The TVR Griffith, later models being referred to as the Griffith 500, was a sports car designed and built by TVR (it had a run since 1991 until 2002).
The TVR Griffith was almost mechanically identical to its sister car, the Chimaera, it had a different body design and was produced in much smaller numbers. Well-maintained examples generally command higher prices on the second-hand market.
The unveiling of the Griffith prototype at the 1990 British Motor Show meant TVR could leave the Tasmin and S-Series cars behind, and move into a new era of much more powerful, aggressively styled cars. This first car was essentially a rebodied V8-S, with a chassis that could cope with little more than 240bhp. TVR boss Peter Wheeler knew the Griffith would ultimately offer much more than this, so a new platform had to be devised. The solution was to base the new car on the Tuscan racer’s frame, and at the 1991 motor show a completely rejigged Griffith was unveiled. The first cars were delivered in 1992, with either 3948cc or 4280cc Rover V8s, producing 240bhp and 270lb ft or 280bhp and 305lb ft respectively.
Some details:
Fuel Capacity: 57 Litres (12.5 Imp. gallons, 15.0 U.S. gal)
Weight: 1060 kg (2336 lb)
Length: 3,892 mm (153.2 in)
Height: 1,205 mm (47.4 in)
Width: 1,943 mm (76.5 in)
Wheelbase: 2,282 mm (89.8 in)
Front track: 1,460 mm (57 in)
Rear track: 1,470 mm (58 in)
Ground clearance: 146 mm (5.7 in)
The 4.3-litre unit that came later offers a useful (but not especially necessary) increase in go, while the 5-litre unit that appeared in 1993 could be seen as nothing less than overkill. But hey – too much power is not enough, and if you want something stupidly quick, the 5-litre is the one to go for; it’ll dismiss the 0-60 sprint in little more than four seconds and can top 160mph, while all the time looking gorgeous. But it can be very scary to drive…
http://www.classiccars4sale.net/classic-car-review/c2c-tvr-griffith
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