Review written on 1/1951.
Many vehicles come and go. Most are duds like the 5355 but a few stand out like the Chimaera. So this month, we'll be looking at the Gryffon to see where it stands out among the crowd. Is this new Philadelphia Motors a keeper? Or should it rust away with time?

On my first track run in the Philadelphia Motors Gryffon suffered 2 cracked rips and a ruptured spleen. Not from wrecking it, but from the sheer raw power of this Subcompact. The Gryffon's 38 hp @ 2912RPMs 905 cc Radial5 engine drives you into the seats while you accelerate with an impressive 35.656s 0 to 60 mph time and a top speed of 80 mph. The Gryffon is able to keep this speed all the way up to the the top speed of 80 mph. With 56 lb-ft of torque, our smoking wheels were able to tow 22 lbs. When it comes to driveability, we wished that all the roads in the world were straight. Sadly they're not, it is unfortunate that the Philadelphia Motors Gryffon could not handle like its Subcompact peers. In no way can I recommend this vehicle for anyone who drives on the road. It is an accident waiting to happen. After my hospital visit, I came to the conclusion that this is the best Subcompact I've ever tested on the track. Buy IT NOW!!!

When we got to interior testing on the Philadelphia Motors Gryffon we found it to be below average. While you wouldn't want to use this vehicle on a road trip, it is comfortable enough for short rides and tiny commutes.

The Philadelphia Motors Gryffon is not exactly roomy. You can fit normal people in it, maybe a bag or two. But not much else. You probably wouldn't want to be in it for long, and your certainly wouldn't want to use it to transport anything in bulk. The Gryffon's 13 cu-ft of passenger and cargo space leave a lot to be desired. Many vehicles in its class are much more spacious. So be warned. This may not be the perfect fit for you.

While not exactly handmade, Philadelphia Motors did put a bit of extra work into the Gryffon and it shows. Panels actually fit and are made to last. The finish doesn't fade in the sun, and all the bolts have washers. It begs the question why buy a lower quality car every 5 years, and not buy the Philadelphia Motors Gryffon which should last a few generations?

The Philadelphia Motors Gryffon did very well on our dependability tests. We did not have any major issues in long term testing. The minor issues we did have were easy to resolve and not very costly. We believe that the Philadelphia Motors Gryffon is dependable enough for even the most unknowledgeable owner. It proper care and maintenance, even if done by a shop, the Philadelphia Motors Gryffon should last a very long time.

When it came to fuel economy testing we tried to see how far we could go in the Philadelphia Motors Gryffon. Our goal was to run it out of fuel. We tried and we failed. Even when the Gryffon fuel gauge was below E, it kept going! Befuddled at this we asked Philadelphia Motors engineers how this is possible. They showed us their Motor Bunny fuel system, which just keeps going and going and going and going for an impressive 41.0 mpg. In one word, amazing.

While the Philadelphia Motors Gryffon is certainly impressive in term of safety, it's not overly designed in this fashion in a way that would imped its enjoyment. Never the less this vehicle is more than safe enough for even the most uptight and poor drivers among us.

I was happy with the time I spent in the Philadelphia Motors Gryffon. This car is truly magnificent. I think future generations will look back at this vehicle and think, "I wish I owned one of these." It is absolutely one of the best Subcompact you can buy. An instant classic that others in the segment will be compared to. I wish I could spend more time with the Gryffon but it is time for them to take it away. I believe I might go buy one myself.