Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

Rick · Site Admin Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22829 Location: UK

Evening all,

Reading emmerson's mention of nipping out to get a gas bottle, and ending up buying an old camper van, got me thinking. Have you ever popped out and ended up buying a vehicle out of the blue? and if so, how did you break the news to the rest of your household?

One entirely unintentional buy I made, was in North Wales years ago. We were camping in my folks' caravan. I nipped out to the local post office to buy a loaf of bread, and ended up buying a Volvo 121 that was sat looking sad down the side of the P.O. For £50 how could I refuse???

RJ
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Rick - Admin
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Riley Blue · Joined: 18 Jun 2008 Posts: 1751 Location: Derbyshire

I was asked to go and value a restoration project Riley 1.5 by the widow of the chap who had owned it but never finished it. I mentioned a figure, which she was happy with, then about half an hour later, while we were having a cuppa, I said, "As you're happy with the figure, could I buy the car? I had been so touched by the story of her late husband who had worked on and off on the car over a couple fo decades but hadn't managed to finish it that I jwanted to complete the job in the way he would have done though without the MGA twin-cam engine he'd intended. Instead, it'll have an uprated 3-bearing MGB engine which just happens to be lurking at the back of my garage.

How did I break the news to my O/H? I phoned asking her to put something on the lounge carpet so the grubby boxes of parts I was bringing home wouldn't make any marks. Her only question when I got home was, "Well, what is it then...?"

Five years later, the Riley is still mostly in pieces - I'll get round to it one day...
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David

1963 Riley 1.5
1965 Riley 1.5

Rootes75 · Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2016 9:55 pm Post subject:

Many years back I was a member of the Hillman owners club, I used to run the club stand at the Bristol classic car show. One year a chap asked me to come and value the old Hillman he had In the shed, he was local so I took a trip round to his. Long and short of the story is I was quite taken by the car and we struck a deal there and then. I've still got the car, sat waiting queue of projects.
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Various Rootes Vehicles.

52classic · Joined: 02 Oct 2008 Posts: 493 Location: Cardiff.

Nothing like an 'impulse buy' to get the blood racing!! My current daily driver, a P38 Range Rover was a total impulse purchase although I admit that I have secretly always wanted one.

That is the most recent impulse buy, but there have been others, many others over the years.

But my 'takes the biscuit' unplanned purchase, albeit quite a few years ago, was a Seddon Atkinson refuse truck. 17.5 Tonne with a PD Vulture body and a Cummins diesel...... I had to have it and indeed the hammer fell to me, making quite an adventure out of a casual visit to the local auctions.

Traffic enforcement was more casual in those days so I drove it home on the night too! Reaction from the neighbors was predictable but they calmed down when I let them put their rubbish in there and there were queues to try out the buttons and operate the compactor bit.

Peter_L · Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2016 2:34 pm Post subject:

Back in 1981 (ish) I was driving through Brighouse and missed my turning. A little further along the road there was a caravan dealer and I chose to use his entrance to do a U-turn. They were unloading an Award 15/4.

1 previous owner, the manager of Howarth Timber, whose wife refused to take a second caravan holiday. I bought the van there and then, returned with my tow car and drove it home. It was "as new" and had an added bonus.
A brand new large 12V HD battery under the seats.

WP6980 · Joined: 20 Sep 2016 Posts: 21 Location: Brighton

I bought a Fiat 500 Giardiniera 4 years ago, BIG mistake, it was an eBay purchase, I was trigger happy with the mouse, put on a bid and did not expect to win, but I did!

A very rare & cute car but I just did not bond with it, did the full resto that it needed and sold it on earlier this year, didn't get back what I shelled out.

I don't live with my OH, but suggested a trip to go & look at the car (by this time, I had won the auction and had to pay the money), got away with it (its my money), but do get disparaging comments but they were well impressed when the car was finished - it did look lovely, someone has got a very nice car, but glad to be rid of it!