N500GHL Blue 95 Griff...
N500GHL Blue 95 Griff...
Author
Discussion

chris1972

Original Poster:

3,597 posts

161 months

Tuesday 20th November 2012
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Any one know it?


TimJM

1,497 posts

234 months

Wednesday 21st November 2012
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Have you bought it? I thought it was with a dealer.

jimed

1,508 posts

230 months

Wednesday 21st November 2012
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I'm fairly sure it was owned by someone called Graeme Lane (not sure re spelling)from near Bath; he had it for sale for some time but wasn't the most knowledgeable person so didn't come across well when selling hence he didn't shift it. It was sold at auction the other week I think for not too bad money - if you are a buyer!! It was at the Growl a couple of years ago and looked quite tidy but as ever no idea what the chassis etc is like and servicing etc so you'd need to look at it as any other.
Jim
PS I've sent you an email with the contact details from Sprint so let us know how you get on ...


Edited by jimed on Wednesday 21st November 10:03

pjac67

2,040 posts

276 months

Wednesday 21st November 2012
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rigga

8,798 posts

225 months

Wednesday 21st November 2012
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pjac67 said:
I think though, if its the right car I'm thinking of, it didn't have any history, and needed tyding up paintwise ......

TimJM

1,497 posts

234 months

Wednesday 21st November 2012
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rigga said:
I think though, if its the right car I'm thinking of, it didn't have any history, and needed tyding up paintwise ......
Still - if that is all then still cheap. I would be a little suspicious though as it was up for sale for a while at a dealer for under 10k and didn't sell. Not everyone at a car auction is a muppet - if the car was worth more I would suggest it would have fetched more.

chris1972

Original Poster:

3,597 posts

161 months

Wednesday 21st November 2012
quotequote all
jimed said:
I'm fairly sure it was owned by someone called Graeme Lane (not sure re spelling)from near Bath; he had it for sale for some time but wasn't the most knowledgeable person so didn't come across well when selling hence he didn't shift it. It was sold at auction the other week I think for not too bad money - if you are a buyer!! It was at the Growl a couple of years ago and looked quite tidy but as ever no idea what the chassis etc is like and servicing etc so you'd need to look at it as any other.
Jim
PS I've sent you an email with the contact details from Sprint so let us know how you get on ...


Edited by jimed on Wednesday 21st November 10:03
Thanks Jim!smile

chris1972

Original Poster:

3,597 posts

161 months

Wednesday 21st November 2012
quotequote all
rigga said:
I think though, if its the right car I'm thinking of, it didn't have any history, and needed tyding up paintwise ......
Worth it at that price, even if it needed a chassis overhaul... but there again, no history, hmmm...

rigga

8,798 posts

225 months

Wednesday 21st November 2012
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I may be wrong but I was talking to Doug from David Gerald's who was at an aucction around that time when a cheap griff went through, and those were his comments about that particular car ...... whether its the same one or not I'm not sure but if it did sell at auction for that price its a coincidence if its not.

chris1972

Original Poster:

3,597 posts

161 months

Wednesday 21st November 2012
quotequote all
rigga said:
I may be wrong but I was talking to Doug from David Gerald's who was at an aucction around that time when a cheap griff went through, and those were his comments about that particular car ...... whether its the same one or not I'm not sure but if it did sell at auction for that price its a coincidence if its not.
Back to the drawing board then....rolleyes

rigga

8,798 posts

225 months

Wednesday 21st November 2012
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Like anything else ...., if its the right price for what it is then don't discount it, might still be worth looking at.

pjac67

2,040 posts

276 months

Wednesday 21st November 2012
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I guess someone's bought it as it is no longer advertised......

chris1972

Original Poster:

3,597 posts

161 months

Thursday 22nd November 2012
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pjac67 said:
I guess someone's bought it as it is no longer advertised......
Or the seller has come across this thread!

Pete Mac

757 posts

161 months

Sunday 25th November 2012
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I've just bought it....!

chris1972

Original Poster:

3,597 posts

161 months

Sunday 25th November 2012
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Pete Mac said:
I've just bought it....!
Get some photos up then and spill the beans! smile

Pete Mac

757 posts

161 months

Sunday 25th November 2012
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Sorry, last comment was a bit brief. It's my second Griff 500, I'm planning a nut and bolt rebuild on it next year. The car comes with plenty of history and is really in quite good nick, a bit scruffy in places but surprisingly good. Chassis has some surface rust and when I get the body off it may need a little work but there again it may not. I am planning the galvanizing route, to me it's a no brainer, see the thread on the Chimaera section. The car has been HPIed and there doesn't seem to be any funny history.

I also saw the auction thread and the price (needless to say I paid more than the auction price). Interesting because the dealer doesn't know anything about the auction and he bought it ex-auction. Either the auction thread is wrong or else someone made a quick grand, however given the current Griff prices and given where they (hopefully) will go, I'm happy with what I paid.

chris1972

Original Poster:

3,597 posts

161 months

Sunday 25th November 2012
quotequote all
Pete Mac said:
Sorry, last comment was a bit brief. It's my second Griff 500, I'm planning a nut and bolt rebuild on it next year. The car comes with plenty of history and is really in quite good nick, a bit scruffy in places but surprisingly good. Chassis has some surface rust and when I get the body off it may need a little work but there again it may not. I am planning the galvanizing route, to me it's a no brainer, see the thread on the Chimaera section. The car has been HPIed and there doesn't seem to be any funny history.

I also saw the auction thread and the price (needless to say I paid more than the auction price). Interesting because the dealer doesn't know anything about the auction and he bought it ex-auction. Either the auction thread is wrong or else someone made a quick grand, however given the current Griff prices and given where they (hopefully) will go, I'm happy with what I paid.
Good for you. Are you going to photograph and share the rebuild?

Pete Mac

757 posts

161 months

Sunday 25th November 2012
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Absolutely, happy to share everything including my experiences (good and bad). I'm not going to start until next year because I have to build my garage first. I've got planning for a 2 bay garage with basement workshop but re-applying to increase the height to include a 2-post lift (for the two Griffs).

I'm in the Reading area so any recommendations for the following in my (closish - is that a word?) area gratefully received:

  • powder coating
  • machinists for the engine
  • gearbox and diff specialists
  • re-upholstery (leather and carpets)
I am thinking (but not definite) of changing the colour to possibly Imperial Blue or Starmist Blue with Biscuit leather (the current spec is black, full leather). Any thoughts on value and saleability if the colours don't match the little TVR book?

Any other (sensible) mods I should include?

My other Griff 500 is also a 95, Juniper Green with also full leather in Biscuit and dark Green leather dash (although the little book has it as Magnolia/Olive).

Both have the Serpentine engine with the T5 box.

pjac67

2,040 posts

276 months

Sunday 25th November 2012
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Nice one Pete - was previously (post auction for sale in Thatcham):

http://www.adtrader.co.uk/south-east/berkshire/tha...

I'm guessing an opportunistic trader at auction who wanted a quick turn on it - hopefully they only made a grand each and you got a bit off the price...

Personally I think its the best colour combo as is although a fully documented change won't affect the value if done well....

Keep us posted with pics etc...

Good luck, Paul.

Pete Mac

757 posts

161 months

Sunday 25th November 2012
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Yeah, this is the guy I bought it from.

As I said, he reckons it didn't make it to the auction. He says he paid about £8,500 for it. Interesting speaking to him, it has been advertised for months, probably since about the auction time. He tells me he has had hundreds of telephone enquiries, loads of offers from dealers over the phone but no one has been to see the car except for me. Too many procrastinators if you ask me, sometimes you just have to do it.

I cycled over there when it was first advertised and then left it as I already have a Griff. In the end it was a no brainer, the price seemed good and he seemed confused that no one had shown more interest, he reckoned he was advertising it too cheap. Believe me, it is as good as the photos, perhaps a bit too good for a rebuild but there again perhaps it will be less work to do.

I know you are all dying to know, I paid £9,400 for it including storage over the winter. I am happy with that.