Update on Rob's car inspection
Discussion
griffnut said: Good news for you guys, my offer has been turned down so it's over to you
The car details are as follows Griff 500 in Rosso Red,black hood, grey interior 1/2 leather. With leven accessories. 39k miles
Contact Nick He says he will accept £13500. 07747 628866 01582833951
Good Luck.
Hey I called this guy earlier in the week (Tues I think) having seen the ad in Autotrader and he didn't mention this issue - did he know about it then? Bit naughty of him if so....
Here is my story about a £16K - 97(P) Rosso Red, Black Hood, 1/2 Gray Leather Interior, Leven Accessorised Griff at a trader in the same locale 2 weeks ago, but his name was different. Although I can't remember the name of the guy who brought the car from the workshop, he had a TVR of his own (Cerb I think). I think our stories are to similar. Does this sound familiar?
I looked at the front to check the chip re-spray then walked to the back of the car to compare the colours. When I asked who did the paint work he then told me about the 'spin' and the damage to front and rear. He said he bought the car to fix up.
Once the bonnet was opened I could see a dint in one of the chassis cross members, I'm new to Griffs so this may have been part of the design but did not look it and I have not noticed it on any others. It was one the vertical ones just behind the front offside wheel. Some parts of the chassis (front and back) were showing signs of surface rust.
That basically binned the car for me, although it was the best interior for a Griff of that age I've seen so far. Only a couple of Interior niggles, a little stitching required on the rear window and a strange black stud on the leather in hole of the passenger door release. They kept it garaged so I couldn't check for water ingress, but the speaker covers didn't have rust on them and the carpets had no water marks. Almost forgot the starter motor was faulty, and they do not have the roof cover.
I looked at the front to check the chip re-spray then walked to the back of the car to compare the colours. When I asked who did the paint work he then told me about the 'spin' and the damage to front and rear. He said he bought the car to fix up.
Once the bonnet was opened I could see a dint in one of the chassis cross members, I'm new to Griffs so this may have been part of the design but did not look it and I have not noticed it on any others. It was one the vertical ones just behind the front offside wheel. Some parts of the chassis (front and back) were showing signs of surface rust.
That basically binned the car for me, although it was the best interior for a Griff of that age I've seen so far. Only a couple of Interior niggles, a little stitching required on the rear window and a strange black stud on the leather in hole of the passenger door release. They kept it garaged so I couldn't check for water ingress, but the speaker covers didn't have rust on them and the carpets had no water marks. Almost forgot the starter motor was faulty, and they do not have the roof cover.
Yes this must be the same guy, his name is Nick and he has a Cerbera as well. Denied all knowledge of the damage. He lives in Wheathampstead.
Nick had said it needed a new starter motor.
Would be surprised if Rob had missed any signs of chassis damage, he had pointed out the replaced wishbones on the nearside though. Said everything else was fine. He sounds a nice guy but it seems he is telling different storys Very slippery!!
Nick had said it needed a new starter motor.
Would be surprised if Rob had missed any signs of chassis damage, he had pointed out the replaced wishbones on the nearside though. Said everything else was fine. He sounds a nice guy but it seems he is telling different storys Very slippery!!
'I could see a dint in one of the chassis cross members, I'm new to Griffs so this may have been part of the design but did not look it and I have not noticed it on any others.'
I may be going mad but I've read something about this 'dent' before...
'Some parts of the chassis (front and back) were showing signs of surface rust.'
Standard. The powder coating falls off as they leave the showroom. Poke about by all means but surface rust is not a fail.
'a strange black stud on the leather in hole of the passenger door release.'
It's there to try to stop the lever from damaging the vinyl behind. Mine has them too.
'they do not have the roof cover.'
Indicates careless owner, but again no problem if the roof is in good nick (though without the cover it will quickly get a shiny patch where it rubs on the fuel tank)
All in all, still not a turkey and seems quite good for £13,500, especially given the clean interior. IMHO.
I may be going mad but I've read something about this 'dent' before...
'Some parts of the chassis (front and back) were showing signs of surface rust.'
Standard. The powder coating falls off as they leave the showroom. Poke about by all means but surface rust is not a fail.
'a strange black stud on the leather in hole of the passenger door release.'
It's there to try to stop the lever from damaging the vinyl behind. Mine has them too.
'they do not have the roof cover.'
Indicates careless owner, but again no problem if the roof is in good nick (though without the cover it will quickly get a shiny patch where it rubs on the fuel tank)
All in all, still not a turkey and seems quite good for £13,500, especially given the clean interior. IMHO.
As Simpo says - surface rust on the chassis is entirely normal - mine has it in places and its a 1999 model. If it were all over I'd be concerned, but not if was mainly outriggers and wishbones.
The 'ding' in the chassis - that sounds like the kink in the wishbones to accomodate the steering column u/j.
I'd be amazed if either of these things was more serious as Rob Ingleby simply wouldn't 'pass' them.
New roof bag is £50 from Leven, so nothing to worry about.
The 'ding' in the chassis - that sounds like the kink in the wishbones to accomodate the steering column u/j.
I'd be amazed if either of these things was more serious as Rob Ingleby simply wouldn't 'pass' them.
New roof bag is £50 from Leven, so nothing to worry about.
there's the kink in the wishbone, but also one of the vertical x-brace bits also is bashed as std by the factory for clearance on the lower steering uj, quite normal. Also there's precious few TVRs out there that haven't had paintwork at some stage in their life .. many are resprayde at PDI before the first owner ever gets holdof them such is factory paint finishing. If everything else adds up except the story you may be missing out on a very good car here - if I had 13k to spare I'd have it myself and to hell with the dodgy seller. anybody know a good bank to rob??? 
On the chassis rust front. Surface rust is normal. However, get it waxoyled (and maybe hammerite before) ASAP. Then do it regularly. It will protect the chassis from getting worse.
Waxoyle has preservatives in it that means it can be used over minor rust.
I wish I had known about this three years ago when I bought my Griff. It is currently waiting for a full body off chassis renovation which will cost £2k+.
because the outriggers are in a bad way.
Waxoyle has preservatives in it that means it can be used over minor rust.
I wish I had known about this three years ago when I bought my Griff. It is currently waiting for a full body off chassis renovation which will cost £2k+.
because the outriggers are in a bad way.
dans said: davidd is flogging his griff which seems to be a very nice one and he is a regular PH person so at least you can find him if it turns out to be anything else.
When a man is that nice to cats he must be good to griffs too...
Err, sorry guys but David's is sold - to me!!! And if anyone's got other ideas then...
Prince_Charming said:
dans said: davidd is flogging his griff which seems to be a very nice one and he is a regular PH person so at least you can find him if it turns out to be anything else.
When a man is that nice to cats he must be good to griffs too...
Err, sorry guys but David's is sold - to me!!! And if anyone's got other ideas then...
Dan, what Marc does not know is that Frank is part of the deal
D.
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