1992 TVR Griffith 500 V8 5MT RWD (340 HP)

Vehicle Overview

TVR introduced the Griffith in 1992 as a replacement for the S-Series but made it on top of the Tuscan’s racer chassis, which led to a sportier vehicle.

The British car manufacturer produced the Griffith with a Rover V-8 engine in the first year of production with either 4.0- or a 4.3-liter displacement. Then the factory closed for a few months in 1993 for upgrading the assembly lines, and when TVR reopened it, the Griffith received only the 5.0-liter unit. Thanks to its low weight, the Griffith was a fierce sports car in proper hands or a widow-maker in the hands of an inexperienced driver. It was the real British roadster but powered by a V-8.

TVR took care of the car’s aerodynamic and covered the round headlights with clear-glass profiled to cut into the air. The oval-shaped grille at the front was narrow, and the hood sported a wide vent that extracted the hot air behind the radiator. On the sides, the car sported an arched sculptured line between the front fenders and the doors. To enter the car, the carmaker added grab handles on the top-rear side of the doors. After the short, sloped trunk area, the back panel was flat and vertical. It sported big, vertical taillights.

Inside, the Griffith offered room for two passengers and an aluminum instrument panel with individual dials and gauges, plus a few warning lights. Later on, the carmaker provided an option for a wood panel. Also, starting with 1995, TVR offered power steering, which became a standard feature beginning in 1999.

TVR launched the last series of the Griffith in 2001, known as the Griffith 500 in 100 units, which was faster than the Ferrari 512TR or the V-10 powered Dodge Viper.