Early 500s

[medieval]

Morning all - fresh back to the TVR fold after a brief spell with a 911 and have just bought a late 1993 Griffith 500.

Could anyone kindly advise when the 500 was launched as I assume the 1993 cars would have been the first.

Many thanks

[JamesK]

I don't have any specific dates but the first 500's must have been registered after 1/1/93 I would have thought. All 500's have cats and the law change about catalytic converters was the end of 1992.

There were some pre-cats built in 1992 and sold in 1993 but no 500's before that.

[DonkeyApple]

That would be a very early one.

They halted Griff production for nearly 12 months at the end of the 4.3 run (K/L Reg) to bring out the new Griff with the AJP but it took too long so they they brought it back with the 5L engine.

[medieval]

Thanks guys - mine is dated early December 1993 so I assume it would have been one of the first, after the lull as it were.

Kind regards

[RichardD]

What diff, gearbox and belting arrangement does it have?

All these items changed from the first 500's to the rest...!

[Bluebottle]

medieval said:

Thanks guys - mine is dated early December 1993 so I assume it would have been one of the first, after the lull as it were.

Kind regards

So was my first Griff 500 and also Ocean Haze (L654 APJ) it was a pre-serp with LT77 box and black dials.

E.T.A. just checked my files and mine was first registered 01-01-94 but the chassis plate was dated October 1993

[medieval]

Yes it has the LT77 box fitted I think (reverse is to the left top), black dials and the pre serp engine.

Kind regards

[Toma500]

Mines an early pre serp 500 first registered september 93 also with the rover box.

Edited by Toma500 on Monday 25th October 18:05

[Stev8s]

Same here September 93 pre serp with rover box

[Toma500]

Heres mine in a proper midlife crisis colour

[Stev8s]

Bloody hell needed my sunglasses when I opened that
Very nice looking car Paul
Just slightly off topic but is yours registered on your V5 as 4998cc as mine seems to be 4280cc will have to get it changed
Steve

[E24man]

Stev8s said:

Bloody hell needed my sunglasses when I opened that
Very nice looking car Paul
Just slightly off topic but is yours registered on your V5 as 4998cc as mine seems to be 4280cc will have to get it changed
Steve

Most (maybe all?) early Griffs were registered with the 4.3 engine - ours was - we just made sure it was insured as a full 5 litre - there was a letter in the Service History confirming from TVR Power in Brum that it was indeed a 5 litre - I just never got around to changing the V5. It's gone now and sadly missed.

[Toma500]

Stev8s said:

Bloody hell needed my sunglasses when I opened that
Very nice looking car Paul
Just slightly off topic but is yours registered on your V5 as 4998cc as mine seems to be 4280cc will have to get it changed

Yes mine is on at 4998cc . Its had a few owners before me mind had it nearly 7 yrs now would be hard to part with the old girl .
Steve

[medieval]

I like the turned aluminium dash Toma - where would one possibly acquire such a fine thing as my split laminate version (they all do that sir) is less then desirable.

Kind regards

[JR]

DonkeyApple said:

They halted Griff production for nearly 12 months at the end of the 4.3 run (K/L Reg) to bring out the new Griff with the AJP but it took too long so they they brought it back with the 5L engine.

Yes, although you mean the 4.0/4.3 run. As a footnote there is one early 500 that is a precat, 1991 IIRC, and owned by someone on here. Note that the experimental/development 500 predated the 4.0/4.3 production run IIRC.
Also there are many TVR models with different cc numbers on the V5; it's a TVR type approval thing. It just means that officially your car was built as a 4.0/4.3 then after purchase the engine was then removed and rebuilt as a 5.0 before being re-installed :-)

[Toma500]

medieval said:

I like the turned aluminium dash Toma - where would one possibly acquire such a fine thing as my split laminate version (they all do that sir) is less then desirable.

Kind regards

Its not ali its stainless , dont have a clue if its original or not was on the car when i bought it , someone did tell me once it was an option instead of the standard wood , but dont know how true that is .