Seriously?

[dan 244]

Originally Posted by Laird Scooby

The Scimitar cited in the listing is a GT/C that wasn't launched until 1980 so that puts an even more suspect point of view on it. Unless the one he bought was one of the very earliest GT/Cs then he's still not in the Historic Vehicle bracket.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reliant_Scimitar

I know plans are still afoot to push classics over 40 years out of London (and potentially other cities) so keep your eyes peeled for a Scimiatar GT/C coming up for grabs!

I have a picture of the car he bought, I know nothing about them, but it’s an X reg, so assuming 1981, so if August reg, 40 in August. It’s a soft top, I’m assuming that’s what the c means?

[dan 244]

Originally Posted by Stephen Edwin

That is interesting.

Thank you.

As for the 6k .... well .... possibly a "price" to test the water or to work down from .... ?



Stephen.

Hmm maybe, I talked 4500 and it didn’t provoke interest! It was nice, above average, but not mint, but it wasn’t worth any more than that.

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by dan 244

I have a picture of the car he bought, I know nothing about them, but it’s an X reg, so assuming 1981, so if August reg, 40 in August. It’s a soft top, I’m assuming that’s what the c means?

The "C" denotes "Convertible", yes, as the "E" denoted "Estate" for the more usual Scimitar body style.

The X registration ran from 1/8/81 to 31/7/82 but as Alan found out with his Royal Barge (V registered in 1980) the Historic Tax (and MoT class) doesn't become active until the 1st April following the year of registration.
As such his RB became historic just under 3 weeks ago, despite being nearly 41 years old.

With that in mind the GT/C on an X reg will at the earliest be eligible for Historic status next April 1st but possibly not until 1/4/2022, depending exactly when it was registered.

[Othen]

Originally Posted by Laird Scooby

The "C" denotes "Convertible", yes, as the "E" denoted "Estate" for the more usual Scimitar body style.

The X registration ran from 1/8/81 to 31/7/82 but as Alan found out with his Royal Barge (V registered in 1980) the Historic Tax (and MoT class) doesn't become active until the 1st April following the year of registration.
As such his RB became historic just under 3 weeks ago, despite being nearly 41 years old.

With that in mind the GT/C on an X reg will at the earliest be eligible for Historic status next April 1st but possibly not until 1/4/2022, depending exactly when it was registered.

That is correct Dave, for the Historic Vehicle class all the 1981 (up to 31/12/81) will qualify on 1/4/22, and the 1982 cars (from 1/1/82) on 1/4/23, so an X registration car could be in either bracket.

MoT is slightly different - that is from the motor car's 40th birthday to the day.

Isn't that Volvo (the one the Reliant chap is selling) or a Car and Classic auction soon? In that case we will find out what it is really worth - I think my previous guess was something like £3,500, which in the light of other cars we have seen recently would seem about right.

[Thekilt]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1992-Volv...YAAOSw~jhgfeEN

looks pretty genuine, I remember the interior, not sure if it was a different car though. Good add, looks pretty genuine to me so this will be interesting to see what it goes for in the end. Looking at the MOT history nothing major, very few corrosion issues but lots of little weired items, such as incorrect tyre sizes on both front and rear axle? wondered if someone rotated the wheels which are staggered? and the person didnt realise?

I am still after a saloon really but at these prices its putting me off.

[Thekilt]

This one is interesting to see too. Tempted by it but it would have been abused through rallying.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Volvo-240...AAAOSwkZ5geGSy

[Othen]

Originally Posted by Thekilt

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1992-Volv...YAAOSw~jhgfeEN

looks pretty genuine, I remember the interior, not sure if it was a different car though. Good add, looks pretty genuine to me so this will be interesting to see what it goes for in the end. Looking at the MOT history nothing major, very few corrosion issues but lots of little weired items, such as incorrect tyre sizes on both front and rear axle? wondered if someone rotated the wheels which are staggered? and the person didnt realise?

I am still after a saloon really but at these prices its putting me off.

I quite liked that old bus - and the chap seemed very candid in the ad. I wonder why it was salvaged some time in the past? Perhaps because its value would have been at its nadir in about 2010, at that point it might have been worth £500, and whatever small thing that happened would have made it BER. It would have increased in value a little bit now as we all get a bit nostalgic about things that did (or didn't) happen - but the question (for this thread) is how far? It is a bit too old and inefficient to run as a commuter, but nowhere near old enough for the Historic Vehicle market. It's potential market is therefore somewhat limited - so maybe £1,500-£2,000 would be about right?

You mention that you are after a saloon but are put off by the prices. My theory is that many 240 sellers think their cars are worth much more than they really are - and that seems to be borne out by evidence from the marketplace (mostly eBay). We have seen a few fairly nice cars fail to make £2,500, plenty of rough cars not make £1,500 and even more over-priced cars that never (ever) sell at £5,000 plus.

[Othen]

Readers may remember I have a theory that:

d. Historic cars (1980 and older) will generally make 50-100% more than the above categories.

This car is a good test of that:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Volvo-244....c101198.m1985

... If the car was a 1987 model it would be worth £2,500-£3,500, but because it is 10 years older the seller thinks it is worth twice that... and perhaps it is? We'll see next week.

It looks like a nice enough car, it is a pity it has had the suspension lowered and so on.

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by Othen

That is correct Dave, for the Historic Vehicle class all the 1981 (up to 31/12/81) will qualify on 1/4/22, and the 1982 cars (from 1/1/82) on 1/4/23, so an X registration car could be in either bracket.

MoT is slightly different - that is from the motor car's 40th birthday to the day.

Isn't that Volvo (the one the Reliant chap is selling) or a Car and Classic auction soon? In that case we will find out what it is really worth - I think my previous guess was something like £3,500, which in the light of other cars we have seen recently would seem about right.

It's today that it's on Alan, not sure what time though.

Originally Posted by Othen

Readers may remember I have a theory that:

d. Historic cars (1980 and older) will generally make 50-100% more than the above categories.

This car is a good test of that:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Volvo-244....c101198.m1985

... If the car was a 1987 model it would be worth £2,500-£3,500, but because it is 10 years older the seller thinks it is worth twice that... and perhaps it is? We'll see next week.

It looks like a nice enough car, it is a pity it has had the suspension lowered and so on.

I think that 1977 244 is not going to be your average test, it's been too heavily modified and will only appear to a niche market that want it with those particular mods.

I would want it to be nearer original, much like the ethos behind the RB whereby the mods are largely hidden but improve daily use/driving such as the electronic ignition, AW71 box and so on. To put it back to near original spec would probably take another £2-3k making it a stupidly expensive car.

[Othen]

Originally Posted by Laird Scooby

I think that 1977 244 is not going to be your average test, it's been too heavily modified and will only appear to a niche market that want it with those particular mods.

I would want it to be nearer original, much like the ethos behind the RB whereby the mods are largely hidden but improve daily use/driving such as the electronic ignition, AW71 box and so on. To put it back to near original spec would probably take another £2-3k making it a stupidly expensive car.

I'd certainly agree about the rather silly modifications to an otherwise very nice car Dave. The seller probably thought he was doing something cool by turning his nice car into a bit of a boy racer, but he has (I think) detracted from its value in doing so. Perhaps he will fit a big bore exhaust and a 'Kev and San' sun-strip next... :-(