Looking for a Griff

[black_potato]

Hi Guys,

I'm looking for a practical-ish weekend car and having always fancied a Griff I'm now starting to look seriously into buying one.

With a budget around £20k I want a car I can drive and enjoy without considering it too much of a garage queen.

I have seen 2 cars in classifieds that are local, in my budget and seem to have been well maintained. With that in mind I would be keen to know if the cars are known here and also what peoples reactions are to them and the work that has been done on them.

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

Thanks in advance,

Richard

[griffdude]

black_potato said:

Hi Guys,

I'm looking for a practical-ish weekend car and having always fancied a Griff I'm now starting to look seriously into buying one.

With a budget around £20k I want a car I can drive and enjoy without considering it too much of a garage queen.

I have seen 2 cars in classifieds that are local, in my budget and seem to have been well maintained. With that in mind I would be keen to know if the cars are known here and also what peoples reactions are to them and the work that has been done on them.

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

Thanks in advance,

Richard

Buy on condition. Mileage is not massively relevant. These cars like to be driven regularly not sat in the garage.

Car Number 1 is a more rare colour which I find more interesting. Just a personal thing is that I prefer the wood laminate dash.
Car Number 2 has had the 'camshafts' replaced- um, it's a single cam engine. Apart from that it looks like it has had lots of good stuff done to it.

[ianwayne]

Car 1 also has a narrower rear window than standard (probably fitted so that the hood folds down further) as well as the non-standard dash. If you're a stickler for originality that is.

Also consider that the second car has no PAS and the first also makes no mention of it. This can be problematic for some people, and will be heavy if 225 tyres are fitted to the front.

[a1butch]

I viewed the first car back in the summer when the seller advertised on Autotrader only. I think he pulled it off the website for a period of time but not sure why. Nice chap anyway.
I was selling my 450 Chim at the time and really wanted to get into a Griff. However once the Mrs found out my evil plans I ended up moving away from TVR altogether.
Anyway, welcome to PM me and i'll tell you what I remember about the car but worth viewing both Griffs on the same day so you have a good comparison.

[citizen smith]

black_potato said:

Hi Guys,

I'm looking for a practical-ish weekend car and having always fancied a Griff I'm now starting to look seriously into buying one.

With a budget around £20k I want a car I can drive and enjoy without considering it too much of a garage queen.

I have seen 2 cars in classifieds that are local, in my budget and seem to have been well maintained. With that in mind I would be keen to know if the cars are known here and also what peoples reactions are to them and the work that has been done on them.

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

Thanks in advance,

Richard

No. 1 looks O.K., but why did it need the Head Gaskets replacing. Since during a cam change you only need to replace the rocker cover gaskets.

[black_potato]

Thanks for the comments, all useful little bits.

Butch.. I have emailed you direct about the specific car.

Cheers

Richard

[black_potato]

On a side note.. any views on the LT77 gearbox.

The earlier of the 2 cars is fitted with one (refurbed). Is this a good or a bad thing ? some people seem to have mentioned the Ratios are good but I assume its not as durable as the later box ?

[mach2]

Have sent you an e-mail with regards to mine.

[RobXjcoupe]

The L reg modified engine car is the one I would plump for. As standard they don’t make the tvr quoted 320bhp.
Make sure you are supplied with the bolt in cat convertors though. It won’t pass an emissions test without them.

[RichB]

RobXjcoupe said:

The L reg modified engine car is the one I would plump for. As standard they don’t make the tvr quoted 320bhp.

Yeah, because standard Griff 500s are so slow


p.s. only joshing with you.

[TJC46]

black_potato said:

On a side note.. any views on the LT77 gearbox.

The earlier of the 2 cars is fitted with one (refurbed). Is this a good or a bad thing ? some people seem to have mentioned the Ratios are good but I assume its not as durable as the later box ?

LT77 is a good gearbox its been around quite a while in all sorts of cars.

Later T5 is much better though,

2nd car is a pre-serp and will have the LT77.

1st car should be serp engined and T5 box.

With your budget take your time and look at as many as you can.

I.M.O avoid any that say .....chassis has been inspected and regularly waxoyled.

Waxoyl hides a multitude of sins and most of these cars are at an age where chassis work will be inevitable, if it has not already been done.

Edited by TJC46 on Wednesday 29th November 19:24

[paul2000]

HI i had mine up for sale a few weeks ago ,the car is in my profile cheers paul ,might be a bit to bright for some ,but i always think of TVR as outrageous cheers paul

[black_potato]

paul2000 said:

HI i had mine up for sale a few weeks ago ,the car is in my profile cheers paul ,might be a bit to bright for some ,but i always think of TVR as outrageous cheers paul

Im not shy of a car that stands out. Do you have the advert details and some more pics?

[black_potato]

TJC46 said:

Later T5 is much better though,

2nd car is a pre-serp and will have the LT77.

1st car should be serp engined and T5 box.

Edited by TJC46 on Wednesday 29th November 19:24

Why is the T5 better and whats "serp" ?

Thanks

[griffdude]

“SERP” = serpentine. Refers to the layout of the drive belts on the front of the engine.

Also means that the oil pump is driven off the distributor drive on the pre-serp, followed by the crank on the serpentine giving higher oil pressure/flow.

[Toma500]

I have a pre sep 500 with the rover box i find its a good box to get on with wish it had a 6 th gear though im on 75k with no terrible noises but parts are apparently getting thin on the ground .

[black_potato]

So is the T5 a six speed or just has a bigger ratio at the top ?

[griffdude]

black_potato said:

So is the T5 a six speed or just has a bigger ratio at the top ?

The T5 is a 5 speed like the LT77. The T5 is a stronger & heavier unit which withstands the torque better. The ratios are similar, the T5 has a slightly higher 5th gear.

[RobXjcoupe]

RichB said:

RobXjcoupe said:

The L reg modified engine car is the one I would plump for. As standard they don’t make the tvr quoted 320bhp.

Yeah, because standard Griff 500s are so slow


p.s. only joshing with you.

No worries lol although my engine spec does include things like solid lifters and adjustable pushrods, a bit like yours

[RichB]

RobXjcoupe said:

RichB said:

RobXjcoupe said:

The L reg modified engine car is the one I would plump for. As standard they don’t make the tvr quoted 320bhp.

Yeah, because standard Griff 500s are so slow

p.s. only joshing with you.

No worries lol although my engine spec does include things like solid lifters and adjustable pushrods, a bit like yours