Saturday 22nd September 1990

TVR unveiled the prototype Griffth 2-seater roadster, which employed an S-type chassis and a 3.9 litre Rover V8 engine, at the British International Motor Show at the NEC, Birmingham. At one point during the show, TVR staff were taking orders at the rate of one every 8 minutes. By the end of the event over 350 individuals had committed themselves to the new car. Despite the overnight success, it was 18 months before the first cars were delivered. In the meantime the chassis had been redesigned and the engine enlarged to 4.2 litre. By the middle of the year, 15 cars a week were leaving TVR’s Bristol Avenue factory. At over £27,000 apiece, the Griffth was capable of 160 mph, but the production for the home market ceased by the end of 1992. However in the following year, the car emerged as a 5-litre Griffth 500 for the 1994 season.