How much would you say my 420SE is actually worth?
Discussion
Let me first say, I'm not planning on selling it any time soon. You guys are stuck with me for a while yet!!! 
However, a conversation with a couple of mates has just raised an interesting question, which is, how much is my 420SE actually worth?
A brief outline:
However, a conversation with a couple of mates has just raised an interesting question, which is, how much is my 420SE actually worth?
A brief outline:
- Nimbus Grey 420SE with optional lightweight 'Zender' Spoiler
- 1 of only 7 ever made (approx.). Most probably owned by a TVR Factory member, if not P.Wheeler himself. (as per Richard Thorpe @ RT Racing)
- Same engine as 420SEAC with sole exception of slightly 'softer' cams for improved slow speed handling
- 4 owners from new, in my family for nearly 20 years
- just under 71,000 miles
- extensive service history (may be full, not sure yet, not gone through all the receipts!)
- significant engine rebuild in 2001
- full respray in 2004
- approx. £3400 work done 2009/2010 including outrigger replacement, suspension work, significant cooling system improvement, full chassis treatment & new window motors, along with other bits.
- as per R.Thorpe @ RT Racing - It's one of the finest wedges he's seen in a long time, from both a chassis perspective, and an engine perspective. A compression test of all cylinders resulted in values between 196-212psi (which is exceptional apparently)
- Could do with some attention to cosmetics internally re: carpets & dash, but seats and the rest in good condition.
It sounds a nice car.
I don't want to rain on your parade but some of your comments will have little bearing on the value, factory owned poss by Peter etc doesn't have any proof, money you have spent will help it sell but you won't recoup what you have spent.
When I look at classifieds I generally see 2 types of seller, those who are realistic and want to sell at a fair and realistic price, and those that are in cloud cuckoo land.
I have a V8S that due to various reasons I am going to have to sell, its had a fortune spent on it with full body off, powder coated chassis, new everything etc etc, but I'll be pricing it to sell, yes towards the top end of V8S pricing but not OTT as I do need to sell it.
A buyer will only pay what they think its worth, sentimental attachment (and I have plenty I've done 100's of hours on my car) add nothing.
I don't want to rain on your parade but some of your comments will have little bearing on the value, factory owned poss by Peter etc doesn't have any proof, money you have spent will help it sell but you won't recoup what you have spent.
When I look at classifieds I generally see 2 types of seller, those who are realistic and want to sell at a fair and realistic price, and those that are in cloud cuckoo land.
I have a V8S that due to various reasons I am going to have to sell, its had a fortune spent on it with full body off, powder coated chassis, new everything etc etc, but I'll be pricing it to sell, yes towards the top end of V8S pricing but not OTT as I do need to sell it.
A buyer will only pay what they think its worth, sentimental attachment (and I have plenty I've done 100's of hours on my car) add nothing.
Last years money, about £5-6k. At the moment things are changing, prices are hardening so a bit more. Next few years they'll probably go up a bit more 20% or so for a good one. It's all down to individual condition & how many want to buy at the time. The 400SE 'shape' cars always seem to sell quicker than the 350-390 'shape' cars so that's also a factor.
I'm selling the RED 400SE that is on the classi's at the moment. It is a real lovely well looked after wedge, it has had thousands of work done. The service history is amazing to say the least. This wedge needs nothing, and can be just driven and enjoyed.
Been for sale a while now and i have had alot of calls, 20+ emails and alot of total time wasters.
I guess the wedge buying world is a difficult one to sum up. It is most certainly just a case of having what people want, when they want it and for how much they want to pay.
Been for sale a while now and i have had alot of calls, 20+ emails and alot of total time wasters.
I guess the wedge buying world is a difficult one to sum up. It is most certainly just a case of having what people want, when they want it and for how much they want to pay.
Edited by restless*native on Wednesday 10th March 09:29
restless*native said:
I'm selling the RED 400SE that is on the classi's at the moment. It is a real lovely well looked after wedge, it has had thousands of work done. The service history is amazing to say the least. This wedge needs nothing, and can be just driven and enjoyed.
Been for sale a while now and i have had alot of calls, 20+ emails and alot of total time wasters.
I guess the wedge buying world is a difficult one to sum up. It is most certainly just a case of having what people want, when they want it and for how much they want to pay.
That thing looks like a very good buy to me. Spot on the money. I'd hold out a while if I was you. Been for sale a while now and i have had alot of calls, 20+ emails and alot of total time wasters.
I guess the wedge buying world is a difficult one to sum up. It is most certainly just a case of having what people want, when they want it and for how much they want to pay.
Edited by restless*native on Wednesday 10th March 09:29
Wow, wasn't expecting that many replies so quickly! Thanks folks 
Quite a range of opinions as well, £950-8000, almost a full order of magnitude!
I was expecting somewhere in the range of £7000-7500, so not disappointed in the slightest.
In response to someones question along the way, yes it's a genuine 420SE (but I'm not sure the relevance to how many 390SE's were made?) and the engine is an NCK prepared motor (NCK055 if I remember correctly).
(Everything on the car is standard except for the stereo, although I hope to upgrade the suspension & brakes in the next couple of years...)
Thanks again guys, much appreciated
Quite a range of opinions as well, £950-8000, almost a full order of magnitude!
I was expecting somewhere in the range of £7000-7500, so not disappointed in the slightest.
In response to someones question along the way, yes it's a genuine 420SE (but I'm not sure the relevance to how many 390SE's were made?) and the engine is an NCK prepared motor (NCK055 if I remember correctly).
(Everything on the car is standard except for the stereo, although I hope to upgrade the suspension & brakes in the next couple of years...)
Thanks again guys, much appreciated
_Absinthe_ said:
- 1 of only 7 ever made (approx.). Most probably owned by a TVR Factory member, if not P.Wheeler himself. (as per Richard Thorpe @ RT Racing)
Other than the top few management types, I'd have thought it unlikely that the regular staff would have been able to afford a 420SE on TVR salaries and with no access to the easy credit that we know now.
I think the reference to 390s was that the 390SE was a 350 with add-on bodykit and engine mods paid for separately to the base 350i. The 420SE was the same deal but with even more engine work.
If you wanted one of these cars you wanted it irrespective of price. I'm sure I remember a few years back someone did some digging in old car mags and found that when the 390SE was £21K you could have a Sierra Cosworth for under £16K; the TVR didn't make a lot of sense. Of course we're glad that it did to someone
Wedg1e said:
_Absinthe_ said:
- 1 of only 7 ever made (approx.). Most probably owned by a TVR Factory member, if not P.Wheeler himself. (as per Richard Thorpe @ RT Racing)
Other than the top few management types, I'd have thought it unlikely that the regular staff would have been able to afford a 420SE on TVR salaries and with no access to the easy credit that we know now.
I was a tad suspicious that Mr Thorpe was just blowin smoke up my ass tbh.Wedg1e said:
I think the reference to 390s was that the 390SE was a 350 with add-on bodykit and engine mods paid for separately to the base 350i. The 420SE was the same deal but with even more engine work.
If you wanted one of these cars you wanted it irrespective of price. I'm sure I remember a few years back someone did some digging in old car mags and found that when the 390SE was £21K you could have a Sierra Cosworth for under £16K; the TVR didn't make a lot of sense. Of course we're glad that it did to someone
Very glad indeed that it made sense to someone! If you wanted one of these cars you wanted it irrespective of price. I'm sure I remember a few years back someone did some digging in old car mags and found that when the 390SE was £21K you could have a Sierra Cosworth for under £16K; the TVR didn't make a lot of sense. Of course we're glad that it did to someone
.. I once looked at one of these with a view to purchase - I was prepared to trade in my pristine 911 but the dealer, (usual story), valued my car circ £2k shy of what I considered, a realistic value - so deal was never struck. I phoned the factory concerning the provinence of the car and they told me that it was one of only 12 made.
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