Fact: Put an enthusiast in front of a car that's for sale and emotion
puts elementary common-sense in jeopardy
I'm faced with a dilemma and the common-sense is in serious risk of
going out of the window.
Two days ago, I was offered a 1974 2000 saloon, manual/overdrive in
Green Mallard and the paperwork with it suggests the 80k miles on te
odometer is genuine. Car's in very good all round condition, well
worth preserving and, longer term, spending some money on to ensure it
stays that way. Unlikely it will ever APpreciate in value.
I'm sorely tempted to buy it - but with a Fergie and now a fully
operational and road legal 2.5PI, it's hard to justify a further funds
outflow. I'd also ave something of a storage problem in the winter.
However, it's clear from posts appearing on this and other lists in
the spring, summer and autumn that enthusiasts visit the UK and
enquire on the availability of classic hire cars. This is what is in
my mind - though not, I stress for personal gain.
Enter third element of the equation.
A few weeks ago, I came across a former Triumph employee who was a
good friend and who definitely has a sad cross to bear. Arthur (not
his real name) used to work in the Coventry Service Dept and loves
messing with Triumphs, though he's been retired for about 10 years. In
the last year, his son died of cancer in April 2001, his daughter died
in August from leukaemia and his wife of a heart attack just before
Christmas. Arthur is now the legal custodian of his four grandchildren
because he refuses to see them going into care. Looking after 4 kids
with an age range of 8 to 14 when you're nearly seventy is a challenge
most would abhor - but not Arthur. That said, his pension planning has
been blown wide apart and he desperately needs extra money. I'm
helping him in finding work on our cars that he can do for enthusiasts
in his garage - but I'd like to do more.
If I did buy this car, I'd plan to offer it at an attractive daily
rate (for the user) and use ALL the proceeds to let Arthur
progressively turn it into a thoroughly agreeable 2000. It's not far
off that now! I don't want any profit out of it at all and as it will
never appreciate in value on the shorter term, I wouldn't be able to
profit from its later sale. All I'd want to recover is my outlay - no
more.
Bottom line is I'm willing to gamble about $1000 to buy the car if I
can satisfy myself there's a hire opportunity that people would like
to use and who are prepared to put heads above parapets.
Some may query "why a 2000 and not a Spitfire, TR or Vitesse?"
No other reason than that even good 2000's by UK standards are cheap,
they will seat four people in comfort and the boot is massive for the
luggage that SWMBO might bring if only two wanted to use the car.
The collective *common-sense thoughts* of this list would be of
considerable interest. I think I already know the majority response
but I'd like to save this car, try to help Arthur and find a way
whereby Triumph enthusiasts could use a Triumph on a UK visit.
Have I lost all my marbles?
Jonmac
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