North of England mobile appraiser / vehicle inspector

[Kieron75]

Hi. First post on PH though i've been lurking. I'm a Brit expat in the US, keen for the restored S2 up with TVR Glen in Northumberland and broadly advertised across the usual classified sites. Aside from RAC, is there anybody who is mobile or local to him that you can recommend to independently appraise / inspect the vehicle for me please, naturally for payment? I've called local garages but it can only be inspected on site which is where the difficulty is arising. Appreciate any recommendations.

thanks

[phillpot]

Is this the car?



That seller seems to have a mixed reputation on these Forums, proceed with caution would be my advice




This is the man to speak to.



PS you're in America now, forget about TVR's get yourself a 'Vette

Edited by phillpot on Friday 5th September 09:12

[ukflyboy]

I'm also in the market for an S series and have been watching this car and several others from tvrglen12. I would suggest you have a look at the other items he has for sale (and indeed that are pictured in the background); I think you will find that the vast majority are previously crashed vehicles and that he looks to be turning good business out of buying wrecked TVRs, fixing them up and then selling them on. The green S1 does say 'HPI clear' but that doesn't mean it hasn't been crashed badly, just that it wasn't declared to an insurance company for them to write off (happy to stand corrected on that, but pretty sure that is technically correct). Of course it may well just be a ground up resto because the previous owner wanted to pay all that money to have it look like new, never drive it and just sell it on, but you'll only ever be able to take tvrglen's word on that.

Of course, if the resto has been done to a very high standard then perhaps it doesn't matter at all if it was badly damaged, you just need to ask yourself if you would be happy with that.

[NaCl]

Where are the front internal wheel arches?

[DamianS3]

Chim seats?

To be fair it looks good and if as good as looks it's a fair price.

I guess the only way to be sure would be to get someone you trust to inspect for you..

Did s2's have the bonnet mounted wheel arches?

Cheers

Damian S3

[RayTVR]

If the budget stretches, Tony at Hexham Horseless has a nice looking S4. This is the North Easts' best known TVR dealer. (no connection and I haven't seen the car in the flesh)

clicky

[Kieron75]

Thanks chaps. That S4 would indeed appeal but the car needs to be 25 years old to slide into the US under the noses of the DOT and EPA nazis. In truth, i'm really just biding my time till i can start pulling in a Chimaera but i'm happy with this S2 opportunity: it can stay with my family in Kent till it comes of age next March. I'm just selling my 67 jensen interceptor over to Paris and that experience has refined my thoughts as to what other classics i'd like to try: keeping RHD, manual rather than auto, soft top because we have beautiful summers here, and something lighter and pokier as i still fondly remember my Mini 1275GT of my formative years but, more importantly, knowing what you're getting into as to condition etc. I've connected with Rob and he seems perfect for what i had in mind. As to corvettes: they're ten a penny over here and i lump them in with Harley Davidson riders too as to broad brush generalisations: old farts and hairdressers; sorry.

[V8 GRF]

From such a distance away I'd advise you avoided any damaged/repaired cars just for the simple reasons that it's not going to be easy dealing with any 'issues' that are more likely to crop up in a damaged car rather than one that's sound to start with.

[phillpot]

Is it damaged repaired? I thought that guy got hold of some "straight" cars occasionally?


Either way I'm sure a professional inspection will confirm its true condition.


Rusty brake valve and bolts everywhere, chaotic brake pipes, a mess of black and blue hoses...... that is not a nut 'n bolt rebuild (imho)

Edited by phillpot on Friday 5th September 18:56

[Top Gear TVR]

it could be A (singular) nut and bolt rebuild???

[DamianS3]

Top Gear TVR said:

it could be A (singular) nut and bolt rebuild???

Lols I think perhaps reputation precedes this seller never had issue myself. The brake pipes look diy but overall I have seem worse much worse.

Someone should go take a look the afms look v clean.

I like the price point too. These are great cars

Damian S3

[Loach1]

Kieron,

I too am an ex-pat in the States, and have had the pleasure of owning 2 S1's and a S1.5 (2.9) whilst over here. My neighbour is thinking about getting one rather than his original plan to buy a Morgan, so I keep half an eye on the UK market.

The most interesting car right now for me is this: http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C535445

It has nearly 12 months MOT, so it should be solid structurally at least, and it looks good in the pics. The price is keen too if it is what he says it is. It's good that it's not too far from Southampton too, which will save a bit of transport money. For under $10K in your drive, who cares if it needs a little TLC? I say just go for it, and enjoy whatever surprises it may bring - there's nothing on these cars that can break the bank if you can do your own spannering!

If you want info on the import process, I'd be more than happy to help.

Cheers,
David

[ukflyboy]

I'm preferably after an S3 but this is only 30-40 mins up the road from me and I was thinking about having a look at it anyway so I'll try get up there this weekend and let you know how it looks up close. I'll caveat that by warning that I have never owned an S and have not long started looking so it will be far from an expert opinion!!

More photos here... http://www.norton-automotive.co.uk/used/tvr/s2/290...

[Kieron75]

Thanks Gents. I've been looking at so many S series sale ads and feverishly navigating the web for more that anyone not knowing what i was doing behind this flickering screen would be suspicious! I'm keen to get a nice example as i'm not the spannering type - although i'd like to learn. I'm just coming out of a 60s classic which was emptying my savings so i'd rather get a nice example of an S and start from a good basis to learn some skills. I work at a known classic insurer here in the US and i've been given a good shipping contact so it's just the hard part of choosing the car and then waiting for next season: i live in Northern Michigan so snow will likely be falling within a few months. To that end, i'll probably just take my time over Winter ready for next April / May. Thanks!

[ukflyboy]

Keiron,

If you were interested in the TVR mentioned in your original post that TVRGlen has on eBay then its worth noting that the price has been tumbling on and is now down to £5450 (think it started at £6950 didnt it?).

[spitfire4v8]

If you want an inspection in the north then may I suggest steve wallinger of selby tvr / intermotion as the man to speak to.

[Kieron75]

Thanks Gents. I'm in no rush: i spoke to Glen a few weeks back and he said that the petrol cap had been relocated in the boot and the work to cover up around the area of the original location of the petrol cap was not to his liking. All that, with the difficulty in having it taken to a local appraiser plus some comments about the engine bay made me hesitant. Anyway, it snows where i am from November through to April so i have all winter and early spring to refine my search. Thanks for the contact name though.

[ukflyboy]

And down another 1k to £4450; at this rate if I hold on another few months he might even pay ME to take it off his hands!

[Kieron75]

That might work out quite well. It was first registered 16 March 1990 so not eligible to be imported into the US until 16 March 2015 so i can hold fire through most of the winter months.