The TVR Griffith 400 Coupe occupies a distinctive place in the history of 1960s sports cars, born from the meeting of lightweight British engineering and American V8 power. At the heart of the project was TVR, at the time a small manufacturer based in Blackpool, already known for the Grantura and for its use of tubular spaceframe chassis and fiberglass bodywork.

The idea behind the Griffith emerged in the early 1960s through the initiative of Jack Griffith, a U.S. dealer and friend of Carroll Shelby, who recognized the potential of installing a Ford V8 into the compact TVR chassis, in part echoing the concept behind the AC Cobra. The prototype, based on a Grantura Mk III, was well received by the factory and led to a short production run aimed primarily at the American market. The 400 series benefited from more thorough technical development, with input from Mark Donohue, who was involved in suspension and chassis tuning. The resulting layout, featuring unequal-length wishbones and coil springs, was considered advanced for its time, while four-wheel disc brakes completed a technically credible package.

This particular car, chassis 400/5/059, is the last of the 59 Griffith 400 Coupes produced. It is powered by the Ford 289ci Hi-Po V8, rated at 271 horsepower, paired with a four-speed manual transmission. Thanks to its low weight, the Griffith delivered strong straight-line performance, characteristic of compact, high-powered sports cars of the era. Finished in TVR Red over a two tone interior, this example has been carefully restored and is accompanied by extensive documentation, an important consideration given the model’s extremely limited production and complex history. Find it for sale at $115,000 here in Mesa, AZ.