1999 TVR Griffith 500

Purchased by our vendor in 2007 from an exceedingly fastidious former owner - he kept it in a carpeted, dehumidified garage and was reluctant to even let our vendor drive it prior to purchase on the open road - this fantastic example of the late-model Griffith 500 has been cherished, fettled and considerately improved throughout its current ownership, with the result being an on-the-button, ready-to-use V8 GT car with all of the known foibles of this model having been ironed out.

A desirable 2000 Model-year vehicle (registered in December 1999) with a number of upgrades including the carbon-inner roof panel and boasting factory-fitted power steering, our vendor used the vehicle extensively during the first few years of ownership, our vendor enrolled himself in the TVR owners club, and used the vehicle for a number of club runs, Pistonheads events and has completed several long-distance runs to the west country and the south coast of England, with no reported issues. In fact, the vendor has maintained and fettled this ‘500’ to such a high standard over the years, that he states “I’d have no issues jumping in the car tomorrow and driving to the South of France, with complete confidence doing so.”

Whilst in its current custodianships, numerous minor niggles have been addressed, such as the famed ‘hot start’ issue, which has been addressed following the fitment of a so-called ‘hot start kit’ from a well-known TVR specialist, with the result being the car starting with ease even after a decent run. Speaking of temperatures, the cooling fans are also fully adjustable for maximum efficiency and cooling capabilities to suit the next owner’s usage patterns.

Similarly, the front end suspension has received a light refresh utilising Avo adjustable shock absorbers and Avo springs, along with rose-jointed top-links, new engine mounts in 2020, and other minor fettling as required, along with the engine having been serviced regularly regardless of mileage (which has decreased significantly in recent years, we’re told) and the fitment of a ‘smooth’ in-take and K&N filter kit to allow the engine to breath better, along with adding a more aggressive - but not excessive - induction noise.

Now, with an Alfa Romeo restoration taking priority for sentimental reasons, and the resultant lack of use, the choice has been made to offer this Griffith 500 for sale. The car has also just been serviced (including a brake fluid flush) and the cherished TVR-specific registration is also included in the sale of the vehicle.

Still wearing its original factory-applied paintwork, this Griffith still looks fantastic to this day, having been fastidiously cared-for whilst in the care of the current owner, along with benefiting from a professional detailing and machine polish last year, which transformed the already-excellent paint.

Similarly, the fibreglass body itself is in great shape, with no signs of any impact damage, misaligned panels or indentations that we could see.

Of course, there are some areas of wear. The front end has been peppered with stone chips over the years - par for the course on a high-performance vehicle such as this, naturally - and there are a few larger chips on the bonnet which have been previously touched-in. The edges of the doors also show some chips and scrapes, whilst there are one or two very small areas of spidering in the fibreglass, which have been documented in the gallery below.

Up above, the removable targa-top panel is in great shape, with only a few very light abrasions noted on the outside. The folding rear window section is in a similar condition, with no cracking or discolouration to the plastic window panel.

Below the arches, all four wheels have been recently refurbished to a very high standard, and feature custom-made metal wheel caps in the OE style, which are a major improvement over the standard plastic items which are prone to cracking and falling off.

Being very picky, we’d perhaps suggest that the matching Toyo T1R tyres need replacement on an age-related basis, though they are still perfectly legal with plenty of tread.

Fitted from the factory with an extended leather interior, featuring contrasting stitching and embroidered ‘TVR’ logos on the headrests, the cabin of this Griffith feels distinctly more luxurious than some examples we’ve seen, and remains in great condition throughout.

The vendor reports that he feeds the seats on a yearly basis and keeps them in excellent condition year-round, something that has evidently paid dividends as they remain in fantastic shape, with nothing more than a few creases and a delightful usage patina to attest to their continued use and age.

At the rear, the in-cabin luggage area behind the seats presents in great shape, whilst the boot itself is in similarly good condition, with a hard-wired trickle charger, original tool roll and roof bag all present and correct.

The high-traffic areas such as the outer edges of the transmission tunnel, door card and footwell carpets show some commensurate signs of usage, but nothing that would be considered of any great issue in our opinion.

Up above, the carbon-fibre roof panel is in excellent, unmarked condition, and the vendor reports no waterproofing issues whatsoever.

All systems, gauges and switches are working correctly, though being particularly picky, we noted that the passenger-side window motor is somewhat slower than the driver’s.

Of course, the heart of any TVR is the engine, and the Rover-derived V8 lump at the core of this Griffith is in rude health, behaving perfectly during our photo shoot and showing strong oil pressure.

During our photo shoot, the car came up to temperature and maintained it without issue, with the fans cycling on-and-off as required, and no hot start issues making themselves known. Out on the road, we were struck by how civilised and easy-going the chassis and drivetrain is when driving normally, but shift down a gear or press a little harder on the ‘loud pedal’ and the V8 roars into life, with an aural assault on the senses when really pressing on.

Around town, the car navigated speed bumps and broken roads without complaint, and without any untoward noises making themselves known in the cabin.

Under the bonnet, the V8 block and its ancillaries present well, though no doubt a fastidious owner may wish to ‘dress up’ the engine a little further, though this is all a matter of personal taste. What matters most is that there were no obvious oil or fluid leaks, and everything looked to be in its right-and-proper place.

Underneath the bodywork, the chassis frame is in great shape, having been recently waxoyled whilst in the care of the vendor, who reports that prior to being coated the powder coating on the frame itself was still intact and in great shape, and was simply coated to preserve its condition in the long-term. The outriggers are also in very good order, with no corrosion-related issues known to the vendor, nor making themselves known during our inspection.

The most recent MoT exam took place on 28 October 2021, and shows a clean first-time pass with no advisory items, whilst the most recent service was carried out on 20 May 2022 at 40,617 miles, including a full oil/filter change, new sump gasket, two new rubber fuel lines, a brake fluid change and a new ball joint gaitor,along with a full four-wheel alignment being carried out.

Accompanying this icon of British car-building is an impressive and organised history folder, spanning both the latter days of the previous owner’s tenure with the vehicle, along with all of the documentation, invoicing and paperwork from the current owner.

The stamped service folder is also present, showing regular servicing irrespective of mileage covered, along with two keys, the V5 showing 5 former keepers, an impressive treasure trove of invoices and photographs from the previous owner’s time with the vehicle, and a selection of period literature and documentation from when the model was launched.

An indoor car cover is also included in the sale of the vehicle

As ever, all of the paperwork has been photographed and is documented in the gallery below.

Fastidiously maintained, long-term enthusiast owned and kept in tip-top mechanical condition throughout its lifetime, this is an exceedingly well-kept and cherished example of the Griffith 500 which boasts a strong factory specification and numerous considered upgrades which enhance the driving and ownership experience without detracting from the core design and ethos of the Griffith.

Offered for sale with an estimate of 25,000 - £30,000 this is an excellent opportunity to obtain a ready-to-use, mechanically proven Griffith 500 just in time for summer.

Viewing is always encouraged. This particular car is located with our vendor in Cardiff; to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.