Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.
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badhuis
Joined: 20 Aug 2008 Posts: 1390 Location: Netherlands
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Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2021 10:41 am Post subject: non-sellers |
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There are cars that are difficult to sell. As a hobby - what other explanation is there - I browse through online adverts for classic cars. There are a couple of cars that have been on the market for years now. It seems impossible to find a long term owner for them.
As an example there is this pretty Austin A55 Cambridge. Really rare - there only three others known in the Netherlands. Very fifties colour, there is not much wrong with the car. It has been on the market for at least four or five years. Maybe it has had new owners but it seems it is always advertised.
https://link.marktplaats.nl/m1645349283
There are a few others around too. A fifties Hillman Minx at a dealer, and a sixties Super Minx at another dealer. A TR6 project at a dealer which is not expensive.
I am lucky not to have to sell cars much. I struggled with the sale of my 1961 Hillman Minx a couple of years ago but eventually that found a good owner. For a very low price but I was glad to see it go to an enthusiast. _________________ a car stops being fun when it becomes an investment |
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Rick Site Admin
Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22447 Location: UK
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badhuis
Joined: 20 Aug 2008 Posts: 1390 Location: Netherlands
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Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2021 12:39 pm Post subject: |
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Agree that the A55 is not in top condition. But then it is not offered for a top price.
Yes - as far as I know, and in our local BMC club, all A55 sold here had column change. It was a very common thing. Most French cars had column change throughout the sixties as well. I learned to drive a car in my fathers 1972 Peugeot 404 with column change. _________________ a car stops being fun when it becomes an investment |
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norustplease
Joined: 11 Apr 2011 Posts: 779 Location: Lancashire
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Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2021 12:54 pm Post subject: |
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Cars that are hard to sell are usually because either they are over priced, or because they are not as good as described (and hence probably again, overpriced for their condition). Plus, some cars simply don't fire the imagination. However, I would imagine that if in the UK, this example would probably do well, since Farina Oxfords and Cambridges seem to be gaining in value and popularity.
At the moment, of course, lockdown makes it very difficult to buy or sell outside your own immediate area. _________________ 1953 Citroen Traction
1964 Volvo PV544
1957 Austin A55 Mk 1
Boring Tucson SUV |
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Miken
Joined: 24 Dec 2012 Posts: 544
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Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2021 2:00 pm Post subject: |
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The baby seat is interesting! |
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lowdrag
Joined: 10 Apr 2009 Posts: 1585 Location: Le Mans
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Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2021 6:17 pm Post subject: |
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I grew up in the fifties at my Dad's garage and we had column change Consuls and Zephyrs too, plus of course a pre-select Daimler which was column change I seem to recall. The 504 had one, and of course we had that wonderful Renault 4L and 2CV changes too. Later cars include the Saab 96 and the dear Trabant, and going back Chrysler had them prewar. "Three on the tree" was very common in the USA before "four on the floor" took over, especially on the muscle cars such as the Pontiac GTO, the Torino and Camaro SS just to name three. Remind me of some more please! |
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mikeC
Joined: 31 Jul 2009 Posts: 1775 Location: Market Warsop, Nottinghamshire
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Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2021 8:14 pm Post subject: |
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In the 'fifties column changes were more common than floor changes; Fiats, Lancias and Alfa Romeos were all column changes as were Opels, BMW, Mercedes, Borgward in Germany, Peugeots, Renaults and Simcas in France, and in the UK Jowetts, Austins & Morris, Fords, Vauxhalls, Rootes Group cars, Standards, etc. It was only the smaller cars like Minors and A30/35s, and the more sporting cars that had a floor change. _________________ in the garage: 1938 Talbot Ten Airline
Recently departed: 1953 Lancia Appia, 1931 Austin Seven, 1967 Singer Chamois, 1914 Saxon, 1930 Morris Cowley, 1936 BSA Scout, 1958 Lancia Appia coupe, 1922 Star 11.9 ... the list goes on! |
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Penman
Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4756 Location: Swindon, Wilts.
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Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2021 8:28 pm Post subject: |
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Three on the Tree didn't apply to the Austins or I think the Rootes vehicles, I remember them as having a pull out knob on the end of the lever to clear the reverse detent. _________________ Bristols should always come in pairs.
Any 2 from:-
Straight 6
V8 V10 |
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mikeC
Joined: 31 Jul 2009 Posts: 1775 Location: Market Warsop, Nottinghamshire
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Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2021 9:26 am Post subject: |
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I think most of the examples I quoted had four-speed gearboxes, so yes, some sort of 'lock' to prevent engaging reverse was necessary, just like with floor-change systems. _________________ in the garage: 1938 Talbot Ten Airline
Recently departed: 1953 Lancia Appia, 1931 Austin Seven, 1967 Singer Chamois, 1914 Saxon, 1930 Morris Cowley, 1936 BSA Scout, 1958 Lancia Appia coupe, 1922 Star 11.9 ... the list goes on! |
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