Mint 4.3 Pre-Cat Prices
Discussion
I'm after a 4.3 pre-cat and in two minds whether to go for a cheap car and restore it over time, go for a mint original car or one that someone else has already restored.
I've just seen what looks to be a very good, original low mileage Griff that fits the bill but was wondering on the price, what's the concensus on top end prices, what should I pay?
I've just seen what looks to be a very good, original low mileage Griff that fits the bill but was wondering on the price, what's the concensus on top end prices, what should I pay?
Hi Mike, I purchased a 4.3 Pre-Cat at the beginning of May, it being my first TVR. I long lusted after a Griff and when the time came to actually look for one I decided on the 4.3. Prices seem to be on the increase for this model, so if you do not pay silly money it should stand you well over time. I did my homework and checked out all the major areas when viewing, i.e. chassis, engine, bodywork interior etc. My advice, if you wanted an original as I finally got, is to set your maximum budget, then find the best available for that money, but concentrate on the main areas. I personally did not want one that had been modified or 'pumped up' so be careful there, look at all the paperwork and be prepared to walk away if there is little or no paperwork! I bought mine knowing the hood needed replacing (it was the original), there were stone chips on the front and it was ready for a service. But most importantly all the major areas were sound. If you buy a good sound original with a list of known things that need doing you will have the pleasure of planning them in and either doing them yourself (apart from the hood I have carried out all other jobs) or getting someone to do it. At the end of the day it becomes what you make of it.
I hope that has been helpful, all the best, Pete
I hope that has been helpful, all the best, Pete
MikeE said:
I'm after a 4.3 pre-cat and in two minds whether to go for a cheap car and restore it over time, go for a mint original car or one that someone else has already restored.
I've just seen what looks to be a very good, original low mileage Griff that fits the bill but was wondering on the price, what's the concensus on top end prices, what should I pay?
Y H M I've just seen what looks to be a very good, original low mileage Griff that fits the bill but was wondering on the price, what's the concensus on top end prices, what should I pay?
angry jock said:
You're not selling the beast are you Gizzer? 
The scots man, Hi really enjoyed your co , mad mabey .. not by choice the best 4.3 has to go , some will say otherwise,,,, they dont know!!! any one in the griff circle I hope will say and comment
if some one has a better one P M ME ,,,,,,,, hoover bac off !!!!!
Edited by gizzer on Thursday 1st September 18:37
I just bought a 4.3 precat at the very bottom of the market. It's a sound and cared for example just a bit on the scruffy and a high milage example, well high milage in TVR terms. As mentioned above it all depends what you want out of it, i love my tinkering and improving etc etc so it's ideal for me, refurbish over winter ready for the summer. Good luck with the search.
You can buy the best Griff in the world BUT you will always find fault and want to spend money to sort it......
I paid top dollar for my 4.3 6 years ago, and I do mean top dollar, and yet in six years of ownership I have spent the best part of £20k and not on on performance upgardes...... and mine is no where near the best, it's a 20 year old car that I love and it's now part of me
I paid top dollar for my 4.3 6 years ago, and I do mean top dollar, and yet in six years of ownership I have spent the best part of £20k and not on on performance upgardes...... and mine is no where near the best, it's a 20 year old car that I love and it's now part of me
O/T Gizzer gutted for you mate but I hope you and your lass will still be coming to the Growl with your brood 
Mike I'm the same as Hoover. When I was looking at a replacement for my 500 I knew that if I was going to get a 430, which in all honesty was what I wanted originally, I would have to pay good money but go into it with open eyes fully expecting the occasional wallet raping. I bought the best one that I could afford from a fellow PHer knowing that sensible mods had been done and that it was in good condition with lots of history. I still treat it like an ongoing project though knowing that I will need to do stuff as it comes up, and it does, frequently!
When you get sorted we do have a good group of 430 owners on here and the 500 lot get jealous because our cars sound the best!!
Mike I'm the same as Hoover. When I was looking at a replacement for my 500 I knew that if I was going to get a 430, which in all honesty was what I wanted originally, I would have to pay good money but go into it with open eyes fully expecting the occasional wallet raping. I bought the best one that I could afford from a fellow PHer knowing that sensible mods had been done and that it was in good condition with lots of history. I still treat it like an ongoing project though knowing that I will need to do stuff as it comes up, and it does, frequently!
When you get sorted we do have a good group of 430 owners on here and the 500 lot get jealous because our cars sound the best!!
angry jock said:
O/T Gizzer gutted for you mate but I hope you and your lass will still be coming to the Growl with your brood
Mike I'm the same as Hoover. When I was looking at a replacement for my 500 I knew that if I was going to get a 430, which in all honesty was what I wanted originally, I would have to pay good money but go into it with open eyes fully expecting the occasional wallet raping. I bought the best one that I could afford from a fellow PHer knowing that sensible mods had been done and that it was in good condition with lots of history. I still treat it like an ongoing project though knowing that I will need to do stuff as it comes up, and it does, frequently!
When you get sorted we do have a good group of 430 owners on here and the 500 lot get jealous because our cars sound the best!!
Hope its still treating you right chapMike I'm the same as Hoover. When I was looking at a replacement for my 500 I knew that if I was going to get a 430, which in all honesty was what I wanted originally, I would have to pay good money but go into it with open eyes fully expecting the occasional wallet raping. I bought the best one that I could afford from a fellow PHer knowing that sensible mods had been done and that it was in good condition with lots of history. I still treat it like an ongoing project though knowing that I will need to do stuff as it comes up, and it does, frequently!
When you get sorted we do have a good group of 430 owners on here and the 500 lot get jealous because our cars sound the best!!
I miss it sorely
MikeE said:
I'm after a 4.3 pre-cat and in two minds whether to go for a cheap car and restore it over time, go for a mint original car or one that someone else has already restored.
I've just seen what looks to be a very good, original low mileage Griff that fits the bill but was wondering on the price, what's the concensus on top end prices, what should I pay?
Whichever route you take, it'll cost a small fortune*. It'll be worth it, but be prepared.I've just seen what looks to be a very good, original low mileage Griff that fits the bill but was wondering on the price, what's the concensus on top end prices, what should I pay?
Precats, 430s in particular, have more character than their younger siblings. Probably down to the rarity and especially the sweetness of the engines - they rev like a b
d. Then there's the noise. Not much better, especially for an RV8.IMO buy cheap and invest yourself rather than pay extra for someone else's idea of the perfect precat. Whatever you decide - do it.
NB. Mileage on a 20 year old car means feck all IMO.
* Definitions of fortune may vary.
LordGrover said:
Whichever route you take, it'll cost a small fortune*. It'll be worth it, but be prepared.
Precats, 430s in particular, have more character than their younger siblings. Probably down to the rarity and especially the sweetness of the engines - they rev like a bd. Then there's the noise. Not much better, especially for an RV8.
IMO buy cheap and invest yourself rather than pay extra for someone else's idea of the perfect precat. Whatever you decide - do it.
NB. Mileage on a 20 year old car means feck all IMO.
* Definitions of fortune may vary.
Precats, 430s in particular, have more character than their younger siblings. Probably down to the rarity and especially the sweetness of the engines - they rev like a b
d. Then there's the noise. Not much better, especially for an RV8.IMO buy cheap and invest yourself rather than pay extra for someone else's idea of the perfect precat. Whatever you decide - do it.
NB. Mileage on a 20 year old car means feck all IMO.
* Definitions of fortune may vary.
LordGrover said:
IMO buy cheap and invest yourself rather than pay extra for someone else's idea of the perfect precat. Whatever you decide - do it.
NB. Mileage on a 20 year old car means feck all IMO.
* Definitions of fortune may vary.
As it happens LordGrover it's your old car that i've just bought so on the whole i'd agree with what you've said. Even if i'd bought a minter i know that i would still be tinkering with it because that's a large part of the fun for me but obviously not everyone want's to do that. Gizzer your Griff looks superb, gutted for you having to sell but whoever buys it will get a cracker of a car. Horses for courses and all that. NB. Mileage on a 20 year old car means feck all IMO.
* Definitions of fortune may vary.
gizzer said:
LordGrover said:
Whichever route you take, it'll cost a small fortune*. It'll be worth it, but be prepared.
Precats, 430s in particular, have more character than their younger siblings. Probably down to the rarity and especially the sweetness of the engines - they rev like a bd. Then there's the noise. Not much better, especially for an RV8.
IMO buy cheap and invest yourself rather than pay extra for someone else's idea of the perfect precat. Whatever you decide - do it.
NB. Mileage on a 20 year old car means feck all IMO.
* Definitions of fortune may vary.
Precats, 430s in particular, have more character than their younger siblings. Probably down to the rarity and especially the sweetness of the engines - they rev like a b
d. Then there's the noise. Not much better, especially for an RV8.IMO buy cheap and invest yourself rather than pay extra for someone else's idea of the perfect precat. Whatever you decide - do it.
NB. Mileage on a 20 year old car means feck all IMO.
* Definitions of fortune may vary.
Sorry Gizzer. 
bubblehead said:
As it happens LordGrover it's your old car that i've just bought so on the whole i'd agree with what you've said. Even if i'd bought a minter i know that i would still be tinkering with it because that's a large part of the fun for me but obviously not everyone want's to do that. Gizzer your Griff looks superb, gutted for you having to sell but whoever buys it will get a cracker of a car. Horses for courses and all that.
Best of luck with it. Should be a strong engine for a good while yet.Hope to see it at next year's Growl.
LordGrover said:
Whichever route you take, it'll cost a small fortune*. It'll be worth it, but be prepared.
Precats, 430s in particular, have more character than their younger siblings. Probably down to the rarity and especially the sweetness of the engines - they rev like a bd. Then there's the noise. Not much better, especially for an RV8.
IMO buy cheap and invest yourself rather than pay extra for someone else's idea of the perfect precat. Whatever you decide - do it.
NB. Mileage on a 20 year old car means feck all IMO.
* Definitions of fortune may vary.
I think I'm starting to lean towards buying something that has the potential to be what I want and then improving over time, the problem of course is that this route is always more expensive than buying someone elses project where they've already spent far more than they could hope to recoup. This is a dangerous strategy though as I really don't want to spend a small fortune but I know I'll end up going for perfections Precats, 430s in particular, have more character than their younger siblings. Probably down to the rarity and especially the sweetness of the engines - they rev like a b
d. Then there's the noise. Not much better, especially for an RV8.IMO buy cheap and invest yourself rather than pay extra for someone else's idea of the perfect precat. Whatever you decide - do it.
NB. Mileage on a 20 year old car means feck all IMO.
* Definitions of fortune may vary.
So back to my original question, it appears that the top end for a mint, low mileage original 4.3 is somewhere aroung £16K-£17K. But as LordGover points out low mileage on a 20 year old car is a little meaningless (and of course it tie me into keeping the mileage low if I want to keep the premium price). And Gizzer has also made the valid point that all these cars, no matter how low mileage really need a select few sensible upgrades like improved damping, poweflex bushes, upgraded brakes, collant upgrades etc which a strictly original car won't have.
slightly off topic as i have a 4.0, but ive had the same thoughts about originality vs upgrades and condition
Whilst i dont want a show queen, I do want a car that can be made as nice as i wanted, so starting with something fundamentally sound , but not too modified i think is the best place for me to be. I sometimes look at cars that have been obviously modified, and whilst appreciate the work, often think originality just looks "better", (just imho of course)
my first drive in the griff was a blat across to the OGP with a few friends with 500hp cobra replicas, so the 4.0 was working hard, but was absolutely a hoot.
the brakes were not the best and went soft pretty quickly , nor the lighting, so first upgrades have been a works motor sport caliper and disc swap, (these fit under the 15 inch rims at the front, just) and i've changed the bulbs in the front for HID's...both very big improvements especially the lighting as the return journey was some 400 miles night driving.
I've acquired a bunch of upgrade bits (leven stalks etc) which i like the look of, but somehow still am reticent to change them......just because every change that is just cosmetic, maybe i now see as a step away from originality
But i'm inclined to keep all the original stuff in a box in the garage, so that it can be swapped back to original if i (or another owner) wished to at some point.
This is quite an interesting predicament for me, as I have a tendancy to change my cars and build what i want, so for me to be inclined to "leave it be" is strange........
Whilst i dont want a show queen, I do want a car that can be made as nice as i wanted, so starting with something fundamentally sound , but not too modified i think is the best place for me to be. I sometimes look at cars that have been obviously modified, and whilst appreciate the work, often think originality just looks "better", (just imho of course)
my first drive in the griff was a blat across to the OGP with a few friends with 500hp cobra replicas, so the 4.0 was working hard, but was absolutely a hoot.
the brakes were not the best and went soft pretty quickly , nor the lighting, so first upgrades have been a works motor sport caliper and disc swap, (these fit under the 15 inch rims at the front, just) and i've changed the bulbs in the front for HID's...both very big improvements especially the lighting as the return journey was some 400 miles night driving.
I've acquired a bunch of upgrade bits (leven stalks etc) which i like the look of, but somehow still am reticent to change them......just because every change that is just cosmetic, maybe i now see as a step away from originality
But i'm inclined to keep all the original stuff in a box in the garage, so that it can be swapped back to original if i (or another owner) wished to at some point.
This is quite an interesting predicament for me, as I have a tendancy to change my cars and build what i want, so for me to be inclined to "leave it be" is strange........
Edited by SSPPGG on Tuesday 6th September 16:06
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