Griffith 4.5?

[coetzeeh]

I read through an old (year 2000) Classic Car magazine over the weekend, with an article about Griffith's. Article mentioned that the factory built 10 Griffith 4,5's.

Just curious, I've not seen one mentioned here previously, do they really exist?

[t5grf]

Yes they did, there was a black one advertised on here a few years ago, and strangely enough I spoke to the ex owner of that car a few weeks ago, it ended up being used as a prop on Casualty!

[johno]

There's a difference between that car and the ones mentioned in the article ..

During the early days of production of the Griffith as they were experimenting, the factory allegedly made around 10 4.5BV's. These were pre serp engines.

I nearly bought a later 4.5 made for a friend of Peter Wheelers, from Ireland.

They had had an ealry 500 and found it to lumpy, therefore they asked whether he would build them a 4.5 Griffith as they had had a Chimaera and liked it ..

The car was built, and is very nice. They always traded their cars with the factory, and hence was the case with this car .... The factory had owned it for 3 years when I was thinking about buying it and where it is now I don't know ...

It is one of a kind though ...

[sprevett]

I have the ex-factory Griffith development/press car J524MHG and it has a 4.5.
i don't know much about the engine spec other than it having a larger throttle. Neill Anderson sprinted this car/engine very successfully and I can certainly vouch for its smoothness and punch. steve

[ross]

they do exist. i've got one. I think they made 11, and 10 survive.i dont use it as much as i should, and therfore it often feels a bit 'old tvr' but, when fettled, set up properly and used a bit it is, quite simply, awesome.

[Griffer]

IIRC, was'nt the Irish car mentioned the red one fitted with the mythical black gloss factory hardtop as well? Had a high level brake light in the rear window. Indeed quite special if a 4.5.

[ricardo bertone]

No - that red one with black hardtop is overseas, New Zealand - the Northern Irish 4.5 (1997 model?)which was later featured on Holby City was black.

Ricardo

Edited by ricardo bertone on Tuesday 14th November 19:04

[v8sag]

That one's in NZ and their was a thread on it a while back when it was for sale,decided against buying it.

[Jonty99]

Hi guys, not sure how active this board still is, but my mate owns that Black Griff that featured in Holby City, or Casualty. That one actually has a 4.6, Ive driven it a few times and its one hell of a car. Not lumpy like the 500.

[dnb]

t5grf said:

Yes they did, there was a black one advertised on here a few years ago, and strangely enough I spoke to the ex owner of that car a few weeks ago, it ended up being used as a prop on Casualty!

Oddly enough, they used my black Griff 500 on Casualty/Holby City (I don't remember which) a number of times too. I guess they couldn't get the 4.5.

Edited by dnb on Friday 26th January 15:27

[bluebottle]

Jonty99 said:

...Not lumpy like the 500.

They're not all lumpy

[groomvroom]

Jonty99 said:

Hi guys, not sure how active this board still is, but my mate owns that Black Griff that featured in Holby City, or Casualty. That one actually has a 4.6, Ive driven it a few times and its one hell of a car. Not lumpy like the 500.

I think I saw that car at TMS when I bought my first Griff, they advertised it as "Griffins Griff"

[Jonty99]

Sorry, only been in one 500 and it was tweaked up for track use, so maybe that was why it was so lumpy.

He bought it from TMS about 2 years ago. So did they use both then? Does anyone know which episode it was???

[chuggaboom]

TVR made 12 4.5's.

1 got written off a few years back leaving 11. 1 of which is owned by a fellow Bristol member but it through a rod out the block and he replaced with a rebored to 4.6 engine.

Coincidence...his is black and Holby City is filmed in Bristol...but it wasn't his they used.

I haven't been informed if there is any less than 11 in existance to date.

[Jonty99]

So they're quite rare then?

I dont suppose when abouts its was on Holby city do you? It would be nice to find the bit of film with it on.