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Realistic or simply dreaming?

Posted: Fri Dec 10, 2010 9:57 am
by NotNormal
Found this advert for what sounds like a very old car but was simply shocked at the asking price :shock: .

http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/cla ... rno/119276

Not really up to speed on prices of Mk1's to be totally honest so whats the concesus. To me it sounds a bit OTT considering the condition etc although I do appreciate the age of the car so just out of interest I thought i'd ask those in the know. :?

Another side thought, would you keep it "as-is" or would you go about restoring?

Re: Realistic or simply dreaming?

Posted: Fri Dec 10, 2010 10:11 am
by bill773mini
http://www.1959miniregister.com/for-salewanted/

Second advert down with more photo's.

Re: Realistic or simply dreaming?

Posted: Fri Dec 10, 2010 10:24 am
by guru_1071
i can only assume that either the seller has put an extra zero on the end, or is selling the car fully restored.

god loves a dreamer!

Re: Realistic or simply dreaming?

Posted: Fri Dec 10, 2010 11:52 am
by chris-pilling
O my eye, how much!!! Was it owned by Kieth Chegwin or something!? Hahaha! Its an early mini yes but christ on bike, he's been sniffing glue

Re: Realistic or simply dreaming?

Posted: Fri Dec 10, 2010 4:29 pm
by mk1
You have to give the owner 10 out of 10 for trying.

On the plus side it does look like a "reasonably" intact VERY, VERY early car, in all fairness it IS probably the earliest surviving genuine Mini in the country, possibly the world. Shit the bed, number 8 off the line is a remarkably early number and it is to a great extent complete & unmolested.

BUT

11,000 plus is what has to be a starting point for a massive haggle.

It also doesn't exactly look like it has had luxury accommodation since 1985 does it.

I suspect that this will genuinely be a very expensive restoration project to buy but feel sure that someone will undoubtedly be prepared to spend a lot of money to buy it, but I can't honestly say that I feel the price represents value for money as it stands at the moment.

In answer to the original question. probably somewhere between the two.

Re: Realistic or simply dreaming?

Posted: Fri Dec 10, 2010 6:43 pm
by Pete
Yes it's a shame it didn't get better storage (especially considering it's apparent high value) cos it was probably a really decent car to start with, doesn't look like it's seen much mileage does it ?

BIG asking price but it's certainly a real rarity if that floats your boat/wallet !

Re: Realistic or simply dreaming?

Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 1:17 am
by Will Grant
As it goes....a very very early car.....pretty important...look at early split VW's...touching $60K....all minis are not created equal, one day this will be a very valuable car IMO...

(NO affiliation etc etc), just an opinion...

Re: Realistic or simply dreaming?

Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 9:19 am
by guru_1071
Will Grant wrote:As it goes....a very very early car.....pretty important...look at early split VW's...touching $60K....all minis are not created equal, one day this will be a very valuable car IMO...

(NO affiliation etc etc), just an opinion...

will, i agree actually, its just a shame it wasnt stored in a dry warm garage - but better to have been badly stored than just thrown away in the mid 1980's when it was worth nothing

i certainly hope that the seller does get the money he wants for it and someone restores the car, as it cannot harm any of us if people are paying strong money for early cars.

it certainly makes that very early one i was offered a few years ago look very cheap! ;)

Re: Realistic or simply dreaming?

Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 2:36 pm
by UHR850
This MINI belongs in a museum just the way it is now, restoring means a lost of history.
I think this icon will leave Europa the moment it is restored and will not to be seen for us
for ever. But will a Brithish museum pay that kind of money for a MINI in this condition ?

Kees
Downton-House
UHR850

Re: Realistic or simply dreaming?

Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 5:42 pm
by The Collector
totally agree, should be in a Museum, and left as it is in its present state.

lets be Honest about this 11,500.00 he s off his rocker :shock:

Re: Realistic or simply dreaming?

Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 6:04 pm
by Pete
It is a huge sum but I doubt very much anyone would lose money if they bought and restored it, that's a hell of an early example of a motoring icon, the likes of Maruyama etc pay mega bucks for cars like that ( or did anyway ! :lol: ) Pretty unique opportunity when you think about it ! As much as I also think it looks silly money I reckon in ten years time someone will be rubbing their hands with that car in their garage.

Re: Realistic or simply dreaming?

Posted: Sun Dec 12, 2010 12:41 pm
by littler
oh shit, guess who threw out what turns out to be a 1959 "flat top" raidiator .... trip back down to the tip today i think!! :|

it really shows, never throw out anything!!!

Re: Realistic or simply dreaming?

Posted: Mon Dec 13, 2010 8:42 am
by mk1
I would far rather see it very well restored than left as it is now. I have spoken to someone over the weekend who has seen the car & it is in incredible genuine condition but is being stored appallingly badly.

Lets just hope that someone with the time inclination & funds manages to do a deal before it deteriorates much more than it already has done.

I suspect that it won't be going abroad. There are UK collectors who are prepared to pay just as much as anyone from anywhere else.

The Japanese economy has fallen a long way since they were hoovering up every interesting car that came up. I can't think of the last time a truly significant car was sold to a Japanese collector.

Re: Realistic or simply dreaming?

Posted: Mon Dec 13, 2010 12:20 pm
by NotNormal
Interesting responses in this thread so maybe not such a silly question after all.

Personally I hope it gets put back on the road with a well thought out, sympathetic resto but as with everything in life I guess its always going to boil down to the pennies that someone wants to throw at it....

Re: Realistic or simply dreaming?

Posted: Mon Dec 13, 2010 12:57 pm
by nick@dunsdale
Yep that is a big asking price.

Kinda makes me remember late 80's and very early 90's when classics in any shape or from went through a boom time in prices

Selling cars at this price would eventually create a burst value syndrome,
I think that would be a good price if the car was restored and back on the road.

I take the seller is of the opinion this vehicle would be worth 20k plus if restored, and if that is the case i would rather have a mid 60's S, witch could be bought for less.

But as mentioned above it is good that it made it's way through the 80's and was not scrapped.

Re: Realistic or simply dreaming?

Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2010 10:11 pm
by Catweazle
Hello,

it is obviously sold now.

Greetings
Catweazle

Re: Realistic or simply dreaming?

Posted: Fri Dec 24, 2010 8:06 am
by mk1
The hunt is on to find who has bought it :o

Re: Realistic or simply dreaming?

Posted: Fri Dec 24, 2010 10:33 am
by Pandora
the original ad still seems to indicate it is still for sale when I look at it? it doesn't say sold?

Re: Realistic or simply dreaming?

Posted: Fri Dec 24, 2010 11:07 am
by mk1
It may have sold, but I suspect that the "very odd" seller may just have pulled it in a huff.

Its an interesting car & deserves to go to a good home.

No doubt it will re surface again one way or another.

Re: Realistic or simply dreaming?

Posted: Mon Dec 27, 2010 6:15 pm
by bill773mini
Pandora wrote:the original ad still seems to indicate it is still for sale when I look at it? it doesn't say sold?
The original advert is the one on the 1959 site, it was up for a few weeks on there first.

It's a very good shell from what we know Rich, for sure the story isn't over yet.......