1994 TVR Griffith 500 |

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1994 TVR Griffith 500

Sold Price

£19,610

Mileage~87,538
TransmissionManual
Engine5.0L
LocationScunthorpe

SOLD

1994 TVR Griffith 500

I WANT ONE

Introduction

Paul Wright

Professional Consigner

A brute of a V8 that certainly packs a punch in the lightweight TVR body.

1990 was TVRs "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.

From 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 240BHP, and a 4.3 litre which produced 280BHP. 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 340BHP 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.

This beautiful 1994 TVR Griffith 500 belongs to John, who has enjoyed spending his time with the British 2-seater sports car, both driving it and maintaining it. It is definitely worth pointing out here that a lot of jobs needing to be done/common asking point on a TVR of this age have been already been actioned, read on to find out what and why this is one cracking example.

This auction listing was written from information supplied by Paul after meeting John the owner, and having visited and photographed the vehicle.

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Secure Auctions

We verify all our sellers and buyers to keep our community safe whilst also providing the highest levels of website security.

Full Transparency

8 out of 10 people that buy cars via our service don’t feel the need to visit due to the transparency and thoroughness of our listings.

Vehicle Delivery

We're there every step of your buying journey and will even arrange pick-up and delivery of your new vehicle.

Meet the owner

I wanted something with a V8 and a car I could work on myself, the TVR ticks all the boxes and is a huge amount of fun.

John has always loved the sound of the V8 soundtrack in any vehicle, and when he spotted this TVR for sale, it was a match made in heaven for the V8 lover. Also, as a hands-on owner, John has enjoyed the mechanical side of the ownership and is often found tinkering with the Griffith 500 to make sure it’s just right.

John has now got an itch that needs to be scratched for another classic car, and with the space needed, it means that the TVR is up for grabs.

John

Vehicle Owner

John saved £3,420* when they
sold their TVR with us.

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EXTERIOR VIDEO

Exterior

The guys in Blackpool certainly got the mould right when the Griffith was designed.

Wheels and Tyres

The wheels are the originals which have been repainted in an anthracite colour giving a nice contrast against the blue exterior. They are all in good condition with no kerb marks to be seen.

The tyres are matching Toyo Proxes, which have a good amount of tread remaining, a nice choice for a lightweight sports car like this.

Bodywork

The bodywork on the TVR, as you probably know, is fibreglass, therefore it is free from any dents or corrosion.

Looking around the car, the panel gaps all look to be aligned just as they should. The doors and boot do need a firm hand to close them, which is fine once you get used to it. There are no areas of any damage which we could see.

The roof is in good condition with no scuffs or tears to mention, other than a few crease marks as you would expect.

Please see the gallery for more detailed images.

Paint

Finished in Imperial Blue, the TVR is presented in very good condition. The paint is very good with just a few odd age related swirl marks to be seen when the light catches it.

The smooth front end definitely has less stone chips than you would expect for the mileage, and looking around the car there are no other chips or marks to mention.

There does look to be signs of the passenger door being touched up at some point in its life, but this was before John’s ownership and there is nothing noted in the paperwork. There is a small amount of lacquer peel on the front edge of the door, but this is mainly hidden by the wing.

Please see the image gallery for more detailed shots.

Glass and Trim

The glass is all in good condition with no noticeable scratches to point out on the windscreen or side windows.

The rear window is nice and clear and free from any crease marks.

The headlights are both free from any splits or cracks, and the best use for Vauxhall Cavalier rear lights, these too are in good condition.

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INTERIOR VIDEO

Interior

Magnolia leather seats offer comfort and support in the sporty British 2 seater.

Seats and Carpets

There is some patina to the seats which is just some creasing, and the colour has come off in a couple of places, mainly on the driver’s bolster, but this could easily be recoloured we think by a leather specialist.

The door cards are in good condition, with just some light scuffs in line with the mileage, which have likely been caused by getting in and out of the low seated TVR.

The carpets are in good condition, with just a small amount of wear to the back of the driver’s heel pad. The carpet in the boot is nice and clean with the original spare wheel, jack and wheel brace in place.

Dashboard

The dashboard is finished in blue leather which all looks to be in good condition. The brushed stainless steel fascia is well presented with no damage to be seen. All of the instruments have white faces with a chrome bezel, and these are reported to be working as they should. The odometer has a reading of ~87,538 miles.

There are a couple of tiny scuffs to the leather, just below the Pioneer stereo, but these could easily be touched in.

Please see the interior gallery for more detailed shots.

Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

Personal was the choice of steering wheel by TVR. This does have some small signs of light wear, which is in keeping with the mileage, but is generally very good, and the Griffith 500 badge is in place.

The aluminium gear knob matches the stalks and switches and is in excellent condition along with the gear gaiter.

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'ON THE ROAD' VIDEO

Mechanics

TVR developed the 5.0 litre V8, which produces 340BHP and 350 ft-lb of torque - this TVR should be producing a little more thanks to the MA1 camshaft.

Engine and Gearbox

One of the many nice bonuses to come with this TVR, is that the engine was rebuilt by the previous keeper at ~55,000 miles. This was done for no particular reason other than the customer requested it knowing that most V8 engines do require it at some point.

At the same time there was also an MA1 camshaft fitted to give it a few extra horses. All this came in at a cost of over £3,000, and is documented in the extensive history file. In the past 2 weeks John has also replaced the distributor cap, HT leads, oil and filter, oil pressure switch and alternator.

The 5.0 litre V8 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. John has also had a new differential fitted just ~1,000 miles ago, (which comes as just the internals), another plus point for the new owner.

Suspension and Brakes

The car sits well and handles even better thanks to the new Nitron shock absorbers, which John has fitted along with new upper and lower arms.

That was only the start - corrosion is quite common on the chassis of a TVR but you will be glad to know that the chassis of this one has been removed, checked for adjustment on a jig, repaired or modified where necessary, and then fully powder coated in white and refitted to the body, ensuring this should be trouble free for many years.

Bringing the TVR to a stop nice and quickly, the discs look to be in good condition with no noticeable lip to the discs.

The Drive

You’ll certainly hear it before you see it with the sound of the V8 thundering down the road - it really is something quite special. Especially with a book speed of 0-60 mph in 4.1 seconds and a top speed of 169 mph. All this performance makes for a lively machine, and so keep your wits about you.

The TVR drives as it should, with the only point being that since the MC1 camshaft was fitted, driving the car around town can make it a little lumpy at low revs. To compensate this, change down a gear or a few more revs, either way a few more revs is hardly a bad thing is it?

Electrics and Other

Everything in the car is reported to be working just as it should. John was keen to point out that the windows are a little slow, but are working.

The indicator and wiper stalks are in good condition with no real signs of heavy wear.

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History and Paperwork

An extensive history file shows just how much the TVR has been cherished by its owners, important chassis and engine work make this a solid Griffith 500 coming to the market.

The Griffith is one of TVR’s most recognisable models, and this is also the desirable 500 derivative. With 13 service stamps, backed up with a mass of invoices for work carried out, you will definitely not get tired of reading just how well maintained this TVR has been.

A fresh MOT was carried out on 8th September 2021, where it passed with no advisories.

We’ve done all our usual seller checks including photo ID, V5, and the vehicle is HPI clear.

Service History

Date	Type	Mileage
08.09.2021	MOT	87,459
11.09.2020	MOT	87,163
23.08,2019	MOT	86,587
18.08.2018	MOT	85,577
14.07.2017	MOT	84,655
06.07.2016	MOT	83,841
01.07.2015	MOT	82,992
04.07.2014	MOT	80,707
12.07.2013	MOT	79,023
25.09.2010	MOT	76.008
24.09.2010	Service	76.023
29.07.2009	MOT	72,645
14.06.2008	Service	69,120
10.06.2008	MOT	69,120
08.06.2007	MOT	64,740
25.06.2006	MOT	60,990
25.02.2006	Service	60,990
08.03.2004	Service	51,985
10.08.1999	Service	41,468
13.02.1998	Service	36,756
02.07.1997	Service	31,501
02.07.1996	Service	23,428
06.11.1995	Service	17,775

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Key Details

ModelGriffith 500
TransmissionManual
Reg. Date08.03.1994
CC4,997
Mileage~87,538
HistoryGood
ColourImperial Blue
Interior ColourMagnolia
Interior TrimLeather
Chassis #SDLDGC5P1RA011201
Engine #47A50P1730
Engine RebuildYes
MOTEXP 10.09.2022
HPi ClearYes
Former Keepers13
LHD or RHDRHD
VisitedYes
Sale TypePrivate
Key FeatureEngine rebuild, Chassis reconditioned

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Ask Questions

Seller : John R Sale Date 14.10.2021

Post a comment or ask the owner a question about the car.

12 Comments

HarryCG

3 years ago

Hi again John. Can you speak to the condition of the clutch please? I can’t see record of its replacement in the receipts. Thank you.

Jonathan royce

HarryCG

3 years ago

Hi Harry the clutch is in good order with a very good biting point.
Hope this helps
John

HarryCG

Jonathan royce

3 years ago

Thank you. But no record of its replacement?

Jonathan royce

HarryCG

3 years ago

Prior to my ownership there is no receipt, so Im going to say no, and during my ownership I haven’t had the need to replace it.
Thanks
John

Gary Topper

3 years ago

Is it possible to view this tomorrow please? I am just across the Humber Bridge. Gary

Jonathan royce

Gary Topper

3 years ago

Apologies Gary that’s not possible as I’m busy with work up until 8.30pm tomorrow. Also you will need to seek permission from trade classic to arrange a viewing.
Thanks
John

Greeegor

3 years ago

Hi John, I’ve been looking at the service history/parts receipts. They only go up 2017, I can see in the write up that you have just given it a service and renewed the diff….do you have a receipt for this and the service parts? or have I just over looked them? apologies if I have.
Also, do you know anything about the damage to N/S rear quarter repainted and receipted in 2007. cause and how bad?

thanks

Greg.

Jonathan royce

Greeegor

3 years ago

Hello Greg in my ownership it has had a lot of work done with receipts to prove, the diff replacement was done when I had the body of the chassis along with many other parts, again receipts and photos to verify.
As for the body repair I know very little about this as it was before my ownership. And to be fair I hadn’t noticed that.
Hope this helps.
Thanks john

Greeegor

3 years ago

Hi John, how long have you owed the car?
Thanks
Greg

Jonathan royce

Greeegor

3 years ago

Coming up to 5 years now
Thanks
John

Harry Corder-Gill

3 years ago

Hi. Which year was the chassis off the body for repair/powdercoating please? Were the outriggers replaced at this time?

John

Harry Corder-Gill

3 years ago

Hi the chassis was re powder coated in 2017 along with new outriggers installed.
Thanks
John

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Scunthorpe

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