Griffith Series 200 260/195 Ford
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Car producer : |
Griffith |
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Model: |
Series 200 260/195 Ford |
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Year: |
1963-1964 |
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Type: |
Coupe |
In 1963, Griffith hatched a plan to install Ford 289s and four-speed transmissions in tiny fiberglass-bodied sports cars built by TVR, then resell them through a network of dealers. With its original MG engine in place, the car was called the TVR Grantura Mk. III, but once a V-8 bullet was loaded in the chamber, the car became the Griffith 200.
Jack Griffith came up with the idea for the car in 1964, and secured rights to market the cars in the US. Griffith ran a car repair workshop in the US for patrons such as Gerry Sagerman and Mark Donohue who had both driven a TVR Grantura at Sebring International Raceway in 1962. The concept for the Griffith Series 200 originated during a dinner with Carroll Shelby, where Griffith declared he could build a car that could outperform an AC Cobra.
Griffith first attempt was to put the Ford V8 engine from Mark Donohue's AC Cobra into a TVR Grantura. While this did not work, the idea prompted further conversations. Griffith wanted TVR to supply him with modified TVR Grantura chassis, without an engine or transmission, and TVR complied with his request.
In an effort to get the engine and gearbox to fit, some chassis triangulation was removed compared to that of the Grantura Mk 3, and various parts of the chassis were simply hammered until the drivetrain fitted. The brakes were not upgraded either, although slightly wider 185 section tyres were added.
In 1964 Jack Griffith began an enterprise that still resounds throughout the motoring world. He took the mild mannered and lightweight four-cylinder TVR Grantura, fitted it with a potent 289 cubic inch V-8 Ford high performance engine and named this creation, appropriately, the Griffith.
Fewer than 200 1965 model year Griffith 200 sports cars were built in the company's Syosset, New York, facility.
The Griffith Series 200 could either be fitted with a 195 hp (145 kW; 198 PS) motor, or a 289 cubic inches (4.74 l) motor that put out 271 hp (202 kW; 275 PS). It could accelerate from 0-60 mph (97 km/h) in 3.9 seconds, and had a 150 mph (241 km/h) top speed.
The immense power, short wheelbase, and light weight of the cars allegedly made them difficult to handle. Despite its performance, just 192 Griffith 200s were made in the US, before it was superseded by the TVR Griffith 400 (Griffith Series 400).
The Griffith Series 200 was followed by the Griffith Series 400 and the Griffith Series 600 before the company ceased operations.
