TVR Griffith
Encyclopedia
The TVR Griffith, later models being referred to as the Griffith 500, was a sports car
designed and built by TVR
starting in 1991 and ending in 2002.
Like its forerunner namesakes, the Griffith 200
and Griffith 400
, the modern Griffith was a light weight (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 second-hand market.
The Griffith was a light weight, 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 6.
In Japan
, a special edition "Blackpool B340" was sold. 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.
Rover alloy V8
Valvetrain setup: 2 valves per cylinder, Overhead Valve
Transmission
Transmission
: 5-Speed Manual (Rover LT77 or Tremec T5)
Suspension
Front: Independent
, double wishbones, coil-over gas dampers, sway bar
s
Rear: Independent, double wishbones, coil-over gas dampers, sway bars
Brakes
Front: 260 mm (10.2 in) ventilated disc brakes
Rear: 260 mm (10.2 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: 3892 mm (153.2 in)
Height: 1205 mm (47.4 in)
Width: 1943 mm (76.5 in)
Wheelbase: 2282 mm (89.8 in)
Front track: 1460 mm (57.5 in)
Rear track: 1470 mm (57.9 in)
Ground clearance: 146 mm (5.7 in)
Sports car
A sports car is a small, usually two seat, two door automobile designed for high speed driving and maneuverability....
designed and built by TVR
TVR
thumb|right|240px|TVR No.2, the oldest surviving TVR, located at [[Lakeland Motor Museum, Newby Bridge, Cumbria]]TVR was an independent British manufacturer of sports cars. Until 2006 it was based in the English seaside town of Blackpool, Lancashire, but has since split up into several smaller...
starting in 1991 and ending in 2002.
Like its forerunner namesakes, the Griffith 200
TVR Griffith 200
The TVR Griffith 200 was a lightweight fibreglass-body sports car. In the United States, the make was Griffith and the model was Griffith Series 200, whilst the United Kingdom the make was TVR and the model was Griffith 200....
and Griffith 400
TVR Griffith 400
The TVR Griffith Series 400 is a 2 door coupe sports car produced by Griffith Automobile Corporation between 1964 and 1967. It is the successor to the TVR Griffith 200, featuring improved cooling via a larger radiator with twin electric fans, and a redesigned rear with better visibility and...
, the modern Griffith was a light weight (1048 kg or 2310 lb) fiberglass
Fiberglass
Glass fiber is a material consisting of numerous extremely fine fibers of glass.Glassmakers throughout history have experimented with glass fibers, but mass manufacture of glass fiber was only made possible with the invention of finer machine tooling...
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
Rover V8 engine
The Rover V8 engine is a compact V8 internal combustion engine with aluminium cylinder heads and cylinder block, originally designed by General Motors and later re-designed and produced by Rover in the United Kingdom...
, 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
Lucas 14CUX
The Lucas 14CUX is an automotive electronic fuel injection system developed by Lucas Industries and fitted to the Rover V8 engine in Land Rover vehicles between 1990 and 1995...
engine management system.
All models use a five speed manual transmission.
The Griffith was a light weight, 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 6.
In Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, a special edition "Blackpool B340" was sold. This car was featured in Gran Turismo
Gran Turismo (video game)
is a racing simulator designed by Kazunori Yamauchi. Gran Turismo was developed by Polyphony Digital and first published by Sony Computer Entertainment in 1997 for the PlayStation video game console...
and Gran Turismo 2
Gran Turismo 2
is a driving simulator / racing game for the Sony PlayStation. Gran Turismo 2 was developed by Polyphony Digital and published by Sony Computer Entertainment in 1999. The games serves as a sequel to Gran Turismo...
(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
Melling Wildcat
The Melling Wildcat is a V8 powered sports car produced by engine specialist Al Melling in Rochdale, UK.- History :The Wildcat was conceived by designer Al Melling to fill the gap left by defunct British marques such as TVR, Marcos and others...
, a roadster heavily based on the Griffith but powered instead by a variant of TVR's later AJP8 engine.
Specifications
EngineRover alloy V8
| Model | Capacity (cc) | Power (bhp) | Torque | Max speed | 0-60 mph (s) | 0-100 mph (s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.0 | 3,950 | 240 hp | 270 lbft at 4000 rpm | 152 miles per hour (68 m/s) | 4.7 | 12.1 |
| 4.0 HC | 3,950 Hi-Lift Cam | 275 hp | 305 lbft | 158 miles per hour (70.6 m/s) | 4.7 | 12.1 |
| 4.3 | 4,280 | 280 hp | 305 lbft at 4000 rpm | 158 miles per hour (70.6 m/s) | 4.6 | 11.3 |
| 4.5 | 4,495 | 285 hp | 310 lbft | 158 miles per hour (70.6 m/s) | 4.6 | |
| 5.0 | 4,988 | 340 hp | 350 (320 with catalyzer) lbf·ft | 169 miles per hour (75.5 m/s) | 4.1 | 10.5 |
Transmission
Transmission
Transmission (mechanics)
A machine consists of a power source and a power transmission system, which provides controlled application of the power. Merriam-Webster defines transmission as: an assembly of parts including the speed-changing gears and the propeller shaft by which the power is transmitted from an engine to a...
: 5-Speed Manual (Rover LT77 or Tremec T5)
Suspension
Front: Independent
Independent suspension
Independent suspension is a broad term for any automobile suspension system that allows each wheel on the same axle to move vertically independently of each other. This is contrasted with a beam axle, live axle or deDion axle system in which the wheels are linked – movement on one side affects...
, double wishbones, coil-over gas dampers, sway bar
Sway bar
A sway bar or anti-roll bar or stabilizer bar is a part of an automobile suspension that helps reduce the roll of a vehicle that is induced by cornering or road irregularities. It connects opposite wheels together through short lever arms linked by a torsion spring...
s
Rear: Independent, double wishbones, coil-over gas dampers, sway bars
Brakes
Front: 260 mm (10.2 in) ventilated disc brakes
Rear: 260 mm (10.2 in) ventilated disc brakes
Wheels
Front: 15 in aluminium
Aluminium
Aluminium or aluminum is a silvery white member of the boron group of chemical elements. It has the symbol Al, and its atomic number is 13. It is not soluble in water under normal circumstances....
alloy
Alloy
An alloy is a mixture or metallic solid solution composed of two or more elements. Complete solid solution alloys give single solid phase microstructure, while partial solutions give two or more phases that may or may not be homogeneous in distribution, depending on thermal history...
Rear: 16 in
Chassis/body
Body Panels: Glass fibre
Fuel Capacity: 57 Litres (12.5 Imp. gallons
Imperial unit
The system of imperial units or the imperial system is the system of units first defined in the British Weights and Measures Act of 1824, which was later refined and reduced. The system came into official use across the British Empire...
, 15.0 U.S. gal
United States customary units
United States customary units are a system of measurements commonly used in the United States. Many U.S. units are virtually identical to their imperial counterparts, but the U.S. customary system developed from English units used in the British Empire before the system of imperial units was...
)
Weight: 1060 kg (2336 lb)
Length: 3892 mm (153.2 in)
Height: 1205 mm (47.4 in)
Width: 1943 mm (76.5 in)
Wheelbase: 2282 mm (89.8 in)
Front track: 1460 mm (57.5 in)
Rear track: 1470 mm (57.9 in)
Ground clearance: 146 mm (5.7 in)