Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

badhuis · Joined: 20 Aug 2008 Posts: 1480 Location: Netherlands

How long can you stretch the fact that a car is a "one-owner car"?
It adds to the imagination that a car was just in the hands of one careful owner, may even add to the value. On the same path you may find that a car was "one family owned". Grandfather, father, son, brother...

The seller of this Herald claims it is a one owner car, although he also mentions "I have had the car for about 3 year".

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1961-triumph-herald-1-owner-17000-miles-/261549093494?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item3ce58a7276

I bought my Westminster from the garage that sold it new. After two years they traded it in and had it on garage plates ever since until I bought it in 1994. So is it a one owner car....? Think not.

A year ago I bought my Subaru Outback 3.0 six cylinder from its first owner (he bought it new in 2001). That really "was" a one owner car but not now anymore - because I am the second owner.
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a car stops being fun when it becomes an investment

Fatbloke · Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2014 2:44 pm Post subject:

My Herald was bought new, then 10 years later was bought by Mrs H then transfered to Mr H at same address and then back to Mrs H. So V5 says 4 previous owners, but I like to think just 2. Smile

What do you think?
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Mike,

A Fatbloke in a Herald.

Rick · Site Admin Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22840 Location: UK

lowdrag · Joined: 10 Apr 2009 Posts: 1600 Location: Le Mans

I bought my Mk 1 seven years ago as a one owner car. It was in as much that the father bought it new, he died and it was transferred to the widow, she died and it passed to the son. Neither of the last two ever drove it though. It was 48 years old with 18,000 on the clock. Here she is as found.

Phil - Nottingham · Joined: 01 Jan 2008 Posts: 1252 Location: Nottingham

I would say that Flatbloke's was one JOINT owner. All mine are joint owned - I have all the costs - my wife has all the benefits!

The registration document is not proof of onership/legal title anyway.

Many cars from 1930's till 1980's were on HP so this was the first owner for 2 or 3 years!

It is term that is as useful/useless as "original" is!
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bob2 · Joined: 06 Dec 2007 Posts: 1728 Location: Malta

My green mini was bought new by my father, then when he died it was transferred onto mum who drove it for a bit until I got my license and took it over (jointly drove it with mum at the time), then I bought other cars and it got retired to the occasional good weather drive!
I always say its a one family owned from new car, and it will continue to be that way, hope one of my daughters will take care of it when I'm gone!!

Fatbloke · Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2014 11:54 am Post subject:

Classic_Dave · Joined: 16 Jan 2011 Posts: 41 Location: Stafford

It does seem quite common that the seller ignores himself, ie he brought its as a one owner car then sells it claiming its still one owner where in fact its one owner for the first 40 years etc.
Very hard to proof no of owners of car if built before DVLA computer, unless you had the original log book / invoice for car.

Phil - don't think HP companies ever owned the cars, they had a claim on it.

petermeachem · Joined: 23 Sep 2013 Posts: 358 Location: Chichester Sussex

peter scott · Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 7219 Location: Edinburgh

I must say that whether a car has one owner or several is of little importance to me. What I see as important is the continuous history and it's true that that can benefit from single ownership but it's not a given.

Probably stating the obvious but...

Low mileage is nice in that you can run a car on largely original parts but "showroom mileage only" cars are only of value to museums. Anyone wanting to use old cars is not wanting to worry about adding miles to them.

Peter
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