1996 TVR Griffith restoration/customisation

Hi all,

for those who are interested, I've been restoring my Griffith since it blew up its engine just 200 miles after I bought it in March 2009. We're getting close to the finishing line, another month of electrical and mechanical work and then we will redo the interior.

I've been keeping a thread up-to-date in the Dutch section. Since I already also do a thread on the Ferrari-Life forum and the UK TVR Car Club forum, I won't do a full thread in English here. But there are plenty of pics in the Dutch thread and if you have any questions/comments you can post them here. So I thought I'd post the link for people who are interested.

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=264059

A quick run-down of the history and modifications:

1996 LHD Griffith 500, one of about 120 LHD cars.
2005: Had enlarged 5.3L engine fitted, upgraded shocks, non-standard rims (up 1"), updated interior trim with aluminium bits
Mar 2009: Bought the car with 10,000kms on the 5.3L engine
May 2009: Engine blows up with 10,300kms on it, to be replaced under warranty
Nov 2009: Decide to start restoration, engine is still not ready
Dec 2009: Engine arrives, now a 5.2L. Without fine-tuning it cranks 330bhp at the flywheel, vs about 280 - 290 for a standard.
Jan 2010: Intrax shock absorbers arrive. Car stripped. Chassis off to sander. Chassis painted
Feb 2010: Body off to classic Ferrari and Alfa specialists ACR. Chassis to TVR specialists NIMAG
Mar/Apr: Steady build-up on chassis. Custum installation of a Sagaris diff to deal with more power.
May 2010: Body painted in my own colour invention, a bordeaux red metallic with high contrast so it looks black in diffuse lighting. Logos for the car redesigned by me and spray painted on as well as using some real gold foil accents (I am a gold miner, thought it would be a nice touch). Body back on chassis
Jun 2010: Tuscan seats arrive from a UK junk yard.
Sep 2010: Modifications done to the aircon system, change to 2 gel batteries and moved to a custom installation in the boot (to free up passenger footwell space).
Oct 2010: Electrical system revamped. Dashboard design finalised: a modification using only TVR items but with considerable improvements for heater/aircon controls and better looking aluminium vents
Nov 2010: Various smaller things, installation for Tuscan seats
Dec 2010: Car back to ACR for roll hoop custom installation
Jan 2010: Roll hoops installed and doors back in.

Things still to do:

1. High intensity headlights of the last series Griffith to be fitted
2. Mounting of seats
3. Refurbishment and design change of gauges
4. Anodising and painting of various interior bits, installation of new steering wheel
5. Mounting of new SS dashboard
6. Installation of seatbelts, and welding of attachment hooks to the roll hoops
7. Custom cover for new battery installation
8. Custom collapsable footrest for left foot (there is no place to rest your clutch foot)
9. New interior in leather and alcantara
10. Running-in of engine and tuning
11. Tuning of chassis/suspension
12. Resetting of odometer and starting a new chapter!

Undoubtedly I've forgotten some things that still need to be done.

I set a deadline of 7th of May, the day before the 2nd anniversary of the engine blow-up, to finish the car (and my birthday). But it's getting difficult to get there. She must be done by the start of summer though, it's my only cabrio and I still haven't driven it in summer!

Hope you enjoy some of the pics, it's been a fantastic project to do and I'm ecstatic about the results so far.


Onno

 

It's not much better in Holland, a decent Griffith (and what that means is a debate in itself) will go for 30k Euro+ ($40k). Mine was substantially more expensive, and that was before the restoration.

I think you will need to wait at least 10 years before I'm selling.


Onno