The Big Car Database

Tvr Griffith

 

The TVR Griffith, later models being referred to as the Griffith 500, was a sports car designed and built by TVR starting production in 1991 and ending production in 2002 with production beginning again in 2018 under a revived TVR brand.

 

TVR Griffith
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Overview
Manufacturer TVR
Production

1991–2002

2018–Present
Body and chassis
Class Sports car
Roadster
Body style

2-door convertible

2-door coupe
Related TVR Chimaera
Melling Wildcat
Powertrain
Engine 4.0 L - 5.0 L V8
Chronology
Successor TVR Tuscan Speed Six (2003)

First Generation (1991-2002)

Like its forerunner namesakes, the Griffith 200 and Griffith 400, the modern Griffith was a lightweight (1048 kg or 2310 lb) fiberglass-bodied, 2-door, 2-seat sports car with a V8 engine. Originally, it used a 4.0 L 240 hp (179 kW) Rover V8 engine, but that could be optionally increased to 4.3 L 280 hp (209 kW) in 1992 with a further option of big-valve cylinder heads. In 1993 with a TVR-developed 5.0 L 340 hp (254 kW) version of the Rover V8 became available. All versions of the Griffith use the Lucas 14CUX engine management system.

All models use a five-speed manual transmission.

Although the 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 secondhand market.[citation needed]

The Griffith was a lightweight, high-power, and well-balanced car. The speed six Griffith proposal never became a production reality; by the time it was launched it had morphed into the TVR Tuscan Speed Six.

In Japan, a special edition "Blackpool B340" was sold.[citation needed] This car was featured in Gran Turismo and Gran Turismo 2 (in the former as the Griffith 4.0 in the NTSC and PAL versions).

In 2000, TVR announced that the Griffith production was going to end. A limited edition run of 100 Special Edition (SE) cars were to be built to mark the end of production. Although still very similar to the previous Griffith 500 model, the SE had a hybrid interior using the Chimaera dashboard and Cerbera seats. Noticeably, the rear lights were different along with different door mirrors, higher powered headlights and clear indicator lenses. Some also came with 16-inch wheels. Each car came with a numbered plaque in the glove box including the build number and a Special Edition Badge on its boot. All cars also had a unique signature in the boot under the carpet. The SEs were built between 2000 and 2002, with the last registered in 2003. A register of the last 100 SEs can be found at TVR Griffith 500 SE Register.

Every year, to celebrate the TVR Griffith, their owners have a meet called "The Griff Growl."

In 2008, Al Melling Sports Cars unveiled the Melling Wildcat, a roadster heavily based on the Griffith but powered instead by a variant of TVR's later AJP8 engine.

Specifications

Engine

Rover alloy V8

 
1996 5.0 litre V8

Valvetrain setup: 2 valves per cylinder, Overhead Valve

Model Capacity (cc) Power (bhp) Torque Max speed 0-60 mph (s) 0-100 mph (s)
4.0 3,950 240 hp (243 PS) 270 lb·ft (370 N·m) at 4000 rpm 152 mph (245 km/h) 4.7 12.1
4.0 HC 3,950 Hi-Lift Cam 275 hp (279 PS) 305 lb·ft (414 N·m) 158 mph (254 km/h) 4.7 12.1
4.3 4,280 280 hp (284 PS) 305 lb·ft (414 N·m) at 4000 rpm 158 mph (254 km/h) 4.6 11.3
4.5 4,495 285 hp (289 PS) 310 lb·ft (420 N·m) 158 mph (254 km/h) 4.6  
5.0 4,988 340 hp (345 PS) 350 (320 with catalyzer) lbf·ft 169 mph (272 km/h) 4.1 10.5

Transmission

Transmission: 5-Speed Manual (Rover LT77 or Tremec T5)

Suspension

Front: Independent, double wishbones, coil-over gas dampers, sway bars

Rear: Independent, double wishbones, coil-over gas dampers, sway bars

Brakes

Front: 260 mm (10 in) ventilated disc brakes

Rear: 260 mm (10 in) ventilated disc brakes

Wheels Front: 15 in aluminium alloy

Rear: 16 in

Chassis/body

Body Panels: Glass fibre

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)

Second Generation (2018-present)

On 8 September 2017, to coincide with the marque's 70th anniversary year at the Goodwood Revival, a new TVR Griffith was revealed under the now resurrected TVR marque, featuring design work by Gordon Murray. It features a Cosworth modified Ford Coyote 5.0l V8 engine producing 500 hp (507 PS), double wishbone suspension with adjustable coilover dampers a carbon fibre ground effect chassis.. It can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) in approximately 4 seconds and can achieve a top speed in excess of 322 km/h (200 mph). The new Griffith retains the manual transmission as used in the previous TVR models making it a proper drivers car but includes ABS, power steering and traction control as standard in order to handle the high power output and keep the car stable at high speeds. The extensive use of carbon fibre helps save weight and as a result, it weighs less than 1250kg with a 50:50 weight distribution achieved through the Griffith's architecture of aluminum and carbon fibre components which improves handling. Design elements such as large front air intakes, front splitter and rear integrated diffuser help in increasing aero dynamics while the double side exhausts and a double bubble roof add to the car's purposeful look. Inside the car, a driver-focused setup is kept in mind with a digital instrument cluster providing useful information and minimum controls present on the steering wheel and dashboard. Air conditioning, leather interior trim and multimedia system come as standard as well. The Griffith will start production in late 2018 and will be limited to just 500 units with a price tag starting from about ₤90,000.

Production by year

  • 1992: 602
  • 1993: 230 (169 2DR + 61 500)
  • 1994: 292
  • 1995: 284
  • 1996: 288
  • 1997: 232
  • 1998: 231
  • 1999: 187
  • 2000: 90
  • 2001: 82
  • 2002: 64
  • 2018: To be started