Original Convertibles: Values?

[thesmithsUK]

Hi,

As some of you may remember, I had a 1968 post-production convertible in Old English White that was written off after catching fire at my local garage.

Well, after a dalliance with a TVR, I may be coming back to the fold...

I have the opportunity to buy a recently restored, 1964 original (MAT5) convertible but wondered where the market is at now.

Google throws up decent examples of original convertibles from £9,000 all the way up to £25,000! With the well-known specialist sellers around the £16k mark.

But what's the view on a very good , recent restoration of an original convertible?

Couple of pics below.

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2016-09-21 23.04.07.jpg (1.86 MiB) Viewed 1827 times

[firedrake1942]

It looks very tidy, wing gap may be a trifle large and the wheels are too white - it may be the photo tho. Speedo looks gold faced . The black faced ones came in in late (October) 1964. Lights and wipers would attest to that. Open glove boxes would say earlier tho i.e. pre October 1964. externally it looks as good as the one in Ray Newell's Original Morris Minor Book (suspiciously similar actually!).

Convertibles, especially original convertibles in this condition restored or otherwise -( I cannot see much of the interior and nothing of underside or engine bay) are at a premium and while some may bemoan the price ranges you quote, that is the market at the moment. Costs of professional restoration are high but in general you get what you pay for .

What is this one going for ?

[philthehill]

Looking a the market the good examples in original unmolested condition seem to fetch around £12k - £16K plus.
What ever you spend think of it as a sound investment - looked after it will hold its value and with luck that value will increase.
Classic cars of what ever make in good unmolested condition appear to be holding their own.
Phil

[thesmithsUK]

It looks very tidy, wing gap may be a trifle large and the wheels are too white - it may be the photo tho. Speedo looks gold faced . The black faced ones came in in late (October) 1964. Lights and wipers would attest to that. Open glove boxes would say earlier tho i.e. pre October 1964. externally it looks as good as the one in Ray Newell's Original Morris Minor Book (suspiciously similar actually!).

Convertibles, especially original convertibles in this condition restored or otherwise -( I cannot see much of the interior and nothing of underside or engine bay) are at a premium and while some may bemoan the price ranges you quote, that is the market at the moment. Costs of professional restoration are high but in general you get what you pay for .

What is this one going for ?

Many thanks - very helpful.

Asking price is c.£13,000.

Couple more pictures below. Don't have a picture but the engine bay is very, very good.

2016-09-21 23.03.48 (1).jpg (1.62 MiB) Viewed 1820 times

2016-09-21 23.03.58.jpg (1.83 MiB) Viewed 1820 times

[BrianHawley]

Looks very nice indeed. Maybe just a slightly large gap at the front of the bonnet.

If it's the same quality underneath, and if I had the money, I'd certainly go for it.

[POMMReg]

Have you checked chassis number stamped into the bulkhead and body number plate?

NEVER buy a convertible on the basis of the info on its chassis plate.

You can screw a chassis plate from a convertible to a toaster, doesn't make the toaster a genuine convertible and worth £10k.

Annoying as these hookey LCVs I uncover, unless i have a body number there's NO chance of proving it's original ID or whether it's been stolen!

[POMMReg]

Horrace Batchelor & his infradraw meathod

[thesmithsUK]

Have you checked chassis number stamped into the bulkhead and body number plate?

NEVER buy a convertible on the basis of the info on its chassis plate.

You can screw a chassis plate from a convertible to a toaster, doesn't make the toaster a genuine convertible and worth £10k.

Annoying as these hookey LCVs I uncover, unless i have a body number there's NO chance of proving it's original ID or whether it's been stolen!

Will check that this afternoon! They key, presumably, is to make sure the bulkhead stamp, chassis plate and V5C match, yes?!

[firedrake1942]

well if you don't buy it i might well.....

[thesmithsUK]

well if you don't buy it i might well.....

Went to visit it this afternoon with my wide but have decided not to proceed. It's a lovely thing but, in the end, not for us. PM me if you'd like more info.