Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Ray White]

Here are two completely different types of car; both greatly appeal to me for different reasons but they seem to have similar potential.


https://www.carandclassic.com/car/C1689158

The Lamborghini evokes memories of a brand new bronze Espada belonging to one of my Dad's famous acquaintances; the late Les Reed (songwriter). Back in 1969, I was at an impressionable age but the sheer magnificence of this machine still engages all the right gears.
I think it is like an itch I need to scratch.

The other car is one of my secret desires.... The Bristol 400, I believe, is a car of superlative quality and despite it's dumpy appearance, is one that I could probably live with for the rest of my driving days.

https://www.carandclassic.com/car/C1690149


Both vehicles are coming up for auction. Unfortunately, these particular vehicles are not at the right time for me, but I wonder what the forum thinks about such tempting offerings.?

.

[Keith D]

The Bristol does it for me, but then it's a based on a stolen prewar BMW really.

Keith
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1926 Chrysler 60 tourer
1932 Austin Seven RN long wheelbase box sedan
1950 Austin A40 tourer
1999 BMW Z3
Its weird being the same age as old people.
You are either part of the problem or part of the solution

[mikeC]

The Bristol would be nice to own, the Lamborghini would be nice for someone else to own
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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!

[peter scott]

Sorry Ray, Whatever the technical merits of these cars I dislike the appearance of both and so neither would appeal to me.

Peter
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http://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon

[Ray White]

I thought there would be dissent in the ranks!

[Rootes75]

I've never bought a car from an Auction.
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Various Rootes Vehicles.

[Ray White]

[badhuis]

Very much opposite cars! Great to have an interest in both type of cars.

The fear of needing a (very) expensive repair is holding me back from ever wanting to own an exotic Italian. A friend owns an Aston Martin DB9 and a Ferrari Mondial. Both needed engine work and parts costs alone were frightening. I dare not to think about parts costs for an Espada.
That said IF I would have lots of money the Espada would be on top of the list (or maybe an ISO Grifo).
As you say the Bristol 400 looks a bit dumpy. Too dumpy in my opinion.

For one reason or another I always fancied an AC Two Litre, came on the verge of buying one 15 years ago in London for 3500 pounds. It had horrible colours though



I do not mind buying a car via auction. If there are a sufficient amount of pictures available (so much better these days) and if it is cheap enough, then that covers the risks.
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a car stops being fun when it becomes an investment

[alastairq]

I have noticed how these days [especially during & post-covid] that auction houses have become more 'helpful' in their assessments of entries.

Yes, buyer beware..but that surely applies even if buying from a dealer? [Never mind a private sale?]
Viewing , if one is serious, is essential.

Also, a bit of discipline is helpful too.

But the initial costs don't stop at the hammer price.

I am more than guilty of having ''eyes bigger than my tummy'' when it comes to old, but, for me, desirable cars..

I usually stop myself when I work out how much standing cash I need to have ready, on top of what is paid for the car.
Where my guilt lies is failing to comprehend, in time, that if one buys an old car, one also needs access to the money to pay for any [or all?] the work that may [or, may not?] be needed subsequently.
Guarantees are pretty worthless to my mind, in these days of wriggling out of responsibilities.
If I found myself in the fortunate position of having 20 or 30 grand surplus, to spare....and spent that sort of money on any car [within reason]....I'd expect to be able to use the darned thing....
As for today's auctions?

With the provisos of inspection, auctions will be the way forward, I think.
Most seem to be online, or phone auctions these days.. [Mathewsons are a case in point..they simply could not accommodate any sort of personal appearance anyway]...I recently sold a car through them, and was pleased with how they treated me and the sale..Painless it was, indeed.
The problems of unreasonable owner expectations can also be safely addressed...not easy in the private sale sector...

The days of the chancey Tuesday night local auctions are gone fromt eh classic car world, methinks?
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Dellow Mk2, 1951 built, reg 1952.
Fiat 126 BIS
Cannon special [1996 registered. Built in 1950's]
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Ford Pop chassis, Ashley 1172 bodyshell, in pieces.

[Ray White]

One car that I would have bought at a recent auction - if circumstances would have allowed - was a Mark V1 Bentley. The ONLY reason I would have taken the risk was because I knew what had been done and by whom.

I have, as yet, been unable to get agreement from Bentley engine builders as to the truth about top piston ring breakages being due to the different wear rates between the hard chrome cuff cylinder liners and the softer cast iron bore. There is some evidence that a ridge can develop on which the top piston ring catches. Other engineers deny the existence of a problem. Another theory is that chrome doesn't hold a film of oil and overheating is the problem.

I would not want to bid for a car such as that without a thorough history; the risk is too great.
The car I was interested in had a more powerful (4.9 ltr.) S1 engine replacement which does not suffer from these problems. In fact I would go as far as to claim that the Silver Cloud/S1 engine was the best 6 pot that RR had ever made. The car also had been properly restored by the best in the business.

It seems to me that there are some auction entries that have had vast sums spent on them; far more in fact than the car would likely fetch. Perhaps these are the ones to look out for.?

.

[Ray White]

[mini.inno]

I think regarding these two cars it also makes a big difference how much money you are allowed to play with and what do you plan to do with these cars.

If it would be the one car I am spending my hard earned money of the last few years I wouldn't bid on an auction.
I always buy cars by chance, either at auction or in real life. I never wanted to own a certain classic car. Nearly all cars were bought unseen and turned out be be a good deal, even there ist nearly always a good reason why people plan to sell their car. Expect the worst and pay only the money for the worst expectation and it will turn out fine.

The other important issue are your plans for the future of the car. If I want a show winner I would buy the best car I could find. If I just enjoy driving and don't care about the paint job I would try to buy as cheap as possible.
A friend of mine for example bought an Jaguar E-Type "in need of a complete restoration"... he refurbed the carbs and all the hydraulics and brakes, sorted the suspension, 3-4 patches here and there and now drives the car all summer. The paint is multi shaded, the interior worn out....but he has no problem to park in front of the shopping center or drive it in the rain. And to be honest. A perfectly restored car for five time the money will not drive a lot better.

[mini.inno]

If you have the spare money and really want a Lamborghini... go for it, do what needs to be done and drive it.

There will be days you regret it, but when you drive it all the pain will be forgotten.

[Ray White]

As regular readers will know, I am bogged down with rebuilding a 1949 MG TC. Until that is done I can't release enough funds to do anything. I did have an unexpected pension bonus...but that has all gone on the MG; never to be seen again.

I attempted to get the dealer who sold the Bentley at auction to take my unfinished project - but he would only offer me less than I paid for the car before spending thousands on it. In the end he got far less than he had hoped for.

[Rick]

I like the 400 a lot, the only Lambo I'd want is a Miura (?), the Espada looks like a normal car that's been attended to by a car crusher affected by a power cut part way through the operation, too wide and flat for me and that's before the terrifying likely cost to keep it running

If I was going exotic, it'd be a Maserati 3500 GT, however it's unlikely I need worry too much about buying one.

RJ
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