Acquiring an abandoned car (project) on neighbours driveway
Discussion
johnhenry said:
According a neighbour we have met its been there for years! which just makes me think it's something like this, im thinking a polite note through the door, but the actual wording of it is what's stumping me.
red mk1 scirocco sounds awesome! good luck with it!
Thanks, you too. red mk1 scirocco sounds awesome! good luck with it!
I say red. Perhaps I should have said it WAS red. It's now that lovely faded red colour normally fashioned on a Corsa B
. It is pretty f
ked. I just want it 
for free, hopefully There's a Scimitar SS1 and a Ferrari 308 or may be 328 park on a drive near my brother-in-lawsthat haven't moved for may be 4 years or more. Personally have no interest in them but they must have some value instead of being left to rot.
I would go for the knock on the door otherwise as has been said what happens if you get no reply from the note?
I would go for the knock on the door otherwise as has been said what happens if you get no reply from the note?
it's nice to see there are lots of cars like this just out there, i just love seing them and wondering - wonder if they would part with that.
great feedback from all! thanks much appreciated, im back home from uni as of next tuesday, my aim for wednesday morning will be to cycle over to the village and give them a knock on the door! good point about the note, if you dont get a reply there is the awkward moment of what to do next, with a chat you know for sure! PS Love the charity idea if they dont want anything for it.
Good luck to 1 and all on acquiring these cars!
great feedback from all! thanks much appreciated, im back home from uni as of next tuesday, my aim for wednesday morning will be to cycle over to the village and give them a knock on the door! good point about the note, if you dont get a reply there is the awkward moment of what to do next, with a chat you know for sure! PS Love the charity idea if they dont want anything for it.
Good luck to 1 and all on acquiring these cars!
I have knocked on the door of a number of houses over the years and it is fairly certain that the owner will be totally deluded as to it's value.
These include :
The first : in 1982 an MG Midget circa late 60's H reg IIRC Totally unrestorable, so rusty it would have been impossible, at a time when you could get a good one for £800. I was 15 at the time. The guy told me he intended to restore it, but I could have it for £1500.
The Last : In 2009, in Derby. a G reg mini 30 with missing front bumper, quite rusty, but savable. Knocked to be told they'd had it 4 years, and when they got some money they would pay someone to restore it, and it was worth £2000 as it stood, and when restored it would be worth £6000 plus.
I gave them my number and said "In the unlikely event that you decide to sell it, I'll offer you what it's really worth" - When pushed on value I said "I don't want to insult you but I think you are deluded. Restored it'll be worth £2500, it'll need wings, sills, floor, brakes, suspension, tyres, and a lot more besides, plus a decent respray, so I reckon £700 of parts, £400 on paint, and 400 hours of labour. You do the maths. It's worth about £300 in parts, because of the interior"
It's still there.
These include :
The first : in 1982 an MG Midget circa late 60's H reg IIRC Totally unrestorable, so rusty it would have been impossible, at a time when you could get a good one for £800. I was 15 at the time. The guy told me he intended to restore it, but I could have it for £1500.
The Last : In 2009, in Derby. a G reg mini 30 with missing front bumper, quite rusty, but savable. Knocked to be told they'd had it 4 years, and when they got some money they would pay someone to restore it, and it was worth £2000 as it stood, and when restored it would be worth £6000 plus.
I gave them my number and said "In the unlikely event that you decide to sell it, I'll offer you what it's really worth" - When pushed on value I said "I don't want to insult you but I think you are deluded. Restored it'll be worth £2500, it'll need wings, sills, floor, brakes, suspension, tyres, and a lot more besides, plus a decent respray, so I reckon £700 of parts, £400 on paint, and 400 hours of labour. You do the maths. It's worth about £300 in parts, because of the interior"
It's still there.
I got a Rover 25 on a 52 plate for £500 a couple of years back, the owner had wanted a new car for years and got the 25 when he retired, he had driven it 7k when he died in 2009. His widow gave it to me for payment after I helped her clear out his lockup and it cost me £500 in parts to put it back on the road (the alternator had seized, so it and all belts, plus a full service, etc). I then felt guilty as I sold it on for a couple of grand but I needed the cash more than I did a second vehicle and the new owner is really looking after it.
Not quite asking a randomer for a car, but I imagine that is the way it would've gone if I didn't take it anyway.
Not quite asking a randomer for a car, but I imagine that is the way it would've gone if I didn't take it anyway.
morning all - update!
Made it home! made it down to the village, the scimitar's still there! looking pretty shot to bits,
got it's reg RMA200P: Anyone know of it?
after some minor digging, its on the dvla as a 1976, in green. but is definitely brown, or just very very very dirty.
will keep updates coming as i get other projects out the way!
Made it home! made it down to the village, the scimitar's still there! looking pretty shot to bits,
got it's reg RMA200P: Anyone know of it?
after some minor digging, its on the dvla as a 1976, in green. but is definitely brown, or just very very very dirty.
will keep updates coming as i get other projects out the way!
johnhenry said:
morning all - update!
Made it home! made it down to the village, the scimitar's still there! looking pretty shot to bits,
got it's reg RMA200P: Anyone know of it?
after some minor digging, its on the dvla as a 1976, in green. but is definitely brown, or just very very very dirty.
will keep updates coming as i get other projects out the way!
Vehicle enquiryThe enquiry is complete.Made it home! made it down to the village, the scimitar's still there! looking pretty shot to bits,
got it's reg RMA200P: Anyone know of it?
after some minor digging, its on the dvla as a 1976, in green. but is definitely brown, or just very very very dirty.
will keep updates coming as i get other projects out the way!
The vehicle details for RMA 200P are:
Date of Liability 01 01 1991
Date of First Registration 01 04 1976
Year of Manufacture 1976
Cylinder Capacity (cc) 2994cc
CO2 Emissions Not Available
Fuel Type PETROL
Export Marker N
Vehicle Status Unlicensed
Vehicle Colour GREEN
Vehicle Type Approval Not Available
Vehicle Excise Duty rate for vehicle
6 Months Rate £121.00
12 Months Rate £220.00
Err, it's been off the road for 21 years or more. Actually, I think 1991 is just the point the database goes back to
New POD said:
I have knocked on the door of a number of houses over the years and it is fairly certain that the owner will be totally deluded as to it's value.
These include :
The Last : In 2009, in Derby. a G reg mini 30 with missing front bumper, quite rusty, but savable.
I gave them my number and said "In the unlikely event that you decide to sell it, I'll offer you what it's really worth" - When pushed on value I said "I don't want to insult you but I think you are deluded."
Telling the potential seller that he/she is deluded is never going to work.These include :
The Last : In 2009, in Derby. a G reg mini 30 with missing front bumper, quite rusty, but savable.
I gave them my number and said "In the unlikely event that you decide to sell it, I'll offer you what it's really worth" - When pushed on value I said "I don't want to insult you but I think you are deluded."
You need to befriend them, suggest that the car needs saving, but is really not economical to do.
Then if they feel guilty about the neglected car, you can get a potential bargain.
This was sat on someone's drive for at least 5 years.
Amazing what a machine polish does for old red cars!
Just been trying to save a 1996 Honda Civic (of all things) from dying on someones driveway.
Was given to a chap by a friend before he passed away and has sat on the driveway since at least Dec 2010. Just sitting, accumulating rust and mould.
Went and had a look, still worth saving, but the chap wanted top money for it. Just not worth it.
Some people are a bit blinded by sentimentality unfortunately.
Was given to a chap by a friend before he passed away and has sat on the driveway since at least Dec 2010. Just sitting, accumulating rust and mould.
Went and had a look, still worth saving, but the chap wanted top money for it. Just not worth it.
Some people are a bit blinded by sentimentality unfortunately.
Do what I did.
I was after a BMW 2002 that had been sitting for a few years. The owners, an elderly couple, didn't really want to sell it and asked £500 for it (this was 1987).
So I went out and found another abandoned car with a council sticker in it. Back then they had all the legal stuff then below the vehicle details. Well, I cut those off and stuck it in the BMW.
Next day I "happened" to be walking past the house and the old boy came rushing out "We need to sell the BMW or the council will scrap it and fine us!"
"Oh, well, I'm not sure. £70?"
"Fine"
I'm not proud but I was young.
I was after a BMW 2002 that had been sitting for a few years. The owners, an elderly couple, didn't really want to sell it and asked £500 for it (this was 1987).
So I went out and found another abandoned car with a council sticker in it. Back then they had all the legal stuff then below the vehicle details. Well, I cut those off and stuck it in the BMW.
Next day I "happened" to be walking past the house and the old boy came rushing out "We need to sell the BMW or the council will scrap it and fine us!"
"Oh, well, I'm not sure. £70?"
"Fine"
I'm not proud but I was young.
New POD said:
I have knocked on the door of a number of houses over the years and it is fairly certain that the owner will be totally deluded as to it's value.
These include :
The first : in 1982 an MG Midget circa late 60's H reg IIRC Totally unrestorable, so rusty it would have been impossible, at a time when you could get a good one for £800. I was 15 at the time. The guy told me he intended to restore it, but I could have it for £1500.
Why did you want to buy a Midget that was so rusty it was unrestorable? (nothing is totally unrestorable BTW)These include :
The first : in 1982 an MG Midget circa late 60's H reg IIRC Totally unrestorable, so rusty it would have been impossible, at a time when you could get a good one for £800. I was 15 at the time. The guy told me he intended to restore it, but I could have it for £1500.
This topic might be useful to some of you guys, there are alot of abandonded cars on there.
The brown Scimitar might be on there....but i'm not searching 129 pages !
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
The brown Scimitar might be on there....but i'm not searching 129 pages !
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
I get this quite a lot, as I have 2 Cosworths on my drive. I don't mind people knocking the door for a chat, but it does annoy me when they offer insulting figures because they think they can turn a quick buck. I know exactly what my cars are worth complete & in bits, insulting the seller is never a good move!
I’d suggest you knock on the door and talk to them.
It wouldn’t hurt to have a fair price in mind and also a card with your contact details to give them.
Even the most ditzy of old people will have access to a young relative who can do a quick google to check the fair price of the car.
Chances are they will chat to you and then offer to get back to you, and giving them a decent business card sort of thing will be better than just scrawling it on the back of an envelope.
You could try a phrase like;
I have a price in mind, but I’d really need to have a look over the car before committing just in case there’s anything really wrong with it.
It wouldn’t hurt to have a fair price in mind and also a card with your contact details to give them.
Even the most ditzy of old people will have access to a young relative who can do a quick google to check the fair price of the car.
Chances are they will chat to you and then offer to get back to you, and giving them a decent business card sort of thing will be better than just scrawling it on the back of an envelope.
You could try a phrase like;
I have a price in mind, but I’d really need to have a look over the car before committing just in case there’s anything really wrong with it.
I can see this from the other side -
I have my 1957 Mercedes , which was the first car I bought with my own money , back in 1982 . I drove that car regularly ( not as a daily driver because I always had other cars and a bike ) for about 15 years , and then less frequently until I parked it up since it needs restored .
It has lain up my mum's drive for the last 12 years or so , in the meantime I have been collecting parts for the restoration , although there are still some 'hard to come by' items I have yet to acquire . The car will be fully restored ( possibly not before I retire in 10 years ) but I may do enough to get it legal and roadworthy again before then so that I can enjoy some use of it . It currently needs tyres , exhaust , battery , brake overhaul and a new windscreen at a minimum with paint and other cosmetic work required longer term . At present it gets air put in the tyres , jump started and moved up and down the drive a couple of times a year .
However , my mum does get a number of callers , some of whom seem genuinely interested and pass nice comment about the car after being politely told it is being cared for and not for sale ; others are quite rude and seem to think they are doing her a favour by offering derogatory amounts before even asking if it is for sale - even though it is at the back of the drive with other cars parked in front ( all behind closed gates ) she has even found people , who have no concept of what constitutes PRIVATE PROPERTY , up the drive poking around it . We have also had notes through the door , I generally do return calls , politely declining to sell , and usually end up having a pleasant chat about the car .
So , yes , by all means ring the doorbell and ask nicely , but don't be upset if it is not for sale .
Do a little research on the model , so you can come across as genuinely interested and likely to take good care of the car - some people would only let a cherished car go to a good home - perhaps even joining the owners club or becoming a member of a web forum dedicated to them ( you may find the car is known to them and get some useful info ) . Be sure to ask about the owner and their story with the car " interested people are interesting " and try to get to know them a little before touching on the subject of buying the car .
So , do ask about the car , but don't be completely taken aback if they are sick of being asked about it .
I have my 1957 Mercedes , which was the first car I bought with my own money , back in 1982 . I drove that car regularly ( not as a daily driver because I always had other cars and a bike ) for about 15 years , and then less frequently until I parked it up since it needs restored .
It has lain up my mum's drive for the last 12 years or so , in the meantime I have been collecting parts for the restoration , although there are still some 'hard to come by' items I have yet to acquire . The car will be fully restored ( possibly not before I retire in 10 years ) but I may do enough to get it legal and roadworthy again before then so that I can enjoy some use of it . It currently needs tyres , exhaust , battery , brake overhaul and a new windscreen at a minimum with paint and other cosmetic work required longer term . At present it gets air put in the tyres , jump started and moved up and down the drive a couple of times a year .
However , my mum does get a number of callers , some of whom seem genuinely interested and pass nice comment about the car after being politely told it is being cared for and not for sale ; others are quite rude and seem to think they are doing her a favour by offering derogatory amounts before even asking if it is for sale - even though it is at the back of the drive with other cars parked in front ( all behind closed gates ) she has even found people , who have no concept of what constitutes PRIVATE PROPERTY , up the drive poking around it . We have also had notes through the door , I generally do return calls , politely declining to sell , and usually end up having a pleasant chat about the car .
So , yes , by all means ring the doorbell and ask nicely , but don't be upset if it is not for sale .
Do a little research on the model , so you can come across as genuinely interested and likely to take good care of the car - some people would only let a cherished car go to a good home - perhaps even joining the owners club or becoming a member of a web forum dedicated to them ( you may find the car is known to them and get some useful info ) . Be sure to ask about the owner and their story with the car " interested people are interesting " and try to get to know them a little before touching on the subject of buying the car .
So , do ask about the car , but don't be completely taken aback if they are sick of being asked about it .
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