P820 TFH - where is it now?
P820 TFH - where is it now?
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Discussion

mellowman

Original Poster:

352 posts

269 months

Thursday 22nd June 2017
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Just came across pics of a Griffith 500 I owned over 14 years ago and wondered whether any one on here might know of its whereabouts?

I can give you some interesting information and some pics, plus some servicing and maintenance info too.

Waiting on a pension payout and fancy getting another Griff...


Kev Bamber

125 posts

98 months

Wednesday 20th December 2017
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Yes, I have just purchased the car. It has returned home to Blackpool !

2 sMoKiN bArReLs

31,629 posts

256 months

Wednesday 20th December 2017
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Kev Bamber said:
Yes, I have just purchased the car. It has returned home to Blackpool !
You are not related to the great Dave Bamber of Blackpool fame are you?

msmith0592

303 posts

165 months

Wednesday 20th December 2017
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Thought that was my car for a moment.

I had a Cerbera, reg P823 TFH

mellowman

Original Poster:

352 posts

269 months

Thursday 21st December 2017
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Kev Bamber said:
Yes, I have just purchased the car. It has returned home to Blackpool !
Great to make contact with it again! I had it for a year, as a 40th birthday treat, back in 2003. I bought it from a TVR dealership in Aylesbeare, Devon - (Peninsula I think?). Unforgettable deal - I drove a couple of Griffs and couldn't live without the power steering, but my budget was not enough. Was chatting with the valeter and he said why not hit them with a low ball offer of your new MINI Cooper S as a straight swap - and they agreed! No money changed hands, I never even got any invoice for it...

Had a temperamental alarm if I recall. Had many breakdowns and it did fill with water on many occasions. Had new shocks fitted but for some reason they were fitted incorrectly and it made speed bumps unbearable.

Took it to a place in Callander for a service but they bodged that as well, but fitted the Leven controls kit. Had a new car window sewn in too, that made a big difference.

I found the lack of traction control an issue on the snowy, greasy roads up here - perhaps not the best choice for a winter hack! Spun it round a few times, but never bashed into anything thank goodness!

Sold it for around £13000 back in 2004, to chap from Yorkshire I think - he was the one who spotted the wrongly fitted suspension components.

I think it was up to around 80,000 miles when I sold it.

Currently looking for another one!

If you want any more pics or info feel free to PM and wishing you good health to enjoy your new Griff :-)





Edited by mellowman on Thursday 21st December 12:02

Kev Bamber

125 posts

98 months

Thursday 21st December 2017
quotequote all
2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
You are not related to the great Dave Bamber of Blackpool fame are you?
No, but I remember he was playing just as I left school & had started work, that brings back memories !

Kev Bamber

125 posts

98 months

Thursday 21st December 2017
quotequote all
mellowman said:
Great to make contact with it again! I had it for a year, as a 40th birthday treat, back in 2003. I bought it from a TVR dealership in Aylesbeare, Devon - (Peninsula I think?). Unforgettable deal - I drove a couple of Griffs and couldn't live without the power steering, but my budget was not enough. Was chatting with the valeter and he said why not hit them with a low ball offer of your new MINI Cooper S as a straight swap - and they agreed! No money changed hands, I never even got any invoice for it...

Had a temperamental alarm if I recall. Had many breakdowns and it did fill with water on many occasions. Had new shocks fitted but for some reason they were fitted incorrectly and it made speed bumps unbearable.

Took it to a place in Callander for a service but they bodged that as well, but fitted the Leven controls kit. Had a new car window sewn in too, that made a big difference.

I found the lack of traction control an issue on the snowy, greasy roads up here - perhaps not the best choice for a winter hack! Spun it round a few times, but never bashed into anything thank goodness!

Sold it for around £13000 back in 2004, to chap from Yorkshire I think - he was the one who spotted the wrongly fitted suspension components.

I think it was up to around 80,000 miles when I sold it.

Currently looking for another one!

If you want any more pics or info feel free to PM and wishing you good health to enjoy your new Griff :-)





Edited by mellowman on Thursday 21st December 12:02
That makes you around the same age as me.
The car has had a lot of restoration work since by XWorks (TVR specialists near Blackpool), chassis outriggers, paint, suspension, interior. Its now a lighter Lotus Laser blue. I need to go through the history file in more detail to understand what happened to it between you and now but it came to me from Carlisle and the previous owner put a lot back into it. He then had to sell due to a back injury.
I can't post photos here at work but will when get home and work out photo hosting. Its a very different looking car from when you had it. It's on 101k miles now but had engine work & from the history recognised it had become a tired car that had been loved back to its best.
I previously had a Westfield for 30 years but it just was not getting used and becoming harder to live with as time went on and had always wanted a Griff so made it happen.
One thing from your comments, I had assumed it was a power steering car due to being 1996 model, are you saying this has or hasn't power?
I'll get back to you with photos at some point.
Health & happiness too !


Kev Bamber

125 posts

98 months

Thursday 21st December 2017
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Kev Bamber

125 posts

98 months

Friday 22nd December 2017
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Kev Bamber

125 posts

98 months

Friday 22nd December 2017
quotequote all

mellowman

Original Poster:

352 posts

269 months

Friday 22nd December 2017
quotequote all
Good to hear it's in great shape and enjoying a new lease of life, with all the work done to it.

I much preferred the drive in a Griff with power steering, which this has of course, as you can focus your attention on other driving issues such as reading the road ahead regarding traction and gearing.

The colour refresh is a nice change from the classic original blue. By today's standards the Griff is devoid of bling and looks like the true classic it is - I was at the original Motor Show launch when I decided I would one day get one.

I've added a few pics, including one from the dealership in Devon. I was on a family holiday nearby, when I bought the local paper to see what's on - well blow me down when I saw an advertisement feature about the opening of a new TVR dealership just down the road!






lancepar

1,114 posts

193 months

Friday 22nd December 2017
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Here's another P reg'



Merry Xmas
cool

neutral 3

7,839 posts

191 months

Saturday 10th March 2018
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Nice story Mellowman!

BJWoods

5,018 posts

305 months

Saturday 10th March 2018
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Kev Bamber said:
That makes you around the same age as me.
The car has had a lot of restoration work since by XWorks (TVR specialists near Blackpool), chassis outriggers, paint, suspension, interior. Its now a lighter Lotus Laser blue. I need to go through the history file in more detail to understand what happened to it between you and now but it came to me from Carlisle and the previous owner put a lot back into it. He then had to sell due to a back injury.
I can't post photos here at work but will when get home and work out photo hosting. Its a very different looking car from when you had it. It's on 101k miles now but had engine work & from the history recognised it had become a tired car that had been loved back to its best.
I previously had a Westfield for 30 years but it just was not getting used and becoming harder to live with as time went on and had always wanted a Griff so made it happen.
One thing from your comments, I had assumed it was a power steering car due to being 1996 model, are you saying this has or hasn't power?
I'll get back to you with photos at some point.
Health & happiness too !
in 1998 PS was a cost option, so assume it was in 1996.