now that’s changed & I want to scratch my TVR itch.
There will be lots to add once I collect it. But in the meantime here’s what I know.
N500GFF, a 1996 Griffith 500.
Built in Jan ‘96.
Originally N62 XKE
Everything I’ve seen so far gives me confidence so I put a deposit on & will be trekking up to John Ashley TVR on Friday the 13th, providing the car looks as good in real life as it does in the pictures of the above & below I was sent then I’ll be driving home to Somerset in it.
Friday the 13th, to collect a nigh on 29 year old car hardly famed for it’s reliability in the first place…
…what could possibly go wrong?
So welcome to a thread that hopefully (for me) will be very dull indeed (for you dear reader).
Fantastic purchase, very glad yo hear you made it happen after 25 years.
Those faired-in headlights are a treat. Lovely stuff.
As a long time PHer and clear TVR nut I am sure you will checking all the expensive stuff like chassis etc. Keen to hear if it has had any gentle upgrades or adjustments other than the plate!
Take a tyre pump...always... for new car pickups!
Those faired-in headlights are a treat. Lovely stuff.
As a long time PHer and clear TVR nut I am sure you will checking all the expensive stuff like chassis etc. Keen to hear if it has had any gentle upgrades or adjustments other than the plate!
Take a tyre pump...always... for new car pickups!
8Ace said:
vixen1700 said:
Nice one!
Just be careful on your journey home.
Its favourite food is Sticks and LegsJust be careful on your journey home.
Looks fantastic OP, good luck on the drive home. Looks like there isn't much rain around, nor ice/salt.
It's amazing how many TVRs have Toyo tyres. I'm sure that the old T1R (?) that was popular on TVR and Lotus in the mid-2000s will have been improved by Toyo since then but I'd be amazed if there aren't better tyres available today (in the right sizes) than something from Toyo.
braddo said:
8Ace said:
vixen1700 said:
Nice one!
Just be careful on your journey home.
Its favourite food is Sticks and LegsJust be careful on your journey home.
Looks fantastic OP, good luck on the drive home. Looks like there isn't much rain around, nor ice/salt.
It's amazing how many TVRs have Toyo tyres. I'm sure that the old T1R (?) that was popular on TVR and Lotus in the mid-2000s will have been improved by Toyo since then but I'd be amazed if there aren't better tyres available today (in the right sizes) than something from Toyo.
Just fabulous. Your second photo reminds of the first time I saw a Griff. It was parked up in South Kensington at night in the rain. Must have been the very early 1990s. I just stood and stared and didn't know what I was looking at. And then I think I saw one on the cover of Performance Car and bought the mag, and that's pretty much how I got into cars.
Looks lovely OP.
Take it steady on the cold damp roads
Looking forward to more pics, we normally get a fuel station pic from car collection stories…. Dont worry you will have many more opportunities i have poured nearly £6.5k in fuel down the neck of my chim’ in 5 years
Take it steady on the cold damp roads
Looking forward to more pics, we normally get a fuel station pic from car collection stories…. Dont worry you will have many more opportunities i have poured nearly £6.5k in fuel down the neck of my chim’ in 5 years
Edited by sawman on Saturday 14th December 22:58
A fantastic thing, my first experience of a properly quick car was a Griffith, when I got to take my friend to his wedding in his Dad’s 500.
I still remember my teenage mind being blown when his dad who had taken me out for a supervised test to make sure I wasn’t going to bin it told me to stop being so gentle and floor it. It was warm, dry and on a straight road though!
Glad you made it back safely in December!
I still remember my teenage mind being blown when his dad who had taken me out for a supervised test to make sure I wasn’t going to bin it told me to stop being so gentle and floor it. It was warm, dry and on a straight road though!
Glad you made it back safely in December!
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff