Advice on Selling My Dads 1600M

[AliZ4C]

Hi and apologies in advance for the long post!

My dad recently past away and I have been left with the task of selling his 1600M. Unfortunately I just don't have the knowledge and/or space to look after it. I was after some advice on where is the best place to sell it and how much it would be worth? I was thinking about selling it either on here or the TVR car club? (he was a member for the last 15 years or so but I am having trouble registering on the TVRCC website to let me post there).

The car has undergone a full restoration over the past 10 years or so he has owned it but unfortunately is not quiet finished. Here is some details / specs that I have gathered about the car from information he kept:

Car Details:
• TVR 1600M
• Build Date 27/11/1972 (Letter of authentication from TVR Car Club)
• Tax Exempt
• Chassis Number – 2534FM
• Colour – Red (originally white – re-sprayed Red in 1989)
• Mileage – Approx. 41,000 (last know millage from MOT in 2005 39,887 miles and I know my dad didn’t drive it much after that as SORN)
• 3 Registered owners including my dad (Dad bought car September 1998)

Restoration Details:
• 1700 Ford X-Flow built by Scholar Engines
• 1600 Powermax Modified Pistons
• Vulcan Engineering Stage III Head (fitted in 1989, reconditioned and Converted to lead free by Vulcan in 1999)
• Twin Webber 40 DCOE’s
• Piper 285 Road/Rally Camshaft Kit (double springs, alloy spring retainers, vernier timing gear, steel rocker posts and spacers)
• Custom Exhaust
• Janspeed 4 Branch Manifold (Capri OHV)
• Custom Airbox and K&N Performance Air Filter
• New Clutch
• Borg Warner (Cosworth) T5 5 Speed Gearbox
• New Brakes (Shoes\Discs\Pads)
• New Windscreen
• Chassis Welded and Zinc Coated with New Bushes all Round
• Replacement of all electrical components and wiring Inc. loom etc
• New Black Leather Seats
• Drivers Side 4 point Racing Harness (Red)
• New Passenger Side Seat Belt (Red)
• Dashboard removed/replaced and reupholstered (Black & Red Leather)
• New Head Lining
• All New Caerbont Automotive Instruments Dials (Speedo, Rev Counter, Battery Indicator, Psi, Oil, Fuel)
• Starter Button
• Moto Lita Leather 3 spoke Steering Wheel
• Custom Aluminium Gearstick Gaiter & Gear knob
• Pioneer CD Head Unit and Alpine Speakers
• Most nuts / bolts / fasteners replaced as restoration carried out.
• New Fuel Pump (and possibly tank)
• Full Re-spray (Still Red - 2000)
• 16” 5 spoke Split Rim alloys (and still think we have the originals)
• Virtually brand new 205/55/R16 Goodyear Eagle NCT 3 Tyres

Bad Parts / To Do:
• Differential is almost knackered and needs replacing (I think my dad was planning on putting a Ford Sierra Diff In?)
• Still some upholstery work to be done inside the car (Large roll of new black carpet available)
• There is a small rip in the sunroof
• The paintwork (although my dad had the car re-sprayed in 2000) is starting to look shabby with a few blemishes / sun fading as my dad had not been well enough to look after the car over the last year or so.
• No Current MOT / Car is SORN.

Do you think it would be worth me getting the diff replaced and the car tidied up / MOTed in terms of the price I would get for it? The car starts / runs no problem at the moment but will need some work to get it finished.

I will upload a couple of pohtos of the car tonight as I cant get on Photobucket at work!

Thanks for the advice in advance

Ali Dalton

[Adrian@]

IMHO it's always better to have a running car than what you have, if not then you need this to be in an advert in classified as it is, as offers ....the diff issue is more likely that the diff frame is failing, common on the early 1600 cars as the rear mounting is in effect solid mounted and then this breaks the carrier diff axle (front drivers mount) this can cause the diff to leak etc. Adrian@

[The Surveyor]

Ali

Firstly, condolences over the passing of your father. I'm the RO for the North East TVRCC which covers Newcastle and if I can be of any help with this, please send me an Email.

Regards

Paul

[AliZ4C]

Hi guys/girl and thanks for the replies.

I was just trying to gauge the value of the car knowing little about them (I know it wont be a great deal) and if it would be worth my while spending money getting the car totally finished and MOTed etc? I know the car will be worth less in its current state but I though the king of ppl who buy these cars wanted a project (that is certainly why my dad did!).

Adrain@ when you say its better to have a running car do you mean fully restored and MOTed? The car does run/drive but just not legally! How much do you think it would cost to replace the diff? As I said my dad was thinking of putting a Sierra diff in (and there may be one in our garage!) but I gathered this is major surgery that I don't have the time or experience to do? I have just noticed from your profile who you are Adrian, while going through my dads stuff for the car I found a letter from you from September 1999 saying thanks for some photos he had sent you?!

Paul, thanks for the kind offer.... I will certainly email you if I require any help selling the car through the TVRCC.

Again thanks for the input guys.

Ali

[Adrian@]

Hi Ali,
Yes, your dad, David spoke and exchanged letters a while back, sorry to hear of his passing.
I agree that changing the diff is a major job, but MOT'd, the car has to be worth more.
I have a long term TVR owner (no car at the moment) looking for a 1600M that might be interested,(I could put you pair together, PM me).
Adrian@

[AliZ4C]

Hi again Adrain.... will PM you now

[ajp70]

Between Pistonheads and TVRCC your looking in the right place for advice (although I can't help much). I think there were only 150/160 of the 1600s made so there will be only a small number left. The larger engined versions are more abundant (relatively) and many TVR owners' attitude is bigger is better but there should be enough people who would prefer the character of the smaller engine. Myself included if I could afford/justify having a second TVR.

Unless you are going to get the car on the road yourself, the cost of having it done for you could equal the extra it will be worth when it's finished for sale.

Hopefully, a better informed person than me WILL actually give you some decent advice. Good luck and I'm sure your Dad would've liked it to go to someone who would care for it as he did.

You have my deepest sympathy if nothing else.