TVR Griffiths 200/400 and their Chassis Numbers

[LAK]

Originally Posted by terence bower

If you'r going to be driving,I think it only polite to do so Louise.Right,I'm off now.LoL

Too right Terry!! As one of the few people who have passengered with me on track and the only one in the Griff, your opinion certainly counts!! I shall heed the advice or alternatively let Jason scare the locals...

There is a lot that could be said about Griffs, remanufactured ones, wrong IDs, etc etc but most has been voiced much better by those with more knowledge of these things than me. All I know is that once I'm strapped in our beast, nothing else matters - to be honest, it all then becomes a bit of a sensory overload and cannot be matched by any other car I've had the pleasure to drive (including the Falcon and our very fast Fiat Coupe). We just want to enjoy our car and not worry about FIA or others...

[terence]

Glad you've not lost your sense of humour Louise,not really much wrong with your Griff,certainly one of the nicest I have worked on and it still has the ORIGINAL body shape. I was told, fairly recently,that the only reason these big winged car's had been granted papers was because of an early photograph that was found. The photo showed a Griff,circa 1965,at Brands being chased by a certain E-Type that is being campaigned now. Because of the fact that the Jag was in frame,it was ASSUMED that the race was of 'International Status'. I have to say that the Griff in question that provided proof of bigger w/arches,looked very tatty with bits of alloy sheet fashioned merely to cover the wheel's!

[Minimac]

I have been reading this thread for quite a while, and have found it very interesting to see everyone's thoughts on the Griff. I have been driving our car for a few years now, and must admit that it never ceases to amaze me how much of a divide it creates amongst drivers/enthusiasts!
I absolutely adore driving it, and am thankful of the day that Malcolm Johnson allowed me to share the car with him and Nigel Reuben at the 6 hour a few years ago. I agree that it is a real shame that certain parties see fit to dilute the originality of cars that have racing history as mentioned by others. It must be said that this is probably even more rife in other makes of car that are out there being built and prepared. I think it is great that we are seeing more cars being prepared to the FIA homolgation, and surely that can only make for more variety in pre-66 GT races. Just a shame they never had bigger brakes fitted in period!

[terence]

Quite surprised that you found the brakes a problem. Welcome to the forum btw.

[Jake_L]

Originally Posted by mark garritt

DRT643C is back on the market minus its ID by the looks of it (racecars direct.com), I'm guessing we’ll see another brand new car with the ID borrowed from a quite famous car!

I think this probably makes Simon Garrad's the only original car with current HTP papers?

Original ?.. mmm looking at these photo's it seems that it maybe an extra in the next transformer movie




et all.

let's face it none of the front running cars on the grid are original, they are race cars and components wear out, engines explode and some end up in the wall! That goes for griffs, cobras, E types the lot. Invariably damaged ones get rebuilt and reappear...

These race cars are getting on for 50 years old and anyone that thinks that they are original examples are either deluded or have spent too much time sweeping the workshop floor!

[morninggents]

Nobody expects 45 year old race cars to be exactly as they left the factory for all the reasons Jake L quoted. It's when repairs become modifications and the wrong type of components are added, usually stronger and more competitive, that cars become a shadow of their former selves.
I know all this has been aired before but it's worth repeating.

[terence]

Absolutely correct!

[Jake_L]

why do you think that the FIA approved body shape was altered/expanded.. it was purely down to the fact that people were modifying and improving these cars in period, no doubt using stronger and more durable components... this is in the essence of racing and you'll never change it..

[terence]

Because of proof such as below.Only on the basis of the E-Types registration,it was assumed that it must be an international event!Notice the obvious difference's.

[Jake_L]

I wasn't asking a question Terrance merely commenting on this post

Nobody expects 45 year old race cars to be exactly as they left the factory for all the reasons Jake L quoted. It's when repairs become modifications and the wrong type of components are added, usually stronger and more competitive, that cars become a shadow of their former selves.
I know all this has been aired before but it's worth repeating.

[terence]

Just trying to put every one 'in the picture' so to speak. Quite a loose connection really,but supposition normally is.

[petrolhead535]

I've been following this thread for the last 2-3 months as I'm keen to get a TVR Griffith 400 to go racing. Even though my excitement about the car remains undiminished I'm now not so sure I know what I'm getting myself into.

The blue Griffith that's been for sale on www.racecarsdirect.com looks nice but after I read the forum's comments re DRT643C I'd like to speak with someone who knows the car from before its recent purported Frankenstein treatment.

There's another nice-looking white Griffith 400 (CRT999C) for sale by Willie Green and I would appreciate hearing from other forum members what they know about this car.

Finally, I'd appreciate advice as to whom in the U.K. I should take along when checking out any TVR Griffith 400 as a potential purchase.

Patrick

[terence]

DRT,was the second Griff to win the Spa 6hr,it is difficult to know,by the comments/photo,just how much of what I built remains.

[rogerwills]

Can anyone tell me the homologated tyre sizes front and rear for a Griffith? There were a couple at Brands with massive rubber, front and rear.

Roger

[jellison]

Originally Posted by rogerwills

Can anyone tell me the homologated tyre sizes front and rear for a Griffith? There were a couple at Brands with massive rubber, front and rear.

Roger

Hi Roger,

It is what ever you can get under the EHW Paul style arches.

Shipmans had 245 (or the period style width for this) on the back of there on 8Jx15's - here you might even be able to squeeze 9 in.

Front could go bigger as they have the daft arches now!


J

[Thurner_fan]

As far as I am aware the Griffith 200 homologation papers (No. 206, August 1965) state that, as a homolgated option, the maximum rim width is 8 3/4 inches. My understanding is that a period correct L section tyre for GT cars with this rim size (700 L 15) would have tread width of 6.6 inches. However, an M section tyre (650 M 15) would have a much wider tread width of 8 inches. Whether the M section is 'legal' for pre-66 GT car racing is something I'm not qualified to comment on!

According to the manufacturer's website, an Avon CR6ZZ 245/60R 15 would have a tread width of 6.44 inches.

TF

[Heightswitch]

My Griffy which was built as a period correct Fia HTP car before all the reg changes runs 8J x 15 all round (diff offset front and rear) with 600 x 15 rear and 550 x 15 fronts. M section Dunlops

please note. this car still has its original Brazed chassis...hopefuly shaken down somewhere this year...I don't think it looks too bad for an old nail I built myself!!









Original Homologation papers state max rim sizes in MM..Near as damn it 8 3/4" Max...Ihave only ever seen 8j rims on the old spec fia cars as was. not sure what new cars run?

[Heightswitch]

http://f1.grp.yahoofs.com/v1/QB_JT51...a_8_little.jpg

extract from the original Homologation doc.
N.

[Alfaholic]

I take it this is one of the vehicles in question



I'm only an spectator but they don't half look out of place and certainly seem (to the untrained eye) to be bigger than fitted before.

[terence]

Thats mainly because they are as for Hieghtswitch's effort,just how a "proper"
Griff should look,excellent!

[John Turner]

Looks great, Heightswitch!

[jellison]

Originally Posted by Alfaholic

I take it this is one of the vehicles in question

Attachment 37177

I'm only an spectator but they don't half look out of place and certainly seem (to the untrained eye) to be bigger than fitted before.

Hmm - that is not the McInerney (Ex Johnson car), wrong number plate, light make it look like the same colour (butthink more silvery blue than plain light blue).
or Shipmans

Still prefer the Pre 2009 look through. Narrower front track but ha!

[terence]

Much prefer the Hieghtswitch car,the other two look crap in comparison.

[jellison]

how mine will look - I'm in the White car.

[terence]

Thats how they ALL should look. I heard there's another bout of discussion going on concerning Griff's,whether its true or not,not sure,but it sounds as though a set of papers have been taken back by the FIA.