1965 TVR Griffith 400 Coupe
A true British-American muscle car hybrid, the 1965 TVR Griffith 400 Coupe emerged from an inspired collaboration between American dealer Jack Griffith and the small British manufacturer TVR. Designed by Mark Donohue and David Hives, this exceptional sports car packed a potent 289ci OHV Hi-Po Ford V8 engine generating 271bhp at 5,900rpm, propelling an extraordinarily lightweight fiberglass body. The combination created performance that could “embarrass severely an E-Type Jaguar and many V12 Ferraris,” according to automotive historian Graham Robson.
The innovative chassis featured unequal wishbones and coil springs at all four corners—advanced engineering for its era. Production was extremely limited, with just 59 examples manufactured at Griffith’s Plainview, New York facility. This compact powerhouse followed the same successful formula as Carroll Shelby’s Cobra: taking a nimble British sports car and transforming it with American V8 muscle.
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