1994 TVR Griffith

Highlights

• Rebuilt five-litre V8 engine
• Extensive history files
• Superbly well preserved leather upholstery
• Upgraded brakes
• Retrimmed roof

Overview

Whether you’re a die hard enthusiast or TVRs seem to ignite a flame of intrigue among any of us who have a passing interest in cars. Their slight nerdiness while still being unapologetically performance-orientated makes them appealing in a hard-to-define kind of way.

And the five-litre V8 Griffith takes the performance aspect of TVR’s character and dials it up to eleven. The first Griffiths were fitted with a four-litre engine, which was later replaced by a 4.3, then finally the five-litre seen here.

This particular Griffith benefits from having had its 335 bhp engine stripped and rebuilt, due to a spun bearing. So you now have the chance to get your hands on a Griffith featuring a very low mileage engine to play with. And with all that V8 power being sent rearwards via a five-speed manual transmission, there’s plenty to be enjoyed when you get behind the wheel.

The car here is presented in very good condition throughout, with the pale leather upholstery having survived in excellent shape, and the red paintwork suiting the car perfectly.

So if you’re looking to enjoy a powerful V8 roadster this summer, then you need look no further.

History and documentation

• Registered 18 Nov 1994
• Stamped service book with services as follows: 25 Nov 1994 @ 734 miles, 2 Feb 1995 @ 5,464 miles, May 1995 @ 12,647 miles, Aug 1995 @ 18,048 miles, Nov 1995 @ 23,870 miles, Apr 1996 @ 30,301 miles, Nov 1996 @ 35,501 miles, May 1997 @ 41,373 miles, Jun 1997 @ 47,179 miles, Jun 1998 @ 50,960 miles, Jun 1999 @ 56,584 miles, May 2000 @ 57,159 miles, Apr 2001 @ 57,758 miles, Apr 2002 @ 514 miles (mileage reset), May 2003 @ 2,791 miles, Apr 2004 @ 5357 miles, May 2005 @ 6,182 miles,
• There is an official TVR Factory Speedo Change certificate in the service record, which states that in March 2002 the odometer was reset from 58,300 miles to zero.
• The current true mileage is said to be around 90,000
• Original leather document binder
• Two additional files containing invoices and old MOT certificates
• Five former keepers
• Owned by the current keeper for 17 years
• Two keys
• Fresh MOT with no advisories expires Jul 2025
• V5 present in owner’s name
• HPI clear

Interior

• Luxurious beige (“Doe Skin”) leather upholstery, with matching carpets
• The leather hides are extremely well preserved for the age of the car, with very few signs of wear or damage
• Even the driver’s seat bolster is free from scuffs or cracks
• The carpets are very clean and tidy, with ‘Griffith 500’ branded leather-trimmed overmats
• Polished stainless steel sill plates
• ‘Griffith 500’ leather steering wheel
• Burr walnut dashboard trim, with a small area of delamination on the left-hand side
• Alpine sound system
• Aluminium gear knob, handbrake lever, and heater control knobs
• The veneer on the heater control panel has cracked in places
• All the buttons and controls look to be present and correct
• Unusually, the door release handles are located in the centre console
• Useful storage space behind the seats
• Fully carpeted boot to the rear

Exterior

• Finished in a fetching shade of deep red known as Ruby Mica, this TVR looks purposeful on the road
• There are one or two small chips and scratches in the paint, but otherwise it is well preserved
• The glass fibre body panels look to be in good condition
• Fared-in headlights
• No damage reported by the vendor
• The fabric roof has been retrimmed
• The rear window is free from clouding or discolouration
• Reportedly the chassis is very solid, having been, painted and treated with WaxOyl more than once
• The outriggers are said to be original but in good condition
• Seven-spoke TVR alloy wheels are all very presentable
• The vendor tells us that the tyres retain plenty of tread
• All the lamp lenses look clear and bright

Mechanical

• 4,997 cc Rover V8 engine
• Rated at 340 bhp and 350 lb ft from the factory
• The vendor informs us that the engine was rebuilt about 16,000 miles age
• There is an invoice on file for the rebuild work undertaken, from replacing a camshaft and fitting new silicone hoses
• Five-speed T5 manual transmission
• No mechanical issues noted
• The brakes have reportedly been upgraded, so it now stops extremely well
• It is said to start very easily and sound excellent
• The engine bay looks very clean and tidy
• There are extensive invoices on file for parts and servicing
• Underneath, the chassis and suspension components are painted silver and well presented

Summary

Overall, this Griffith makes a very tempting proposition, with its smart interior, attractive paintwork, rebuilt engine, T5 manual transmission, and big V8 noise. What’s not to like? You could be the next custodian of this extremely desirable roadster.

Non-concierge cars: To arrange a viewing, please request this in the Q&A section. You can click through to the seller's profile and use the 'Email Me' function to arrange a viewing privately. This seller is located near Matlock, Derbyshire.