1992 LHD Tvr Griffith

[Leviatano]

Did they make any 1992 TVR Griffith's in lhd?
thanks

[geeman237]

Good question. Are you looking for one to import to the US next year? TVR may have made a few, maybe less than 10 (guessing). I am pretty sure that TVR stopped RHD production late 1992/early 1993 to catch up on Chimeras and meet LHD market Griffith orders. I am sure someone with more knowledge than me can chime in. There are some LHD 1993 cars out there. There are one or two in Canada for sale and a couple of later cars in Europe.

[Leviatano]

geeman237 said:

Good question. Are you looking for one to import to the US next year? TVR may have made a few, maybe less than 10 (guessing). I am pretty sure that TVR stopped RHD production late 1992/early 1993 to catch up on Chimeras and meet LHD market Griffith orders. I am sure someone with more knowledge than me can chime in. There are some LHD 1993 cars out there. There are one or two in Canada for sale and a couple of later cars in Europe.

yep i am looking to import one next year. But if your estimates are correct i may have to wait till 2018 or import a RHD.

[Leviatano]

geeman237 said:

Good question. Are you looking for one to import to the US next year? TVR may have made a few, maybe less than 10 (guessing). I am pretty sure that TVR stopped RHD production late 1992/early 1993 to catch up on Chimeras and meet LHD market Griffith orders. I am sure someone with more knowledge than me can chime in. There are some LHD 1993 cars out there. There are one or two in Canada for sale and a couple of later cars in Europe.

yep i am looking to import one next year. But if your estimates are correct i may have to wait till 2018 or import a RHD.

[900T-R]

I've always assumed all LHD versions of the 4.x Griff were built in 1993 alongside the first Chimaeras, with RHD Griff production halted (all pre-cats registered 31 dec 1992 or before to comply with regulations) until the 500 came along in September that year.

Needless to say the LHD 4.x cars did have catalysts just like the Chimaera had from the start.

[geeman237]

Leviatano said:

geeman237 said:

Good question. Are you looking for one to import to the US next year? TVR may have made a few, maybe less than 10 (guessing). I am pretty sure that TVR stopped RHD production late 1992/early 1993 to catch up on Chimeras and meet LHD market Griffith orders. I am sure someone with more knowledge than me can chime in. There are some LHD 1993 cars out there. There are one or two in Canada for sale and a couple of later cars in Europe.

yep i am looking to import one next year. But if your estimates are correct i may have to wait till 2018 or import a RHD.

I hoped to find a LHD car too, but they appear to command a healthy premium over RHD versions, if you find one. Also, I suspect LHD versions will have kph speedometers, small detail. Originally being from the UK I am used to RHD cars, but it's really not a big deal having RHD in the US. I have already bought a 1992 430 RHD to import next November when its 25 years old and its currently in storage in the UK. I wanted an earlier 1992 car as possible, but production was slow to start it seems, so most are from the later part of 1992. There are a couple of early cars for sale on a UK site right now though.
If you do want a 1992 pre-cat car, you may want to check with your US state emission requirements. There are none in my state, but it seems most don't require emission testing for cars over 25 years old, except (of course) California.
Where is the US are you?

[gavgavgav]

You may want to consider one with ride height adjustability to make them easier to live with over there, The few states I've driven in tended to have many pitfalls for really low sports cars. (A few cm may make all the difference.)

[geeman237]

gavgavgav said:

You may want to consider one with ride height adjustability to make them easier to live with over there, The few states I've driven in tended to have many pitfalls for really low sports cars. (A few cm may make all the difference.)

Valid point. I am not sure how low a (standard) Griffith is but I also have a Lotus Esprit and Daimler SP250 and have nothing much to worry about where I live.

Can anyone even confirm a LHD 1992 Griffith exists?

[Leviatano]

geeman237 said:

I hoped to find a LHD car too, but they appear to command a healthy premium over RHD versions, if you find one. Also, I suspect LHD versions will have kph speedometers, small detail. Originally being from the UK I am used to RHD cars, but it's really not a big deal having RHD in the US. I have already bought a 1992 430 RHD to import next November when its 25 years old and its currently in storage in the UK. I wanted an earlier 1992 car as possible, but production was slow to start it seems, so most are from the later part of 1992. There are a couple of early cars for sale on a UK site right now though.
If you do want a 1992 pre-cat car, you may want to check with your US state emission requirements. There are none in my state, but it seems most don't require emission testing for cars over 25 years old, except (of course) California.
Where is the US are you?

I dont mind the kph issue. I am pretty sure nj doesn't require emissions testing on historic vehicles. I am also new to the importing scene, do you know of any guides for the forms i would need to fill out or is there a company that can import for you. I know a lot of the skylines are being imported through companies.

Edited by Leviatano on Wednesday 12th October 20:14

[geeman237]

Leviatano said:

geeman237 said:

I hoped to find a LHD car too, but they appear to command a healthy premium over RHD versions, if you find one. Also, I suspect LHD versions will have kph speedometers, small detail. Originally being from the UK I am used to RHD cars, but it's really not a big deal having RHD in the US. I have already bought a 1992 430 RHD to import next November when its 25 years old and its currently in storage in the UK. I wanted an earlier 1992 car as possible, but production was slow to start it seems, so most are from the later part of 1992. There are a couple of early cars for sale on a UK site right now though.
If you do want a 1992 pre-cat car, you may want to check with your US state emission requirements. There are none in my state, but it seems most don't require emission testing for cars over 25 years old, except (of course) California.
Where is the US are you?

I dont mind the kph issue. I am pretty sure nj doesn't require emissions testing on historic vehicles. I am also new to the importing scene, do you know of any guides for the forms i would need to fill out or is there a company that can import for you. I know a lot of the skylines are being imported through companies.

Edited by Leviatano on Wednesday 12th October 20:14

You should jump over to the TVR in the USA Forum and there is a lengthy topic thread on it. The forum member Loach1 imported a TVR a couple of years ago and I think he explains his experience in the thread.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

There are basically 2 forms to fill out, DoT HS-7, and EPA 3520-1. Info and links to the forms here. https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/218/~...

I imported a car from the UK in 2004 when I emigrated to the US so I speak from actual experience. Things may have changed a little bit, but with a bit of common sense and intelligence you should be able to figure it out. I used a UK shipper to RoRo my Triumph over from Southampton to Charleston SC. It was about $1,000 and took about 2-3 weeks. The shipper (I think) will only arrange shipment to the destination and unloading. At that point you are responsible for all US fees and duties and arranging for it to be collected etc. If you use a container its more like $3000??? You have to get a US Customs Broker to clear it through the port of entry for you, and if I recall that cost me about $250, well worth the money. Customs duty fee is (I think) 2.5% of the value/price paid for the car. Then with all the paper work in hand its off to the DMV to get it titled etc. You should have the headlights converted to US direction but that should be about it. No other mods required if over 25 years old. Actually EPA is 21 years, DoT and Customs is 25 years. PM me if you like. You will NOT have to use a Registered Importer (RI) to bring in a car if its over 25 years old.

[Leviatano]

geeman237 said:

You should jump over to the TVR in the USA Forum and there is a lengthy topic thread on it. The forum member Loach1 imported a TVR a couple of years ago and I think he explains his experience in the thread.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

There are basically 2 forms to fill out, DoT HS-7, and EPA 3520-1. Info and links to the forms here. https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/218/~...

I imported a car from the UK in 2004 when I emigrated to the US so I speak from actual experience. Things may have changed a little bit, but with a bit of common sense and intelligence you should be able to figure it out. I used a UK shipper to RoRo my Triumph over from Southampton to Charleston SC. It was about $1,000 and took about 2-3 weeks. The shipper (I think) will only arrange shipment to the destination and unloading. At that point you are responsible for all US fees and duties and arranging for it to be collected etc. If you use a container its more like $3000??? You have to get a US Customs Broker to clear it through the port of entry for you, and if I recall that cost me about $250, well worth the money. Customs duty fee is (I think) 2.5% of the value/price paid for the car. Then with all the paper work in hand its off to the DMV to get it titled etc. You should have the headlights converted to US direction but that should be about it. No other mods required if over 25 years old. Actually EPA is 21 years, DoT and Customs is 25 years. PM me if you like. You will NOT have to use a Registered Importer (RI) to bring in a car if its over 25 years old.

Thanks for the information especially the DoT form i could not find that one. I hate jumping through bureaucratic hoops and when i deal with government agencies i like to know exactly what i need to do beforehand.
Thanks again

[mikeboz]

Hi guys...I owned the first LHD griff in North America. (the first of the 7 brought in by John Wadman of TVR NA in Toronto). LHD griffs started in the 4.3L format in late '92 as catted '93s. I currently own 2 RHD griffs along with a half dozen or so other tvrs and would be willing to part with my VERY early 92 that I have owned for about 6 years....its one of the 3 press cars used in late'91...contact me if you are interested. There are a few LHD '93s in the Toronto area and a couple of 94s. I suspect the floodgates will open once the first year production '92s will be 25 years old for American importation.

[infinity]

mikeboz said:

Hi guys...I owned the first LHD griff in North America. (the first of the 7 brought in by John Wadman of TVR NA in Toronto). LHD griffs started in the 4.3L format in late '92 as catted '93s. I currently own 2 RHD griffs along with a half dozen or so other tvrs and would be willing to part with my VERY early 92 that I have owned for about 6 years....its one of the 3 press cars used in late'91...contact me if you are interested. There are a few LHD '93s in the Toronto area and a couple of 94s. I suspect the floodgates will open once the first year production '92s will be 25 years old for American importation.

I agree about the floodgates probably opening, but the original LHD cars will remain quite scarce and hence sell at a premium. Not that mine will be for sale though....