Wednesday 26th October 2011

Spotted: TVR Griffith 500 SE

Fancy a bit of limited-run Blackpool rock for winter?

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This Griffith SE could be yours

It’s autumn. The clocks go back on Sunday, and the leaves from the trees are nestling on the ground... which is usually damp. An ideal time then to take a look at a powerful, lightweight, rear-wheel-drive V8 car famous for having no driver aids whatsoever.

It's number 55 of 100 made

It’s hard not to love these things. I found a Griffith for a friend recently and taking it out for a spin reminded me just how much riotous fun they are to drive. They’re not to everyone’s taste, sure, but when you get back from a test drive and feel a faint pang of genuine sadness after you’ve turned it off, you know that it’s managed to touch you in a way which so many cars don’t.

There are even some fans of Trevors who consider the five litre Griff’ to be the one to have. This one from our classifieds is number 55 of the 100 Special Edition models produced to mark the end of Griffith production, and has been owned by TVR club members and maintained by Racing Green TVR. There are only 26,600 recorded miles and it looks like a very good example.

Most of the differences over the regular 500s were just cosmetic; rear lights, door mirrors, interior… In fact the only area to get a performance upgrade was the headlights, but with 350bhp to propel little more than a thousand kilos the 500 wasn’t exactly crying out for added poke.

Decisions...

Understandably there’s a small premium to pay for an SE over other 500s, but if you don’t yearn for the added exclusivity and do want some extra performance then this beasty might be of interest. It has been raced, although as you can see from the photos it appears to have been thoroughly prepared and the asking price is a full seven grand less than the SE.

But before you decide that a Griffith might be the autumn/winter vehicle for you it’s also worth noting that a modestly priced Tuscan like this can be had for a lot less than either of the earlier V8 cars here. Will fit and healthy Tuscans get much cheaper than eleven grand?

Decisions...

Of course, any of them would be something of a leftfield choice to drive around in at this time of year. The low ground clearance, wide tyres, rear-wheel-drive, and a sizeable dollop of torque are exactly what you don’t want when the weather gets really bad. Mind you this is PH, so someone must be considering one?

[RoseyG21]

My first experience of the Griff was a gliding instructor who would hare around the perimeter track before parking up...oooooh the sound! I feel that they are going to be the classic car of choice in the future!

[Owlwood]

That Griff's a beauty alright.

Been a while since I look at Tuscan prices though. It's said a lot on these boards but it's so much car for the money. Man o man....

[BlackCup]

Older TVR's don't really do it for me but that Tuscan is just gorgeous, and at 11K you could afford to have things go wrong!

[RoseyG21]

The Griff is older and somewhat more delicate...if thats possible for a TVR? A bit like these old marines you hear about on the news. Old, maybe past their best but still have the agression!

[uncle tez]

BlackCup said:

Older TVR's don't really do it for me but that Tuscan is just gorgeous, and at 11K you could afford to have things go wrong!

It looks like it went wrong for someone already. 30k and its already had an engine rebuild. I wonder when the next one is due

[Jasandjules]

Griffs always sound lovely. Looks are not quite to my taste, which is why I went Chimaera, but still, they are fast, loud and convertible - what's not to like!??!

[AyBee]

uncle tez said:

BlackCup said:

Older TVR's don't really do it for me but that Tuscan is just gorgeous, and at 11K you could afford to have things go wrong!

It looks like it went wrong for someone already. 30k and its already had an engine rebuild. I wonder when the next one is due

I have a feeling this is normal (please feel free to correct me if not), but for £11k, there's enough room in there when compared to other cars like it to account for a potential rebuild in the next 20k miles and still have a performance bargain Wonder when T350s will get to £11k

[CliveM]

WOW - hadn't realised Tuscan's had fallen to that sort of price
Surely you'd view a rebuild as a good thing?? Two minutes of homework shows it's an issue - if the rebuild has already been done shouldn't that make the car more attractive??

Yes it probably will have things go wrong with it over time - but the costs need to be viewed in comparison with something vaguely equivalent but a "safer" bet (E46 M3? / 996 targa? / SLK55?) which would still have the potential for big bills and possibly more depreciation.......

Edited by CliveM on Wednesday 26th October 10:40

Edited by CliveM on Wednesday 26th October 10:41

[Ex Boy Racer]

Would that Tuscan make a good and interesting track day car??

[over_the_hill]

uncle tez said:

BlackCup said:

Older TVR's don't really do it for me but that Tuscan is just gorgeous, and at 11K you could afford to have things go wrong!

It looks like it went wrong for someone already. 30k and its already had an engine rebuild. I wonder when the next one is due

Problems with the Speed Six Engine are well documented. There were issues with component quality on pre 2004 engines (I think - but happy to be corrected by more savvy SP6 owners). It was quality of the steel in the components supplied to TVR. Once rebuilt they should be OK. If they haven't been rebuilt allow for it to be done. Later cars are also OK as the problem was rectified.

[Altrezia]

Crikey. Not exactly getting cheaper are they. I was offered a griff for £7k a few years back, it's on my list of 'should have bought's.

Ho hum.

[zebedee]

when did the bottom fall out of the tuscan market! Tempted!

[Obiwonkeyblokey]

Griffs are only going one way at present. I sold a 1996 P in 1999 for 16k an dsaw it again recently for 18k. A nice spec late 500 is still in the region of 18-20k and the early 400-430s are creeping up as well. Make sur you get them checked well. there are some beauties and just as many horrors out there with rotten chassis outriggers and dodgy service history. BUy well and enjoy. Im hoping to get into another one at some point.

By the way - Dans Race car is a bargain!

[Diablos-666]

That Griff looks fantastic.

I have some savings in my account ready to be used for a deposit on my first house...

[thewheelman]

My second favourite TVR after the Cerbera, good find & yes.....want!

[pSyCoSiS]

Nice cars, awesome deep sound.

Sargaris is my personal favourite, although I know this is in a different price range.

[ktm301p]

That Tuscan is an absolute steal. The value of the Tuscan does seem to struggle far more than most other models . . . why is this?

[silversixx]

ktm301p said:

That Tuscan is an absolute steal. The value of the Tuscan does seem to struggle far more than most other models . . . why is this?

Good question. Possibly because the Tuscan is associated most-closely with the early Speed Six issues? Hardcore Trevoristas - your thoughts?

[Zippee]

silversixx said:

ktm301p said:

That Tuscan is an absolute steal. The value of the Tuscan does seem to struggle far more than most other models . . . why is this?

Good question. Possibly because the Tuscan is associated most-closely with the early Speed Six issues? Hardcore Trevoristas - your thoughts?

Thats my thoughts. Also, the Mk1 Tuscan was the most mass produced of the modern S6 TVRs. That said, look in the classifieds and tell me how many decent Tuscans you see for sale at the price above.

The T350s were less than 400 in number, Sags even fewer hence the reason they hold their money so well.

That front grill on the Tuscan though is awful, far nicer with the original pepper pot.

[rev-erend]

350bhp .. who are you kidding ?