1995 Griffith 500 restoration
Discussion
RobXjcoupe said:
A bit of an update.
<big clip> I feel I need to hold my tongue to have the last bit of work completed so I can pick the car up and trailer away.
Only just seen you r thread Rob, I have to say your car looks great and I like your approach. It must be disappointing that the 'specialist' appears to have completely forgotten the original work plan. I hope you get the outcome you wanted, incidentally I am sure they could remove the engine and gearbox and clean/prepare it properly if pushed hard enough. I am currently going through a restoration of my Aston (albeit at a very high cost) and the specialist and I agreed a detailed job list at the start, we talk at least fortnightly and I have a list that we use as an aid-memoir as things occur to us as the work progresses. I am sure you Griff will be stunning when it's finished. <big clip> I feel I need to hold my tongue to have the last bit of work completed so I can pick the car up and trailer away.
p.s. I prefer the white chassis too
YOU ARE THE PAYING CUSTOMER, HELLO? 
MikeE said:
Got any more pics of the Griff?
Also do you have a similar thread for your XJC?
Yep as already highlighted above. That’s been going a long time. Lots of details in that. I was hoping the Griff would have been similar but it seems not. Also do you have a similar thread for your XJC?
Was so miffed I didn’t take any pictures. Just looked like a regular dark blue Griff on a white chassis
Edited by RobXjcoupe on Wednesday 8th February 18:21
RichB said:
RobXjcoupe said:
A bit of an update.
<big clip> I feel I need to hold my tongue to have the last bit of work completed so I can pick the car up and trailer away.
Only just seen you r thread Rob, I have to say your car looks great and I like your approach. It must be disappointing that the 'specialist' appears to have completely forgotten the original work plan. I hope you get the outcome you wanted, incidentally I am sure they could remove the engine and gearbox and clean/prepare it properly if pushed hard enough. I am currently going through a restoration of my Aston (albeit at a very high cost) and the specialist and I agreed a detailed job list at the start, we talk at least fortnightly and I have a list that we use as an aid-memoir as things occur to us as the work progresses. I am sure you Griff will be stunning when it's finished. <big clip> I feel I need to hold my tongue to have the last bit of work completed so I can pick the car up and trailer away.
p.s. I prefer the white chassis too
Work completed has been to a high standard though. When I was shown the work done I just thought sell it now as it’s not the car I wanted.
The Jaguar xjc on the other hand I’m so very proud of. Lots of subtle mods which make the car very personal to me. It’s what I wanted with the Griff, but it’s now a car wearing a bigger headlight kit from a late car, a chassis colour which will be a pig to keep clean and somehow I will need to dismantle the top of the engine to clean components without scratching the brand new paint. Just feel like throwing the towel in and selling it.
Probably when I get the interior underway and fitted I will change my mind but those low down main beam lights I’m really not a fan. They look an afterthought in my eyes and need to be removed with just a nice looking oval opening left. I could take the car to another bodyshop but then I’m still spoiling a fresh new paint job.
Someone picked up the wrong job card!
What the flying f
k happened there then!
That’s very disappointing.
On the plus side probably easier to sell with standard chassis colour.
I’d love your Jag so that’s some consolation
That’s a truly marvellous car.
I’m sure the Griff will still look good.
What the flying f
k happened there then! That’s very disappointing.
On the plus side probably easier to sell with standard chassis colour.
I’d love your Jag so that’s some consolation
That’s a truly marvellous car.
I’m sure the Griff will still look good.
looking great. Doing a full restoration requires extreme patience indeed. I too went the quad light and larger oval opening without the driving lights, the opening especially given the higher temperatures we have locally and uprated fans. I also diid Chim like bonnet vents with extra Jag XK style vents to help get the heat out.
Andy
Andy
GAARD said:
looking great. Doing a full restoration requires extreme patience indeed. I too went the quad light and larger oval opening without the driving lights, the opening especially given the higher temperatures we have locally and uprated fans. I also diid Chim like bonnet vents with extra Jag XK style vents to help get the heat out.
Andy
I would have had the deleted driving lights…..another story for another day. So 7” headlights fitted together with the clear lense front indicators. Fitted lovely not sure if I like it though Andy
Interior colours I’m interested in, nearest is Ferrari beige, middle saddle tan and furthest is a burnt orange. Dash is black with black windscreen surround and new black carpet. The burnt orange could make it look a bit Halloween lol but also very striking with the roof down looking at the dark blue paint. Picture below with the burnt orange although mine has a black dash
Above picture shows a standard seat with redesigned covers. I like the styled inserts on the bolsters. I would be more restrained on the cover design but use black inserts on the possible 3 colours shown at the beginning.
Having a little play with new seat cover designs. Earlier in this thread I mentioned Jag xjs front seats. Now I’m using standard tvr Griff seats. Well reason being, I was going to sell the originals on to go towards the cost of new interior materials. Due to the guys doing the work stripping the original seats to component level and literally cutting off the original covers I was left with a pile of parts that are worthless unless I rebuild and recover them. I told them to leave all interior other than the dash and windscreen surround! The pictures above are not my original covers. I’ve no idea what happened to them?! These are what I was given to use so as a pattern can be made, that said the base cushion cover has been hacked around the base so I still need to make a template for those parts.
So on my new design I’m looking at a perforated leather tuck and roll centre panels with perforated inserts as well on the bolsters to give the seat a little more interest. The French stitch on the seams will be replaced with piping and also between the inserts and outer bolster piece.
The rear speaker/vent area will also have a matchin tuck and roll panel with carpet just on the horizontal area, likewise on the rear quarters, no carpet but an upholstered panel.
I did have the roll over hoop trimmed in black, thought it would save a bit of time but even that is substandard with a middle seam not in the centre of the hoop and poorly wrapped edges on the pivot.
I’ll post other issues to the car as I work through it.
Oh and alarm unit sent away for possible repair. Fingers crossed on that
Moderator edit: no naming and shaming please
Good news today in that the main alarm unit has been tested and works perfectly. A faulty remote will be repaired and a new siren will be fitted.
Any faults with the alarm will be via the vehicle wiring. A pin diagram has been supplied to help diagnose any issues.
So with a bit of time over the weekend I should be good with the alarm system
Any faults with the alarm will be via the vehicle wiring. A pin diagram has been supplied to help diagnose any issues.
So with a bit of time over the weekend I should be good with the alarm system
looking good Rob,
I went very uniform with the Griffith Resto-Mod and the same leather throughout albeit changed the seats to MX5, although did lose the carpet in the doors for leather with detailed stitching. However for in the Taimar-S Resto-Mod looking at carbon fibre leather for top of dash and seat panels, non standard Taimar interior as using T car parts/Dash. The Carbon leather gives a different look/texture.
Andy
I went very uniform with the Griffith Resto-Mod and the same leather throughout albeit changed the seats to MX5, although did lose the carpet in the doors for leather with detailed stitching. However for in the Taimar-S Resto-Mod looking at carbon fibre leather for top of dash and seat panels, non standard Taimar interior as using T car parts/Dash. The Carbon leather gives a different look/texture.
Andy
GAARD said:
looking good Rob,
I went very uniform with the Griffith Resto-Mod and the same leather throughout albeit changed the seats to MX5, although did lose the carpet in the doors for leather with detailed stitching. However for in the Taimar-S Resto-Mod looking at carbon fibre leather for top of dash and seat panels, non standard Taimar interior as using T car parts/Dash. The Carbon leather gives a different look/texture.
Andy
Sounds good, be careful with shiny leather on the dash top. You don’t want it any reflection in the windscreen.I went very uniform with the Griffith Resto-Mod and the same leather throughout albeit changed the seats to MX5, although did lose the carpet in the doors for leather with detailed stitching. However for in the Taimar-S Resto-Mod looking at carbon fibre leather for top of dash and seat panels, non standard Taimar interior as using T car parts/Dash. The Carbon leather gives a different look/texture.
Andy
The door carpet on the Griff is a bit simple. I was actually thinking of a split curved design from the speaker. So a tuck and roll top with a plain bottom half. Then use perforated leather on the arm rest part of the surround. All ideas at the moment
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