Lack of classic vehicle mechanics effects old car values

[philthehill]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... skids.html

Perhaps I should get my coveralls on

[ianmack]

All these wealthy investors will just have to invest in a Haynes manual and a box of spanners.

[philthehill]

No wonder that older Haynes Manuals are getting rare in charity shops and when they are available have gone up in price.

But you can get a Zombie survival vehicle manual:-

https://haynes.com/en-gb/zombie-surviva ... ort-manual

[firedrake1942]

If the news is from the Mail, it is likely to have a kernel of truth which has then been inflated beyond all reason.

[irmscher]

What a load of rubbish

[ianmack]

I would like to reassure the markets that I have no plans for a destabilising downsizing of my Morris Minor investment portfolio.

[philthehill]

Similar articles were repeated in a broad spectrum of papers not just the Mail so I would not call it rubbish.
I would say that there is a good amount of truth in the story and somewhat borne out by the repeated questions on this web site especially along the lines 'where can I find a good mechanic well versed in old cars'.
Whilst most late classic cars are well provided for and are reasonably easy to repair the older classics which are not supported require a good skill base to repair and overhaul.
How many on here can use an English wheel, work with lead (the Morris Minor is well covered in lead especially around the rear quarters), deal with white metal bearings, read engineering drawings etc. etc. and solve problems that are not identified/specified in a Haynes or makers workshop manual.
Phil

[palacebear]

Even simple things can flummox some garage staff. My local garage had three MOT testers, one of whom knows his older cars pretty well and is a Minor owner. Last test day he was on holiday. One of the others tested Max. Test lasted 25 mins during which I was banished to the viewing area, in case I was a DVSA spy! Three times I was called upon to advise the tester on simple stuff:
'How do you start it?'
'Where's the indicator switch?'
'Has it got cable brakes?'

[SteveClem]

We're dead lucky here. Great little local garages run by enthusiastic old fashioned mechanics. Not expensive either. Optimistic for the future because our local chap has been training his son to do our sort of cars

[Blaketon]

I don't know where they get their figures from but I'd say values of what I own have gone up more of late, than ten years ago. I think in the case of the MGB GT V8, the resumption of rolling tax exemption may be part of that.

It is a concern and I think that the sorts of jobs many now do will make people more dependent than was once the case. If you are skilled as say a turner, you are more able to adapt. I haven't had any carpentry lessons since school but because I did engineering manufacture in college (And because my father did a lot of DIY), it has meant that I can turn my hand to other practical tasks. We have certainly been guilty of only recognising academic ability as a form of intelligence and dismissing other forms of intelligence. Perhaps because those, who govern us (And those who tell us they can do better), are broadly products of the same system, we should not be surprised.

This is nothing new. When I was in school (40 years ago), only the so called "Remedials" were allowed to take motor mechanics (And building) as a subject. In many cases, the so called "Remedials" were just delinquent (Rather than retarded) but it seemed madness to me, that the two most expensive things that most people ever buy, are trusted to those who spent their school days bunking off or smoking on top of the garage where the school mowers and mini bus were kept. A friend of mine (Who had always helped his father to work on the family car) was considered too bright to take motor mechanics. After O levels, he did a year in the 6th form but then decided he wanted to be a mechanic and left to do an apprenticeship. I think he ended up with the RAC or the AA and I have no doubt he has made a damned good mechanic. Surely if he had been allowed to do motor mechanics for five years in school (When I think you are of an age where it's easier to learn), that would have been of more use than some of what he did in school. It wasn't always that way; in the earlier days of motoring, being a fitter was rather avant garde.

I think the FBHVC are trying to preserve the skills needed to preserve classic cars, just as the Severn Valley Railway take on apprentices, to ensure that their steam locos have a future. Speaking personally, increasing values are a comfort and ensure that a higher insured value means that my cars are less likely to be written off, if anyone ever bumps them. It also helps to ensure that the scene remains buoyant. As to my cars, they are not likely to be sold and if ever they are, I will be past the point of caring and since I will have nobody to leave them to, it's not really important (Though as the late David Shepherd said of his steam locos, he wanted them to outlive him and I'd like my cars to do the same). That said, I hope I have a few good decades left and that means decades of enjoying classic cars, steam locos and the British countryside.

[philthehill]

"being a fitter was rather avant garde".

I own a circa 1905 George Adams lathe that was purchased new for use by the owners chauffer so that the chauffer could turn up what ever was required to keep the owners car on the road.
Back then chauffer's were expected to be able to keep the cars on the road by carrying out mechanics duties. But cars were much simpler affairs in the early 1900s - but how did they cope without 'e' bay ????
The lathe was latterly used for keeping the 500cc racing bike and formula 3 racing car both owned by the owners son on the track.
Happy days

[Blaketon]

A bit like early bus drivers. My grandfather was a bus fitter and also a driver (Ended up in the experimental dept of A.E.C.). Before the firm went bust (Post 1926 strike), resulting a a trip to London, to find work, he had been asked to manage a new depot. His first job was to build the garage!!! My grandfather had a lathe in those days (Don't know what became of it) and we still have some of his white metal bearing scrapers. He was certainly not like some of the ones in school with me, who were pushed into doing motor mechanics. My father bought a lathe when I was 7 or 8 and (Under close supervision at first), I have been using it, when needed, ever since (It did work for my MG Midget rebuild and for my 500 single seater)!! That's what was on my mind when I mentioned learning at a young age.

[les]

Where did it all go wrong?

[SteveClem]

Do you mean with cars,Les? Or the world in general....

[les]

The latter!

[myoldjalopy]

Only 10 or 20 years ago, there was a little, reliable garage in every neighbourhood. Most of these mechanics had been apprenticed and Minors had been part of their training experience. They had the skills and knew all the little tricks to solve the problems that flummox lessor mortals.
Sadly, most of these have gone the way of the dodo. The last reliable mechanic known to me has just retired. There are of course, specialist 'classic car' garages to be found but they will be a lot more expensive than the old boys used to be - often, if it was a quick fix, they wouldn't charge you, knowing you as a valued, regular customer. Happy days indeed!

[morris van]

The garage I get my van MOTed is great because he works on all types of cars as many classic cars as well as modern cars and his son also works on them. The place I get my MG MOTed is alright if the owner does it but there one mechanic who does the MOTs said to me all old cars should be scrapped.