Griffs with interesting history?

[T5GRF]

Anybody own a griff on here with an unusual history, like previous celeb owner or unusual modifications?

I bought a griff Direct from Prodrive a few years ago, which they had used as a development mule to test a new "tiptronic style" gearbox to fit to the new Ford Mustang.

When I bought the car, the gearbox had been removed, and the car was completely refurbished, but it retained the gearshift buttons on the steering wheel. Apparently prodrive had finished converting a Mustang for Ford, but shortly afterwards the factory was flooded, and the Mustang destroyed.

They bought a Griff as it was the closest they could find as a replacement (at short notice) to the Mustang, and fitted it up with the box, and electronics to finish of the testing.

I would think that it is the only griff to ever be fitted with this system, but does anyone know different? or have a griff with a similar interesting history?

[PIERSY]

How about the lead singer of the Prodigy (Firestarter and all that)

4 years ago (ish) my mate had a bright yellow griff 500 'N1GRF' previously owned and stacked by said singer at a track day. Looking back this explained a number of set up issues whish were fixed prior to sale.

Who owns it now I wonder? the worst thing about it was the colour which attracted swarms of bugs if you parked for 5 minutes on a summers day. I have witnessed bugs holding on for grim death at over 110!

[_DJ_]

The 4.5/4.6 '98 Griff in the classifieds certainly looks interesting. Must be 1 of a kind too?

edited to add: there's also someone on here (forget his name) who has a pre cat Griff that was the factory test mule (which they'd upgraded to 2000 SE spec!)

>> Edited by _DJ_ on Friday 27th February 12:19

[tvrinbfg]

We serviced Colin McRae's LHD Griffith 500 which is now out in Spain.

[mrmaggit]

Our Griff has had four owners (including us), three of the four have been resident in Nottingham while owning the car, James Agger has been involved in every sale, two of the owners have "Elliott" as their surname.

[T5GRF]

I heard that Mcrae had a LHD Griff out in Switzerland which he had a smack in , is that the same car?

[Stig]

I used to have an Ocean Haze 500 L???JOP which had 'Build No. 1' in the handbook.

I never got around to checking with the factory, but I always thought it was the first 500 to come from Blackpool.

Still miss it

[qualityscrew]

My old 5ltr Gfiff has featured in no less than 7
7 'Supercar' calendars - including 'Woolies Dreamcars'

[Gaffer]

There are several.

The Ocean Haze Press Griff...not sure where it is now, probably rotted away. It was on a J plate.

The Pearl White Press Griff...was dads company car now owned by Jason (www.pistonheads.com/gassing/profile.asp?h=0&memberId=750)

The Red Development Griff...was used by Basher at the factory now owned by Mack (www.pistonheads.com/members/showProfile.asp?memberId=20092)

HTH
Claire

[Ding]

rumour has it that the first owner of my red Griff was interesting. So much so that the car was not registered in his name, but a member of his staff.

How true that is I do not know.
Would be interesting to find out, must have liked the car as he did 60,000 miles in it.

Eli

[DustyC]

I have an old top gear video with an ocean haze Griff witht he early 5 spoke wheels (so its probably a 4.x?).

The same car is also in the first "Rik Myall Presents" episode which I also have on video.

I'll watch it again and get the number plate. Im suspecting its the press car though.

Hope they gave it a good clean after Mr Myall drove it along the tide line at Skegness!
(This is on the video too).

[ljb]

Ours in not unusual in terms of owners, but is in terms of registration. Its a very late Ocean Haze 4.0L originally registered in the Channel Islands, pre-CAT but in a 5L body and wheels. Was L-Registered ('94) as Channel Islands did not introduce the CAT regs until after mainland UK. Everyone says it cannot be a 94 4.0L, but it is.

Its now registered in France as 60 AXA 06, and lives in Monaco.

[davislove]

anyone own the pearl white griff in one of JC's early top gear videos?

[FlipFlopGriff]

This is owned by Jason - see Claires post above.
Ours is unusual - it hasn't broken down yet.
FFG

[crankedup]

Yet to find out what was going on with my one, a 4.3 Griff in ocean haze. 1st registered with the factory in December 1992. They then sold the car about 4 - 5 months later at a one thousand pound discount.
Rumour has it that it was used as a 'brochure car'?

[Griffer]

Crankedup, does your car have an imobiliser slot in the heater control panel? The brochure car had this feature.
Griffer

[crankedup]

Hi Griffer, no immobi' slot there although the car was broken into and the radio was stolon some years ago. As a result of this alot of damage was sustained to the facia air vents and so on. Loads of new stuff had to be fitted. I note that the immobi' currently fitted is also a replacement.
Maybe I should contact the factory to try and get the full early history, I do have a copy of the original log book and TVR ENGINEERING registered the car in their name 23/12/1992.The Griff was then sold by H.R. Owen on 09/06/1993 having covered 300 miles and of course TVR as the previous registered owner.The Griff at this point had a 'full sonic/microwave alarm system'.The car still has original reg No K894 VBV.
I understand the last owner was a TVRCC member who sadly passed away last year.
So I just need to find out what TVR used the car for the first 6 months of it's life.

[OceanGriff]

Stig.
I now own L***JOP the Ocean Haze Griff 500 you once owned.
I noticed the "No1 built" entry in the owners handbook after buying it. After several phone calls it was confirmed that it was indeed the 1st series 2 Griffith 500 built and I have letter from the factoy confirming it.
I would love to know if it was used in any promotions or advertising prior to being sold by Team Central.

Dave.

[zz top]

My griff 500 was registered on 1st Jan 1994 in Northern Ireland.How long before that was No 1 registered?..zz

[jigs]

Crankedup - TVR used an Ocean Haze one for crash testing, then bodged it up and sold it on.