Why did you do it?
Discussion
Looking through my TVR papers earlier (as I need to get the insurance sorted for another year) I got distracted on PH and then started to flick through some of my old car mags.
Performance Car Vol 10 no 6 - June 1992 - cover story “Griffith: TVR takes on the world” -–This is the issue that had the Dark Satanic Thrills article. They tested the Griff 4.3 and the last word of the article was “Wow”
In the Performance file at the back of the mag they said-
S3 “traditional bugs-in-teeth British sports car”
Griff 4.0 “Britain’s brawniest sports car is back”
Griff4.3 “As above but brawnier”
400SE “As subtle and as entertaining as Blackpool prom”
450SE “The automotive equivalent of Arnold Schwarzenegger”
V8S “Exactly what a British sports car should be”
I’ve also held on to the 1st edition of BBC Top Gear Mag (Oct 1993)when they tested the Griff 500. “Ferrari, Porsche, Toyota and Chevrolet are waging sports car war. But don’t panic! In a Blackpool Nissen hut, Mainwaring and Wilson have built England’s secret weapon: the TVR Griffith 500. They don’t like it up ‘em!”
I loved the looks and sounds of Tivs and regular doses of Performance Car endeared me to Tivs in the ‘90’s.
I finally ended up with a 1995 Griff 500
What was it that planted the seeds for you?
Performance Car Vol 10 no 6 - June 1992 - cover story “Griffith: TVR takes on the world” -–This is the issue that had the Dark Satanic Thrills article. They tested the Griff 4.3 and the last word of the article was “Wow”
In the Performance file at the back of the mag they said-
S3 “traditional bugs-in-teeth British sports car”
Griff 4.0 “Britain’s brawniest sports car is back”
Griff4.3 “As above but brawnier”
400SE “As subtle and as entertaining as Blackpool prom”
450SE “The automotive equivalent of Arnold Schwarzenegger”
V8S “Exactly what a British sports car should be”
I’ve also held on to the 1st edition of BBC Top Gear Mag (Oct 1993)when they tested the Griff 500. “Ferrari, Porsche, Toyota and Chevrolet are waging sports car war. But don’t panic! In a Blackpool Nissen hut, Mainwaring and Wilson have built England’s secret weapon: the TVR Griffith 500. They don’t like it up ‘em!”
I loved the looks and sounds of Tivs and regular doses of Performance Car endeared me to Tivs in the ‘90’s.
I finally ended up with a 1995 Griff 500
What was it that planted the seeds for you?
OB1JOB said:
...........I finally ended up with a 1995 Griff 500
What was it that planted the seeds for you?...............
For me it was the experience of seeing a mate fly by me in his S4,and then reading the Griffith article in Dec 2000 Classic and SportscarWhat was it that planted the seeds for you?...............
Edited by The AJP Griff on Friday 16th May 18:51
There was always something 'exotic' about TVR from seeing them at the Motor Show when I was a kid, the badge was always cool too. This was the early to mid '70s by the way. Then by the time the V8s came out in the '80s I was back in love with them again. Then 10 years ago an oldie came up for sale, and have kept it ever since.
Would still like to own a Griffith or Cerbera at some stage though.
Would still like to own a Griffith or Cerbera at some stage though.
a v8 wedge rumbled past me in the mid eighties,
music to my ears, at that age(15) it was only a dream, but when the griff came out in 92 it was lust at first sight, i stood at the window of my local garage one night after a few beers forehead against the glass, hands cupped next to my eyes to stop the reflection drooling over a mica blue griff, it was then i swore i would do everything i can to own one,
been driving a griff for the last 11 years now and still love it, i will never sell it ever,
driving nirvana!!!
music to my ears, at that age(15) it was only a dream, but when the griff came out in 92 it was lust at first sight, i stood at the window of my local garage one night after a few beers forehead against the glass, hands cupped next to my eyes to stop the reflection drooling over a mica blue griff, it was then i swore i would do everything i can to own one,been driving a griff for the last 11 years now and still love it, i will never sell it ever,driving nirvana!!!
Where my sister used to live, a fellow a few doors up had a Griff.. I heard it start up and roar off one Saturday afternoon.
Then, when I could, I just went to Autotrader and went for TVR. And got my first, an S, such sleek lines. Then I went to a club meet, and thought s**t, look at that Wedge, so I got rid of the S and got a 350..........
Then, when I could, I just went to Autotrader and went for TVR. And got my first, an S, such sleek lines. Then I went to a club meet, and thought s**t, look at that Wedge, so I got rid of the S and got a 350..........
My friend bought a series of Elans, Europas and Ginettas. But he went on to get a PhD in Engineering. I went on to do nothing at allpractical. Therefore, I needed a simple, more reliable car that sounded great, was fun and was unusaual (they were pretty rare at the time).
It had to be TVR
It had to be TVR
OB1JOB said:
Looking through my TVR papers earlier (as I need to get the insurance sorted for another year) I got distracted on PH and then started to flick through some of my old car mags.
Performance Car Vol 10 no 6 - June 1992 - cover story “Griffith: TVR takes on the world” -–This is the issue that had the Dark Satanic Thrills article. They tested the Griff 4.3 and the last word of the article was “Wow”
In the Performance file at the back of the mag they said-
S3 “traditional bugs-in-teeth British sports car”
Griff 4.0 “Britain’s brawniest sports car is back”
Griff4.3 “As above but brawnier”
400SE “As subtle and as entertaining as Blackpool prom”
450SE “The automotive equivalent of Arnold Schwarzenegger”
V8S “Exactly what a British sports car should be”
I’ve also held on to the 1st edition of BBC Top Gear Mag (Oct 1993)when they tested the Griff 500. “Ferrari, Porsche, Toyota and Chevrolet are waging sports car war. But don’t panic! In a Blackpool Nissen hut, Mainwaring and Wilson have built England’s secret weapon: the TVR Griffith 500. They don’t like it up ‘em!”
I loved the looks and sounds of Tivs and regular doses of Performance Car endeared me to Tivs in the ‘90’s.
I finally ended up with a 1995 Griff 500
What was it that planted the seeds for you?
Yep ,thats about what did it for me
Performance Car Vol 10 no 6 - June 1992 - cover story “Griffith: TVR takes on the world” -–This is the issue that had the Dark Satanic Thrills article. They tested the Griff 4.3 and the last word of the article was “Wow”
In the Performance file at the back of the mag they said-
S3 “traditional bugs-in-teeth British sports car”
Griff 4.0 “Britain’s brawniest sports car is back”
Griff4.3 “As above but brawnier”
400SE “As subtle and as entertaining as Blackpool prom”
450SE “The automotive equivalent of Arnold Schwarzenegger”
V8S “Exactly what a British sports car should be”
I’ve also held on to the 1st edition of BBC Top Gear Mag (Oct 1993)when they tested the Griff 500. “Ferrari, Porsche, Toyota and Chevrolet are waging sports car war. But don’t panic! In a Blackpool Nissen hut, Mainwaring and Wilson have built England’s secret weapon: the TVR Griffith 500. They don’t like it up ‘em!”
I loved the looks and sounds of Tivs and regular doses of Performance Car endeared me to Tivs in the ‘90’s.
I finally ended up with a 1995 Griff 500
What was it that planted the seeds for you?
Yep ,thats about what did it for me
I loved the original Grantura and was captivated by the original Griff but no extra cash while I was rallying the Lotus Cortina and then racing a Lotus 7 and Mallock mk11. Then marriage, job moves, house moves, bigger mortgage and three wonderful kids meant that I was constantly buying family taxis until 5 years ago I rebelled. Strangely, the family supported my rebellion against buying another bloody multi-seater, so I test drove a few Ss, found one, did the deal, heart attack next day! and total determination that the deal would go through, even though it was 6 weeks before I actually got to drive it. What followed was a wonderful 5 years of Tiv motoring, meeting up with some terrific characters and becoming totally TVR.
The S has just been put on SORN while I refurb it, so what's a bloke to do to while away the hours?
With our bloody idiot gang of Tuscans, Griff and Chims it was going to be exceedingly hard sitting in as one of their passengers.
SOLUTION: Looking at a Griff 400 tomorrow, always promised I would have one.
YB
The S has just been put on SORN while I refurb it, so what's a bloke to do to while away the hours?
With our bloody idiot gang of Tuscans, Griff and Chims it was going to be exceedingly hard sitting in as one of their passengers.
SOLUTION: Looking at a Griff 400 tomorrow, always promised I would have one.
YB
Edited by Yellabelly on Friday 16th May 20:26
Yellabelly said:
With our bloody idiot gang of Tuscans, Griff and Chims it was going to be exceedingly hard sitting in as one of their passengers.
SOLUTION: Looking at a Griff 400 tomorrow, always promised I would have one.
YB
I thought you and the 'S' where joined at the hip, look forwards to seeing you in the new Griff thenSOLUTION: Looking at a Griff 400 tomorrow, always promised I would have one.
YB
Edited by Yellabelly on Friday 16th May 20:26
. "Looking" is of course a code word for "buying" and its as good as sold already.I assume that when you mention "idiot" and "Tuscan" you mean Mr Coleman and not moi!!
It was Fast Lane magazine that really started the bug for me. Then in about 1986, just after getting my first job and finally owning a car that would actually run for more than 10 miles before collapsing in a heap, I took a trip to Harrogate with my Dad, just for a nosey around HHC's showroom. While there I experienced what can only be called an earth shattering and life changing moment - a 420 SEAC being started up inside the showroom. I'll never forget the noise and the fact that the earth actually did move!
It took another 16 years before I was in a position to actually buy a TVR and even though there's been a few niggles and annoyances, it was definately worth the wait.
It took another 16 years before I was in a position to actually buy a TVR and even though there's been a few niggles and annoyances, it was definately worth the wait
.Edited by NCC on Friday 16th May 23:00
As a twentysomething I was a loud extrovert showoff, who also liked tinkering with cars.
Back then (seventies onwards) the only choices for me were either Lotus, Marcos or TVR...racebred, fast, lightweight, separate chassis, home-tinkerable, British, and above all.. DIFFERENT.
I've mellowed, but these cars still hold the same excitement, and still possess the same qualities.
Back then (seventies onwards) the only choices for me were either Lotus, Marcos or TVR...racebred, fast, lightweight, separate chassis, home-tinkerable, British, and above all.. DIFFERENT.
I've mellowed, but these cars still hold the same excitement, and still possess the same qualities.
A friend's dad had a bright Red Chim and picked him up from a party back when I was about 12 and from then on, always promised myself I would own something that cool one day. Then years later a friend bought a pre-cat Griff and took me out in it, I then decided I needed a TVR in my life as soon as possible!
I loved the wedge in the eighties but i was still a lad, when i left the army in the early 90's i saw the griff and fell in love but was seeing a miserable old bag who didnt like cars and i couldnt justify spending as much on a car as i could buy a 2 bedroom flat for. over the years looked at more wedges but only two seats so settled for a supra turbo(that came with a medalion and slippers). Now the old bag was my wife and she still didnt like cars,
anywho to cut to the chase, i blew up the surpa so traded it in for a corsa for the old bag, then i had a moment of enlightenment, the sort one has maybe once in a life time. I traded her in for a different model a little older but she loves cars and she told me to stop p
sing around and go and buy one, a mate was selling his chim to buy a tuscan after i had got him into TVR's with my ravings about them.
so that was over three years ago i have driven it every day since (minus garage work)and i have developed a perminant smile,so if you see a blue chim with a bloke in a leather flying hat cream scarf with wire inserted red nose and grin like the joker, that will be me then .
Rich
anywho to cut to the chase, i blew up the surpa so traded it in for a corsa for the old bag, then i had a moment of enlightenment, the sort one has maybe once in a life time. I traded her in for a different model a little older but she loves cars and she told me to stop p
sing around and go and buy one, a mate was selling his chim to buy a tuscan after i had got him into TVR's with my ravings about them.so that was over three years ago i have driven it every day since (minus garage work)and i have developed a perminant smile,so if you see a blue chim with a bloke in a leather flying hat cream scarf with wire inserted red nose and grin like the joker, that will be me then .
Rich
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