Originality / Values

[NuddyRap]

As the values have started to increase recently, given that I'm completely rebuilding my car at the moment, I've started to wonder about the role originality will play in determining a car's value.

What do you all think about the impact of altering original items such as:

- Paint colour
- Headlight style
- Interior trim colour (Within, or outside of factory options)
- Engine capacity
- Gearbox ratios
- Differential
- Chassis and ancillary detailing
- Anything else.

.....Assuming that better exhausts, brakes, suspension components, electronics are inarguable improvements of course.

TVR isn't about concourse in the same way as Jaguar, and I hope never will be.

[TheRainMaker]

My take on it would be

- Paint colour - It depends on what it is.
- Headlight style - I would leave it standard
- Interior trim colour (Within, or outside of factory options) - It depends on what and the colour
- Engine capacity - If it's a TVR engine, then I can't see it making a difference, it is a non-TVR engine, don't do it.
- Gearbox ratios - Would put some people off.
- Differential - Would put some people off.
- Chassis and ancillary detailing - Again if it's not crazy, I can't see if making a difference.

[GT6k]

Non standard 'improvement' will almost never increase value, (I should know I cut the roof off a previous car to make a convertible) the only thing i would actually pay extra for would be a rust proofed chassis. Apart from decent shocks there are few changes that are actually needed as most of the faults are due to poor setup or wear, not poor original spec.

Make sure you have done the hot air routing change so the vents work properly.

I would take issue with your non-arguable points, the suspension needs good shocks but otherwise standard is very good IF it is well setup. I had mine setup by Neil Garner and it was sublime. I am sure there are threads on here which show why poly bushes are bad on a Cerb. Why would you change the brakes, bigger brakes just mean you are stuck with fragile 18" rims and I have never run out of brakes in less than 20 track miles. Be very careful about changing the electronics, you could easily get a better system today but will it be supported in 10 years time when it is unique to your car?

[RUSSELLM]

For me, values only come in to play, if you're thinking of selling up. In which case, I wouldn't spend a penny improving the car, as you never get your money back.

Other things out of your control, like recessions, will have a lot bigger effect on selling prices, than changing the headlights, ever will.

Spend the dough on it and get buried in it, like I'm intending to do

Or spend as little as possible on it.

[Poopdog]

As RussellM said, if yours isn't a keeper then bring it back to standard. If like me yours is a keeper then do it to your personal tastes as it's you that drives it and no body else

[fullpull]

Of course I'd pay more for a sensibly improved TVR.
I'd also pay more for a mint car in original condition.
I would rather not buy an original car that hasn't been loved.
But that's me. Each to their own.
Anyway, the biggest mistake is not to own any TVR.

[Byker28i]

RUSSELLM said:

For me, values only come in to play, if you're thinking of selling up. In which case, I wouldn't spend a penny improving the car, as you never get your money back.

Other things out of your control, like recessions, will have a lot bigger effect on selling prices, than changing the headlights, ever will.

Spend the dough on it and get buried in it, like I'm intending to do

Or spend as little as possible on it.

I bought mine for a tadge over £13K, spent £16.5k on it on improvements/repairs over the last 11 years and it's just about worth what I've paid out on it now that prices are going up.

But I've now got a really good looking, performing car, one that I don't have to spend much money on