Body colour under the bonnet

[sixor8]

Was there a specific time when TVR started putting body colour under the bonnet on the Griffith 500 at the edges?

I've noticed a few early Griffs coming up at auction, all of which have the matt black extending from the inner wings all the way up to the bonnet edge, as expected.

My 1999 Griffith 500 has body colour around the brake fluid reservoir, and similarly on the other side to the insulation. I've seen it on 1996 cars too, but on 1995 cars that are for sale with under bonnet photos, it seems that no body colour was used in this area. Considering the Griffith 500 had virtually no changes at all from its switch to a Serp engine in 1994 until the final SE cars having different dash and lights, have I spotted a change? Hardly worthy calling any Mk 2s or anything I grant you.

[davidd]

My July 97 Griff has black underbonnet body work....

[sixor8]

Interesting. Perhaps it was an 'option' or that cars that have received a respray have had those areas done. MY curiosity was from these 2 cars for sale in the classifieds. A 1995 Griff 500 (M reg, Serp engine), which also seems to have an extra grommet on the driver's side:



And a 1996 (N reg, so registered before August):


Mid 1996 was when the Chimaera started receiving changes to the front, dashboard and all that followed later with the door buttons, boot hinges etc. But if yours is not body-coloured from 1997.

Edited by sixor8 on Friday 24th July 09:04

[Geoff-Griff500]

1996 red Griff 500, black engine bay.
Probably doesn't help...

[DVR V8]

.
1996 here also painted black. I was under the impression it changed on cars built late 96 onwards when they painted the chassis white, diff to BTR, fuseboard to 2 fan relays and the bilstien shocks to yellow but not sure.

[TR4man]

DVR V8 said:

.
1996 here also painted black. I was under the impression it changed on cars built late 96 onwards when they painted the chassis white, diff to BTR, fuseboard to 2 fan relays and the bilstien shocks to yellow but not sure.

Firstly, what a fabulous looking engine bay - lovely and clean, looks well cared for and not too much "bling". I'm very envious!

Secondly, I think you are right. Mine is a 1999 with body coloured inner wings, white chassis etc.

[sixor8]

I think that's most likely the case. I'd forgotten about the chassis powder coat colour change to white, so the paint scheme possibly changed at the same time, but the yellow one above is an early '96 (N reg) car.

I knew the diff changed, as it did on the Chimaera, but I must admit, I wasn't aware of the fan change to 2 relays.

[haaren]

Painted in body color chimaera from 95

Making it more confusing

[sixor8]

I think the Chimaera may always have been that way, with its different contours. My first TVR, an M reg December 1994 one did. The orange one above that was shown earlier (now deleted it seems) had been repainted IMHO with matt black on the engine bay edges.

[CharliesTTS]

Yes..I realised that was the case after I’d posted..hence I deleted my post as it wasn’t relevant to the conversation