[TR] Going to look at a TR250 - ballpark value please.

[Andrew Uprichard]

Mark:

I too always wanted a 250 and bought one in January of this year.  After
stripping it down and seeing what I had gotten into, I sold it for an expert
to restore.

My advice is, unless you are an established restorer (I have restored two
bad TR3s, but this I couldn't handle), pay more and get a better car to
begin with - advice which applies regardless of what this car is like.

Body and frame is what matters.  Look especially at the trailing arms for
the rear suspension but the frames need a thorough inspection if you are to
avoid a nreplacement.  Look at the inner sills - if they are gone, I'd be
careful.  If you have to get professional help, a restoration can become a
nightmare.

Then all the obvious stuff:  is it straight?  previous repairs?  how does
the bonnet align?  is the boot salvageable?  I wouldn't even worry about the
mechanical stuff - it will likely all have to be replaced.

I paid $750 for my car and sold it for the same.  A parts 250 is probably
worth a grand and a restorable car easily $2000.

I look forward to what the rest of the list thinks - feel free to disagree.

Andrew Uprichard


-----Original Message-----
From: triumphs-bounces at autox.team.net
[mailto:triumphs-bounces at autox.team.net] On Behalf Of Mark Jones
Sent: Tuesday, September 29, 2009 11:12 AM
To: triumphs at autox.team.net; 6pack at autox.team.net
Subject: [TR] Going to look at a TR250 - ballpark value please.

Hi Everyone;

I have been a long-time admirer of the TR250, but I am not new to Triumphs
and
lbcs in general. I have a 73 MGBGT, which has been a rolling restoration for
the past 12 years. I have also owned a 80 Spitfire for 7 years, which I did
a
complete restoration on two winters ago (lots of new panels). And over the
past year my step-son and I have been restoring a 76 TR7 for him.

For years I have been telling my wife that I would trade both the MGBGT and
the Spitfire for a TR250. Well my chance to obtain one may have arrived.
Just
recently a TR250 has come up for sale local to me. My wife knows that I have
always wanted a TR250 and has given her blessing to go look and buy if it is
worth restoring.

The car is described in the ad as restoration project or for parts. Body is
in good shape. An email from the seller stated: The car is complete , it
has
not run in many years, interior, bumpers, and lights are off the car. This
is
my wifes car and her Dad was working on it years ago. The car has been in a
garage for 17yrs that I know of.

Any areas of the car I should look at in particular in terms of assessing
the
shape of the car?  Are there pieces that are next to impossible to get and
that I should look to see if they are there with the car?  Did many of these
cars come with OD?  Anything else I should know about these cars?

Im hoping to go see the car in the next couple of days. Assuming that the
body is okay; not requiring major panel restoration, and the frame is not in
need of major reconstruction, what would a car like this be worth? I know
its
hard to place a value from the information I have, but I dont have a sense
for what a TR250 in need of complete restoration is worth but would like to
have a range before going to see it. My thought is that this a $1000+/- car.
The guy's price is: "make an offer". Maybe I'll put $500 in my pocket and
see
what happens.

All comments and advise are welcome.

Mark
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