Griffith 4.0

[cornershop]

Hello folks

Contemplating a Griffith 4.0:
https://www.hpcclassics.co.uk/product-page/1992-tv...

Online car check reveals 12 previous owners.

Aside from potentially being the 13th, is this number of owners relatively normal in Griffith circles?

The car is having a huge amount of work undertaken as you can read, so is condition king?

[Mr.Grooler]

12 owners in almost 30 years doesn’t sound too bad, although plenty of people hang onto them for a long time I’m sure (16 years and counting for me). Either way, condition is absolutely everything; these cars are old enough now and have had sufficient work done in most cases that how the first few owners might have treated the car is pretty irrelevant. Enjoy!

[cornershop]

Mr.Grooler said:

12 owners in almost 30 years doesn’t sound too bad, although plenty of people hang onto them for a long time I’m sure (16 years and counting for me). Either way, condition is absolutely everything; these cars are old enough now and have had sufficient work done in most cases that how the first few owners might have treated the car is pretty irrelevant. Enjoy!

Thanks, well last owner had it since 2014 so 11 owners in 22 years.

Seems excessive, with one eye on future resale?

Agree, it will like a new car after this refurb so it should be minty fresh drivetrain and chassis wise

[ESDavey]

That’s a nice looking Griffith. I would not be worried at all by the number of previous owners as these are mainly peoples 2nd car for pleasure. Good luck

[phillpot]

Like others have said, I wouldn't worry about the number of previous owners.
A lot of guys "have the dream", they buy a car then find out the wife hates it or it isn't really for them, they don't have all the romantic little weekend breaks they imagined, in fact it hardly gets used. Within a year or two it's up for sale and they move on.

[spitfire4v8]

It's very very strong money, but looks a gorgeous car with chassis and engine work already done. Inspect it carefully with someone you trust if you go to view it .. but the precats are the purest of the latter year griffiths, and much like the 289 v 427 cobras they just look that much prettier than the 500 griffs despite having nominally the same body.

One of my tvrs has had 13 owners in 21 years so to many people the number of owners is irrelevant. If it's as gorgeous in the flesh as it looks in the pics, and it ticks all your boxes, buy it, use it, enjoy it.

[rev-erend]

Looking at the ad its pretty clear to see that a lot of money has been spent on this car.

Another thing that comes across is its top dollar for a 4.0

If it was a precat 4.3 it would be a non brainer but still looking at what has been done it would appear that
you probably will not need to shell out loads on the usual issues that Griff's have.

As always, go and see a few cars and then this one and see if its what you want.

[citizen smith]

cornershop said:

Hello folks

Contemplating a Griffith 4.0:
https://www.hpcclassics.co.uk/product-page/1992-tv...

Online car check reveals 12 previous owners.

Aside from potentially being the 13th, is this number of owners relatively normal in Griffith circles?

The car is having a huge amount of work undertaken as you can read, so is condition king?

Perhaps if it is going to be your first TVR Griffith, it might be worthwhile trying a 4.3 and a 500. Since various dealers have them for sale at this moment in time and they all have different driving characteristics.

[SFTWend]

I suggest the number of owners is irrelevant for the reasons already mentioned. What matters is how long the most recent owner had the car and the maintenance/refurbishment work done.

Despite the refurb it is very strong money indeed for a 4.0. Most people want a 500 and they seem to go for c.£5k+ more than a similer condition/mileage precat.

If you like that 4.0 I strongly recommend you consider this 4.3. It is in tip top condition looked after by a fastidious owner. I should have bought it Feb last year when the owner was considering a private sale. Stupidly I went for a different car and the purchase eventually fell through due to Covid.

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/11644186

[5.0ltr]

That car recently featured in a 'Practical Classics' piece. (Perhaps only worth the money to the owner TBH.) The owner of the selling dealer owns a Griff himself and some pictures of the Griff of interest and its refurb are on the TVR Griffith Facebook group as is Miles who I am sure will answer any questions. Otherwise he says come and have a coffee and a look.

[HardMiles]

HEEEEELLLOOOO All! Miles here, from HPC & Bangers and Cash (Lancia Zagato / episode 8) if you watch that too...

So, the car has had a full mechanical restoration by ourselves - I love a green Griff, as per Bob above I own a 500 myself and did have a dark green Pre Cat too previously (which is also for sale again now in Brighton - chat to me if you want to know more on that one too)

About the only item that hasn't been touched are the seat foams! As people have mentioned, it is a higher price for a 4.0 pre cat, but find another that would have just been run in, with a V8D engine build & all of the body off works done etc... the idea of us doing this was to put the very best car to the market, whilst retaining the brilliant original paint & interior.

I would suggest coming and seeing her, have a coffee and chat, take a look through the frankly enormous history file (before our endeavours) to see how well cared for it has been (Tim the previous owner of 14 years loved it to death), so it's only fitting that it was perfect - it was better than most when we bought it in honesty, but we strive to only put to market the very best examples we can get, unless incredibly rare or special or sold as a project. If you have a look underneath her, you'll soon see why you'd choose this over another car (yes, that is a slight metallic tint in the powder coat to catch the light)

Look forward to hearing from some of you soon, hope you'll join our meet & drive events and if any of you are near Sussex, drop in for a coffee and see the toys we have stashed away!

All the best,

Miles

07834228821

[cornershop]

Hello Miles

We’ve spoken (it’s Shirish )

Still very keen to see the car, just wanted to gauge the perception of number of owners amongst Griffith owners. It’s high compared to other cars I’ve owned, hence the enquiry.

Let me know when it’s ready for a test drive, I shall be there

[HardMiles]

[HardMiles]

Aha! Shirish! Awesome stuff! The joys of the forum naming convention! Great stuff!

I'll let you know when she is ready to go!

Have a fabulous weekend.

All the best,

Miles

[cornershop]

Thanks all for the feedback on number of owners! Reassuring to hear it should not be deemed too much of a negative.

Re trying a 4.3/5.0 - aside from increased performance, what would they provide over the 4.0? reliability? better quality of fit/finish?

240bhp (ish) in a 1 tonne car is more than sufficient, and coming from a V12 Vantage, I ended up being frustrated at how few opportunities I had to get to get past redline in 2nd without losing my license.

So, more accessible performance is fine for me - it’s all about the sound and character for me, with the occasional ‘enthusiastic’ burst when allowed.

[citizen smith]

cornershop said:

Thanks all for the feedback on number of owners! Reassuring to hear it should not be deemed too much of a negative.

Re trying a 4.3/5.0 - aside from increased performance, what would they provide over the 4.0? reliability? better quality of fit/finish?

240bhp (ish) in a 1 tonne car is more than sufficient, and coming from a V12 Vantage, I ended up being frustrated at how few opportunities I had to get to get past redline in 2nd without losing my license.

So, more accessible performance is fine for me - it’s all about the sound and character for me, with the occasional ‘enthusiastic’ burst when allowed.

Many, many moons ago I nearly purchased a 400, but found it lacking a little in the mid-range. So I ended up buying the 4.3 that is advertised in the classifieds at the moment. The 4.3 has a superb exhaust note and benefits from having that extra bit of mid-range overtaking performance that I was seeking.

For some weird reason the 500 feels like its a bigger car, more refined and better finished. I once owned a 500, that had previously been owned by a V8 Vantage convert and he wanted to buy the Griff back, for the pure excitement that it gave him when driving the Griff 500 compared to the Aston - but that was not a glorious V12 like yours.

[lancepar]

Don't forget for a bit more go there is also the 400(250) gas flowed engine.

I see the add for the one you are thinking about says it's 250BHP, check out the engine number to confirm.

Edited by lancepar on Friday 21st May 14:33

[cornershop]

citizen smith said:

cornershop said:

Thanks all for the feedback on number of owners! Reassuring to hear it should not be deemed too much of a negative.

Re trying a 4.3/5.0 - aside from increased performance, what would they provide over the 4.0? reliability? better quality of fit/finish?

240bhp (ish) in a 1 tonne car is more than sufficient, and coming from a V12 Vantage, I ended up being frustrated at how few opportunities I had to get to get past redline in 2nd without losing my license.

So, more accessible performance is fine for me - it’s all about the sound and character for me, with the occasional ‘enthusiastic’ burst when allowed.

Many, many moons ago I nearly purchased a 400, but found it lacking a little in the mid-range. So I ended up buying the 4.3 that is advertised in the classifieds at the moment. The 4.3 has a superb exhaust note and benefits from having that extra bit of mid-range overtaking performance that I was seeking.

For some weird reason the 500 feels like its a bigger car, more refined and better finished. I once owned a 500, that had previously been owned by a V8 Vantage convert and he wanted to buy the Griff back, for the pure excitement that it gave him when driving the Griff 500 compared to the Aston - but that was not a glorious V12 like yours.

Thanks for the feedback - I will certainly have this in mind when I road test a 400.

Last 2 cars have output 290 and 300 bhp/ton and both were a struggle to to extend on UK roads. Something slightly ‘less’ may well be a good thing for me at least.

[cornershop]

lancepar said:

Don't forget for a bit more go there is also the 400(250) gas flowed engine.

I see the add for the one you are thinking about says it's 250BHP, check out the engine number to confirm.

Edited by lancepar on Friday 21st May 14:33

Thanks, I wonder if this is just because it’s a 240 with exhaust and valve mods. Do you happen to know what engine number range it should be in?

[lancepar]

cornershop said:

lancepar said:

Don't forget for a bit more go there is also the 400(250) gas flowed engine.

I see the add for the one you are thinking about says it's 250BHP, check out the engine number to confirm.

Edited by lancepar on Friday 21st May 14:33

Thanks, I wonder if this is just because it’s a 240 with exhaust and valve mods. Do you happen to know what engine number range it should be in?

Doubt if is anything to do with the exhaust a Pre-cat is as described,,,,,,,,,no catalytic converters........best sounding.
Pre-cat 4ltr cars were offered a factory upgade, 10BHP, with gas flowed heads and the engine number on the VIN plate would end with a "G". I don't know if a G was added to the engine block, I've never looked on mine but the VIN has the letter G.

Also the plenum might have had a different badge whether this was a factory fit, I'm not sure.