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Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2009 9:50 pm
by jonathon
Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2009 10:00 pm
by Judge
Just makes me wonder, with the value of these cars seeming to be steadily dropping, how many more times this will happen

Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2009 10:10 pm
by ptitterington
Cheers!
Well there are many similatities, My old 2CX was 12 yrs old and I purchased it when it was 5 yrs old with serious wear problems in the back actor due to hire with a breaker.
I have spent probably 1500 to £2000 every year in repairs and service so this year as I was offered £8500 trade in against a £33000 machine I bit their arm off.
Maybe there is a difference there are folk with their heads in the mud that will just plough time and money into a dead dog.
Peter
Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2009 10:12 pm
by Dean
Sadly it appears there are more cars available for restoration, than there are sympathetic hobbyist type restorers. These being the type of people who would relish the challenge whatever the cost. Maybe if someone was to produce a new complete body shell, like what is available for the MGB etc.. more cars would and could be saved.
Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2009 10:23 pm
by ptitterington
Dean I respect your views but believe them to be unfounded,you refer to the type of people who would relish the challenge whatever the cost... I really think this is a myth. There are people that start a restoration and then carry on blind to the fact that they are doing a poor job and expending a huge amount of man time and money, (As a professional builder I have to be tactful as I explain to customers that they have done hundreds of hours of work only to achieve nothing at all as we have to start from scratch.)
Peter
Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2009 6:09 am
by Dean
I think you missed my point Peter, there a three types of restorer.
A) The professional builder that does it for some profit.
B) The hobbyist that has the funds to get a car on the road and the skill.
C) The hobbyist who wants to have a go.
The person that does it for a hobby can have the same skills as the proffessional. There are many projects on here that would most certainly have gone to scrap as they are uneconomically viable.
Lots of people have hobbies that never realise a profit, classic cars can come into that category too.
OK your car would never have been saved, but many probably have been.
Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2009 8:06 am
by rob.hardy1
i think the point of my post has been mis construed. Some cars cannot be saved and it is a decision of the owner when that time is nigh.some people do a very job of making good ones out of bits of bad ones and that leads to scrap. I had i dog that was very ill and the vet said it was time to call it a day. I could have let it lay around until it died eventually. I could have had it put down quietly. Or i could have shot it, filmed it and put it on youtube. Dont tell me its only a car.
Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2009 11:04 am
by ptitterington
Rob.hardy1, er well yes its only a car, and because we call them Borris and Dorris does not make them into a living entity.
I also think that shooting your dog may get you into some trouble with the law.
The little yellow car could have gone meekly to the dump but instead had a modern day Viking funeral and showed that it was a fighter to the end.
Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 4:56 pm
by dunketh
Wow! That took a beating.
Top marks for providing me something to watch for a couple of minutes at work. Time I'd have had to occupy with 'work' had you dropped it off quietly at the tip.
I'm surprised (and impressed) with the shell strength, especially in them A pillars. When I get another one I'll feel safe knowing that even should I roll it down a hillside I'll probably be OK.
Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 7:31 pm
by ptitterington
Now I am quite worried as I have noticed a bit of a theme running through my Minor ownership.
3 Restored 3 killed.
First Minor restored as well as a 17yr old could manage

Next Minor looked good

But caught fire and died.

A Project that never got completed ran out of time money and enthusiasm.

Next one Stripped and fully restored in order to satisfy the overzealous Jersey DVS who believe all cars should fully comply with modern standards.

And last of all my pride and joy. Certainly will not be getting lifted up with a JCB. (Refurb not done by me, well thats obvious!)
And I take my hat off to all those that bring back to life the rotten and neglected minors. I just no longer enjoy getting molten metal dripped onto my chest and neck!
Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 8:26 pm
by dalebrignall
thats a great looking traveller you have redeemed yourself
Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 8:57 pm
by Dean
ptitterington wrote:Now I am quite worried as I have noticed a bit of a theme running through my Minor ownership.
Credit where it is due.. ok you are forgiven!
