Top 10 Facts You Need To Know About The TVR Griffith Before Buying

The TVR Griffith is a sports car from the early 90s and was in production till 2002. During its production run, only 2350 units of the car were ever produced, making them a rare sight. Unlike its competitors on the home turf, the Griffith sees less attention but is a beautiful-looking sports car nonetheless with an elegant design. The appealing parts of the car are its lightweight fiberglass body and the inexpensive Rover V8 engines. As such, it required fewer expenses for maintenance since the Rover motors were also found on other passenger vehicles as well. In terms of driving experience, the Griffith impressed plenty. Even today, the car can be had within a reasonable price range despite being a rare automobile but it offers ample value, especially with its performance and handling capabilities.

10. Check for cracks on the fiberglass body

The lightweight fiberglass body of the TVR Griffith doesn’t rust and that’s an excellent thing. However, it isn't as durable and structurally solid as metals. Cracks do develop over time which are hidden most of the time with a quick paint job. If there are any cracks or damages to the fiberglass body, you need an expert specializing in fiberglass panels to make it right.

9. Ensure the engine cooling fans run properly

Like plenty of modern cars today, the engine cooling fans of the Griffith’s V8 are controlled by thermostats. However, with time, they tend to malfunction. While buying, do check if the fans are running well and kicking in while the motor temperature hits 90 degrees. If not, check for the temperature sensors.

8. Check the quality of the leather interior

The entire interior of the TVR Griffith was wrapped in leather and even the dashboard wasn’t spared. Moreover, TVR kept on changing brands that supplied the leather trims for the car’s interior hence, not all Griffiths will have the same quality of interior leather either. Look for cracks and faded surfaces on the leather surfaces.

7. The exhaust system should be in good shape

When it was new, the owners of the Griffith fiddled with the exhaust system of the car, especially trying to remove the entire silencer. With that, the exhaust manifold tends to get damaged at varying levels and you need to check it out carefully. To test it out, drive the car at lower speeds while putting it in high gear. If there are some certain clicking sounds, the manifold would need some work, and it would get expensive as well.

6. Check the belts inside the motor

The Rover V8 engine powering the Griffith went through an upgrade in 1994 when the displacement was increased to 5.0-liter from the previous 4.0-liter. Moreover, the upgraded engine came with a ribbed serpentine drive belt coiled with a spring tensioner. Check carefully for any issues with the belt and the tensioner and listen to any rattling or grumbling sounds. If the belt system needs to be worked upon, it is going to be quite the task!

5. Check for clunking or out-of-ordinary sounds from the rear suspension

The rear suspension setup of the Griffith tends to have issues over time. While test driving, keep your ears sharp for any clunking sounds or abnormal sounds from the rear suspension setup of the car. The most common issues arise with worn-out bushings and drop links of the rear anti-roll bar.

4. Check the steering bushes

Even though it might sound like a common problem, Griffith’s steering system requires timely maintenance including these parts. Worn-out steering bushing would lead to incorrect steering alignment and improper feel while driving.

3. The driver’s seat bolsters are prone to wearing

This is a commonly reported issue with used Griffiths out there. And do check for worn-out seat bolsters on both the driver’s and passenger seats as well. The fix won’t be too much of a hassle though, you just need to find a skilled person to trim the seats.

2. Check for rust on the chassis

The metal chassis of the TVR Griffith came with silver coating till 1996 answer switched to white coating from 1997 onward. With that being said, the silver chassis is more resistant to rust than the latter white-coated ones. Naturally, do check extensively for rusts if you plan on settling for a Griffith made after 1997.

1. Check the gauges inside the cabin

The gauges of the TVR Griffith are simple analog units and are built to last, However, on a used model, they do tend to malfunction or stop working. The most common issues are earthing problems or corrosion of metal contact points on the dashboard’s circuit board. While both of them are easy fixes, opening up the Lucas control box can be a tedious job and you need to go through a pile of jumbled-up wires.