An eye opener while looking for a classic
Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2014 12:54 pm
I know this has ben discussed on here before, and I waited until I had gotten over my disappointment a touch before writing a heated post, but the price of some classics today seems to be ridiculous to me. I know it's mainly because a lot of people are now buying them as an 'investment' and pushing the price up, but to me it's in some cases senseless.
Because my V8 project has left me without a useable classic for 3 years now, I got an itching recently to have something to play with until thats ready and stumbled upon my first love, the Mk3 Ford Capri. After a bit of looking around I found what looked to be a fairly original and intect D Reg Laser in Doncaster for £2500. So last weekend after a 4 hour drive I arrived at the sellers house to be left very disappointed. The car had quite obviously had a front accident repair recently (despite him saying over the phone the paint was original) and was just doggy. Sure it had some good bits but was generally knackered and NOT the car in the photographs (for example some trims and the timing belt cover were present in the photos and not on the car when I arrived). It also had one rear leaf spring that was so knackered you could put your fingers between the leafs which he claimed to know nothing of despite it having shiny new bolts and bodged sill repairs where he'd hacked away to get the spring bolt out, a spring assister on the other side (only 1, not a pair either),the thermostat housing covered in that blue gasket sealant gunge and an older radiator in the car that was clearly being over pressurised with brown silty water. I left very disappointed and apparently the car sold a few days later. I was left with the attitude of "If that's what £2500 gets me then I can't afford a classic"
I thought that was a reasonable amount to buy a classic that while not mint, looked tidy, hadn't been abused and one I could enjoy without giving a rebuild. Luckily I've found an MGB I'm viewing locally tonight that looks a lot tidier and for less money, but I've realised that my Capri dream has rapidly sunk. I apologise to any 70's/80's Fords here but 10 minutes with the seller of this car reminded my of one of the big reasons I got rid of my Capri's 10 years ago.
During my travels online, I've also noticed that things like Morris Minors (admittedly very good ones, but not Travellers) are selling for almost as much as some useable 70's Rolls Royce's! Yes the Moggy is cheaper to run and the market dictates the selling value blah blah blah but no way in my mind should a car that common be selling for as much as a Rolls Royce. Plus, I thought this country was still coming out of a recession so where is all this disposable income coming from that's making shaggered Capri's worth £2500 and Morris Minor Saloons worth £5-£7K?! I Should have kept hold of mine!
Because my V8 project has left me without a useable classic for 3 years now, I got an itching recently to have something to play with until thats ready and stumbled upon my first love, the Mk3 Ford Capri. After a bit of looking around I found what looked to be a fairly original and intect D Reg Laser in Doncaster for £2500. So last weekend after a 4 hour drive I arrived at the sellers house to be left very disappointed. The car had quite obviously had a front accident repair recently (despite him saying over the phone the paint was original) and was just doggy. Sure it had some good bits but was generally knackered and NOT the car in the photographs (for example some trims and the timing belt cover were present in the photos and not on the car when I arrived). It also had one rear leaf spring that was so knackered you could put your fingers between the leafs which he claimed to know nothing of despite it having shiny new bolts and bodged sill repairs where he'd hacked away to get the spring bolt out, a spring assister on the other side (only 1, not a pair either),the thermostat housing covered in that blue gasket sealant gunge and an older radiator in the car that was clearly being over pressurised with brown silty water. I left very disappointed and apparently the car sold a few days later. I was left with the attitude of "If that's what £2500 gets me then I can't afford a classic"
I thought that was a reasonable amount to buy a classic that while not mint, looked tidy, hadn't been abused and one I could enjoy without giving a rebuild. Luckily I've found an MGB I'm viewing locally tonight that looks a lot tidier and for less money, but I've realised that my Capri dream has rapidly sunk. I apologise to any 70's/80's Fords here but 10 minutes with the seller of this car reminded my of one of the big reasons I got rid of my Capri's 10 years ago.
During my travels online, I've also noticed that things like Morris Minors (admittedly very good ones, but not Travellers) are selling for almost as much as some useable 70's Rolls Royce's! Yes the Moggy is cheaper to run and the market dictates the selling value blah blah blah but no way in my mind should a car that common be selling for as much as a Rolls Royce. Plus, I thought this country was still coming out of a recession so where is all this disposable income coming from that's making shaggered Capri's worth £2500 and Morris Minor Saloons worth £5-£7K?! I Should have kept hold of mine!
I also like the look for the Fiat X/19. Could look at a TR7 or a MR2 Mk1 1
I have an SE6B spread between several lockups over on the west coast, near Saltcoats. If it weren't there, other people could store their cars in these lockups. It's mostly there, I think, has been offered for free in the Nearly Everywheres' club mag and nobody's taken it yet. 