Looking for a Griffith

Looking for a Griffith

Author
Discussion

Stick Legs

Original Poster:

6,072 posts

173 months

Thursday 28th November
quotequote all
Hello.

I presume we have all done what I call 'the wheel'.

I want a fun car. What do I like? What can I afford? Narrow it down to a few makes. Narrow it down to a few models. Read about them. Work through the pros and cons in order. Get the willies from internet horror stories. Talk yourself out of the whole silly idea. Then decide you want a fun car again.
This process takes about 3 months. Then it repeats. Faster. Until after a couple of years of this is refined to a process that can complete a full loop in the time it takes to load the dishwasher.

The thing is every time I have ever been around TVR Griffiths I have a huge emotional response to them. Probably due to being born in 1977 and therefore they came out at exactly the right time for me to be aware of them. Possibly due to the fact they are drop dead gorgeous and sound epic. Could be because I got to visit the factory in 1997 and saw them being made. Maybe because I got to drive a 430 in 1999 and it scared the hell out of me! Or is it because I nearly bought an S2 when I was 23 but got all sensible instead, so never scratched my TVR itch?

Still every time I am lucky enough to catch one in the wild I come away determined to have one.

In November I went to the NEC with the express intention of choosing something. A second car, a fun car.

I spent a while on the TVR Club stand and got chatting with Miles from HPC Classics. Got to have a sit in J524MHG (which is lovely but double my budget).

Anyway, I joined the club and am looking for a Griffith. Luckily there are some nice ones out there, so it's a case of whitlling down the ones I like and feel best value for money.

So any advice or suggestions gladly received and I hope to have some good news to post soon.


Mr.Grooler

1,184 posts

233 months

Thursday 28th November
quotequote all
Great decision smile

Enjoy the search! It’s not usually recommended to buy the first of any sort of car you go to see, but I suspect plenty of us here did, including me around 20 years ago. Worked out well though!

Belle427

9,782 posts

241 months

Friday 29th November
quotequote all
This would be a nice car if you could get it for around £18000, try to ignore the mileage as a car thats been used is better than one thats sat around most of its life.
https://www.carandclassic.com/l/C1722117

Geoff-70zwf

43 posts

37 months

Friday 29th November
quotequote all
That is a nice dark blue Griff.
Agree, don't overly worry about mileage as being used regularly is better.
I do about 3500 to 4500 grin miles a year and in 3 years now, not had any major issues. Lucky? Could be as I did buy the first one viewed at Amore after talking with Mark.
Go in with your eyes open which sounds like you are and enjoy. Still quite a few out there for sale.

2 sMoKiN bArReLs

30,639 posts

243 months

Friday 29th November
quotequote all
I am biased....biggrin

There's not a right lot of difference, but looking at the Chimaera too will open up a wider selection. It's not a coincidence that a whole lot more Chimaeras were made & sold.


Stick Legs

Original Poster:

6,072 posts

173 months

Friday 29th November
quotequote all
2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
I am biased....biggrin

There's not a right lot of difference, but looking at the Chimaera too will open up a wider selection. It's not a coincidence that a whole lot more Chimaeras were made & sold.
Annoyingly, for my budget I'd have the pick of Chimaeras as well.

Absolutely no offence intended to any Chimaera owners at all but I prefer the way the Griffith looks over the Chimaera (or the Cerbera for that matter).
My Cerbera owning friend thinks the Griffith is too short and looks dumpy at the back.

It's a good job we aren't all the same otherwise one girl would be exceedingly popular. biglaugh

2 sMoKiN bArReLs

30,639 posts

243 months

Friday 29th November
quotequote all
Stick Legs said:
2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
I am biased....biggrin

There's not a right lot of difference, but looking at the Chimaera too will open up a wider selection. It's not a coincidence that a whole lot more Chimaeras were made & sold.
Annoyingly, for my budget I'd have the pick of Chimaeras as well.

Absolutely no offence intended to any Chimaera owners at all but I prefer the way the Griffith looks over the Chimaera (or the Cerbera for that matter).
My Cerbera owning friend thinks the Griffith is too short and looks dumpy at the back.

It's a good job we aren't all the same otherwise one girl would be exceedingly popular. biglaugh
thumbup

It is indeed in the eye of the beholder. All I'd add is stowing the roof is a proper pain in the Griffith, but a piece of cake with the Chimaera. (That's presumably why you hardly ever see Griffiths topless hehe)



Belle427

9,782 posts

241 months

Friday 29th November
quotequote all
Plus when you break down you can get the top of the dash off easier in the Chim.

mick_coupe

326 posts

254 months

Friday 29th November
quotequote all
Hi, i'm not sure exactly what your looking for but i have a pre cat 400 thats been totally rebuilt.....chassis, shocks, interior, hood, cam been done, virtually every nut and bolt, wishbones, uprights etc, ecu moved, battery moved,big brakes, lots of pics available if you want anymore info

Mike

Hello.

I presume we have all done what I call 'the wheel'.

I want a fun car. What do I like? What can I afford? Narrow it down to a few makes. Narrow it down to a few models. Read about them. Work through the pros and cons in order. Get the willies from internet horror stories. Talk yourself out of the whole silly idea. Then decide you want a fun car again.
This process takes about 3 months. Then it repeats. Faster. Until after a couple of years of this is refined to a process that can complete a full loop in the time it takes to load the dishwasher.

The thing is every time I have ever been around TVR Griffiths I have a huge emotional response to them. Probably due to being born in 1977 and therefore they came out at exactly the right time for me to be aware of them. Possibly due to the fact they are drop dead gorgeous and sound epic. Could be because I got to visit the factory in 1997 and saw them being made. Maybe because I got to drive a 430 in 1999 and it scared the hell out of me! Or is it because I nearly bought an S2 when I was 23 but got all sensible instead, so never scratched my TVR itch?

Still every time I am lucky enough to catch one in the wild I come away determined to have one.

In November I went to the NEC with the express intention of choosing something. A second car, a fun car.

I spent a while on the TVR Club stand and got chatting with Miles from HPC Classics. Got to have a sit in J524MHG (which is lovely but double my budget).

Anyway, I joined the club and am looking for a Griffith. Luckily there are some nice ones out there, so it's a case of whitlling down the ones I like and feel best value for money.

So any advice or suggestions gladly received and I hope to have some good news to post soon.


[/quote]

Stick Legs

Original Poster:

6,072 posts

173 months

Friday 29th November
quotequote all
Hi Mike.

PM sent.

sixor8

6,636 posts

276 months

Friday 29th November
quotequote all
Belle427 said:
Plus when you break down you can get the top of the dash off easier in the Chim.
Having had both, that is true. However, the Griff dashboard comes out with any required contortions, giving you access to everything I think you need access to through the front. smile

2 sMoKiN bArReLs

30,639 posts

243 months

Friday 29th November
quotequote all
sixor8 said:
Belle427 said:
Plus when you break down you can get the top of the dash off easier in the Chim.
Having had both, that is true. However, the Griff dashboard comes out with any required contortions, giving you access to everything I think you need access to through the front. smile
I've done over 300,000 miles in both and luckily never had to contemplate dashboard removal hehe

John D.

18,529 posts

217 months

Friday 29th November
quotequote all
Belle427 said:
This would be a nice car if you could get it for around £18000, try to ignore the mileage as a car thats been used is better than one thats sat around most of its life.
https://www.carandclassic.com/l/C1722117
I've been eyeing up Griffs recently. That's not far from me and looks a nice example......lucky I can't afford one yet!

Personally I much prefer Griff styling over a Chim. Its the upside down Cavalier lights that does it for me.

2 sMoKiN bArReLs

30,639 posts

243 months

Friday 29th November
quotequote all
John D. said:
Its the upside down Cavalier lights that does it for me.
I think the Mk1 Chimaeras had upside down Fiesta lights if upside down is your thing hehe

Belle427

9,782 posts

241 months

Friday 29th November
quotequote all
There is a fantastic blue Chim 450 that's just come up for sale by a long term member here, it's only on Facebook I think.
An absolute bargain too.
I'd happily buy it myself if I could sell my other car.

8Speed

753 posts

74 months

Saturday 30th November
quotequote all
I'm in the camp that much prefers the look of the Griff (hence why I have one).
If you're worried about getting the roof in the boot of a Griff, get a folding version - they work well, although I don't have too much trouble with my hard roof in this respect.
However, it must be said that the Chim offers better value for money being very similar under the skin. They made many more Chims which is probably one reason they are cheaper like for like. I like the relative rarity of the Griff. Similar thing with TR5 & TR6s.

popegregory

1,552 posts

142 months

Saturday 30th November
quotequote all
Good time to be buying. Bit of an elephant but a lot of them (all TVR models) don’t seem to be fetching the sums the owners thought they would.

Belle427

9,782 posts

241 months

Saturday 30th November
quotequote all
The market isnt great at the moment for any toys really, covid saw a large spike in prices but it all seems to have come crashing down this year in particular.
I do still see cars selling though but i do find it a bit odd, a tidy 430 Griff was up for sale privately iirc for around £15k for quite a while, it then re appeared at a dealer for just under £20k and sold quickly.

2 sMoKiN bArReLs

30,639 posts

243 months

Saturday 30th November
quotequote all
Belle427 said:
The market isnt great at the moment for any toys really, covid saw a large spike in prices but it all seems to have come crashing down this year in particular.
I do still see cars selling though but i do find it a bit odd, a tidy 430 Griff was up for sale privately iirc for around £15k for quite a while, it then re appeared at a dealer for just under £20k and sold quickly.
With a car that has such a terrible reputation, I believe people will pay a fair bit more for the comfort of dealer support.

I’m not saying the reputation is correct, but it is there.

Belle427

9,782 posts

241 months

Saturday 30th November
quotequote all
2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
Belle427 said:
The market isnt great at the moment for any toys really, covid saw a large spike in prices but it all seems to have come crashing down this year in particular.
I do still see cars selling though but i do find it a bit odd, a tidy 430 Griff was up for sale privately iirc for around £15k for quite a while, it then re appeared at a dealer for just under £20k and sold quickly.
With a car that has such a terrible reputation, I believe people will pay a fair bit more for the comfort of dealer support.

I’m not saying the reputation is correct, but it is there.
I do get that aspect but how long is a non specialist dealer going to give that support, maybe 6 months on a car like this?
The way these cars are used that's probably a dozen drives in reality.