Looking for a Griffith

[Stick Legs]

Hello.

I presume we have all done what I call 'the wheel'.

I want a fun car. What do I like? What can I afford? Narrow it down to a few makes. Narrow it down to a few models. Read about them. Work through the pros and cons in order. Get the willies from internet horror stories. Talk yourself out of the whole silly idea. Then decide you want a fun car again.
This process takes about 3 months. Then it repeats. Faster. Until after a couple of years of this is refined to a process that can complete a full loop in the time it takes to load the dishwasher.

The thing is every time I have ever been around TVR Griffiths I have a huge emotional response to them. Probably due to being born in 1977 and therefore they came out at exactly the right time for me to be aware of them. Possibly due to the fact they are drop dead gorgeous and sound epic. Could be because I got to visit the factory in 1997 and saw them being made. Maybe because I got to drive a 430 in 1999 and it scared the hell out of me! Or is it because I nearly bought an S2 when I was 23 but got all sensible instead, so never scratched my TVR itch?

Still every time I am lucky enough to catch one in the wild I come away determined to have one.

In November I went to the NEC with the express intention of choosing something. A second car, a fun car.

I spent a while on the TVR Club stand and got chatting with Miles from HPC Classics. Got to have a sit in J524MHG (which is lovely but double my budget).

Anyway, I joined the club and am looking for a Griffith. Luckily there are some nice ones out there, so it's a case of whitlling down the ones I like and feel best value for money.

So any advice or suggestions gladly received and I hope to have some good news to post soon.

[Stick Legs]

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

I am biased....

There's not a right lot of difference, but looking at the Chimaera too will open up a wider selection. It's not a coincidence that a whole lot more Chimaeras were made & sold.

Annoyingly, for my budget I'd have the pick of Chimaeras as well.

Absolutely no offence intended to any Chimaera owners at all but I prefer the way the Griffith looks over the Chimaera (or the Cerbera for that matter).
My Cerbera owning friend thinks the Griffith is too short and looks dumpy at the back.

It's a good job we aren't all the same otherwise one girl would be exceedingly popular.

[Stick Legs]

Hi Mike.

PM sent.

[Stick Legs]

sixor8 said:

Do you have a 'man' do all your repairs?

If aimed at me I do all my own work on my current L405 Range Rover & restored a BMW 635CSi. So the tech in a Griffith isn’t daunting.
Plus a good friend of mind runs a garage and has had numerous TVRs.

So pretty comfortable that maintaining it won’t be a struggle. In fact, one of the attractions of the Griffith is the fact that I much prefer the multimeter era to the code reader era of vehicle diagnostics.

Less to go wrong & you can test & trace all the circuits.

[Stick Legs]

The Three D Mucketeer said:

Do they still sell stick on chest wigs, beards and medallions ?

I think the ones from my Capri still fit.

[Stick Legs]

I think I found my car.



Will update.

[Stick Legs]

Thank you.

I’m very taken with it.

Will call them tomorrow morning.

[Stick Legs]

BritishTvr450 said:

Has it had its riggers replaced or still original? That’s the first question I’d ask as there are no pictures of the underside in the add. Seems very good value if they are known to be solid.

First question I have too.

The seller is doing me a video of the underside.

[Stick Legs]

Thanks for the info & sleuthing.

I genuinely appreciate it.

As I am away at sea until the 12th my plan is (pending satisfactory pictures from underneath) putting a holding deposit that's agreed to be refundable if it doesn't match up to the description when I actually go & see it in person.

There are other TVR Griffiths about and so I'll be checking the history for evidence of replacement since that MOT advisory.

Lets see what transpires.

[Stick Legs]

So I have had the video & pictures of the underside.





In various places there was power coat lifting.

It’s not horrendous but it’s obviously going to need attention at some stage.

I get that if it had a body lift & full chassis overhaul then it would be nearer £30k than £20k.

But I’ve left an offer of £22k on the table.

And that’s only because it’s a sexy colour.

Lets see what happens.

[Stick Legs]

In other news I like this one.

https://www.carandclassic.com/l/C1810589





There’s something quite lovely about the early Griffith.

I always liked the upside down instruments.

[Stick Legs]

Belle427 said:

The 4.3 is seen by most as the sweetest engine of the lot.
Not a fan of those wheels but looks good.

I’d be looking to swap a set of Estorils on to it, or maybe even the 5 spokes that the very early cars came on, but that’s not a deal breaker.



Actually I really like these.

Edited by Stick Legs on Tuesday 3rd December 20:21

[Stick Legs]

mk1fan said:

Lanogard or similar would keep that chassis in abeyance for a good while. Every TVR is moving toward a chassis refurb. One of the fundamental truths of ownership. New owners need to come to terms with that.

Absolutely.
But it’s still a fine negotiating tactic.
Plus the blue one has had it done so the next one is further down the road.

Big fan of Lanoguard for my Range Rover.

[Stick Legs]

sixor8 said:

The 3rd page of the thread about Lanoguard in the Classics area has a few users unimpressed.

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

As a long term solution to maintaining a perfect chassis, then no, it's probably rubbish.

As a non permanent way of putting your finger in the dyke, or preventing a bit of flaky underbody from becoming significantly worse in the near future it's not bad.

If I was going to have a chassis rebuilt and repainted it would be Dinitrol all the way.

However over the last 4 years I have used it on my Range Rover at the end of the summer to just help protect the underbody from winter salt and muck and a litre and half of the stuff sprayed liberally and semi-discriminately hasn't done any harm.

[Stick Legs]

Done a deal on the 430.

This picture sealed it for me:



Work done in 2022 by Central TVR

[Stick Legs]

BritishTvr450 said:

As you can see from the body off and complete strip down of the chassis it’s infinitely better to get a car with this done by a previous owner than taking on the job yourself as it’s no small undertaking although very enjoyable if you enjoy mechanics.

ETA as it’s a 4.3 you’d be well advised to talk to Dom at Powers Performance formally TVR Power who developed and built the engine in your car.
He will know exactly what was done and what to look out for.
These engines were known as the best free revving engines of the lot.
In fairness many cars are now upgraded to the point where that doesn’t hold but the 4.3 was hailed as the best RV based engine fitted to TVR at the time.
It should also have TVR branded rocker covers if my understanding it correct which are rare as hens teeth. I’ve just looked at the picture above and indeed you have those rocker boxes, I’ll give you £500 for em
Good luck and enjoy.

Thats interesting info, I hadn't noticed the rocker covers but they were on my list of shiny things to look for, whichever Griffith I bought, as they do look fantastic. No chance of selling those!



I am going to change the wheels as lattice spokes are not my favourite style on any car, there are some Compomotive 5 spokes which are very similar to the early Griffith 5 spoke which would be my preference.



Other than that and one of those Blaupunkt-looks-retro-but-works-with-bluetooth radios it seems there's nothing to do with this car but enjoy it.

Edited by Stick Legs on Thursday 5th December 10:07

[Stick Legs]

sixor8 said:

In case the OP wasn't aware, the rear wheels are 1" larger than the front. The standard was 16" rear, 15" front except the last SE models (I think?) that went 16" all round.

Some owners go 17" all round (I've even seen 18" on the front but the tyres are then like rubber bands to get clearance!) but it doesn't quite look right IMHO. I have 18" rear / 17" front on mine.

I did also look at the 17” 4 stud Spiders from Motorclan featured in Sprint. But they may look very big.

I was aware, to be honest I’d like it to remain as factory looking as possible so will hold on for a set of Estorils or the early 5 spokes.

Some will arrive & the OZ lattices aren’t horrible.
Will give the lips a good polish & they’ll look 100% smarter.

As long as Toyo keep making tyres in the right size it’ll be grand.

[Stick Legs]

Belle427 said:

Assuming its a pre cat too?

I’m assuming these are pre-cat manifolds.

[Stick Legs]

The 4 individual headers leading to a bolted flange seem to be pre-cat only, and as a Dec 1992 registered car I cannot imagine TVR fitting cats before they had to!

This MOT fail must have been an interesting discussion:



I never understood people with unusual cars not using a MOT tester who is an enthusiast.

It never comes up again, so presumably someone got a bit carried away.

[Stick Legs]

mk1fan said:

On the subject of wheels. In my humble opinion 16-inch Spiders all round are perfect on the Grief. Needs a 5-bolt hub conversion though.

Next up would be the Ford RS 7-spoke wheels, again in 16-inch. These are 4-bolt so no hub changes but are muchos moneyous.

Speaking of spashing the cash, a set of RL-7 in 16-inch would be very nice too.

Not a fan of any of the factory wheels. First world problem et al.

Belle427 said:

These look nice, maybe a touch too big though. Not sure on the brand.

I have been looking at options & the two I favour are either a set of stock Estorils or these Compomotive MO1785 17”.



I think there are the same as the green car above.

Barry at Compomotive has been very helpful & sent me these pictures of the wheels they supplied for a Chimaera.



The big decision is between original look and the performance of modern rubber.

I need to sleep on it but any advice and experience gladly received.

Edited by Stick Legs on Friday 6th December 12:47