Looking to buy a 3000M... your help please?!
Discussion
Hi all,
I've found myself in the position where I've got two offers of 3000Ms.
The first used to be a lovely car - 1977, rear chassis rebuilt, interior restored and engine rebuilt in 1999 and with overdrive. The owner is a car collector and had left it in storage... however, he didn't know it was being kept outside. It's now in a bit of a state. He said I could still make him an offer, but I don't have enough experience to rebuild it myself. It would probably need about £1000 spending to get it back on the road. Much more to get it looking reasonable. I would be happy to pay someone to do some of the work for me, as I think I can get the car for a reasonable amount of money, and all the parts seem to be there. Hopefully, I could then learn to tidy up the body and interior myself at a later date.
The second belongs to a friend and is in good condition. I have seen photos, but not had time to view it yet. It's an S reg. He has rebuilt the engine and bored it out to plus 40 thou. Also rebuilt the gearbox, but there is no overdrive. He has renewed the suspension bushes, rebuilt the cv joints and rewired it. The bodywork is very good, the upholstery he says is a bit tatty, but it has four new(ish) tyres. He used to use it every day, but for the last few years has just run it up and down his farm track every few weeks.
Can anyone give me any advice on the two? I've done some reading around on the 'net and the 3000M seems to be a really good option for a first-time classic owner. Besides which, it's a TVR.
Also, can anyone give me a clue as to what these two cars would be worth?
Many thanks in advance!
I've found myself in the position where I've got two offers of 3000Ms.
The first used to be a lovely car - 1977, rear chassis rebuilt, interior restored and engine rebuilt in 1999 and with overdrive. The owner is a car collector and had left it in storage... however, he didn't know it was being kept outside. It's now in a bit of a state. He said I could still make him an offer, but I don't have enough experience to rebuild it myself. It would probably need about £1000 spending to get it back on the road. Much more to get it looking reasonable. I would be happy to pay someone to do some of the work for me, as I think I can get the car for a reasonable amount of money, and all the parts seem to be there. Hopefully, I could then learn to tidy up the body and interior myself at a later date.
The second belongs to a friend and is in good condition. I have seen photos, but not had time to view it yet. It's an S reg. He has rebuilt the engine and bored it out to plus 40 thou. Also rebuilt the gearbox, but there is no overdrive. He has renewed the suspension bushes, rebuilt the cv joints and rewired it. The bodywork is very good, the upholstery he says is a bit tatty, but it has four new(ish) tyres. He used to use it every day, but for the last few years has just run it up and down his farm track every few weeks.
Can anyone give me any advice on the two? I've done some reading around on the 'net and the 3000M seems to be a really good option for a first-time classic owner. Besides which, it's a TVR.
Also, can anyone give me a clue as to what these two cars would be worth? Many thanks in advance!
I use to own a 3000M, but I'm a wedge owner now. I still like the M series and keeping tempting myself to buy one as well - so I do follow the classifieds etc.
It all depends how much you have got to spend, but as a priority I would be looking for a car that has had a replacement chassis and a good interior.
It all depends how much you have got to spend, but as a priority I would be looking for a car that has had a replacement chassis and a good interior.
An M-series car will only need a new chassis if it's been in a crash and has bent the chassis beyond repair. I currently have 3 M-series cars in my possesion and none have had replacement chassis. I also have three spare chassis which I've acquired over the years just in case 
None are badly corroded but two could do with the outriggers being replaced. which is a simple job for any garage or mechanic.
If anyone wants to see what an original M-series chassis looks like off a car, just ask to come and see one.
None are badly corroded but two could do with the outriggers being replaced. which is a simple job for any garage or mechanic.
If anyone wants to see what an original M-series chassis looks like off a car, just ask to come and see one.
Well that's a bit more positive! I've just had a mate on the phone saying all he could find about 3000Ms was that if they hadn't had a replacement chassis "Don't touch them with a bargepole".
Just out of interest, how much would a replacement cost to buy/fit? I'm guessing a grand or so?!
Just out of interest, how much would a replacement cost to buy/fit? I'm guessing a grand or so?!
P51Babe said:
Just out of interest, how much would a replacement cost to buy/fit? I'm guessing a grand or so?!
I got mine repaired professionally for about £500 was gone in the 'usual' places - the front outriggers and the tubes above the diff where the body sits (the factory fitted insulation soaks up water like a sponge with inevitable consequences!)
I stripped it down and rebuilt it myself - removing the body requires a bit of manpower but the rest is pretty simple nuts and bolts stuff. the engine can be removed from underneath the chassis once everything else is unbolted.
good luck whichever way you choose to head!
Sorry, can't help you with prices as the last car I put a chassis on was my own 3000S back in 1992. It didn't need a replacement chassis, just an rebuild but I refurbished the old chassis for good measure and it's still as good as the day I did it. Plenty of Waxoyl is the secret...
I'd look at as many cars for sale as you can and don't forget the Taimars, these were 3000Ms with an opening hatch.
I'd look at as many cars for sale as you can and don't forget the Taimars, these were 3000Ms with an opening hatch.
Like Mr Terminator says, you need to look at a few cars to compare. Best to befriend someone 
who knows what they're about to come along and give a second opinion. Why not invite Mr Terminator himself along? What with the shades, the leather jacket, the unbreakable titanium skeleton and the pump-action shotgun 
- who's going to sell him a duff car?
Or ask the seller if they would meet you at a specialist dealer for an independent inspection and valuation (ask them to pay, of course!).
Recommendations as to which specialist folks???
Or you could do what I did and buy a 3000M off eBay from a scrapyard.
Richard
>> Edited by Yellow Fever on Wednesday 2nd March 22:31
who knows what they're about to come along and give a second opinion. Why not invite Mr Terminator himself along? What with the shades, the leather jacket, the unbreakable titanium skeleton and the pump-action shotgun - who's going to sell him a duff car? Or ask the seller if they would meet you at a specialist dealer for an independent inspection and valuation (ask them to pay, of course!).
Recommendations as to which specialist folks???
Or you could do what I did and buy a 3000M off eBay from a scrapyard.
Richard
>> Edited by Yellow Fever on Wednesday 2nd March 22:31
Actually, the chap with the second car ... the one that's not falling apart... has offered to let me borrow it for a week (MOT at his expense). That will give me a chance to get it up on ramps & have a peer around. Hopefully, I can find someone in the Harlow/Chelmsford area who might be willing to have a peer around with me???
Good Lord! The Harlow triangle strikes again! I'm not psychic honestly....
Mr Terminator is of course a very nice chap but if he's not able to help for any reason, I can recommend a good friend of mine near Chelmsford who runs several MGF race cars. Drop me an email if you need his details. I can give him a ring and introduce you.
Good luck!
Richard
Mr Terminator is of course a very nice chap but if he's not able to help for any reason, I can recommend a good friend of mine near Chelmsford who runs several MGF race cars. Drop me an email if you need his details. I can give him a ring and introduce you.
Good luck!
Richard
'The Harlow Triangle'? Dare I ask?
Thank you for your offers of help. It's going to be a few weeks until I can arrange to bring the second car back to 'Arlow to have a look over it. I'll let you know...
tvrjohn - I would prefer overdrive, but I don't enough experience to be able to rebuild the first car. I've got things keeping me busy for the next 10 days, but after that I'm going to have a look round and see if I can find any other 3000Ms in my price range. Who knows what's lurking out there...
Yellow Fever - have you seen a doctor?
Thank you for your offers of help. It's going to be a few weeks until I can arrange to bring the second car back to 'Arlow to have a look over it. I'll let you know...
tvrjohn - I would prefer overdrive, but I don't enough experience to be able to rebuild the first car. I've got things keeping me busy for the next 10 days, but after that I'm going to have a look round and see if I can find any other 3000Ms in my price range. Who knows what's lurking out there...
Yellow Fever - have you seen a doctor?
Apologies. I chose the previous user-name under pressure and was already regretting it (I can't pass my flying lawnmower off as a P51 anywhere... and I think it's several years since I was a babe!). What a great feature of these forums that you can easily change it without having to re-register!
Anyway... I'm definitely within the 'Harlow Triangle'. Is it a nice one, like Toblerone, or a mysterious one, like Bermuda?
>> Edited by Widget on Friday 4th March 17:26
Anyway... I'm definitely within the 'Harlow Triangle'. Is it a nice one, like Toblerone, or a mysterious one, like Bermuda?
>> Edited by Widget on Friday 4th March 17:26
Widget said:
Apologies. I chose the previous user-name under pressure and was already regretting it. What a great feature of these forums that you can easily change it without having to re-register!
Anyway... I'm definitely within the 'Harlow Triangle'. Is it a nice one, like Toblerone, or a mysterious one, like Bermuda?
the p51 is one of the most beautiful planes ever made, so the suffix "babe" is rather approrpraie - but i guess if it had been known as the "p51babe" the luftwaffe may have been somewhat less in fear of it?
maybe they'd have retaliated with:
stukasweetiepie
me190hotstuff
fw190hotnsteamy
widget is probably a better choice, lol.
hope you get tvr sorted!
ttfn, carl "excuse me, where am i?" g
;-)
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