Looking to buy a Griffith 500. Anything to watch out for?

[High flier]

Hi guys,

I'm looking to buy a Griffith 500 in a month or so and was wondering if there are any specific issues that I should look out for?

Cheers,

James

[heightswitch]

High flier said:

Hi guys,

I'm looking to buy a Griffith 500 in a month or so and was wondering if there are any specific issues that I should look out for?

Cheers,

James

Chassis, Chassis, chassis and chassis.

When you have checked the chassis, check the wishbones.

Listen for cam type top end rattles. other than that they are pretty bulletproof!!

[daveb500]

There are a few good articles around on buying second hand griff's. I think there is one on thegriffithpages but the site is still down at the moment. No doubt somebody will be along soon with a copy....

But yes, Chassis (particularly along the sides and around the arches), service/maintenance history, don't worry too much about mileage, and a bit of "gut feel". If it doesn't feel quite right, move on. There are enough around so don't rush. Once you've viewed a few, you will get an ideal of what is good and bad.

[gizzer]

Just brought a 92 pre cat , yes chassis , interior, cost. remember you can spend 1000,s and still have a shed. you cant polish a terd . best of luck

[jacjac]

Buying a 'bad one' can be very expensive! I bought my Griff 4 years ago and had Rob Ingleby inspect it for me. It's not cheap but you do get a full report and the peace of mind of a truly independant inspection. He's a good guy and really knows his TVR's. Money well spent to my mind.

[wedgienauld]

cam, water pump.

[V8 GRF]

It's the outriggers on the chassis that are the important chassis elements to check. Check the front and rear corners that are exposed in the wheelarches and try to devise a way to check on top of the tubes as they can look OK from below but be 'lace' on top.

[High flier]

Thanks alot guys, much appreciated

[deeen]

Cam, electrical gremlins

[Pasco]

V8 GRF said:

It's the outriggers on the chassis that are the important chassis elements to check. Check the front and rear corners that are exposed in the wheelarches and try to devise a way to check on top of the tubes as they can look OK from below but be 'lace' on top.

Spot on Dave

The more you can spend the better the car imho

Super motors giving fantastic value for money

A standard Griff 500 will Piss most cars on the road even Exotic fkers

[neutral 3]

I owned an Absolutely Awesome Griff 500HC ( N435 DDY Pearl Mallard Blue, Decatted ) from Aug 07 to when i very reluctantly sold her in April 08.( After 2 German Trips) . She had been a bit neglected mechanically before i got her ( Engine Was Fine Though) and i went through the whole car sorting her out. Check the following , Chassis Side Rails , these rot badly , Rear diff mount bush, Shock absorbers for wear, Front and rear wishbones for rot and worn bushes , Upper and lower ball joints , Steering Column U/Js as they get road crap thrown straight at them , Power Steering Rack for wear, Stepper motor, Front and rear brake hoses, Brake Discs for wear,( New discs on the front transformed the brakes) the Dash mounted light switch which wears ,The NGK Spark Plugs have a hard life ,nd are expensive, the operation of the Electric windows,which often used to fail , also water leaks, which ruins the trim and rots the seat frames. The cost of these parts soon ads up Allarmingly , especially if you cant fit them yourself . My car suffered from an Infureiating erractic idle and i just couldnt cure it .
One other Very Important point is that my car had been fitted with an Aloy dash panel and dureing the Summer Autoroute trip to Germany , the heat thrown back from the dash was like haveing your face slowly cooked and burnt , it Really was Very Unpleasant .
The roof is also expensive to replace .

They are very Kit car in build and a quick look under the dash shows where TVR cut corners . With more Factory development , the Griff could have been so much better .
One of the High Lights of my all too brief Griff ownership was coming up against a Very Modified Met Blue Impretza . He came up behind me , turbos Spooling up and with a smirk on his face and obviously hadnt had anything to touch him up until then and expected me to pull over and let him by . Well.... I blew his doors off... and the smirk on his face , he just couldnt beleive he had come up against anything so quick that could touch his Chav Mobile. He tried again and once again i just pulled away from him.
One thing i did notice is that with the Roof down , acceleration above 80 and top speed was VERY Drastically reduced , more so than i expected as the folded roof acts like a huge wind break.
The HC Requires Super Unleaded and Mobil 1 Oil , which is expensive .
I really misss that car ( it went to germany ) and ime looking for another .

[neutral 3]

The day i sold it in April 08. In Aug 07 we drove down through France , stopping at Thiepval in the Somme and then on to Eppernay just outside Rheims for an overnight stay at a Lovely Chatteu , then headed on the following morning to Titisee in the Black Forest in Southern Germany where we found some fantastic roads , Scenery and Wildlife (Kites , Red Sqirells etc ) The Griff never missed a beat. One of my best holidays . The Girlfriend is also V.sadly gone , she was the Love of my life , very painfull looking at this photo , i miss her still very badly.

[Pasco]

neutral 3 said:

The day i sold it in April 08. In Aug 07 we drove down through France , stopping at Thiepval in the Somme and then on to Eppernay just outside Rheims for an overnight stay at a Lovely Chatteu , then headed on the following morning to Titisee in the Black Forest in Southern Germany where we found some fantastic roads , Scenery and Wildlife (Kites , Red Sqirells etc ) The Griff never missed a beat. One of my best holidays . The Girlfriend is also V.sadly gone , she was the Love of my life , very painfull looking at this photo , i miss her still very badly.

I can understand that

:chinupmate:Plenty more fish in the sea

[Bluebottle]

Pasco said:

neutral 3 said:

The day i sold it in April 08. In Aug 07 we drove down through France , stopping at Thiepval in the Somme and then on to Eppernay just outside Rheims for an overnight stay at a Lovely Chatteu , then headed on the following morning to Titisee in the Black Forest in Southern Germany where we found some fantastic roads , Scenery and Wildlife (Kites , Red Sqirells etc ) The Griff never missed a beat. One of my best holidays . The Girlfriend is also V.sadly gone , she was the Love of my life , very painfull looking at this photo , i miss her still very badly.

I can understand that

:chinupmate:Plenty more fish in the sea

Yeah me too that's why I've still got the griff and got Devorced

[ianrose]

What do you miss most the car or the girlfriend?? Buy another Grif man and pull yourself togeather.
HTH

[neutral 3]

Thanks for your comments guys , i have to say that i miss her FAR More than the Griff. I Met her after a Very Bitter/Painfull /Expensive Divorce and thought that things were at last getting better for me. Alas it was not to be , but the worst part is i keep bumping into and seeing her which is particularly painfull .

[neutral 3]

Unfortuneately i think i only have 4 photos of it but these are before i had it fully repainted .

Edited by neutral 3 on Monday 29th March 23:26

Edited by neutral 3 on Monday 29th March 23:29