A GOOD TIME TO FIND A 3000M for under 10k

[prideaux]

Just a few examples but probably the longest list of M series cars on Cars and Brassic for a while add to that the ones for sale not listed as there is at least one 3000s for sale that's not pristine but a good runner I believe

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C519024
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C514843
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C506485

Just don't go looking for a Vixen as now you see them now you don't
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[prideaux]

The Blue 3000m just listed is a real beauty if that's still unsold in a couple of weeks either there is no one that wants one or no one with the beer tokens
If I was looking and the beer tokens where there I would be after that in a flash Beautiful looks very original and well cared for
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[prideaux]

LLantrisant said:

non of the mentioned cars are advertized with chassis-pics, nor mentioned any chassis renovation.....i wonder why?


new paint or renovated interior makes a car look nice, but does not make it "good"

realistically all cars would need body-off if inspected thorougly, keeping this in mind the asking prices are too high.

Not to sure if that's true all would need inspected yes I have seen some that have had chassis supposed to have been done and they still need inspection there are restorations and there are restorations IMOP.
There are cars out there that have never had one done and are still good not perfect but good.
Regards prices all the ones listed under 10k IMOP are there about within 10 to 15% of where they should be for cars that have not received a full body off chassis restoration.

A lot of the early cars Vixens and Granturas that I would put in the Preservation class have not had new chassis and are still going strong.
If you basing your price guide on the Enid Blyton Classic car price guide then yes your right if your in the real world unlike there researchers then they seem about right.

If your wanting a car that's had 25k spent on it and you think you can get it for a fraction of that dream on they are restored by people that want to keep them so rarely come up restored to that level as they usually change hands privately but you might be very lucky
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[prideaux]

Mr Tiger said:

The blue one caught my eye too. What is 'subtle fibreglass movement' btw?.

Hadn't realised it featured on the front of a book. I wonder if the seller knows that. Perhaps he or she does now.

Chris

Yes Oliver is a great source of information
When you look around at the moment there are at least
3 Taimars I Taimar SE Turbo Coverted at the factory
4 3000s in the uk alone 2 under 10k and two at 20k
1 1600m Vixen
3 3000m
Not a bad selection to choose from if you wanted one I guess with the Euro being what it is they are staying this side of the water
Plus looking to Europe will find you more and the pound is strong so no reason not to find that car you always wanted
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[prideaux]

LLantrisant said:

"No car is ever going to be 100% at these prices.... They are 40 years old and been through many hands...... If they are 'keepers' then I'm sure they are a good base to invest further and consider further restoration"


fully agree...but as they need further work, also the work, if pedentic, will sooner or later be on the chassis and if done correctly (and not botched for the next MOT, to make the car saleable)you need to knock off 2-3k on all of them from the advert price.

So what your saying is you value a nice looking M series car at 4k with MOT dream on young lady prices have moved on
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[prideaux]

LLantrisant said:

theoretically speaking...yes...4k for such a car...as i dont care if it has MOT or not...as the mot isnt a prove at all!!

i have seen so many freshly mot-ed cars with rotten chassis tubes (well covered in waxoyl), non working lights or indicators, worn out suspension bushes, steering play etc.....and often several of the mentioned faults at one car.

in reality: you wont get one for 4k...but consdering and calculating each fault or any further work necessary you should pay not more than 4k-5k..i hope you understand what i mean?

Sorry No
If you calculate every fault on most classics and the full cost of making correct the sellers will be paying you to take them away
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[prideaux]

hallsie said:

LLantrisant said:

thats exactly a car what i would prefer....perfect mechanics, perfect chassis..because a shiny paintwork and "as new" leather interior does not improve the cars driving expirience!!!

but in most cases its vice-versa: a car is declared as "restored" when it got a new interior and a new paintjob...the owners do not care about old rubber-bushes and rotten outtriggers "fully waxoyled"...as long as the car has a new MOT....

and exactly such shiny, nice looking cars with weak basics are meant by me when saying "you need to knock of 3k from the asking price"

Can I put 3K ON my asking price then??



Stu

Yes Stu you can thats what i would expect however from Nicoles previous posts deduct 2 to 3 k off then add it on again as you have done that
No seriously your car should be valued that much higher than any of the current offering under 10k out there.
The reality is the expectations of what people expect from a 30 year old classic car amaze me if you want a car thatis not new and does not need much doing get an MX5 i saw a friends one this week that he bought for £700 and he is having great fun with it.
But if you want one of the most unique rare hand made British cars in the World that is not just a great car but a fantastic Classic car then find yourself a M series or earlier.
They will all need work even a FULLY Restored Example will if used properly thats what happens with cars.
Try finding a 35 year old Lotus at these prices
There is nothing wrong with Nicoles logic its just the starting price from which Nicole is basing the theory
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Edited by prideaux on Friday 18th July 08:31

[prideaux]

Lowtimer said:

hallsie said:

Can I put 3K ON my asking price then??

Stu

This is where the evidence comes in. Speaking as a potential 3000M / Taimar buyer, yes, providing you can give chapter and verse and facilitate a proper inspection of the car. Compared to what I would pay for one that looks the same but has no proper evidence of recent mechanical restoration, anyway. On a car this age I tend to assume that most mechanical aspects are pretty tired unless I have a solid reason to believe otherwise, and am only prepared to pay accordingly.

This might make me a bit odd, I'm not sure. Currently my daily driver looks like a bit of a shed but has had a small fortune sunk into making it drive like new.

So, if you have a detailed restoration thread / photographs of work done / a fat wodge of receipts for all the new parts (and/or work done by a respectable and trustworthy mechanic who knows the machines well) then I would always pay significantly more for that car than one which is an unknown quantity in equal cosmetic condition.

[prideaux]

Cerberus90 said:

Reserve wasn't met on ebay, so it didn't sell.

I think there are a few more sellers than buyers on the M series at the moment but not so on the earlier restored cars as the good ones dont hang around long
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[prideaux]

An interesting bit of trivia if you add up all the M series cars on cars and classic the average price comes in at 14k
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