Rolling restoration for under £1000

[D18OCK]

Hi

I am looking for an easy winter rolling restoration project. It has to be a runner as I have very little mechanical expertise but I am not too bad at body work and rust repair. Something with an MOT would be nice but that maybe pushing it.

Previously worked on an Austin Healey Sprite so don't want one of those. Any ideas?

I really love Triumph Heralds (not sure why) but they seem few and far between.

Pre 1973 (tax exempt) would be good!

Thanks Darren

[vixen1700]

You might be able to get this for just over a grand.

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C151631/

Although it could be costly.

[rallycross]

have a look on retro rides for sale section

there are some really cheap cars on there and some unusual stuff as well.

[D18OCK]

Cool I will do.

I love this though shame it is a 77

http://carandclassic.co.uk/car/C184011/

Edited by D18OCK on Friday 5th November 15:01

[Huntsman]

D18OCK said:

Cool I will do.

I love this though shame it is a 77

If you like the Rover P5 check out the 3.0 litre one on ebay now.

How about a Spitfire?

[D18OCK]

Spitfire would be good though the 1500 overdrives are too late and I know the previous engine to be a bit of a dog - easy to work on though! Good ones seem hard to come by.



Cannot find this retro rides section!?

[A911DOM]

I was lucky enough to stumble across a 62 Herald Conv through PH a couple of months ago.

Theres a thread knocking round here somewhere with my 'lack of progress' reported for all to see

Good luck with the search, Im pretty sure you'll find a Herald or Spitfire for a grand or less (Mine cost me a measly 330 quid )

[saladin]

Here's a Tax Exempt Scimitar for sale

http://www.scimitarweb.co.uk/sgwrs/viewtopic.php?f...

[cort16]

I think he meant on the retrorides website itself

http://retrorides.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=FS...

[soxboy]

Have a look on the classics section of Copart's website, though it will certainly be a project!

[lordlee]

Just a few ideas...
Merc 300CE
Jaguar XJ-S - will be pretty rough at this money
Porsche 944

[Jimski]

Heralds are a good car - I had 2 but make sure it has discs as the drums are hopesless but saying that so are the discs! but they can be simply upgraded to vitesse/GT6 as they share cimilar components , parts are easily sourced and there are plenty of specialists Rimmer brothers are the best for panels and new parts.

As an alternative Austin A30/35's and Mk2 A40's are roughly within your price range and are a good alternative to a Morris Minor - again they are simple to work on and there are plenty of parts available especially for the engine.

[D18OCK]

Thanks for the help everyone, I have been having a good look around and I am thinking of upping the budget a little. Have seen lots of good spitfires for around £1500-2000 which need no work to get on the road but often lots to be perfect. I know the 1300 is a terrible engine but I like this alot, hoping to look at the weekend:

http://carandclassic.co.uk/car/C193226/

[Jimski]

looks good but take some waterproof clothes with you as the roofs can be a bit leaky

[BMWChris]

D18OCK said:

Thanks for the help everyone, I have been having a good look around and I am thinking of upping the budget a little. Have seen lots of good spitfires for around £1500-2000 which need no work to get on the road but often lots to be perfect. I know the 1300 is a terrible engine but I like this alot, hoping to look at the weekend:

http://carandclassic.co.uk/car/C193226/

1300 is largely fine. Its the 1500 that has a bad reputation.

[Hooli]

BMWChris said:

D18OCK said:

Thanks for the help everyone, I have been having a good look around and I am thinking of upping the budget a little. Have seen lots of good spitfires for around £1500-2000 which need no work to get on the road but often lots to be perfect. I know the 1300 is a terrible engine but I like this alot, hoping to look at the weekend:

http://carandclassic.co.uk/car/C193226/

1300 is largely fine. Its the 1500 that has a bad reputation.

I had a 1500 Midget (same engine) & 9 years of 'active' driving didn't produce any harm. Ok I never drove faster than it wanted to go, but would you really try to keep a car of that age over 80 for long?

[D18OCK]

So I have upped the budget somewhat (recent change of circs!)

I am going to look at this tomorrow what do you guys recon?

My only slight concern is that the guy has only had it 6 months, now needs a diesel for work apparently.

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C190218

[Flipatron]

£5000!!, what is it with owners club valuations?

[ARH]

Flipatron said:

£5000!!, what is it with owners club valuations?

The valuation is not for resale value it is for the cost of repair. Accident damage will write off easily repairable cars. We needed a new front wing front panel bumper and grill on the morris minor and it cost £3.1k through the insurance, if we had it valued at £2k like what you could buy it for it would have been written off. we were advised by the assesor to value it at £5k. so we did. Mind we could have had it repaiered for £2k "cash". Insurance companies apparently don't help these costs.

[D18OCK]

Yes this is true. I have received a quote this morning and they offer an agreed and guaranteed valuation should the car be written off. Purchase price is not considered.

Anyway what do we think of the car?