Melling

Author
Discussion

Jonny TVR

Original Poster:

4,541 posts

288 months

Thursday 2nd February 2023
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Noticed one of the melling Griffs coming up for auction. Hideous thing!

https://www.silverstoneauctions.com/2008-melling-w...

sixor8

6,594 posts

275 months

Thursday 2nd February 2023
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No MoT test since 2018, at least it is actually recorded at DVLA as a 'Melling.' Completed in 2008 it seems, may sell as an interesting item. scratchchin

cjb44

703 posts

125 months

Thursday 2nd February 2023
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I would not give that garage space under any circumstances, so tacky.

Mr.Grooler

1,183 posts

232 months

Thursday 2nd February 2023
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I’d forgotten about those - it’s horrific!! Nice condition though, I suppose.

cerb4.5lee

33,550 posts

187 months

Thursday 2nd February 2023
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Definitely not very easy on the eyes, but I'd still like a go in it though!

Granturadriver

629 posts

268 months

Thursday 2nd February 2023
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To much blingbling and copy outside and inside. wobble

I don‘t like this yachting boat interior inparticular. Uah! smile

Classic Chim

12,424 posts

156 months

Friday 3rd February 2023
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All that car goes to show is just how subtle and cool the TVR Griff actually is.
That almost makes the new Griff look good smile

FHCNICK

1,305 posts

238 months

Friday 3rd February 2023
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I don’t want to talk the car down but I would take a Griff over this all day long. It does look to me like Al was influenced by how Shelby developed the AC Ace which sounds like an idea worth a shot, however I am not taken with the result.

DangerousDerek

8,669 posts

227 months

Friday 3rd February 2023
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The Griff boys dont like their precious design messed with do they?
If none of us ever modified or made personal changes to our cars what a boring world we would live in.
I say good on Melling to develop the car. It may not be so pretty in some ways but i am sure its capable of putting a big grin on anyone who drives it.

sixor8

6,594 posts

275 months

Friday 3rd February 2023
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Putting an LS engine in a TVR is commonplace when the fragile Cerbera engines go pop, but the Rover (i.e. Buick) V8 sound is one of the plus points of a Griffith, IMHO. smile Relatively cheap to acquire, maintain and, if that's your bag, modify. It's a shame to bin it just because you can.

Putting an AJP engine (that his name is applied to) in it would have been braver. scratchchin

Pepperpots

371 posts

172 months

Friday 3rd February 2023
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I think a few changes (the interior, the wheels) and it would be a fine thing. Wonder why Melling put an LS in it assuming it was from the factory...

frontfloater

367 posts

149 months

Friday 3rd February 2023
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The hideous seats, cheap-looking wheels and nailed-on Escort TurboNutterB@stard front foglights are badly-chosen, but all easily removed or replaced. If you did that, in my eyes it's a pretty good looking car.

The mechanicals listed will presumably be fairly standard fare for a competent mechanic. More of a concern would be the admission by the owner & auctioneer that the handling was dodgy. It is also suspicious that they quote SUGGESTED 0-60 time and top speed, rather than actual tested ones. That suggests the owner never wanted to try .... perhaps because it remained "a little unresolved in the handling department" .

8Speed

749 posts

73 months

Friday 3rd February 2023
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frontfloater said:
The hideous seats, cheap-looking wheels and nailed-on Escort TurboNutterB@stard front foglights are badly-chosen, but all easily removed or replaced. If you did that, in my eyes it's a pretty good looking car.

.
The dash looks pretty hideous too.
I admire people who go to the trouble of creating something a bit different but this one doesn't float my boat.

glow worm

6,167 posts

234 months

Friday 3rd February 2023
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You wouldn't want to win it in a raffle would you ?
Oh sorry, the owner did win it in a raffle getmecoat

jimed

1,502 posts

213 months

Friday 3rd February 2023
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You would get wet if it rained as it looks to not have any sort of a roof so somewhat impractical as well as being not as good to the eyes as a Griff.

Wildfire

9,831 posts

259 months

Saturday 4th February 2023
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I love the ambition and vision. The execution….

Aside from what has already been mentioned, those door panels…

rev-erend

21,536 posts

291 months

Saturday 4th February 2023
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It really is just a blatant copy of a great car.

Matthew Poxon

5,329 posts

180 months

Saturday 4th February 2023
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Respect to Melling for concept of an evolved Griffith, I truly believe it could have worked if the quality was better and the price was right.

I still believe TVR should have kept developing the Griffith. I love the Speed Six concept they did.






TarquinMX5

2,056 posts

87 months

Saturday 4th February 2023
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I'd forgotten about the Wildcat. I've been comparing its pictures with the Griff and can't decide how much of the body, if any, is Griff-based, albeit 'altered'.

All it does for me is to highlight how well TVR did it, if you parked a decent Griff (or Chimaera) alongside the Wildcat, I'd take the TVR any day. All credit to him for trying but the detailing just isn't there although, having said that, I'm sure it's great fun to drive, assuming the handling was actually sorted. It reminds me a little of some of the final Marcoses, the LM500, Mantis etc., ie altered original styling, although their detailing and interior was much better finished and less 'kit car'.

The Speed Six above just shows the difference.

Jurgen Schmidt

824 posts

208 months

Saturday 4th February 2023
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It’s not to my taste either, however, based on results ….
1. It looks far superior to the ‘new’ Griffith, as far as I’m concerned
2. Was a far less ambitious project, yet made more cars than new TVR, 7 according to Wiki vs 1 for new TVR
3 No EV nonsense