TVR Griffith 200
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The TVR Griffith 200: In the US, the make is Griffith and the model is series 200, in the UK the make was is TVR and the model is Griffith. This is due to Jack Grifith coming up the idea and securing rights to market the cars in the US at the time.
The cars are effectively TVR Grantura Mk 3's but with a Ford 289ci engine and toploader transmission fitted. It's fair to call this car a factory hot rod if ever a car deserved this description. Just under 200 Griffith 200's were made in the US.
The story goes that the "200"model was inspired by the engine output of around 200bhp of the Ford engine. There was also a HiPo engine option giving around 270 BHP (gross).
Interestingly, in an effort to persuade the engine and gearbox to fit - some chassis triangulation was removed compared to that of the Grantura mk 3 and various bits of the chassis were simply "hammered" until the drivetrain fitted. The brakes were not uprated either although slightly fatter 185 section tyres were added.
The immense power, short wheelbase and light weight of the cars made them a real handfull.
The later "400" cars *with the Manx tail" used a tie bar between the roof and dash to stop a design flaw becomming evident - The roof separating from the top of the windscreen at the sort of speeds that these cars could reach, 150+mph.
The car shown here clearly needs work and is a US Griffith 200 currently under restoration in the UK.
