# TVR Griffith

The TVR Griffith, later models being referred to as the Griffith 500, is a sports car designed and built by TVR, starting production in 1990, and ending production in 2002. The Griffith name was previously used on the TVR Griffith 200, which was produced from 1963 to 1964, and the TVR Griffith 400 from 1964 to 1967.
Like its forerunner namesakes, the Griffith 200 and Griffith 400, the modern Griffith was a lightweight (1,060 kg (2,337 lb)) fiberglass-bodied, 2-door, 2-seat sports car with a V8 engine. Originally, it used a 4.0 L 240 hp (179 kW; 243 PS) Rover V8 engine, but that could be optionally increased to 4.3 L 280 hp (209 kW; 284 PS) in 1992 with a further option of big-valve cylinder heads. In 1993, with a TVR-developed 5.0 L 340 hp (254 kW; 345 PS) version of the Rover V8 became available. All versions of the Griffith use the Lucas Industries 14CUX engine management system. All models use a five-speed manual transmission from Rover and TREMEC.
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.
The Griffith was a lightweight, high-power, and well-balanced car. A low-cost speed six Griffith proposal never became a production reality; by the time it was launched alongside the Griffith in 1999, it had morphed into the Tuscan Speed Six.
A special edition Japanese market Griffith 500 was made dubbed the Blackpool B340. This car was featured in Gran Turismo, Gran Turismo 2 (in the former as the Griffith 4.0 in the NTSC and PAL versions) and Driving Emotion Type-S. The car was similar to a normal Griffith 500 with some bespoke options available. The Japanese market also got a B275 4.0 engined car with aluminium basketweave dashboard.
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.
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 by a variant of TVR's later AJP8 engine.

### Specifications

Engine
Name: Rover alloy V8
Valvetrain setup: 2 valves per cylinder, Overhead Valve
| Model | Displacement | Power | Torque | Max speed | 0–97 km/h (0–60 mph) (seconds) | 0–161 km/h (0–100 mph) (seconds) |
| 4.0 | 3,950 | 240 hp (179 kW; 243 PS) | 270 lb⋅ft (366 N⋅m) at 4000 rpm | 245 km/h (152 mph) | 4.7 | 12.1 |
| 4.0 HC | 3,950 Hi-Lift Cam | 275 hp (205 kW; 279 PS) | 305 lb⋅ft (414 N⋅m) | 254 km/h (158 mph) | 4.7 | 12.1 |
| 4.3 | 4,280 | 280 hp (209 kW; 284 PS) | 305 lb⋅ft (414 N⋅m) at 4000 rpm | 254 km/h (158 mph) | 4.6 | 11.3 |
| 4.5 | 4,495 | 285 hp (213 kW; 289 PS) | 310 lb⋅ft (420 N⋅m) | 254 km/h (158 mph) | 4.6 | |
| 5.0 | 4,988 | 340 hp (254 kW; 345 PS) | 350 lb⋅ft (475 N⋅m) (320 lb⋅ft (434 N⋅m) with catalyzer) | 272 km/h (169 mph) | 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 (10.2 in) ventilated disc brakes
Rear: 260 mm (10.2 in) ventilated disc brakes
Wheels Front: 15 in aluminium alloy
Rear: 16 in aluminium alloy
Chassis/body
Body Panels: Glass fibre
Fuel Capacity: 57 Litres (12.5 Imp. gallons, 15.0 U.S. gal)
Weight: 1,060 kg (2,336 lb) (dry)
Length: 3,891 mm (153.2 in)
Height: 1,204 mm (47.4 in)
Width: 1,720 mm (67.7 in)
Wheelbase: 2,286 mm (90.0 in)
Front track: 1,461 mm (57.5 in)
Rear track: 1,471 mm (57.9 in)
Ground clearance: 145 mm (5.7 in)
* Rear third quarter view
* Interior
* 4.0 L V8 engine

## 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

## Further use of Griffith name

In 2017, the proposed return of the TVR brand was announced by owner Les Edgar, who had acquired the rights four years previously. A new design was commissioned for a Ford 5.0 litre Coyote V8-powered coupé to be named Griffith. A show car was constructed by Gordon Murray Automotive and unveiled as a static exhibit at the 2017 Goodwood Revival, and subsequently was filmed being driven on a low-speed shakedown run at Dunsfold Aerodrome in December 2017. The car was to have entered production at a factory at Ebbw Vale, Wales, funded by the Welsh Government. No progress was made, no further cars were constructed, and the Welsh government re-took full possession of the Ebbw Vale site, which TVR had never occupied.