clocking on classic cars

[johnxjsc1985]

I wondered with older cars only having clocks upto 100k miles what is the situation if someone advertises a car with say 50k miles and in reality it has done 150k miles and documents become available to demonstrate the seller was aware of this.

[chard]

I don't think you can or should rely on the odometer, buy on condition, mileage is unimportant IMO.

[caziques]

Because you would rarely buy a classic based on it's mileage.

The price or cost of a classic car is determined in totally different ways to a modern one as the size of the market is so limited - and at the end of the day the mileage is usually irrelevant.

(and you can often argue the mileage of which parts as many will have been replaced over the years).

[johnxjsc1985]

A friend recently bought a Spifire with an advertised 55,000 miles but looking thorugh the History file its clear now it had done 155,00 for a 1974 car.
He bought it from a dealer and I think the dealer should have known better.

[chard]

johnxjsc1985 said:

done 155,00 for a 1974 car

See how easy it is to make a mistake?

Does it change the value or condition of the car? I would be pleased to have such a comprehensive history file. I think the file is a bonus.

Edited by chard on Friday 30th September 21:57

[rudecherub]

johnxjsc1985 said:

A friend recently bought a Spifire with an advertised 55,000 miles but looking thorugh the History file its clear now it had done 155,00 for a 1974 car.
He bought it from a dealer and I think the dealer should have known better.

I was having this conversation with my pater.

Reality is most classic cars are advertised with the displayed odometer reading, and often that's covered by "believed genuine" - and in the absence of evidence...

Truth is Classic enthusiasts 'know' the reality of 9999.99 odometer, it could be once, it could be twice - or more around.

The conversation was in regard to 'newer' classic - cars with that extra digit to record the 100's of thousands of miles - and how that impacts desirability.

In this case unless the Dealer deliberately misrepresented the car, I can't see the problem.

155k over nearly 4 decades is still low miles, average miles would be around 400k.

[miniman]

Surely in the majority of cases, classic car odometers only read to 99,999 before resetting to zero. So essentially the mileage reading is totally irrelevant as it could actually have a 1, 2, 3 or more in front of it. As above, buy on condition.

[-Pete-]

Anyone own an electric drill?

[jas xjr]

Correct way to clock a car would be to strip the clock down. Then re assemble it.

[SV8Predator]

jas xjr said:

Correct way to clock a car would be to strip the clock down. Then re assemble it.

Umm, they're probably referring to odometer, not the clock?

But good advice, nonetheless, at least they will know what time it is.

[jas xjr]

SV8Predator said:

Umm, they're probably referring to odometer, not the clock?

But good advice, nonetheless, at least they will know what time it is.

Very funny , have much fun at parties ? No you need to be invited first

[neutral 3]

I'n the late 70s a dealer pal bought a 3.8 Mk2 Jag . It's speedo wasn't working and on stripping it down he found a small note from some mileage clocking Wag that said " Oh no, not again "

[v46m4n]

odometers on classics are relatively easy to 'clock'. newer cars with digital odometers are even easier with the right software, its now called mileage correction

[52classic]

True to say mileage is irrelavent on a classic, unless a very low mileage can be substantiated.

We all have our favourite 'clocking' story...

Mine is about the dealer selling cars from home who, when asked on the phone "What's the mileage?"

replies - "What mileage would you like?"

[N Dentressangle]

johnxjsc1985 said:

A friend recently bought a Spifire with an advertised 55,000 miles but looking thorugh the History file its clear now it had done 155,00 for a 1974 car.
He bought it from a dealer and I think the dealer should have known better.

I'd say your friend should have known better

If the condition is good then I wouldn't say it matters. So much will have been replaced anyway on a 1974 car that mileage gets irrelevant, unless the dealer was asking for a special premium for a 'low mileage' car?

[Jujuuk68]

The point is on a 30-40 year old car, which covers small engined mass produced cars likeMidgets, Spitfires ans Minors, many of them will be on their second engine and 3rd gearbox anyway. Given they're on their second or third set of sills and fifth set of suspension components, along with all the other routine and little bits that fail through age like alternators, how much is left of "the original car" anyway. Unless you are specifically buying a very low mileage car thats never been run and can be expected to come with its own issues due to this, mileage is meaningless.

Diddn't Trigger have a broom in Fools and Horses that he;s had for years. He'd changed the handle 3 times and the brush head 5?

[RedexR]

all this reminds me of the story of someone removing a speedo on an old second hand car to turn back the mileage only to find "on no not again !" written on the back

[Danesgate]

neutral 3 said:

I'n the late 70s a dealer pal bought a 3.8 Mk2 Jag . It's speedo wasn't working and on stripping it down he found a small note from some mileage clocking Wag that said " Oh no, not again "

RedexR said:

all this reminds me of the story of someone removing a speedo on an old second hand car to turn back the mileage only to find "on no not again !" written on the back

Oh no. Not again.

[MX7]

Danesgate said:

neutral 3 said:

I'n the late 70s a dealer pal bought a 3.8 Mk2 Jag . It's speedo wasn't working and on stripping it down he found a small note from some mileage clocking Wag that said " Oh no, not again "

RedexR said:

all this reminds me of the story of someone removing a speedo on an old second hand car to turn back the mileage only to find "on no not again !" written on the back

Oh no. Not again.

I first heard that story pre-internet. I guess it's more myth than fact.

[otherman]

As everyone says, condition is all that counts.
If a 1970s car, for instance, was unrestored, the difference between a 50k car and a 150k car would be night and day. If you could get an unrestored spitfire to 150k at all it would be a miracle, and if it did it would have holes in the body, seats, carpets and the engine would rattle like an idiot.