©2010 Automodello
In launching his very own sportscar Andrew "Jacl" Griffith had lofty aspirations. His target was Shelby's Cobra, and he sought to out-snake the famous roadster by wedging Ford's burly 289 into an even smaller, lighter chassis than Shelby used. The result was the explosive Griffith Series 200. At less than 1800 pounds, handling was razor-sharp. And with almost 300-horses on tap it had a power-to-weight ratio to rival any production sportscar on the planet. Topped off with attractively off-beat styling, the Griffith Series 200 had what it needed to create a loyal following and an enduring legend.This precision 1:43 replica of the Griffith Series 200 re-creates a fascinating piece of sportscar history. And it represents an important first for collectors: It is the inaugural release for Automodello.In a recent interview between Matthew White, editor for The Diecast Magazine and Andrew "Jack" Griffith, Matt asked what was the inspriation for the Griffith. Jack's reply: "I was racing a Cobra as the East Coast end of Carroll Shelby's racing team. Mark Donohue was Vice President of my company and drove the Cobra. Carroll and I were talking one night in a bar in New York City and I said 'I think I can build a car to be faster and less expensive [than the Cobra]'. We had both been drinking, and the next morning I said, 'What did I say last night?' That's how it all started."During the same interview Jack was asked how well the Automodello replica compares to the 1:1 Griffith Series 200, Jack's reply to Matt White: "The model is perfect in all ways.".
