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The real value of "old" cars?

143 messages,  Last post on Oct 05, 2010 at 6:53 PM

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What is this discussion about? Coupe, Convertible, Truck, Sedan, Wagon

Messages Page 12 of 15

#104 of 143 Re: Question... [isellhondas] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Sep 03, 2010 (12:05 pm)

Replying to: isellhondas (Sep 03, 2010 11:37 am)
Usually if I appraise a car and it has RHD, and IF that car were available as a LHD, I deduct about 30% of the value. If they never came as LHD, like say the MG TC, then there's no penalty.

#105 of 143 Re: Austin's anyone? [isellhondas] by fintail

Sep 03, 2010 (12:57 pm)

Replying to: isellhondas (Sep 03, 2010 10:32 am)
I wonder if the windows are glass and not some kind of perspex material.
 
Could be a fun project if bought for maybe in the $1500 neighborhood...I just look at that thing and think that my barely newer fintail is like a spaceship in comparison.

#106 of 143 Re: Austin's anyone? [isellhondas] by fintail

Sep 03, 2010 (1:01 pm)

Replying to: isellhondas (Sep 03, 2010 11:35 am)
It could be fun, but you'd REALLY have to like the ins and outs of British cars (to me they are like dogs and kids...maybe fun to play with, but I prefer they belong to someone else), and it would have to be cheap. There's just too much room for a nightmare with the "updated" components and no doubt backyard mechanic installations. There's not a lot of room for upside, and I don't believe it is suitable for highway driving.
 
It also has to be 100% rust free, especially in the structure. These are cars that can have audible rust on a mere foggy day.

#107 of 143 Re: Austin's anyone? [fintail] by isellhondas

Sep 03, 2010 (1:06 pm)

Replying to: fintail (Sep 03, 2010 1:01 pm)
Very true words. to say that car is primitive wold be a huge understatement.
 
I wouldn't mind a nice fintail if I could find one.
 
Shifty, your thoughts on those?

#108 of 143 Re: Austin's anyone? [isellhondas] by fintail

Sep 03, 2010 (1:20 pm)

Replying to: isellhondas (Sep 03, 2010 1:06 pm)
My opinions on them - buy the best you can afford, beware of rust, seek a fuel injected model, and a car that has been driven now and then to keep everything operational. Roadworthy ones are getting kind of scarce anymore too.
 
 I went to an estate sale on Yarrow Point a few years ago where they had a very nice and pretty light yellow 230S (dual carb model) - excellent cosmetics, but had 20 year old registration, so I don't know what lurked under the hood. They had been wanting $2500 for it, I don't know what it sold for.

#109 of 143 Re: Austin's anyone? [fintail] by isellhondas

Sep 03, 2010 (1:50 pm)

Replying to: fintail (Sep 03, 2010 1:20 pm)
Yarrow Point huh? I had an aunt and uncle and four cousins that lived on Hunt's Point. Interesting story.
 
Shfty, FYI, the "Points" compare to Belvedere waterfront.
 
Cars that have been sitting for years scare me. the engine was probably frozen after 20 years for sure!
 
Are these 4 cylinders or 6's?

#110 of 143 Re: Austin's anyone? [isellhondas] by fintail

Sep 03, 2010 (1:54 pm)

Replying to: isellhondas (Sep 03, 2010 1:50 pm)
It was right as the housing price boom was peaking...no doubt the house was going to be a teardown for a tacky mcmansion.
 
This car could have been started now and then and kept alive - but it was sold by the time I saw it, so I didn't ask. The paint and interior were pretty fantastic though, those are very expensive to get right. If someone got it for a couple grand and put that into it again to put it back on the road, they did ok. Nice original colors, always garaged, complete.
 
They can be 4 or 6cyl - usually told by dual vs quad headlights, although there was a 6cyl dual light exception, the 230. 6 cyl cars are much better to drive in modern traffic, but the little 4s are fine for a hobby car. Diesels are painfully slow and a little clattery even compared to a stereotypical old MB. All of them are very sturdy, handle fairly well, and feel a lot heavier than their mere ~3000 lb weight suggests.

#111 of 143 Re: Austin's anyone? [fintail] by isellhondas

Sep 03, 2010 (2:02 pm)

Replying to: fintail (Sep 03, 2010 1:54 pm)
I've always liked those. What years were they produced and are some years better than others?

#112 of 143 Re: Austin's anyone? [isellhondas] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Sep 03, 2010 (2:05 pm)

Replying to: isellhondas (Sep 03, 2010 1:50 pm)
The Belvedere waterfront is rather creepy to me. The houses have signs outside that say "armed response", which means, they'll shoot you. Howdy neighbor!
 
FINTAILS -- these are very good cars. I drove one for many years--commuted every day from NYC to Jersey when I worked for Mercedes. Never let me down. Compared to my Jaguars and MGs, my 220Sb Benz was like an alien spaceship from an advanced civilization that had actually harnessed the power of electricity.
 
57 Austin A 35--- I stand corrected---the 948cc engine would be a stock factory engine just like the one used in the later Morris Minor and Sprite. This powerhouse allows you to go from 0-60 in about 30 seconds, with 34 hp readily at hand. The rib cage transmission would be an upgrade, however, as would be the differential.
 
I think the best vintage British car ever made ("best" in terms of reliability I mean) was the MGB.

#113 of 143 Re: Austin's anyone? [Mr_Shiftright] by isellhondas

Sep 03, 2010 (2:14 pm)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Sep 03, 2010 2:05 pm)
After having owned two MG's an A and a B, that doesn't give me much confidence if you think an MGB is the "best" in terms of reliability!
 
The Points here in WA aren't as bad but I guarantee you if you just start driving around and a cop sees you (they will too!) and they don't know who you are, you WILL get pulled over. I did twice!
 
My cousin's neighbors were the Nordstroms, John Erishman (Nixon), Kenny G and Craig Mc Caw among others. These people like their privacy.

Messages Page 12 of 15

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