Advice please for someone new!!

[Painey]

Hi,

I'm looking to buy my first TVR sometime early in the new year and I've always wanted a Griffith but don't know of anybody who's ever owned one so I could really do with some help.

As I said I've always wanted a Griffith and in particular the 500. I've seen some advertised as 500HC and I know about the Chimaera 400HC and the difference between the engines of that and the standard 400, but I wasn't aware that they made a 500HC Griff. Is this true and if so what's the difference in power and is it worth looking out for one?

I'll have a budget of £18k so what could I realistically be looking to get for that? I was hoping for post 95, approx 30k on the clock and preferably with power steering.

I'd really appreciate any comments.

Cheers.

[david010167]

My advice is find out where your local TVR Club meets, usualy once amonth, then go over and introduce your self. Most of the members will be friendly and would proberbly take you for a drive and talk you though the car.

David

[IPAddis]

And buy the new Griffith and Chimaera bible. www.tvrbooks.co.uk

[Jarcy]

All 500s are HCs.
I think the confusion can arise as I believe some say 500HC on the Plenum & some just say 500.

[keithskip]

Also use the Search facility here - I just put in 'buying secondhand' and came up with dozens of threads. There's a lot of knowledgeable & helpful people on PH. Good luck

[Simon T]

Hi Painey, had my 500 for 18 months now. Happy to talk you through the trials and tribulations (and fun) if it will help....

Mail me and I will send you my number

Cheers,

Simon

[apache]

Ditto, drop me a line too if you want

[simpo one]

'find out where your local TVR Club meets, usualy once amonth, then go over and introduce your self. Most of the members will be friendly and would proberbly take you for a drive and talk you though the car.'

I'll second that. You'll find details of the Regions at www.tvrcc.com. And yes, all 500s have the higher compression engine, so don't be conned into paying more for the letters HC!

Enjoy your Griff-hunt!!

[GarryM]

simpo one said: And yes, all 500s have the higher compression engine, so don't be conned into paying more for the letters HC!

Enjoy your Griff-hunt!!

Think HC stands for something else... Steve has mentioned it before but I can't remember. High Cam?

[ncs]

Chris

I see you live in Sussex. Even though I live in Bromley I like to go to the E.Sussex TVRCC meets at the Farmers in Scaynes Hill nr. Hayward Heath.
I went a few times before I got my Griff & found it really helped to ask people what to look for & share their experiences.
With your budget you will find a lovely car as long as you take your time. You need to decide if you want to buy privately or through a dealer, you will get a lot more car for your money if you buy privately but there is an element of risk.
There will be lots of people here who will be only too happy to help, dont be afraid to ask.
If you want a chat you can contact me via my profile, or any of the others who have offered.

Good luck

Nick

[simpo one]

'Think HC stands for something else... Steve has mentioned it before but I can't remember. High Cam?'

Hairy chest? In my book HC is always High Compression, but I stand to be corrected!

[pete]

simpo one said:Hairy chest? In my book HC is always High Compression, but I stand to be corrected!

High-lift Cam

[shpub]

High lift Cam is correct. Confusion caused by initial pre-production advertising talking about a 500 325 bhp engine.

There is a Griff buying guide on my website now.

Steve
www.tvrbooks.co.uk

[tonybav]

If you want to go private, you get a lot more for your money, dealer mark ups are large, well worth calling Rob Ingleby www.findasportscar.co.uk. He sources and does inspections on TVR's, many very positive mentions in threads on this site. He know more about TVR's than anybody would ever need.

He did an inspection on my car which made me much happier buying privately.

[simpo one]

'High lift Cam is correct.'

Well strike me sideways with a rancid halibut! Was this a factory option or is it something that owners have done retrospectively?

There are two 'HC' Griffs advertised in Sprint this month, but neither mentions the cam in the details.

[Painey]

Thanks for all the info and I'll get in touch when I'm a bit nearer to buying the damn thing!!!

Bloody Christmas always comes at a time when there's something better to spend your money on and personally the space in my garage has been empty for far too long. Dying to get my hands on a Griffith and having to wait is a pain.

Bought Classic Car mag yesterday with the griff on the front and had the Griffith/Chimaera Bible on my Christmas list for ages! Also thanks Nick for the info on the E.Sussex TVRCC meets in Scaynes Hill. I only live a few miles from there so in the new year I'll get in touch.

One last thing for now, most of my mates keep on that a Chimaera would be better as they're cheaper and although I could go and buy one tomorrow, I've always felt they were a bit too soft compared to the Griffth. They don't look as good either but that's to be expected when you've got dogs adding finishing touches to the front!!!

[shpub]

simpo one said: 'High lift Cam is correct.'

Well strike me sideways with a rancid halibut! Was this a factory option or is it something that owners have done retrospectively?

There are two 'HC' Griffs advertised in Sprint this month, but neither mentions the cam in the details.

It is basically a bit of marketing by owners that don't know any better and are trying to make their car a bit more special in an effort to sell them easiler. Can't blame them for that. some engines were marked 500 and others 500HC and you can buy these badges anyway.

Also a bit of confusion between the 4 litre and the 4 litre HC (that replaced the 4.3) which did have different power outputs due to the cam. Then there was the gas flowed option for the Chimaera which gave another 10 bhp and also got confused with the HC status.

I also have various 500 handbooks and literature that talks about a 500 engine at 325 bhp, a 500HC engine with 340 and later on the 500HC engine was rated at 320 bhp.

There have also been several different CAMS fitted to these engines. Maybe you should read the book instead or moaning about the cover Simpo

Steve

[Ballistic Banana]

shpub said:

I also have various 500 handbooks and literature that talks about a 500 engine at 325 bhp, a 500HC engine with 340 and later on the 500HC engine was rated at 320 bhp.

There have also been several different CAMS fitted to these engines. Maybe you should read the book instead or moaning about the cover Simpo

Steve

---

Steve in your 1st ed you say after 97 it was de-tuned to 325bhp spec engine to make it idle and drive around town better,basically a smoother engine at low Revs.

Is that the only reason IYO.

Having only driven the 96 spec Claimed 340bhp(not) and feeling that isnt bad low down IMO cant see that is the only thinking behind this

BB

And Yeah Monsieur Simpo 'ARRETE'

[shpub]

To be exact it was detuned to 320 bhp. Driven many and no real difference. Really done because many people complained of the low speed lumpyness and were having the cars modded to remove it.

Because of the hand made nature of the engines there are good uns and not so good uns.... Never really noticed any difference before and after.

Steve

[Leadfoot]

One last thing for now, most of my mates keep on that a Chimaera would be better

Your mates are fools (but you knew that already)! Why would you want a car that looks like an MGB