Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

clan chieftain · Joined: 05 Apr 2008 Posts: 2041 Location: Motherwell

Only going on ebay prices but dont you think classic car prices are high or am I needing to move with the times.Even runners in serious need of repair are doing crazy money. I even at one point thought about a complete change but there is nothing decent now for less than £1000.Stick with what Ive got.
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The Clan Chieftain

Riley Blue · Joined: 18 Jun 2008 Posts: 1751 Location: Derbyshire

Nothing decent for less than £1,000? Is that so surprising?

Bitumen Boy · Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2012 3:48 pm Post subject:

Well, I can remember when the more common classics - Minis, Minor and Herald saloons, that kind of thing - could be picked up for more like £500, and it's not so very long ago really. OK, such cars wouldn't be minters by any means, but you could certainly find MOT'd runners that were ripe for improvement, and by improvement I don't mean full nut and bolt restorations, just tidying up the bodywork and a bit of TLC on the running gear. Nowadays people seem to be after £2k+ for cars in this sort of category, and it seems plenty of people are daft enough to pay it Rolling Eyes

Riley Blue · Joined: 18 Jun 2008 Posts: 1751 Location: Derbyshire

How long ago? I haven't seen what I consider a decent buy for £500 for quite some time. Maybe I've been looking in the wrong places.

47Jag · Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2012 5:40 pm Post subject:

It's all relative! What were the average salaries when the £500 cars were on the go?

Art

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

Riley Blue · Joined: 18 Jun 2008 Posts: 1751 Location: Derbyshire

So the definition of 'decent' is any car with a MOT?

mikeC · Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2012 9:23 am Post subject:

I suppose the price of scrap metal has a bearing on this: any complete car will fetch upwards of £200 as scrap today.

Geoffp · Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2012 9:59 am Post subject:

I don't know if you were trying, Peter, but I think that you've confirmed the point that Marina Estate made Wink

A Minor that may well have a reserve above £1,000, a Dolomite with one month's MOT and a Jaguar XJ being unloaded before the new wedding car licencing rules come in don't inspire a mood of joy. Sad

I don't think that things are too bad though. There always seem to be a number of large petrol Mercedes (esp S class) available at reasonable prices, and although about £2k with buyers premium, one of the last 190 Mercedes could haved proved an interesting long-term buy (and I would think a lot more satisfying than an average Mark 4 Cortina for the same amount):

http://classiccars.brightwells.com/viewdetails.php?id=2926

How about a traditional British sports car; this one looked good value:

http://classiccars.brightwells.com/viewdetails.php?id=3015

And don't forget, it's getting to the end of the classsic car show season, worth looking around to see if there is anything about with a 'For Sale' sign in the window Smile

Has anyone ever bought a car that way?

Geoff

ukdave2002 · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4287 Location: South Cheshire

Its a double edged sword:

Any car worth less than £500 must be in danger of being broken for parts and the shell sold for scrap....one less car on the road. Sad

Also don't forget that since the early 90's we have seen over 50% inflation...and the 90's don't seem that long ago to me Shocked

And £1000 will only buy 4 days worth of pro garage time......

Dave

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