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“A Jack Griffith Story & Amelia Island Events”
As a proud owner of many TVR Griffiths my interest tracks back many years. In my teens a friend of mine had a 200 series Griffith; I fell in love with it but at the time was unable to own one of my own. As we fast-forward from the ‘70s to the year 2000, my dream was able to come true. I went to a boat show on the Eastern Shore of Maryland and lo and behold, what do I see in the parking lot, but a green 200 series Griffith. I must have stood by that car for at least an hour and no one came back to the car. I finally left a business card on the windshield and went on my way. I never got a call so I started my own search. In the local paper I found a Griffith for sale and when I called the owner stated that the car had been sold—that the buyer was, as we spoke, giving payment for the car. But, the seller said, there was a gentleman that knew a lot about these cars that they could put me in touch with: Fred McKinney, who turned out to be the owner of the green Griffith that was at the boat show. We met, and eventually I purchased my first Griffith from Fred—and that’s where my love story begins.
Fred taught me many important thinks about these cars, one being that when restoring them they must come off the frame. After many years of hard work and over 5000 hours my first 200 Series Griffith was complete. When Vince Doring, who had become friend, heard I had finished the car he stopped by to take a look. Impressed with the car, he told me that Jack Griffith was on the Board of Directors of the Ameila Island Concours in Florida, but he thought Jack had never ever had one of his cars in the show. We talked for a while but I never gave it much of a thought. A couple of weeks went by, and one afternoon the phone rang. My wife Betty answered, and she ran out the door in shock to say “Jack Griffith was on the phone!” As I talked to the soft-spoken man I was in shock –he said he had received a phone call from Vince Doring stating that I had the most perfect original Griffith he had ever seen! Jack asked me to mail him a couple of pictures.
After receiving the pictures Mr. Griffith called again and invited me to show my car at the March 2007 Amelia Island Concours d’ Elegance. What an honor! So we packed and were off to Amelia Island. What an event! As we walked into the Ritz-Carlton we were greeted by Mrs. Marge Griffith. After introducing ourselves Marge found Jack, we sat and talked We were all brimming with excitement. We spent as much time with Marge and Jack as we could over the next four days. Come show day neither Mr. Griffith nor I would not leave the car. He sat next to it as proud as a new father all day, enjoying the people and the excitement of the event.
It was an honor to have our car at Amelia Island, but even more so to spend time with Mr. and Mrs. Griffith and in the years since we have remained friends and stayed in touch with the Griffiths. We meet each year in March at the Concours for special time together. During one such meeting over dinner, I asked Jack if they (Griffith Motor Car Company) had ever thought of putting a 427FE motor in one of their cars. Jack looked at me and said “Do you think it will fit?”—with a smile on his face. I thought it would, and asked for Jack’s help and blessing on the project. Jack gave the nod and off it went. The project took a lot of engineering, energy and money but Jack and I had faith we could do it. We drew up the documents for the car (based on chassis #200-5-046) and after four years of hard work—inspired by Jack’s own passion—the first 427 Ford-powered 200 series Griffith has become reality.
This car was presented in the Amelia Island Concour 2011 with three other Griffith models honoring Jack and Marge Griffith—the women behind the man that designed them. The time had finally come to honor the man responsible for these cars, teach fans where they came from and what they are about then and now.
My love for these cars keeps growing—and with it my collection! With two completely restored, one driver and several others waiting in the wings Jack has asked me “What’s next?” Remanufacturing parts, restoring these cars to better then original and educating people on what these cars are about is what I want to do.
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In loving Memory of Marge Griffith, July 8, 2011. Craig Johnson will always remember her smiling face, as we drove up for Jack’s presentation together in my car at the 2011 Amelia Island Concours d’ Elegance and this is why Automodello has chosen to include Marge’s picture too.
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