Possible Purchase
Discussion
Hi guys, I'm new to TVR's so looking for a bit of advice. I've been offered the below car in exchange for my 68 Mustang. I appreciate this is completely different car and I'm fully aware of that.
I just wondered really if any knows the car and can offer any useful info on it. I'd be interested to know what people think the values of Griffs are likely to do over the coming years, I'm not looking for an investment but I'll be taking a bit of hit on my Mustang so would be nice to know the value would increase and make that up. The car in question does have a bit of paint damage on the front end which I've read is pretty common also has a small rip in the passenger seat doesn't look major or an expensive repair. Last question is about the colour, silver is not my first choice and I wondered if that was shared by anyone else. Does it hurt the car or is it a popular colour?
Any other advice is more than welcome.
https://www.puretorque.net/details/silver-bullet-t...
I just wondered really if any knows the car and can offer any useful info on it. I'd be interested to know what people think the values of Griffs are likely to do over the coming years, I'm not looking for an investment but I'll be taking a bit of hit on my Mustang so would be nice to know the value would increase and make that up. The car in question does have a bit of paint damage on the front end which I've read is pretty common also has a small rip in the passenger seat doesn't look major or an expensive repair. Last question is about the colour, silver is not my first choice and I wondered if that was shared by anyone else. Does it hurt the car or is it a popular colour?
Any other advice is more than welcome.
https://www.puretorque.net/details/silver-bullet-t...
Never owned a Griff but I've always kept an eye on them as they are on my bucketlist/in my lottery garage.
Chassis outriggers is the big issue with these, yes?
That car looks lovely and shiny from the outside but at 23yrs old I would be wondering what lurked beneath on the chassis. Any evidence of any repair work?
Some very useful info here: http://www.southwaysautomotive.co.uk/tvrchassis/
Chassis outriggers is the big issue with these, yes?
That car looks lovely and shiny from the outside but at 23yrs old I would be wondering what lurked beneath on the chassis. Any evidence of any repair work?
Some very useful info here: http://www.southwaysautomotive.co.uk/tvrchassis/
Geo22 said:
From what the seller has told me its solid underneath and has very good history with all the bills and receipts...etc
Does not guarantee anything chassis wise. Car may be great mechanically as the good history and receipts prove, but they all do have chassis problems, if not right now then definitely in the near future. The usual suspects in the outriggers, but the powder coating was so pi
s poor, i would bet all the welds will have surface rust, or be covered and hidden in waxoyl.
Here is a couple of pics of my chassis 10 years ago
The car had good history all the bills and all the receipts.Not trying to scare you off, just with any TVR get it on a ramp and inspect it thoroughly. I knew exactly what i was buying, and the price paid reflected this.
Get it inspected ! We can inspect it for you.
Serpentine engine and T-5 box makes it ( for me / many others ) more desirable than an early 500.
Has it PAS or Air Con ? Air Con isn't a common option on these.
For me, PAS is a Must have, as the non PAS rack is too slow and the steering too heavy. The PAS set up is too light / vague though ( but they do seem to vary a tad in this regard - my 96 Cars PAS was nicer than my current 98 cars )
A 96 model should still have the silver painted chassis, which was better painted than the 97 on white powder coated chassis, but with the age these cars are now at, it's irrelevant now.
Outrigger rot is a certainty on these, but Ian @ Sportmotive can replace these.
Wishbone rot and shagged wishbone bushes is common, many of these cars have shocks that are old / well past their best ( decent shocks and springs are absolutely VITAL on these cars, with yellow Bilstein Sports my / others personal favourite ) plus worn ball joints, worn engine and gear box mounts ( very common on these ) worn diff mounts, perished fuel pipes, let alone tires that are old and the £ cost of parts, let alone labour, can soon mount up. The rear toe and front and rear camber needs to be checked as well.
The fibre glass floor pans can split where the seats mount as well.
An alloy dash will throw Lots of heat back at you and looks cheap, so budget for replacing it.
The car you have mentioned, seems reasonably priced for a Trader, but tread carefully.
Re silver, they look good with a navy blue roof.
Not sure what alloys it's on, but many after market alloys are heavy.
As for ££ values, the market isn't good ATM and if I had kept my 88 3.2 Carrera, instead of selling it for £10,400 in 2008, then it's a £40K car now. Griff values have risen, but they will never be 911 money.
Serpentine engine and T-5 box makes it ( for me / many others ) more desirable than an early 500.
Has it PAS or Air Con ? Air Con isn't a common option on these.
For me, PAS is a Must have, as the non PAS rack is too slow and the steering too heavy. The PAS set up is too light / vague though ( but they do seem to vary a tad in this regard - my 96 Cars PAS was nicer than my current 98 cars )
A 96 model should still have the silver painted chassis, which was better painted than the 97 on white powder coated chassis, but with the age these cars are now at, it's irrelevant now.
Outrigger rot is a certainty on these, but Ian @ Sportmotive can replace these.
Wishbone rot and shagged wishbone bushes is common, many of these cars have shocks that are old / well past their best ( decent shocks and springs are absolutely VITAL on these cars, with yellow Bilstein Sports my / others personal favourite ) plus worn ball joints, worn engine and gear box mounts ( very common on these ) worn diff mounts, perished fuel pipes, let alone tires that are old and the £ cost of parts, let alone labour, can soon mount up. The rear toe and front and rear camber needs to be checked as well.
The fibre glass floor pans can split where the seats mount as well.
An alloy dash will throw Lots of heat back at you and looks cheap, so budget for replacing it.
The car you have mentioned, seems reasonably priced for a Trader, but tread carefully.
Re silver, they look good with a navy blue roof.
Not sure what alloys it's on, but many after market alloys are heavy.
As for ££ values, the market isn't good ATM and if I had kept my 88 3.2 Carrera, instead of selling it for £10,400 in 2008, then it's a £40K car now. Griff values have risen, but they will never be 911 money.
Edited by neutral 3 on Tuesday 7th May 19:24
Edited by neutral 3 on Tuesday 7th May 19:30
Edited by neutral 3 on Tuesday 7th May 19:35
As said above, it is chassis, chassis and chassis.
To answer your other questions, values are on the up and unless there is some unforeseen major financial economic disaster knocking out the sports / classic car market then values are likely to slowly and steadily increase.
Colour is personal. That isn’t a bad colour. It is safe. For a Griff it is unusual as they are normally in more bold colours.
The chassis is expensive though. How expensive depends on who does it and what is done (full body off or “in situ outriggers”)
If it hasn’t already been done then it will need this work. Just a matter of when.
To answer your other questions, values are on the up and unless there is some unforeseen major financial economic disaster knocking out the sports / classic car market then values are likely to slowly and steadily increase.
Colour is personal. That isn’t a bad colour. It is safe. For a Griff it is unusual as they are normally in more bold colours.
The chassis is expensive though. How expensive depends on who does it and what is done (full body off or “in situ outriggers”)
If it hasn’t already been done then it will need this work. Just a matter of when.
Geo22 said:
Thanks for the advice guys, I've decided not to go for this particular car.
I'm going to sell my Mustang and then go on the car hunt. Not sure if I will end up with a TVR but I'll enjoy the process.
If you get as far as a test drive in a Griff, you'll want one. They have a charisma and presence about them that is just beyond, you will own one of the most aesthetically pleasing cars ever made IMO, and a drive is always "an event"I'm going to sell my Mustang and then go on the car hunt. Not sure if I will end up with a TVR but I'll enjoy the process.
I'll just echo what others have said, unless the car has a had a total rebuild, chassis etc, don't take anyone's word for it, get it thoroughly inspected. As far as the colour goes, silver isn't one I'd reccomended, they always look best in dark solid colours, reds, greens and blues, metal dash boards can be OK, it depends what colour and interior you match it with.
My Griff had a chassis rebuild, and the engine is fine, new cams etc, I have all receipts and pictures of the rebuild, but that's not say I haven't had a few things to sort out.
it's worth paying a bit more for one that's been sorted, as with most cars of this nature, there will always be something to do, fiddle with.
At £19,500 you may not be getting a car that doesn't require any immediate work, I'd be looking at cars around £25,000 for something in very good condition, and £30,000 plus, for a "minter"
Edited by griff59 on Tuesday 14th May 08:01
Edited by griff59 on Tuesday 14th May 08:02
a1butch said:
Geo, ive PM'd you.
My Griff is for Sale at Velvis Cars. They are true petrol heads (principle owns a Griff for his sins) so they should be able to accommodate a good price on the Mustang. Worth calling them for to see what they can do.
Thanks mate lovely car but I'm not looking to put any money in on the deal so doubt it will happen. I've got the Mustang for sale at the moment so if it sells I'll go shopping if not then I'll just have to keep it... It's a hard life! My Griff is for Sale at Velvis Cars. They are true petrol heads (principle owns a Griff for his sins) so they should be able to accommodate a good price on the Mustang. Worth calling them for to see what they can do.
Geo22 said:
Thanks mate lovely car but I'm not looking to put any money in on the deal so doubt it will happen. I've got the Mustang for sale at the moment so if it sells I'll go shopping if not then I'll just have to keep it... It's a hard life!
Just been looking at 68 Mustangs, beautiful cars, I'd be thinking twice about this if I were you, Griff and Mustang? They are the sort of thingsI I couldn't really choose between, it's a situation where owning both is the only viable option! A Steinway Model D, or a Bosendorfer Imperial? Two of the worlds best pianos, and sound beautiful in their own way, again, you'd have to have both.But this doesn't help you in any way I know!
griff59 said:
Geo22 said:
Thanks mate lovely car but I'm not looking to put any money in on the deal so doubt it will happen. I've got the Mustang for sale at the moment so if it sells I'll go shopping if not then I'll just have to keep it... It's a hard life!
Just been looking at 68 Mustangs, beautiful cars, I'd be thinking twice about this if I were you, Griff and Mustang? They are the sort of thingsI I couldn't really choose between, it's a situation where owning both is the only viable option! A Steinway Model D, or a Bosendorfer Imperial? Two of the worlds best pianos, and sound beautiful in their own way, again, you'd have to have both.But this doesn't help you in any way I know!
griff59 said:
Just been looking at 68 Mustangs, beautiful cars, I'd be thinking twice about this if I were you, Griff and Mustang? They are the sort of thingsI I couldn't really choose between, it's a situation where owning both is the only viable option! A Steinway Model D, or a Bosendorfer Imperial? Two of the worlds best pianos, and sound beautiful in their own way, again, you'd have to have both.
But this doesn't help you in any way I know!
I do agree. I am lucky enough to own both. A 65 Mustang Coupe and a 65 Griffith. But this doesn't help you in any way I know!
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