RIP Betsy Blue
Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2013 9:36 am
Since I bought my Morris in 2009, I have been buying bits and pieces - Riley and Wolseley 9" brakes, an engine, a leather interior from a Rover 200, tyres, that sort of thing - and saving money at the same time to pay for the restoration. During that time I have corresponded with some lovely, helpful people, on this group and off it.
I've also been ripped off by an unscrupulous so-called restorer (a situation I handled badly, and should have protested about) and separately by a member of this board - who "sold" me a 3.7 differential, was not in when I made a pre-arranged journey to collect it at his home after a three hundred mile drive, and also wasn't in when a friend who lived closer tried to do the same thing, and has since failed either to send it through the post or to refund me the money despite several requests and promises.
It's been an eventful couple of years.
In November, however, we found out that we're moving in the summer from the far west of Wales to the far east of England. The house we're moving to has no possibility of covered parking for a classic car, and I can't afford to rent a lock-up, even if there were one available.
As a result, I had to make a choice - spend the money I had saved to get the Morris restored, and then be forced to sell it in the summer anyway, and in all probability barely recover the cost of the restoration, or sell it now, and keep my assets liquid until the move and then look around to see what's possible.
I decided to sell up: so as from yesterday I am Morrisless, and Betsy Blue (no doubt re-named) is now resident in Merthyr Tydfil. I hope this situation is relatively temporary, and that when I have been in Essex for a year I might be able to re-group and re-enter the classic car owner world.
Until then, I shall allow my membership of the Club to lapse this May - I can't be a member of an owners' club if I don't own one - and I probably won't visit this board so often.
So it's goodbye for now.
Thanks to all those who've given me advice, and a plague on the house of him who still owes me £120. Good luck to you all with your projects and restorations. Hopefully, I'll be like Arnie and be able to say "I'll be back" one day.
Anyone want to buy a Morris Marina 1275 engine and gear box, or a Rover 200 grey leather interior, complete with CD changer?
I've also been ripped off by an unscrupulous so-called restorer (a situation I handled badly, and should have protested about) and separately by a member of this board - who "sold" me a 3.7 differential, was not in when I made a pre-arranged journey to collect it at his home after a three hundred mile drive, and also wasn't in when a friend who lived closer tried to do the same thing, and has since failed either to send it through the post or to refund me the money despite several requests and promises.
It's been an eventful couple of years.
In November, however, we found out that we're moving in the summer from the far west of Wales to the far east of England. The house we're moving to has no possibility of covered parking for a classic car, and I can't afford to rent a lock-up, even if there were one available.
As a result, I had to make a choice - spend the money I had saved to get the Morris restored, and then be forced to sell it in the summer anyway, and in all probability barely recover the cost of the restoration, or sell it now, and keep my assets liquid until the move and then look around to see what's possible.
I decided to sell up: so as from yesterday I am Morrisless, and Betsy Blue (no doubt re-named) is now resident in Merthyr Tydfil. I hope this situation is relatively temporary, and that when I have been in Essex for a year I might be able to re-group and re-enter the classic car owner world.
Until then, I shall allow my membership of the Club to lapse this May - I can't be a member of an owners' club if I don't own one - and I probably won't visit this board so often.
So it's goodbye for now.
Thanks to all those who've given me advice, and a plague on the house of him who still owes me £120. Good luck to you all with your projects and restorations. Hopefully, I'll be like Arnie and be able to say "I'll be back" one day.
Anyone want to buy a Morris Marina 1275 engine and gear box, or a Rover 200 grey leather interior, complete with CD changer?