Looking for a Griffith
Discussion
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.
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.
This would be a nice car if you could get it for around £18000, try to ignore the mileage as a car thats been used is better than one thats sat around most of its life.
https://www.carandclassic.com/l/C1722117
https://www.carandclassic.com/l/C1722117
That is a nice dark blue Griff.
Agree, don't overly worry about mileage as being used regularly is better.
I do about 3500 to 4500 grin miles a year and in 3 years now, not had any major issues. Lucky? Could be as I did buy the first one viewed at Amore after talking with Mark.
Go in with your eyes open which sounds like you are and enjoy. Still quite a few out there for sale.
Agree, don't overly worry about mileage as being used regularly is better.
I do about 3500 to 4500 grin miles a year and in 3 years now, not had any major issues. Lucky? Could be as I did buy the first one viewed at Amore after talking with Mark.
Go in with your eyes open which sounds like you are and enjoy. Still quite a few out there for sale.
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.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.
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 said:
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.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.
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.
It is indeed in the eye of the beholder. All I'd add is stowing the roof is a proper pain in the Griffith, but a piece of cake with the Chimaera. (That's presumably why you hardly ever see Griffiths topless
)Hi, i'm not sure exactly what your looking for but i have a pre cat 400 thats been totally rebuilt.....chassis, shocks, interior, hood, cam been done, virtually every nut and bolt, wishbones, uprights etc, ecu moved, battery moved,big brakes, lots of pics available if you want anymore info
Mike
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.
[/quote]
Mike
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.
[/quote]
sixor8 said:
Belle427 said:
Plus when you break down you can get the top of the dash off easier in the Chim.
Having had both, that is true. However, the Griff dashboard comes out with any required contortions, giving you access to everything I think you need access to through the front. 
Belle427 said:
This would be a nice car if you could get it for around £18000, try to ignore the mileage as a car thats been used is better than one thats sat around most of its life.
https://www.carandclassic.com/l/C1722117
I've been eyeing up Griffs recently. That's not far from me and looks a nice example......lucky I can't afford one yet!https://www.carandclassic.com/l/C1722117
Personally I much prefer Griff styling over a Chim. Its the upside down Cavalier lights that does it for me.
I'm in the camp that much prefers the look of the Griff (hence why I have one).
If you're worried about getting the roof in the boot of a Griff, get a folding version - they work well, although I don't have too much trouble with my hard roof in this respect.
However, it must be said that the Chim offers better value for money being very similar under the skin. They made many more Chims which is probably one reason they are cheaper like for like. I like the relative rarity of the Griff. Similar thing with TR5 & TR6s.
If you're worried about getting the roof in the boot of a Griff, get a folding version - they work well, although I don't have too much trouble with my hard roof in this respect.
However, it must be said that the Chim offers better value for money being very similar under the skin. They made many more Chims which is probably one reason they are cheaper like for like. I like the relative rarity of the Griff. Similar thing with TR5 & TR6s.
The market isnt great at the moment for any toys really, covid saw a large spike in prices but it all seems to have come crashing down this year in particular.
I do still see cars selling though but i do find it a bit odd, a tidy 430 Griff was up for sale privately iirc for around £15k for quite a while, it then re appeared at a dealer for just under £20k and sold quickly.
I do still see cars selling though but i do find it a bit odd, a tidy 430 Griff was up for sale privately iirc for around £15k for quite a while, it then re appeared at a dealer for just under £20k and sold quickly.
Belle427 said:
The market isnt great at the moment for any toys really, covid saw a large spike in prices but it all seems to have come crashing down this year in particular.
I do still see cars selling though but i do find it a bit odd, a tidy 430 Griff was up for sale privately iirc for around £15k for quite a while, it then re appeared at a dealer for just under £20k and sold quickly.
With a car that has such a terrible reputation, I believe people will pay a fair bit more for the comfort of dealer support. I do still see cars selling though but i do find it a bit odd, a tidy 430 Griff was up for sale privately iirc for around £15k for quite a while, it then re appeared at a dealer for just under £20k and sold quickly.
I’m not saying the reputation is correct, but it is there.
2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
Belle427 said:
The market isnt great at the moment for any toys really, covid saw a large spike in prices but it all seems to have come crashing down this year in particular.
I do still see cars selling though but i do find it a bit odd, a tidy 430 Griff was up for sale privately iirc for around £15k for quite a while, it then re appeared at a dealer for just under £20k and sold quickly.
With a car that has such a terrible reputation, I believe people will pay a fair bit more for the comfort of dealer support. I do still see cars selling though but i do find it a bit odd, a tidy 430 Griff was up for sale privately iirc for around £15k for quite a while, it then re appeared at a dealer for just under £20k and sold quickly.
I’m not saying the reputation is correct, but it is there.
The way these cars are used that's probably a dozen drives in reality.
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