The TVR Griffith 200 resulted from one of motoring’s lesser-known rivalries. American TVR importer and racing driver Jack Griffith wanted a car that could outperform the pre-eminent supercar of its day: the AC Shelby Cobra.
While the task of beating the mighty Cobra eventually proved impossible, the TVR Griffith 200 did emulate the savage dynamic characteristics that made its rival so formidable to drive.
An ultra-light fibreglass body, combined with a very short wheelbase and a powerful 271hp engine made the Griffith a real handful, and very tricky to master when driving close to the limit.
In High Performance Cars: 1965-1966, British motoring journalist John Bolster said: ‘Over 150 mph, things become somewhat fraught. One must either choose a still day or risk becoming one of Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines’.
Praise the Ford
Still, if a standard Griffith 200 sounds too tame for your liking, you might be the ideal owner for the example featured here – now up for auction with Car & Classic.
It underwent a complete mechanical overhaul in 2007, when it was homologated to FIA racing specification. At 435hp, power output from the 289 cubic-inch Ford V8 has rocketed way beyond the original car – or indeed any standard 1991-2002 TVR Griffith.
It even boasts more grunt than this flip-painted T350C, which also goes under the online hammer today.
A TVR icon
This is a bona fide British muscle car, eligible for numerous classic motorsport events, all while maintaining road-legal status.
Its cream paintwork, heritage motorsport livery and ‘Manx-tail’ body also make this one-of-42 TVR truly stunning to look at. No wonder it was the cover car for Octane magazine’s ‘TVR Icons’ issue a decade ago.
Car & Classic’s auction for the 1965 TVR Griffith 200, in association with Retro Motor, goes live today and runs until 11 August 2023. When bidding closes, the car is expected to fetch between £100,000 and £140,000.
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