How important is history?

[combine04]

Hi folks,

I have the option to buy a lovely Chim 4.5. Everything checks out and it looks to be in great condition.

However, the history is patchy. It's had a few service stamps in the little black book over the last 20 years ('97 car) and has a decent MOT history which matches miles (which are early 40k).

So how important are receipts from 20 years ago? Would you buy on condition? Am I limiting possible resale if I have to say goodbye in 12-24 months for other things?

Any and all input gratefully received.

[phillpot]

How long is a piece of string?


Some would probably not go near a car without "full service history"

Others may be happier to judge on general condition etc. and use the lack as a bit of a bartering tool?


While there are no doubt good and even very good garages out there doing splendid work I have seen some appalling things on "just been serviced" cars!


Personally I'd rather home servicing by a competent and capable owner (there's the catch), not saying I'm one of those but I do do my own and whereas, for example, I may spend an hour or more sorting a little time consuming job would someone accept another £50- £70 on their bill to sort it if not critical?

[DavidY]

Its 20 years old, and unless its only had a couple of fastidious owners, it won't have a full history file. Buy on condition, and be interested in recent say last 5 years history.

(I once bought a TVR at 16 years old with 17 previous owners, not much of a history file with that!!

[Jhonno]

I would buy on condition and the last few years tbh..

[silverback mike]

Absolutely buy on condition. Mine has 38k on it - serviced at a TVR dealer for the first 30k (5 years) then fastidiously to the point of obsession by the previous owner of 15 years. Then me and tvrssw for the remainder.

[combine04]

Thanks for the replies thus far folks. So to put it into context, it has stamps in the original black book as follows;

97 - 98 - 02 - 07 - 09 - 10 - 12

There are MOTs that check out the mileage and the trader is known/trusted (having had a friend buy from them).

[ChimpOnGas]

Forget service history in the traditional sense, what you're looking for is condition and a fat file of bills.

[WokingWedger]

A lot of us just spend to much time tinkering and being fussy, not just at a set mileage or time interval, but we should keep receipts for parts, oil etc. I do.

[TV8]

Not sure if you bought the car or not? How many recent miles is the thing for me. Beware the old car sat around for a few years with not a lot of maintenance.

[CHIMV8 500]

ChimpOnGas said:

Forget service history in the traditional sense, what you're looking for is condition and a fat file of bills.

Bills come with VAT if you get my drift

[ray von]

For as long as I've been on here there have been two trains of thought. People who have a fully dealer/indie stamped book say it's important those who haven't say it's not

[Aussie John]

I bought an old Lotus maintained by a well respected Lotus dealer, it had a lot of money spent but was in a poor condition. I guess if a car is in for a service and the dealer advises work that is needed above a normal service then it is up to the owner to ok this work. The service book will still be stamped because the vehicle has been serviced whether the extra work is done or not.

[carsy]

I personally wouldnt give a monkeys if it didnt have any history.

Its all about condition. You can see and hear if anythings obviously wrong with these motors. If your not too sure what your looking listening for take someone with you who knows what they`re doing and job ull be a goodun.

Edited by carsy on Thursday 12th October 16:12

[N7GTX]

Aussie John said:

I bought an old Lotus maintained by a well respected Lotus dealer, it had a lot of money spent but was in a poor condition. I guess if a car is in for a service and the dealer advises work that is needed above a normal service then it is up to the owner to ok this work. The service book will still be stamped because the vehicle has been serviced whether the extra work is done or not.

^^^^^ exactly this. A main dealer stamp means little if the owner has not had other work carried out. Its a lottery so as others have said, go on condition plus the massive history file that should be with it.

[combine04]

Thanks for this, folks - the car was with a known dealer I trust. But when I say lacking history, it really was lacking anything bar a few stamps.

However, it flew out of their storage facility a few days after I turned it down, so clearly there is a market. I'll know for next time!

[ianwayne]

I'm always surprised that owners of cars don't keep invoices and receipts, as I and many others do. Dealers sell cars with FSH and they often mean just book of service stamps, which can easily be fabricated.

[Englishman]

I like to see what has been spent on a car over the years, so receipts for servicing and parts, especially from new, can make the difference between buying or not for me. A stamped up book from known entities backing up the receipts is great too, as, although some home mechanics are better than any garage, some are a great deal worse too. The trouble is, unless you know the seller, you have no idea which category a home mechanics fits in.

[SILICONEKID 345HP 12.03]

I have history but dont want anyone to know about it

[Sardonicus]

carsy said:

I personally wouldnt give a monkeys if it didnt have any history.

Its all about condition. You can see and hear if anythings obviously wrong with these motors. If your not too sure what your looking listening for take someone with you who knows what they`re doing and job ull be a goodun.

Edited by carsy on Thursday 12th October 16:12

This ^ I would buy on condition, if your not confident telling a cherry from a plum take someone that can your going to be spending thousands after all