1990 was TVR’s New Beginning, and the Griffith was revealed at the Birmingham Motor Show where it was a show stopper! It was reported at the time that an order was taken every 8 minutes.
In 1991 to 1993 the chassis was re-engineered to enable it to cope with high power levels. The first delivery of the two engine specs were a 4.0 litre producing 240 Bhp and a 4.3 litre which produced 280 Bhp. If that wasn't enough for the power hungry, there were some Big Valve conversions made and badged BV or for the totally insane a 4.5 litre was produced.
Three quarters of the way through 1993 it was announced that the Griffith 500 was to be produced which would be the 5.0 litre V8 producing 340 Bhp and 350 ft-lb torque. It would also feature upgraded brakes and suspension and be fitted with catalytic convertors. In 1994 TVR changed from using the Rover SD1 to the much stronger Borg Warner T5 gearbox. The engine stayed the same until 1997 where it was de-tuned to 320 Bhp to aid better driving at lower speeds.
Production continued from a high of 288 in 1996 and slowly lessened until 2001 where TVR announced that they were going to end production of the Griffith. To mark the end of production there was a final run of 100 Special Edition cars produced.
Registered at the TVR distributor Harrogate Horseless Carriages Ltd on 10th May 1996, this stunning Ruby Mica Red TVR Griffith 500 was cared for by the original buyer until 2014 when the vendor purchased this monster of a machine. Having previously owned the earlier 4.3 Griffith a few years ago and a huge fan of most things V8, the itch soon got well and truly scratched with the 500.
A TVR Owners club member certainly shows through with the condition of the car. You can tell from sifting through the abundance of paperwork that it has been well maintained throughout its life. Some of the works carried out include new suspension and springs and at the same time powder coating to the wishbones.
As part of a small collection of cars, it comes as no surprise that the TVR does not get used in the rain, it is garaged all year round, and during the winter months it is declared SORN. Keeping the car like this has certainly paid off and has kept the Griffith in excellent condition, with no signs of chassis rust that you can find on some TVR's.
The time has come where the owner has made the decision to part with the Griffith and unfortunately the space is needed to make way for another V8 love affair.
The V5 is present and shows just 2 keepers. The 500 has MOT until 25th February 2022, and the current MOT went through with no advisories. To keep the TVR safe it has had a Toad alarm and immobiliser fitted and comes with 2 key fobs and 2 keys.
It's always nice to see the original handbooks with a car and you'll be pleased to know that these are present along with the radio instructions and service book, which has an impressive 16 stamps. Another nice one for the purists, and buyers that like originality, is the original bill of sale, price list and the sales brochure.
Receipts and invoices are plentiful which show pretty much everything that's been spent on the TVR over the years. Going through these receipts just clarifies that the Griff has been well cared for.
The TVR’s interior is in excellent condition. Opening the door you are faced with two comfortable grey leather seats which are just nicely bedded in. There are no real signs of any wear to the bolsters, just a few age related creases as you would expect. Sitting inside the Griff you are faced with the classic Personal steering wheel which holds the Griffith 500 badge and TVR horn push, together with the indicator and wiper stalks which show no real signs of any wear.
The dashboard is trimmed in the same leather as the seats, with a walnut burr finish to the facia. The clocks and gauges are with a white background and silver bezel and these all work correctly. The odometer is showing a reading of just 28,157. The switches mounted on the dashboard for the boot release etc, are all working just as they should.
The Pioneer radio cassette player is the original factory fit unit (but let's be honest, with the sound of 5.0 litre under your right foot… who needs music!) Just below the stereo is the heater controls and electric window switches and these are all working perfectly. The transmission tunnel is again trimmed in matching leather and is in excellent condition, as are the carpets throughout. The car does come with some TVR mats that have been used to protect the carpets from any unwanted wear.
Into the boot area of the Griffith, and there is a space saver spare wheel and cover, along with the jack and wheel brace in the original bag. There is also the cover for the removable carbon fibre roof section.
We don’t think that there are many who would disagree when you say just what a beautiful car the Griffith is, with its elegant curves and smooth lines. Finished in the striking Ruby Mica Red, the colour pops in all lights.
Starting at the front, all the lights are free from any cracks. There are some small age related stone chips to the front nose of the car but this has to be expected as with such a smooth front nose that’s all painted it's very difficult to escape the odd chip here and there.
Moving around to the sides, the car looks and sits perfect with no dinks to upset the sleekness of the TVR and the door shut lines are uniform and straight. There is a small amount of paint that's split where the driver's side door opener is, which is quite a common thing to happen.
The rear or the 500 is just the same, the boot shuts and aligns just as it should. Two stainless steel exhaust tips just slightly protrude from under the curvy rear end. The lights may be upside down Cavalier items but these are also free from any cracks.
The roof is obviously removable and is in brilliant condition. The seller was keen to mention that there are two small scratches in the fabric approximately 2 inches long. These do not affect the roof in any way. The rear window folds down once the roof section has been taken out and this is in excellent condition with no noticeable scratches.
Onto the wheels of the TVR, these are all kerb and corrosion free. There is some water ingress that has got into the centre caps. New Toyo Proxes have recently been fitted, giving the new owner plenty of running miles. Included with the sale is a TVR car cover which is believed to be the original one that was used to cover the car once it had been made.
The Griffith 500 is fitted with a TVR developed 5.0 litre V8 which produces 340 Bhp and 350 ft-lb of torque and gives a 0-60 mph of 4.1 seconds with a top speed of 169 mph. All this performance makes for a lively machine and so keep your wits about you.
At 22,000 miles the TVR was treated to new Bilstein shock absorbers and Eibach springs to the front and rear. Whilst this work was being carried out the decision was made to also replace all the bushes with OEM items and, as everything was apart, and to futureproof the wishbones from any rust, they were powder-coated. Another upgrade to the car is the addition of an uprated radiator with twin fans to help keep the 5.0 litre nice and cool.
The 5.0 litre starts up and purrs away just as it should and sounds absolutely fantastic. It is mated to the pretty much bullet proof Borg Warner 5-speed gearbox, which the seller reports pulls strongly and smoothly through all the gears. The 500 has power steering as standard which makes manoeuvring the lump of V8 a breeze at low speeds.
So, we have a 5.0 litre V8 producing 340 Bhp and 350 ft-lb torque, rear-wheel drive, manual and all in something that only weighs in at just over one ton. That can only equal one thing…... FUN!
The Griffith is one of TVR’s most recognisable marque’s and this is also the desirable 500 model, with only 28,175 miles, 16 service stamps, backed up with plenty of receipts and enthusiast owned. If you are looking for a 2 seater British sports car, the Griffith is one that must be up there on the “cars to own list” and this will not disappoint!
Notice to bidders
Although every care is taken to ensure this listing is as factual and transparent as possible, all details within the listing are subject to the information provided to us by the seller. Car & Classic does not take responsibility for any information missing from the listing. Please ensure you are satisfied with the vehicle description and all information provided before placing a bid.
As is normal for most auctions, this vehicle is sold as seen, and therefore the Sale of Goods Act 1979 does not apply. All bids are legally binding once placed. Any winning bidder who withdraws from a sale, is subject to our bidders fee charge. Please see our FAQs and T&C's for further information. Viewings of vehicles are encouraged, but entirely at the sellers discretion.
Car & Classic's secure payment system protects buyers and sellers. At the end of the auction, the winning bidder transfers payment into a third-party escrow account. Once the transfer of the vehicle is complete, both parties confirm they are happy with the sale and the money is released to the seller.
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1996 TVR Griffith 500
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