Griffith - A true TVR ?
Griffith - A true TVR ?
Author
Discussion

lazyitus

Original Poster:

19,931 posts

295 months

Saturday 17th April 2004
quotequote all
Can of worm time?

I dont think so.

It's only my opinion but I think its a good one.

For me, a Griffith is a true TVR. OK, I had a choice, a BIG Wedge, an old classic, a rough Cerb, a Chimaera or a Griffith?

After owning a 350i for 5 years, the time arrived to upgrade to a more suitable Tiv. There was and will remain only one car from the ones available at the time, that I would go for.

A true TVR fanatic and one who knows what TVRism is, it was the Griffith that beckoned me to own one of its own.

It was, is and will remain a true TVR. Its rare, its beautiful, its quick.

The Chimaera is undoubtably the one that sold most and will surely be seen in peoples garages in 2025 as one of those old TVR's.

But - as time passes, fashions come and go, the 'norm' changes and so forth, the Griffith will remain a low volume, real TVR that will keep the most shabby garage looking bright.

It will be the last Tiv from the turning point in TVR history that will make people mutter the words "A proper TVR".

Don't get me wrong, I love the Chimaera. Its a TVR after all. A beautiful creation made in Blackpool, for the masses, as TVR history books will tell later in your lives. It's quick and it has a magical ability to make people smile and stare.

Its a car that people with enthusiasm aspire to owning one day, and will do for years to come.

The thing is, the Griffith is true TVR.

Its the car that will be looked back upon as the 'Griffin'. The TVR that was so sought after that its lack of production caused many a person to mis-name it whenever they were lucky enough to cast their eyes on one.

The turning point arrived for TVR in the late 90's after the Griffith and Chimaera had stamped their footprint on the roads of Britain.

The cross over came when the Chimaera brought TVR onto the shortlist of the 'cars to be seen in' category. Well done for that Chimaera.

The fact remains, the Griffith was the car that TVR produced in small numbers, that would outpace the Chimaera and would keep people guessing what its name was for well into the next decade.

For me, its the cream of the crop of the last true TVR's that was created by P.W'ers team.

For that, I don't need to take up golf and I dont want to have a car that people recognise and can name instantly.

I really hope that in a few years time, when its affordable, I can say the same about the T350C or the 440 that I may own.

Long live the legend....

zz top

536 posts

274 months

Saturday 17th April 2004
quotequote all
I couldn't agree more...You say rare but just how many were made in those 12 years?...zz

mrmaggit

10,146 posts

277 months

Saturday 17th April 2004
quotequote all
Ours was!

lazyitus

Original Poster:

19,931 posts

295 months

Saturday 17th April 2004
quotequote all
zz top said:
I couldn't agree more...You say rare but just how many were made in those 12 years?...zz


I believe 1700 - 2100. Somewhere between the two.

tubbystu

3,846 posts

289 months

Saturday 17th April 2004
quotequote all
but not as rare, nor beautifully noisy as a V8S 411 total build, now thats rarity for you, and the level of Griff sales killed it off too.

derekg500

874 posts

272 months

Saturday 17th April 2004
quotequote all
Hey, keep it down, don't tell everybody or they'll
all want one!!!

HeyAndy

423 posts

278 months

Saturday 17th April 2004
quotequote all
In years to come people will say that the Cerbera and Tuscan are "True" TVRs.

I agree that the Griff is something special. It will be forever imortalised as the car that made TVR instead of being the car that TVR once made.

IMO, I reckon they should have another go at making the Wedge with an S6 - now that would be something special indeed.

pss1

339 posts

287 months

Saturday 17th April 2004
quotequote all
What's wrong with golf?... Oh yeah, the Griffith. As much of a TVR as there ever has been. The response when it was initially unveiled at the Motor Show said it all really.

Mind you, from a personal viewpoint the T350c is the only car since the Griffith that I would sell my gran to own. Will we be saying that the T350 was more of TVR than any other in 10 years hence?

captain honesty

152 posts

271 months

Saturday 17th April 2004
quotequote all
sorry but i hate the griffs looks and much prefer the chim.

i understand what your saying though but to me the griff was just the start of the modern era of tvrs and a platform from which to build from.not sure what you mean by "true tvr" as i think they are all in the spirit of the tvr marque.

i realise that it was a defining moment in tvr history and for that it will always have an aura about it but personally i can't stand its looks. just my honest opinion and not intended to pi$$ off anyone.

tubbystu

3,846 posts

289 months

Saturday 17th April 2004
quotequote all
derekg500 said:
Hey, keep it down, don't tell everybody or they'll
all want one!!!


Why not, that'll put the prices up !!

whitechimp500

3,396 posts

300 months

Saturday 17th April 2004
quotequote all
lazyitus said:
The fact remains, the Griffith was the car that TVR produced in small numbers, that would outpace the Chimaera and would keep people guessing what its name was for well into the next decade.

...


the fact also remains , that the Chimaera 500 has the same performance as the Griffith 500 , its just that less Chim versions were built.

Making it just that little more exclusive

Although got to add , IMHO All Tivvers are special.


cosmoschick

7,977 posts

278 months

Saturday 17th April 2004
quotequote all
captain honesty said:
sorry but i hate the griffs looks and much prefer the chim.


Altho' I have to say I don't hate the Griff's looks, it's more a case of much prefering the Chim's And I couldn't care less if it's more common than the Griff. In any case, how many Chims do you actually see out and about? One a day if you're lucky!

shnozz

30,622 posts

300 months

Saturday 17th April 2004
quotequote all
whitechimp500 said:

lazyitus said:
The fact remains, the Griffith was the car that TVR produced in small numbers, that would outpace the Chimaera and would keep people guessing what its name was for well into the next decade.

...



the fact also remains , that the Chimaera 500 has the same performance as the Griffith 500 , its just that less Chim versions were built.

Making it just that little more exclusive

Although got to add , IMHO All Tivvers are special.




i was thinking the same lines

If the cars use the same engines, how can one outpace another.

shnozz

30,622 posts

300 months

Saturday 17th April 2004
quotequote all
cosmoschick said:

captain honesty said:
sorry but i hate the griffs looks and much prefer the chim.



Altho' I have to say I don't hate the Griff's looks, it's more a case of much prefering the Chim's And I couldn't care less if it's more common than the Griff. In any case, how many Chims do you actually see out and about? One a day if you're lucky!


very rare I see another chim on the road and apparently I live in an area that is "filled with TVRs" in mungo's words.

cosmoschick

7,977 posts

278 months

Saturday 17th April 2004
quotequote all
shnozz said:
very rare I see another chim on the road and apparently I live in an area that is "filled with TVRs" in mungo's words.


I've spotted more Griffs where I live than Chims...oh...and not to mention lots and lots of Porsches!

crankedup

25,764 posts

272 months

Saturday 17th April 2004
quotequote all
All TVR are special rare beasts, just whats grabs your fancy really. Ford build more cars before breakfast on Monday morning then TVR build all year long.

iandbeech

2,709 posts

287 months

Saturday 17th April 2004
quotequote all
Try this for size - it`s the beating "heart" that makes a true TVR and that "heart" is a V8!

rubyV8s

132 posts

290 months

Saturday 17th April 2004
quotequote all
tubbystu said:
but not as rare, nor beautifully noisy as a V8S 411 total build, now thats rarity for you, and the level of Griff sales killed it off too.




iandbeech quote>
Try this for size - it`s the beating "heart" that makes a true TVR and that "heart" is a V8!

V8



2 sheds

2,529 posts

313 months

Saturday 17th April 2004
quotequote all
Yes the Griffith is the Famous big brother in 1992 the car that graced the foyer of the design council, the car that turned more heads in Soho than anything else, the car that was to be seen in and be filmed in, everything after was great but the Griff got the "T" shirt, even if later models are better.
Tim

>> Edited by 2 sheds on Sunday 18th April 10:53

lazyitus

Original Poster:

19,931 posts

295 months

Saturday 17th April 2004
quotequote all
whitechimp500 said:

lazyitus said:
The fact remains, the Griffith was the car that TVR produced in small numbers, that would outpace the Chimaera and would keep people guessing what its name was for well into the next decade.

...



the fact also remains , that the Chimaera 500 has the same performance as the Griffith 500 , its just that less Chim versions were built.

Making it just that little more exclusive

Although got to add , IMHO All Tivvers are special.




Darren, I couldn't argue with you there and nor would I want to.

I was only basing that point on the fact that most Chim's are not 5 litres.

Only the privelaged Chimaera 500 owners (especially white ones ) have access to that sort of power.

The Griff 500 was an out and out 5Ltr car from 94/95 onwards with no other option. This IMO was when the Griffith was born, bred and established.