Did Jeremy Clarkson ever own a Griff?

[BIG GRF]

Meaning to post this for a while, just remembered now!

A few weeks back I saw an old repeat of Jeremy Clarkson's Motorworld on Sky and he was driving a pre-cat Griffith in Ocean Haze, reg no J631 NFV. The actual topic of the programme was concerning exhaust emissions and how the Griff was 'illegal' in Switzerland.

Just wondered if anyone has seen the programme and was this Clarkson's Griff?

By the way he still had that awful mullet!

[Sooty]

I've seen the programme - its where he parks the exhaust next to a daisy.

Don't think it was his car tbh !!

[trevorw]

Yeah seen that programme a few times now, doubt it if it was his Griff. Probably just used it as it was a far away from the "Green" cars as you can get.

Nice too know you can cut anyone up and no one will do anything about it

[Martin_s]

J631 NFV was a factory press car.

It also featues in a 'Performace Car' group test against the Porsche 968 and Maserati Spyder (the Griffith won!) and a Road & Track magazine article.

Clarkson wrote an article about the Switzerland trip in Top Gear magazine as well - gave the impression that prior to the trip he hated TVR's, and that he chose the car mainly to wind up the excessively environmentalist Swiss authorities.

He was quite complimentary about the car in the article, but doesn't seem to be a big TVR fan overall, so I doubt he's ever owned one.

>> Edited by Martin_s on Monday 25th April 23:29

[Gaffer]

It was the factory Press car. It has been used by Peter (not his personal car though), Dad, JR, NA, Ben amongst others.

Its still going, had numerous engines and interior refits as well.

It has been put into a ditch at somepoint as well.

Claire

[groucho]

Here is the article

[Kentish]

groucho said:

Here is the article

That's a good read.

I like JC's authoring style

[BIG GRF]

Nice to know a bit about the car and an interesting article too.

Los Angeles - what engine/interior does the car have now?

The bit where he parks the Griff in a field with the twin exhaust blowing against the daisies is amusing!

[Gaffer]

Its actually going through a referb at the mo.
Same colour I believe as it always was.

Claire

[FlipFlopGriff]

The picture is of the 500 press car in flip flop yellow, now privately owned.

Claire - what are they doing to J631?

FFG

[Gaffer]

The car on the photo is Dads old car the Pearlescent white griff now owned by Jason Cook.

The Ocean Haze is just having a tidy up and new interior.

Claire

[19560]

Martin_s said:

I doubt he's ever owned one.

I was fairly sure that he bought one straight after that trip.

[Griffer]

By coincidence, I picked up a copy of JC's Motorworld book from a charity shop at the weekend, there are seperate chapters on the Monaco and Swiss trips, a couple of good pictures of JC at the wheel of J631 and a lot more detail about his impressions of the car,which he was very positive about. In all quite a good read, worth trying to find a copy.
Steve

[DustyC]

The same car was also on another Top Gear episdoe in which Clarkson tested the Cerbera.

It also appeared in "Rik Mayall Presents.....Dancing Queen" in which he drove it down Scarborough beach (hope the chassis is OK!).

[FlipFlopGriff]

DustyC back again!!!!
Hi Adam - driving more than posting these days???
FFG

[DustyC]

Applying the "work smarter not harder" principle still, but more often!

Driving yes, but this winter mostly in the comfort of my lounge (GT4!).

Hopefully this summer should see the rise of a fast and fun new hobby though

>> Edited by DustyC on Wednesday 27th April 15:38

[mrmaggit]

So will this new "smartness" result in you being at the Growl again?

[2 sheds]

19560 said:

Martin_s said: I doubt he's ever owned one. I was fairly sure that he bought one straight after that trip.

Yep i heard he bought one for his wife

[Ballistic Banana]

2 sheds said:

19560 said: Martin_s said: I doubt he's ever owned one. I was fairly sure that he bought one straight after that trip. Yep i heard he bought one for his wife

She probably needed it... To get away from Him or at least on a nice jaunt she wouldnt be able to hear his waffle

BB

[19560]

Ballistic Banana said:

2 sheds said: 19560 said: Martin_s said: I doubt he's ever owned one. I was fairly sure that he bought one straight after that trip. Yep i heard he bought one for his wife She probably needed it... To get away from Him or at least on a nice jaunt she wouldnt be able to hear his waffle

I have kept a copy of a motoring article that she wrote. Amongst other things she says that he drives his AMG as if he died last week, oh and she drives a Lotus 111S.