1995 Griffith 500 restoration

[RobXjcoupe]

Still on the door mirrors, I was testing the motors and found one of the small nylon adjusters to be broken

Slightly deflated as the cost of a good second hand mirror is roughly £200.
So with the mechanism removed I thought it’s possibly a common part between manufacturers as it doesn’t have a Citroen stamp on it.
I was spot on and purchased 2 brand new motorised units for £21. A couple of minor differences purely for fitment. The 3 securing screws fit within a small metal tube. I’ve removed the TVR version from the broken unit and fitted those in the new unit and the same with a back cover. Replaced the new cover with the TVR version.


Picture above showing the original TVR back cover on the right.
My new parts were advertised to fit a Vauxhall zafira. So now I have brand new motor mechanisms within the original TVR/Citroen door mirror housings.
New heated mirror glass have also been delivered. They have a clip on back plate that clicks onto the circular motor mechanism so you don’t need the original TVR type if you missing it or it simply become brittle over the years.

[UKenGB]

RobXjcoupe said:

Unfortunately 2022 lights in a 1995 car isn’t legal until the car is 40 years old …

I'm only now reading this thread from a couple of years ago, but I'm intrigued by the above statement. Exactly which regs would be contravened by fitting later lights?

There is nothing I can think of that applies to a 40 year old vehicle except possible re-classification to HISTORIC Taxation Class, which does not affect which lights can be used and of course there is also the exemption from MOT testing requirement which does not affect the legal requirements at all, just the need to be tested.

So I'm intrigued, pray tell.

[RobXjcoupe]

UKenGB said:

RobXjcoupe said:

Unfortunately 2022 lights in a 1995 car isn’t legal until the car is 40 years old …

I'm only now reading this thread from a couple of years ago, but I'm intrigued by the above statement. Exactly which regs would be contravened by fitting later lights?

There is nothing I can think of that applies to a 40 year old vehicle except possible re-classification to HISTORIC Taxation Class, which does not affect which lights can be used and of course there is also the exemption from MOT testing requirement which does not affect the legal requirements at all, just the need to be tested.

So I'm intrigued, pray tell.

Dunno I read it years ago. Rules keep changing.
Now you can retrofit led and hid bulbs to replace halogen bulbs for headlamps. As long as it passes the beam pattern it’s not a fail anymore

[RobXjcoupe]

RobXjcoupe said:

UKenGB said:

RobXjcoupe said:

Unfortunately 2022 lights in a 1995 car isn’t legal until the car is 40 years old …

I'm only now reading this thread from a couple of years ago, but I'm intrigued by the above statement. Exactly which regs would be contravened by fitting later lights?

There is nothing I can think of that applies to a 40 year old vehicle except possible re-classification to HISTORIC Taxation Class, which does not affect which lights can be used and of course there is also the exemption from MOT testing requirement which does not affect the legal requirements at all, just the need to be tested.

So I'm intrigued, pray tell.

Dunno I read it years ago. Rules keep changing.
Now you can retrofit led and hid bulbs to replace halogen bulbs for headlamps. As long as it passes the beam pattern it’s not a fail anymore

Error above. From April 1 1986 you can’t fit led or hid bulbs within a unit designed for halogen only. You can fit led or hid headlamp units designed specifically for those bulbs. So no led or hid bulbs in the standard Griff headlamps. You can fit projector lenses and then fit led or hid bulbs.
So if a car is registered before 1 April 1986 you can fit led or hid bulbs in a halogen bulb only headlamp unit and not fail an mot currently. Hope that tells your pray

[Bowks]

This is true. Modern light units are fine, retrofit bulbs are not.

I've got some 2" bi-led lights in a custom aluminium housing in my Chimaera. Inspired by the 9eleven lights for Porsches.

Let me know if you want more detail and picks.

[Gecko1978]

Amazing thread to read I hope the end product meets your dreams

[RobXjcoupe]

I’ll be progressing this again soon.