Griffith 500 weight in MOT database
Discussion
I just had my Griff mot’d and the weight of the car in the official software was shown as 1200kg. I have always understood the gross weight of a Griff to be 1060kg.
Is this weight used to calculate braking performance and if so, could it be an error that contributes to cars failing on handbrake performance?
Is this weight used to calculate braking performance and if so, could it be an error that contributes to cars failing on handbrake performance?
Hi, my Chimaera weights 1,146kg. I guess that if TVR was a bit optimistic with the power, they also have been optimistic with the weight ;-)
And with GRP body in small factories, it's easy not to be consistent with the quantity of material. Lotus for example worked on this point quite recently. So, it explains that we can have very different weight from a car to another.
But, this variation should not have a notable difference on hand brake performance, else you will have to empty your car before using it (including the passenger).
Mine is also very weak unless using two hands. The former owner who passed the homologation tests for French registration has been rejected the first time due to this issue. But I think that he found a nice operator then because it's still inefficient.
Does someone knows how to fix this (if it can be fixed)?
And with GRP body in small factories, it's easy not to be consistent with the quantity of material. Lotus for example worked on this point quite recently. So, it explains that we can have very different weight from a car to another.
But, this variation should not have a notable difference on hand brake performance, else you will have to empty your car before using it (including the passenger).
Mine is also very weak unless using two hands. The former owner who passed the homologation tests for French registration has been rejected the first time due to this issue. But I think that he found a nice operator then because it's still inefficient.
Does someone knows how to fix this (if it can be fixed)?
I took this up with VOSA some years ago. My Chim failed it handbrake test, more due to the skinny tester than any problem with the car. As he was entering it on the electronic form I noticed that the weight was 1200kg whilst the handbook read 1060.
The chap did a manual override and then the car passed, although I helped him by sitting in the car and putting on the handbrake.
I phoned VOSA and was lucky enough to find, eventually, the chap who had made the entry on the database. I asked him how he came by the number and he told me that he'd phoned the factory and the woman who answered the phone had wandered off and then returned with the figure of 1200 for all, and I repeat all, TVRs.
I said this was nonsense and that the Cerbera was a much heavier car than the Vixen by some margin. He then, supposedly changed the weight there and then.
My feeling was that the person who'd given him the figure was the receptionist who'd approached someone to be told 1200kg.
There was a short article on this in Sprint at the time.
The chap did a manual override and then the car passed, although I helped him by sitting in the car and putting on the handbrake.
I phoned VOSA and was lucky enough to find, eventually, the chap who had made the entry on the database. I asked him how he came by the number and he told me that he'd phoned the factory and the woman who answered the phone had wandered off and then returned with the figure of 1200 for all, and I repeat all, TVRs.
I said this was nonsense and that the Cerbera was a much heavier car than the Vixen by some margin. He then, supposedly changed the weight there and then.
My feeling was that the person who'd given him the figure was the receptionist who'd approached someone to be told 1200kg.
There was a short article on this in Sprint at the time.
jesfirth said:
having seem a good number weighed for the sprint series the griffs are generally around 1060 - 1080kg mark. the cerbs seem to be around 1200 to 1240kg.
Mine was done just after I got it and was 1170kg with 3/4 tank of fuel, 4 corner weighted on a caterham race teams set of scales. Probably all that rust falling off the chassis 
Since then though it's had lots done to it, including lots changed. I must get it done again
They replied;-
Thank you for your email enquiry dated 26 April 2018, concerning incorrect information.
The information which you have provided has been forwarded to our MOT department for further investigation to be carried out and corrected where required.
I hope this information has assisted you with your enquiry, but if you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact us again.
Kind regards
Lucy Mountfield | Customer Service Centre
Thank you for your email enquiry dated 26 April 2018, concerning incorrect information.
The information which you have provided has been forwarded to our MOT department for further investigation to be carried out and corrected where required.
I hope this information has assisted you with your enquiry, but if you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact us again.
Kind regards
Lucy Mountfield | Customer Service Centre
Byker28i said:
jesfirth said:
having seem a good number weighed for the sprint series the griffs are generally around 1060 - 1080kg mark. the cerbs seem to be around 1200 to 1240kg.
Mine was done just after I got it and was 1170kg with 3/4 tank of fuel, 4 corner weighted on a caterham race teams set of scales. Probably all that rust falling off the chassis Since then though it's had lots done to it, including lots changed. I must get it done again
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