Best Smoker Barges 1-5 large [Vol 6]

[deadslow]

derin100 said:

Hmmmm....

The funny thing is, just lately I keep being offered 'stuff' through my website and I've been turning all of it down as my whole focus over the last year has been simply to sell (nearly) everything I have, get the white 300CE finished and give the whole thing up! Just in the last two days I've been offered to potentially interesting sounding Mercs.

Would it not make sense to run a two tier operation. One half like the Old Colonel, quickly turning over cheaper but good older BMW/Mercs etc, with a 'special area' for people who demand and will pay for the best resto/examples.

[derin100]

deadslow said:

derin100 said:

Hmmmm....

The funny thing is, just lately I keep being offered 'stuff' through my website and I've been turning all of it down as my whole focus over the last year has been simply to sell (nearly) everything I have, get the white 300CE finished and give the whole thing up! Just in the last two days I've been offered to potentially interesting sounding Mercs.

Would it not make sense to run a two tier operation. One half like the Old Colonel, quickly turning over cheaper but good older BMW/Mercs etc, with a 'special area' for people who demand and will pay for the best resto/examples.

Just what I've been thinking. Or even three tier (with my friend)...the third being some form of very limited niche market in newer secondhand cars?

[richardxjr]

With an option for a buyer to upgrade an tier 1 car to tier 2 perhaps...

You'll just have to learn not to 'do a derin' on the tier 1 stuff!

[Krikkit]

derin100 said:

deadslow said:

derin100 said:

Hmmmm....

The funny thing is, just lately I keep being offered 'stuff' through my website and I've been turning all of it down as my whole focus over the last year has been simply to sell (nearly) everything I have, get the white 300CE finished and give the whole thing up! Just in the last two days I've been offered to potentially interesting sounding Mercs.

Would it not make sense to run a two tier operation. One half like the Old Colonel, quickly turning over cheaper but good older BMW/Mercs etc, with a 'special area' for people who demand and will pay for the best resto/examples.

Just what I've been thinking. Or even three tier (with my friend)...the third being some form of very limited niche market in newer secondhand cars?

That sounds like a very good plan imo. Get a few newer cars turned over to keep cash coming through, have a few niceties of tier-2 Merc/BMW's, then one or two of your balls-out projects for the big spenders.

Whatever you end up with I hope it works out for you, I hate my job, but nothing like as much as you do from the sounds.

[derin100]

bmthnick1981 said:

r129sl said:

bmthnick1981 said:

KGF is Karl Fasulo. It is nothing to do with Eclectic or Andrew Stansfield.

Please don't think I was casting any aspersions or making any adverse comment about any. I simply didn't know whether or not KGF was Eclectic reborn (I see the Classic Car Project has that honour) and then my next thought was that it had all gone wrong for Stansfield, who seems to have disappeared from the business altogether. Further, neither Eclectic Cars Limited nor Eclectic Cars Limited nor Eclectic Cars Detailing Limited went into liquidation or any kind of insolvency régime: rather they were simply allowed to be struck off the register in the case of the first and last without ever filing any accounts.

Edited by r129sl on Thursday 31st October 12:00

Understood and didn't think you were casting aspersions.

My understanding of Stansfield is that he had to sign a voluntary directors disqualification notice not to be involved in business for some time, 5 years perhaps?

Eclectic cars was clearly a pre-pack under which we can reasonably safely assume the owners got off quite lightly, however we will never know what, if any, deal was struck with creditors.

I too wasn't casting aspersions. Just that the look of the presentation of cars at KGF looked so familiar (and I'd never heard of KGF before) and looked so like Eclectic's used to be. Then I wondered what had happen to Eclectic as I noticed I hadn't seen anything from them for a while.

By chance then just yesterday I read about the Andrew Stansfield case in isolation. Then I read up a bit more on the case as it had unfolded on these forums back in 2011 which I had missed at the time. Until then I'd never heard of these types of problems.

Appears he's been banned from being a company director for 12 years? (hope the link works)

http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/news/general/8...AdditionalEmailAttribute2%%&att3=%%__AdditionalEmailAttribute3%%&att4=%%__AdditionalEmailAttribute4%%&att5=%%AdditionalEmailAttribute5%%

[theironduke]

r129sl said:

theironduke said:

r129sl said:

Yes, it was me. Why do you ask?

Because I've got a 500 SEC...and cant help thinking about the extra 60cc. Although the current engine is peachy so there's no real excuse to do it..

It makes a big difference. My engine was lacking compression on one cylinder. Just to investigate was going to cost the thick end of a grand then who knows how much to put it all back together again. I'd started to lament the lack of performance of the 500 relative to the faster TDIs. I recall an Audi S3 mk1 giving me a hard time. My mechanic sourced a 90,000mile 5.6 with 300bhp. It was a straight swap, took him less than a day. Everything is the same and it just bolts straight up. The only difference is internal: the 560 has a longer stroke. I also had a fuel computer from a 5.6 in my garage and we swapped that over but it didn't seem to make much difference. The 5.6 was fitted with a pump for the SLS whereas my 5.0 had a blanking plate. Any Merc specialist can do this. Anyway, it cost me £750 for the engine and swap and while he had the engine out he put in chains, rails, tensioner, valve stem oil seals, breather pipes, all of that sort of thing.

The 5.6 made the car very, very fast. Nothing ever beat it. 0-100mph dropped from 22 seconds to 15 seconds. It went from 60 to 120 like nobody's business because the gearing was so very right: third was good for 130mph so come 80 it was just hitting the sweet spot! In the wet it would spin the tyres in first, second and third. I saw 160mph on the accurate speedo and it had more left. Audi TDIs were easy meat. My favourite situation would be motorway traffic: slow coach up ahead, impatient bd behind. When the slow coach moved over, I could never resist gently easing ahead, moving over and then... dropping the hammer and disappearing, leaving Mr Important floundering around in the fast lane. I loved that car. It was both savage and suave.

Used a fair bit more juice.

Mechanic took the old engine apart to satisfy his curiosity and it was a cracked valve.

You could do a lot worse than drive it up to Newcastle, leave it with Phil Baister at Staithes Garage, take a cheap train home, then return a month later with some cash.

Edited by r129sl on Wednesday 30th October 23:01

Thanks for the reply!

The maths almost works too. I got my very tidy 500 for very little. I think I could spend 1000 pounds on doing the conversion and still be in the money. Basically I don't think I could go and buy a 560 in the same nick as my 500 for less than it would cost to convert mine (and sell my car obviously) It would be a very frivolous way of spending a lot of dosh though!

[bmthnick1981]

theironduke said:

r129sl said:

theironduke said:

r129sl said:

Yes, it was me. Why do you ask?

Because I've got a 500 SEC...and cant help thinking about the extra 60cc. Although the current engine is peachy so there's no real excuse to do it..

It makes a big difference. My engine was lacking compression on one cylinder. Just to investigate was going to cost the thick end of a grand then who knows how much to put it all back together again. I'd started to lament the lack of performance of the 500 relative to the faster TDIs. I recall an Audi S3 mk1 giving me a hard time. My mechanic sourced a 90,000mile 5.6 with 300bhp. It was a straight swap, took him less than a day. Everything is the same and it just bolts straight up. The only difference is internal: the 560 has a longer stroke. I also had a fuel computer from a 5.6 in my garage and we swapped that over but it didn't seem to make much difference. The 5.6 was fitted with a pump for the SLS whereas my 5.0 had a blanking plate. Any Merc specialist can do this. Anyway, it cost me £750 for the engine and swap and while he had the engine out he put in chains, rails, tensioner, valve stem oil seals, breather pipes, all of that sort of thing.

The 5.6 made the car very, very fast. Nothing ever beat it. 0-100mph dropped from 22 seconds to 15 seconds. It went from 60 to 120 like nobody's business because the gearing was so very right: third was good for 130mph so come 80 it was just hitting the sweet spot! In the wet it would spin the tyres in first, second and third. I saw 160mph on the accurate speedo and it had more left. Audi TDIs were easy meat. My favourite situation would be motorway traffic: slow coach up ahead, impatient bd behind. When the slow coach moved over, I could never resist gently easing ahead, moving over and then... dropping the hammer and disappearing, leaving Mr Important floundering around in the fast lane. I loved that car. It was both savage and suave.

Used a fair bit more juice.

Mechanic took the old engine apart to satisfy his curiosity and it was a cracked valve.

You could do a lot worse than drive it up to Newcastle, leave it with Phil Baister at Staithes Garage, take a cheap train home, then return a month later with some cash.

Edited by r129sl on Wednesday 30th October 23:01

Thanks for the reply!

The maths almost works too. I got my very tidy 500 for very little. I think I could spend 1000 pounds on doing the conversion and still be in the money. Basically I don't think I could go and buy a 560 in the same nick as my 500 for less than it would cost to convert mine (and sell my car obviously) It would be a very frivolous way of spending a lot of dosh though!

Do it Duke. It's great when R129sl writes about his 560, sounds wonderful, really hope mine can be saved! Maybe doing some investigative work on it this weekend.

[theironduke]

bmthnick1981 said:

theironduke said:

r129sl said:

theironduke said:

r129sl said:

Yes, it was me. Why do you ask?

Because I've got a 500 SEC...and cant help thinking about the extra 60cc. Although the current engine is peachy so there's no real excuse to do it..

It makes a big difference. My engine was lacking compression on one cylinder. Just to investigate was going to cost the thick end of a grand then who knows how much to put it all back together again. I'd started to lament the lack of performance of the 500 relative to the faster TDIs. I recall an Audi S3 mk1 giving me a hard time. My mechanic sourced a 90,000mile 5.6 with 300bhp. It was a straight swap, took him less than a day. Everything is the same and it just bolts straight up. The only difference is internal: the 560 has a longer stroke. I also had a fuel computer from a 5.6 in my garage and we swapped that over but it didn't seem to make much difference. The 5.6 was fitted with a pump for the SLS whereas my 5.0 had a blanking plate. Any Merc specialist can do this. Anyway, it cost me £750 for the engine and swap and while he had the engine out he put in chains, rails, tensioner, valve stem oil seals, breather pipes, all of that sort of thing.

The 5.6 made the car very, very fast. Nothing ever beat it. 0-100mph dropped from 22 seconds to 15 seconds. It went from 60 to 120 like nobody's business because the gearing was so very right: third was good for 130mph so come 80 it was just hitting the sweet spot! In the wet it would spin the tyres in first, second and third. I saw 160mph on the accurate speedo and it had more left. Audi TDIs were easy meat. My favourite situation would be motorway traffic: slow coach up ahead, impatient bd behind. When the slow coach moved over, I could never resist gently easing ahead, moving over and then... dropping the hammer and disappearing, leaving Mr Important floundering around in the fast lane. I loved that car. It was both savage and suave.

Used a fair bit more juice.

Mechanic took the old engine apart to satisfy his curiosity and it was a cracked valve.

You could do a lot worse than drive it up to Newcastle, leave it with Phil Baister at Staithes Garage, take a cheap train home, then return a month later with some cash.

Edited by r129sl on Wednesday 30th October 23:01

Thanks for the reply!

The maths almost works too. I got my very tidy 500 for very little. I think I could spend 1000 pounds on doing the conversion and still be in the money. Basically I don't think I could go and buy a 560 in the same nick as my 500 for less than it would cost to convert mine (and sell my car obviously) It would be a very frivolous way of spending a lot of dosh though!

Do it Duke. It's great when R129sl writes about his 560, sounds wonderful, really hope mine can be saved! Maybe doing some investigative work on it this weekend.

Sorely tempting. Nice 560's are scarce and getting pricey now. I "know" my 500 now and am pretty sure it's a good 'un so seems a logical base to use. Out of interest will it have a negative effect on the value? Will a 560 converted 500 be worth less come sale time than the stock 500 it was "originally"? If I did do a swap I'd keep the original lump anyway as it's a peach.

[richardxjr]

Nah put the 500 in a 124 (I know it's not quite that simple)

[r129sl]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MERCEDES-560-SLC-ENGINE-...

[theironduke]

richardxjr said:

Nah put the 500 in a 124 (I know it's not quite that simple)

Haha that and 124's do nothing at all for me I'm afraid...




...runs away.

[harry kular]

theironduke said:

Haha that and 124's do nothing at all for me I'm afraid...




...runs away.

There's a guy on one of the retro forums that put the 5.6 lump in a w123 saloon- that must be awesome...

[slippery]

Derin, you're the one with the potentially valuable website. What does your prospective partner bring to the table? Do you really need one?

[andy43]

harry kular said:

theironduke said:

Haha that and 124's do nothing at all for me I'm afraid...




...runs away.

There's a guy on one of the retro forums that put the 5.6 lump in a w123 saloon- that must be awesome...

May be the same guy who does 124 conversions as well. Website address escapes me. Associated with '3 pointed parts' I think. Nice tidy E200 estate with a 560 motor would be most entertaining... in a straight line. I see your 500E and raise you...

[AudiWurst]

W210 E55 AMG for £3200.

Close-up pictures of the front wings look OK, but I guess it could still be rusty underneath...

http://mercseller.com/index.php?pg=view&id=471

[0a]

Cheap for the miles and would make a nice enough smoker: "E240 ELEGANCE AUTO 36000 GENUINE MILES!!! For Sale (1998)" http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C448228#

[jke11y]

0a said:

Cheap for the miles and would make a nice enough smoker: "E240 ELEGANCE AUTO 36000 GENUINE MILES!!! For Sale (1998)" http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C448228#

Was for sale on gumtree last week in St Albans at about half that £ - same person was selling this

http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/merc...

[Rollcage]

Pulse said:

r129sl said:

How about this for the Francophiles? I didn't realise these were quite so cheap!

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2013...

That is quite nice! Very cheap though... Are they rubbish/unreliable?

607s are a tough sell, that's why they need to be cheap. A mate had one a while back, and he couldn't shift it for love nor money. His was a 2.2HDi auto.

Actually a decent enough thing, but incredibly anonymous and bland.

[derin100]

slippery said:

Derin, you're the one with the potentially valuable website. What does your prospective partner bring to the table? Do you really need one?

Well, mainly business savvy. You see, I've never set-up or tried to run any kind of business.

Although quite a bit younger than me he set up from scratch his own business completely from scratch with no backing just 7 years ago. It is now very successful and has an annual turn-over of about £2 Million. He has another smaller vehicle related business as well which is also doing well. None of his business assets (fleet of lorries, vans etc etc) at all are subject to any finance/credit/mortgage arrangements etc...everything actually belongs to him. So he certainly seems to be good at that.

He does know about cars too. He used to make a little money when younger buying insurance write-off damaged cars at auctions, repairing them and selling them. Not vast sums but a little. (However, we've agreed even though they might seem tempting to buy there's no mileage or future in it for us even touching anything that's got a CAT title against it. Even if they're good cars at the end of a good repair they're always just such an uphill battle to sell.)

In fact, you've reminded me...he seems very slow filing his report for this evening's auction events and outcomes with me. I hope he hasn't actually bought something. I'm going to get on to him now!

[slippery]

Well if he has, we want pics and a report!
The model that seems to work for a lot of people is to split the fixed overheads, but actually own your stock individually. That way, you get a lot of the benefits of a partnership, but with less chance of a big disagreement over bad purchasing/part exchange decisions.