200/RHD Griffith

[android]

I know it's been discussed before but is there any foundation in what the seller is saying ?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1964-TVR-Griffith-200-UK...

I seem to remember from Filby's book that there were shipments destined for USA that were abandoned for some
reason. Be interested in the guru's opinions on this forum ? I'm also guessing that in the not so distant past
and DVLA's slackness it would have been possible to dream up this chassis number and get away with it ? Or does
the club have a detailed list of all cars produced ? (who am i kidding !!)
And what of value. Will it only ever be worth Grantura money,even when retrofitted with V8 running gear ?

[Grantura MKI]

A handfull of cars where sold in the UK market and badged as TVR Griffith 200, regardless of the Manx tail. I have not seen this car in person, but the lack of a proper ID tag and no history to speak of would make me run away from it. 30K is a lot of money for a Grantura fitted with Cosmic wheels in my opinion.

[heightswitch]

Its an Old TVR and as such has some value.

What kind of Old TVR it is or started out as is anyones guess!!

An old TVR Grantura Mk 3 is worth money. So as such is it worth 30k, possibly but only if very well restored. As a car needing restoration ?? I think it is worth realistically half the asking price and assuming it needs a full strip down with outriggers and possibly a new chassis then in my opinion less than that!

It is an Old TVR though which is what I just call my cars these days.

Its not as if you can just pick these up anywhere these days or build a new one but then again...

Bottom line is that it is registered as a griff and has a log book! The problem with this car is that it is just too expensive for a car needing restoration when it doesn't come with any provenance!

N.

Edited by heightswitch on Sunday 2nd October 19:29

Edited by heightswitch on Sunday 2nd October 19:36

[Slow M]

Jim Lowry said:

A letter dated October 1981 from the TVR factory (TVR Engineering Ltd) confirms the car was built as a TVR Ford 4.7 litre V8 "200 series" and registered during 1964.

I wouldn't call that NO provenance. That's something. I think Jelli still has Joe Rauh's database. Ask him if there's any info in it. If he has the previous owners listed, it's a treasure hunt.

Best,
B.

[cantus]

The add says ;

"For those of you who are unfamiliar with the differences between this and a Grantura model, this car has the wider Griffith chassis and Griffith bodywork including the rear wheel arch extensions from the period."


???????

[Fiscracer]

heightswitch said:

Its an Old TVR and as such has some value.

What kind of Old TVR it is or started out as is anyones guess!!

An old TVR Grantura Mk 3 is worth money. So as such is it worth 30k, possibly but only if very well restored. As a car needing restoration ?? I think it is worth realistically half the asking price and assuming it needs a full strip down with outriggers and possibly a new chassis then in my opinion less than that!

Edited by heightswitch on Sunday 2nd October 19:36

An old MK3 is worth quite serious money, Neil, irrespective of condition. As you know they're very competitive in FIA GTS 11 and I know of at least two cars that have changed hands for £25k or more and only the chassis plate and door handles have been retained. It is this racing capabililty which drives the value - not true of any old TVR eg Mk2s, Vixens, Ms etc. With race prepared Granturas now over £50,000 it is driving up the value of 9/xxx basket cases for those that can build them themselves. It is a moot point whether 8/xxx 1600s are eligible with later 5 bearing 1800cc MGB engines and 4 synchro gearboxes.

The problem with FIA Griffith racers is that there is still no concensus about what is the accepted norm. You cannot run the round tail as the FIA view is that the kamm tail was never run in period F and the rules around profile, width, air intakes have changed markedly over the last few years. I do not believe any new FIA papers are being issued for Griffiths but we will have to see how Jonathon B gets on.

The most the car is worth is its final value as an FIA Griffith or Grantura race car less the cost of getting there - assuming it is eligible. Not a risk I'd take but others may - it is a very finite market.

R

[Grantura2a]

This car has been popping up on ebay for a year or two now. Last time I saw it, I think it was listed as 200-4-It has the wrong rear wheal arch for that serial number, but who know's what has been changed over time. Also, the dock strike would not have affected a car of that number. My understanding is that the cars were shipped to the US without chassis numbers. The Griffith foil was attached when the car was prepared for delivery. UK cars had a slightly different numbering scheme. My recollection is that Mike Mooney is on record that this is most probably not a Griffith.

There have been a number of discussions about it on the pre-80 tvr Yahoo board
<http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/TVR_Pre1980/message/17502>
and a nice little condensed Griffith history here
<http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/TVR_Pre1980/message/17531>


Mike T
Griffith 200-5-007
Grantura Mk2a

[android]

Thanks for the input gents,think i need to get a copy of Peter Filby's latest Bible (New Testament ?!!)

Have enjoyed reading this old thread

http://www.ten-tenths.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1...

But it still doesn't shed much light on how this car ended up with the precarious chassis number.

[Granturas]

I agree with "Grantura2a" regarding the discrepancy body/chassisnumber, but you never know what was going on at TVR in the 70s etc. I for example do have a car which was definitly built as a Griffith 200 and was registered (I think a second time) in the 80 by David Geralds as Griffith 1600 in Reditch as a home built car.


The car was built as a Griffith 200 allthough many people doubt as long as it is not their own one. But I am still interested to hear from any one about its history.
Klaus

[android]

Loving that Klaus,particularly the lower side vents. What diff does it have ?

[Granturas]

It has a BMC B series diff. All together it has strange options for a Griffith 200.
Sidewindowframe, doorhandles, but has twin shocks at the rear, stronger springs at the front, sidevents in the foot area, original (not modified) Griffith bonnet.
Klaus

[android]

You could have some serious fun with that car whichever way you went. I had a 1968 S2 Vixen (WPE111G) in 1987 with standard crossflow. I used to go to the Kent TVRCC meets,there was a member with a S4 Vixen race tuned with twin DCOES it used to goooo ..... he later traded it for the current 280 'S' and was somewhat disappointed(you could tell) and somewhat out of pocket !! Great memories !

[jellison]

JL has been trying to flog that things for years (not taking the hint).

It ain't a Griff.

No Griff were released from the factory till 65, though mine was built in 64.

[coetzeeh]

jellison said:

JL has been trying to flog that things for years (not taking the hint).

It ain't a Griff.

No Griff were released from the factory till 65, though mine was built in 64.

I dont know anything about the 60's cars, but look at the clip at 38 secs - note in the window says it is a '63 model? The noise is outrageous


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-lwetMg2yY

[GTRene]

this one in the classifieds looks also nice, its listed under the "normal" Griffiths

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3327671.htm

[jellison]

At work so can't set that "loud" link - maybe it is Fisc reving the nads of his freshly sold one!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTJoZLabhJ4&fea...

Edited by jellison on Tuesday 18th October 12:23

[Obiwonkeyblokey]

to be fair t o the advertiser, I thinkhes going into enough detail to ensure people know what they are potentially buying, although ym view is that its probably worth closer to mid teens as an MG engined mid 60s, griffith bodied TVR