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Post by standard8pot on Jul 24, 2018 14:09:18 GMT 1
Hi all I have seen a 8 for sale on eBay it's 1955 advertised with 13000 miles which I doubt but it looks nice Just want it for a bit of fun and to drive around my local village no real miles Any advice or anyone know the car ? Currently on eBay it's blue
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Post by marshman on Jul 25, 2018 20:37:12 GMT 1
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Post by herald948 on Jul 25, 2018 22:31:37 GMT 1
Would I be correct in assuming that is NOT the original number plate? i.e., typical case of a car bought for a "valuable" number plate and ultimately separated from same.
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Post by misterm on Jul 25, 2018 23:20:43 GMT 1
What leads you to that conclusion, Andy?
I didn't spot anything along those lines and the sale does suggest there is historic documentation with the car.
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Post by magnet on Jul 26, 2018 9:24:01 GMT 1
Hello original poster, A few additional pointers which might be helpful:- The car is on SORN and is showing as not being insured, so cannot be legal driven/tested on the road unless under Trade Plates. Not for me to dictate what you should do, but I would not entertain driving this on the road, and beware of any indication which suggests your insurance cover it under ' policyholder may drive any car not belonging to him ..." Only applies if the vehiicle itself is insured - which it is not.
My belief is that the seller is not the longer term keeper and may simply be ' the vehicle's seller' and may have limited knowledge of the car apart from whatever is written.
Documents to substantiate mileage ( the seller is strongly indicating that the mileage is genuine) - if MOT certificates then the system only goes back to 2006. Others before this?
Reg. No. is original to the car. First registered in Fife in April 1955. Confusion possibly due to .SL being used (I believe) as replacement number when an original was sold on. .Sl was never issued during the period , but .SP was. As an aside - selling on original numbers - never had any hang up on this since for many bread and butter cars the number could have been worth more than the car, so selling the number actually saved the car rather than having any adverse affect. If you are advised that its current number is worth £X, then pinch of salt applies since valuations can be unrealistic, and in any case the number may be non transferable if entered into the DVLA system sometime after the mid 80s. Look at V5.
Of course, all of this is not the car itself, and this can only be assessed on inspection - but not testing. Hope some of this helps. Kind regards, Gareth.
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Post by marshman on Jul 26, 2018 9:43:07 GMT 1
Garath, sound advice on the tax and insurance front. I have this "discussion" with lots of people who insist they can drive any car because their insurance says so. I try and explain the caveats that go with it but they "don't want to hear".
For what it is worth I think the condition of the body in terms of hidden rust is far more important than any potential mechanical problems. Most of those can be assessed on the driveway. You can check for the engine running, correct engagement of the gears and clutch operation, get a "feel" for the brakes and also play in the steering and rest of the suspension. Take a jack and raise each corner to check wheel bearings and get a better look underneath (take axle stands as well). Look at the coolant in the radiator - is it clean, check the clutch and brake fluid - again is it clean(ish) - remove the dipstick - fell and smell the engine oil - is it newish or 20 year old grinding paste. Does the engine smoke out of the rocker cover (a little is OK). Does it sound "sweet" and is it responsive to the throttle. I try to build a picture of how the car has been cared for so I can hopefully be aware of any what I am actually buying. I have bought a lot of old cars - everything from literal rusty barn finds to the supposedly ready for the road, good condition, ones - both old and modern. The one thing I have learned is the clean and shiney ones nearly always have something to hide.
I think what I am saying is a road test (tax and insurance) is not always necessary provided you have given the car a thorough look over, but then I am willing to take a calculated risk on a purchase and like to think I have the skills and equipment to put any problems right.
If you don't know what you are looking at then you need to take someone who does and who knows about older cars and what to look for.
Roger
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Post by magnet on Jul 26, 2018 10:06:05 GMT 1
Hello Roger, I'm very much with you all the way in respect to the importance of thoroughly inspecting the car - itself.
I think my post was aimed to supplement your earlier advice in this respect, and to reinforce that if all was considered well following this on-drive inspection then the car could not be legally driven. Perhaps some may consider road test not to be too important if a thorough inspection had been carried out, but it's the 'feel' of the car that comes through with this test drive, and again getting the oil hot (following at least 5 mile test) to assess the oil pressure, is most important. I guess if a road test is not legally possible then taking a chance without it depends on so called 'value for money' risks.
I really like your suspicions with regard to resprayed paintwork and have a distrust for any such work carried out within five years of looking at a car, and in this particular case, would the seller know when it was sprayed? Kind regards, Gareth.
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Post by marshman on Jul 26, 2018 10:48:05 GMT 1
Hi Gareth, Yep, don't disagree with any of what you say. I would add though that unless you know what the cars should be like it is difficult to assess the "feel" - especially if this is your first foray into "classic" car ownership - hence the importance of taking someone who knows old cars. One good example is driving along - especially if the car is fitted with cross plys - and finding the car trying to follow the "tramlines" in the road. In a modern car you would know there is something very wrong, in an old car it is perfectly normal - as is a "bit of play" in the steering, less effective brakes etc. I suppose a long roadtest in the current heatwave would very quickly show up any cooling and/or fuel vaporisation issues! Oh the joys of older cars Roger
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