BMW M535i for £2300 Silly Me
Discussion
It was 2004 and I was looking out for a newer car. Budget around £4k.
In February 1980, my work experience was at a Ford dealership in Lancashire. The conclusion was: 'Go and work in a bank, you'll never be a motor mechanic. You are too 'brainy'.'
Silly 'twit' I'm still doing it in my sixties.
Anyway, it was February and the top 40 (30?) was simply the best ever and Radio 1 was playing all that week at the Ford workshop. Have a look to see what I mean. Unbelievable how so many great records shared the same few weeks in the chart...
The deciding factor in my 'failure' was that I wasn't strong enough to loosen the prop-shaft flange nuts on a Morris Marina. I was offered six apprenticeship places by the time I left school 44 years ago. One in a motorcycle dealership. I'd have been dead if I chose that job: I was obsessed with everything to do with motor bikes. I ended up at a Datsun garage. @ £2/car average warranty claim, I didn't learn too much. They simply never went wrong. Not even their light bulbs. I think I replaced fewer than 20 in three years...
The mechanic I was 'apprenticed' to was by 2006 working across the road at the ATS tyre shop. And there it was on sale:
His beautiful 53k genuine miles BMW M535i in black. Totally Mint.
Totally undesirable, really in 2004 they were ugly and unwanted...
And Totally the object of my dreams.
£2300 ono. Two owners from new. Mint.
So, common sense kicked in and I chose to buy my dad's car instead...
IDIOT.
A Honda Civic.
In truth, it - the BMW M-Series - may well have rusted away by now.
Any other tales of missed 'bargains' please share? Even those one didn't 'miss' but wished they had are welcome.
The MOT garage I've used for the last 20 years told me of some cars from the 70s & early 80s he'd just shifted owing to loss of storage. One was a zero miles Metro Turbo (I drove the Metro when it first came out and they were a great car - when new, that is - as was the Triumph Spitfire 1500. Great when brand new...) and it was immoveable. Totally corroded from the ground up. Sad.
My brother-in-law's Nova 1.3SR was in a similar state after six years on a farm. Outside. Not sad: Another Total 'Twit'...
I was offered a nearly new Citroen C15 Diesel Van for £500, but as she was selling it to get back at her ex, that Doesn't Count in this Contest.
And no, I didn't take her up on the offer. I think that's why I'm poor. Too many morals & principles. Thanks Dad!
In February 1980, my work experience was at a Ford dealership in Lancashire. The conclusion was: 'Go and work in a bank, you'll never be a motor mechanic. You are too 'brainy'.'
Silly 'twit' I'm still doing it in my sixties.
Anyway, it was February and the top 40 (30?) was simply the best ever and Radio 1 was playing all that week at the Ford workshop. Have a look to see what I mean. Unbelievable how so many great records shared the same few weeks in the chart...
The deciding factor in my 'failure' was that I wasn't strong enough to loosen the prop-shaft flange nuts on a Morris Marina. I was offered six apprenticeship places by the time I left school 44 years ago. One in a motorcycle dealership. I'd have been dead if I chose that job: I was obsessed with everything to do with motor bikes. I ended up at a Datsun garage. @ £2/car average warranty claim, I didn't learn too much. They simply never went wrong. Not even their light bulbs. I think I replaced fewer than 20 in three years...
The mechanic I was 'apprenticed' to was by 2006 working across the road at the ATS tyre shop. And there it was on sale:
His beautiful 53k genuine miles BMW M535i in black. Totally Mint.
Totally undesirable, really in 2004 they were ugly and unwanted...
And Totally the object of my dreams.
£2300 ono. Two owners from new. Mint.
So, common sense kicked in and I chose to buy my dad's car instead...
IDIOT.
A Honda Civic.
In truth, it - the BMW M-Series - may well have rusted away by now.
Any other tales of missed 'bargains' please share? Even those one didn't 'miss' but wished they had are welcome.
The MOT garage I've used for the last 20 years told me of some cars from the 70s & early 80s he'd just shifted owing to loss of storage. One was a zero miles Metro Turbo (I drove the Metro when it first came out and they were a great car - when new, that is - as was the Triumph Spitfire 1500. Great when brand new...) and it was immoveable. Totally corroded from the ground up. Sad.
My brother-in-law's Nova 1.3SR was in a similar state after six years on a farm. Outside. Not sad: Another Total 'Twit'...
I was offered a nearly new Citroen C15 Diesel Van for £500, but as she was selling it to get back at her ex, that Doesn't Count in this Contest.
And no, I didn't take her up on the offer. I think that's why I'm poor. Too many morals & principles. Thanks Dad!
Edited by tobytronicstereophonic on Sunday 2nd June 00:16
Edited by tobytronicstereophonic on Sunday 2nd June 00:38
tobytronicstereophonic said:
It was 2004 and I was looking out for a newer car. Budget around £4k.
In February 1980, my work experience was at a Ford dealership in Lancashire. The conclusion was: 'Go and work in a bank, you'll never be a motor mechanic. You are too 'brainy'.'
Silly 'twit' I'm still doing it in my sixties.
Anyway, it was February and the top 40 (30?) was simply the best ever and Radio 1 was playing all that week at the Ford workshop. Have a look to see what I mean. Unbelievable how so many great records shared the same few weeks in the chart...
The deciding factor in my 'failure' was that I wasn't strong enough to loosen the prop-shaft flange nuts on a Morris Marina. I was offered six apprenticeship places by the time I left school 44 years ago. One in a motorcycle dealership. I'd have been dead if I chose that job: I was obsessed with everything to do with motor bikes. I ended up at a Datsun garage. @ £2/car average warranty claim, I didn't learn too much. They simply never went wrong. Not even their light bulbs. I think I replaced fewer than 20 in three years...
The mechanic I was 'apprenticed' to was by 2006 working across the road at the ATS tyre shop. And there it was on sale:
His beautiful 53k genuine miles BMW M535i in black. Totally Mint.
Totally undesirable, really in 2004 they were ugly and unwanted...
And Totally the object of my dreams.
£2300 ono. Two owners from new. Mint.
So, common sense kicked in and I chose to buy my dad's car instead...
IDIOT.
A Honda Civic.
In truth, it - the BMW M-Series - may well have rusted away by now.
Any other tales of missed 'bargains' please share? Even those one didn't 'miss' but wished they had are welcome.
The MOT garage I've used for the last 20 years told me of some cars from the 70s & early 80s he'd just shifted owing to loss of storage. One was a zero miles Metro Turbo (I drove the Metro when it first came out and they were a great car - when new, that is - as was the Triumph Spitfire 1500. Great when brand new...) and it was immoveable. Totally corroded from the ground up. Sad.
My brother-in-law's Nova 1.3SR was in a similar state after six years on a farm. Outside. Not sad: Another Total 'Twit'...
I was offered a nearly new Citroen C15 Diesel Van for £500, but as she was selling it to get back at her ex, that Doesn't Count in this Contest.
And no, I didn't take her up on the offer. I think that's why I'm poor. Too many morals & principles. Thanks Dad!
I bought an M535i e12 for 200 quid and turned it over for 500 quid half an hour later. Thought I'd done really well...In February 1980, my work experience was at a Ford dealership in Lancashire. The conclusion was: 'Go and work in a bank, you'll never be a motor mechanic. You are too 'brainy'.'
Silly 'twit' I'm still doing it in my sixties.
Anyway, it was February and the top 40 (30?) was simply the best ever and Radio 1 was playing all that week at the Ford workshop. Have a look to see what I mean. Unbelievable how so many great records shared the same few weeks in the chart...
The deciding factor in my 'failure' was that I wasn't strong enough to loosen the prop-shaft flange nuts on a Morris Marina. I was offered six apprenticeship places by the time I left school 44 years ago. One in a motorcycle dealership. I'd have been dead if I chose that job: I was obsessed with everything to do with motor bikes. I ended up at a Datsun garage. @ £2/car average warranty claim, I didn't learn too much. They simply never went wrong. Not even their light bulbs. I think I replaced fewer than 20 in three years...
The mechanic I was 'apprenticed' to was by 2006 working across the road at the ATS tyre shop. And there it was on sale:
His beautiful 53k genuine miles BMW M535i in black. Totally Mint.
Totally undesirable, really in 2004 they were ugly and unwanted...
And Totally the object of my dreams.
£2300 ono. Two owners from new. Mint.
So, common sense kicked in and I chose to buy my dad's car instead...
IDIOT.
A Honda Civic.
In truth, it - the BMW M-Series - may well have rusted away by now.
Any other tales of missed 'bargains' please share? Even those one didn't 'miss' but wished they had are welcome.
The MOT garage I've used for the last 20 years told me of some cars from the 70s & early 80s he'd just shifted owing to loss of storage. One was a zero miles Metro Turbo (I drove the Metro when it first came out and they were a great car - when new, that is - as was the Triumph Spitfire 1500. Great when brand new...) and it was immoveable. Totally corroded from the ground up. Sad.
My brother-in-law's Nova 1.3SR was in a similar state after six years on a farm. Outside. Not sad: Another Total 'Twit'...
I was offered a nearly new Citroen C15 Diesel Van for £500, but as she was selling it to get back at her ex, that Doesn't Count in this Contest.
And no, I didn't take her up on the offer. I think that's why I'm poor. Too many morals & principles. Thanks Dad!
Edited by tobytronicstereophonic on Sunday 2nd June 00:16
Edited by tobytronicstereophonic on Sunday 2nd June 00:38
@biggbn
That's a huge profit!
This:
A Mini Clubman 1275GT in black, with the factory gold pin-striping (Jesus I must be tired/old, 'Gold' looks to be mis-spelled to my eyes!)
Anyway, it was a '72 K-reg. Did I say it was black?
Owners' mum & dad asked me to check the brakes. This is Jan 1984.
Each of the wheel cylinder was pouring brake fluid. I gave them £20 for the car as they didn't want to spend too much on a "banger".
Took it to the auction the same day (only one of two cars I've ever sold that way) after replacing the cylinder seals and cleaned the shoes.
Two cars into the auction - Liverpool Rd, Burnley - a power cut at the venue ended that idea. Collecting the keys, two lads approached me and asked what I wanted for it: £40. Sold!
I thought I'd been dishonest to the previous owner's parents. So I gave them an extra tenner. As the title says 'Silly Me' :-)
Gawd, I AM boring:
About eighteen months prior, Pay day Friday, No envelope...
Redundant!!!
And just after I'd completed serving my 'time' as an apprentice motor mechanic. The following Friday, my dad's workplace folded too. The Monday prior, to my redundancy, mum also lost her job. Really. Within twelve days, household income went from around £260/week to literally zilch.
1983, February was a tough month at our house :-)
So I rented a 1920s wooden garage and started a car repair business. Offering a free collection/delivery service, so's the customer couldn't see my 'modest' premises...
The local newspaper ad' was a waste of money: Just about paying for itself.
However!
As the days went by, word of mouth started to bring new customer-after-customer. Not one single major 'cock-up' or 'comeback' in the whole time I ran the business. Aged 18 3/4. Lucky.
After ages doing nowt, I've started doing the same thing. My unit is 44xmore expensive, but I'm happy once again.
Health reasons restrict me to little cars and I specialise in Peugeot 107/Citroen C1/Toyota Aygo cars, as I love them...
I toyed with the idea of restoring them, too!
Fitting sub-10k miles engine/gearbox, as well as 'new' everything.
But nobody's going to pay £3k for an 'as new' old car?
So, if you have an older Citroen or Peugeot and want an ex-factory trained Citroen mech' to keep your car for a few weeks...
I DID WARN YOU I AM BORING :-)
That's a huge profit!
This:
A Mini Clubman 1275GT in black, with the factory gold pin-striping (Jesus I must be tired/old, 'Gold' looks to be mis-spelled to my eyes!)
Anyway, it was a '72 K-reg. Did I say it was black?
Owners' mum & dad asked me to check the brakes. This is Jan 1984.
Each of the wheel cylinder was pouring brake fluid. I gave them £20 for the car as they didn't want to spend too much on a "banger".
Took it to the auction the same day (only one of two cars I've ever sold that way) after replacing the cylinder seals and cleaned the shoes.
Two cars into the auction - Liverpool Rd, Burnley - a power cut at the venue ended that idea. Collecting the keys, two lads approached me and asked what I wanted for it: £40. Sold!
I thought I'd been dishonest to the previous owner's parents. So I gave them an extra tenner. As the title says 'Silly Me' :-)
Gawd, I AM boring:
About eighteen months prior, Pay day Friday, No envelope...
Redundant!!!
And just after I'd completed serving my 'time' as an apprentice motor mechanic. The following Friday, my dad's workplace folded too. The Monday prior, to my redundancy, mum also lost her job. Really. Within twelve days, household income went from around £260/week to literally zilch.
1983, February was a tough month at our house :-)
So I rented a 1920s wooden garage and started a car repair business. Offering a free collection/delivery service, so's the customer couldn't see my 'modest' premises...
The local newspaper ad' was a waste of money: Just about paying for itself.
However!
As the days went by, word of mouth started to bring new customer-after-customer. Not one single major 'cock-up' or 'comeback' in the whole time I ran the business. Aged 18 3/4. Lucky.
After ages doing nowt, I've started doing the same thing. My unit is 44xmore expensive, but I'm happy once again.
Health reasons restrict me to little cars and I specialise in Peugeot 107/Citroen C1/Toyota Aygo cars, as I love them...
I toyed with the idea of restoring them, too!
Fitting sub-10k miles engine/gearbox, as well as 'new' everything.
But nobody's going to pay £3k for an 'as new' old car?
So, if you have an older Citroen or Peugeot and want an ex-factory trained Citroen mech' to keep your car for a few weeks...
I DID WARN YOU I AM BORING :-)
Edited by tobytronicstereophonic on Sunday 2nd June 06:13
Edited by tobytronicstereophonic on Sunday 2nd June 06:20
Edited by tobytronicstereophonic on Sunday 2nd June 06:45
Many I've regretted not buying, but the worst is probably a series of E30 M3s.
In 1999/2000 I'm involved in parallel imports and travelling to the Netherlands 2 or 3 times a week. On one trip I popped into a local shop for a snack and came out with a Dutch AutoTrader. There were loads of M3s under £7000, the cheapest was £5000.
Sadly my budget was a zero short of that, so I ended up with a Renault 19 turbo diesel, which was a loyal companion and soldiered on to way past 300,000 miles before it died.
In 1999/2000 I'm involved in parallel imports and travelling to the Netherlands 2 or 3 times a week. On one trip I popped into a local shop for a snack and came out with a Dutch AutoTrader. There were loads of M3s under £7000, the cheapest was £5000.
Sadly my budget was a zero short of that, so I ended up with a Renault 19 turbo diesel, which was a loyal companion and soldiered on to way past 300,000 miles before it died.
I was 17 years old working for a fitted bedroom firm around the Bromley area. This was 1986/87, we were working at a house along a main road and parked outside was a 1970’s Aston Martin DBS in blue. It was a bit grotty but still looked good. I spoke with the man at the address we were working at saying what a car it was and would love to have one of those. He turned round and told me I could have it for £3000 as he just wanted to get rid of it!
Being 17 and earning a crappy wage I couldn’t afford it unfortunately. I don’t think my parents would have be too happy either if I rocked up at the house and dumped it on the drive.
Being 17 and earning a crappy wage I couldn’t afford it unfortunately. I don’t think my parents would have be too happy either if I rocked up at the house and dumped it on the drive.
I've just remembered another, from the late 80s / early 90s...
In an earlier life I was an estate agent. I'd been asked to go to a smallish farmhouse where the lady's husband had died and she was unable to take the farm on so wanted to sell.
It was an unremarkable place except for one barn, which contained her late hubby's Jensen Interceptor. It was complete, dirty and with a dented front wing but certainly saveable and far from a basket case. I asked her what she planned to do with it, secretly wishing she'd offer it to me for a few grand. Sensing I was interested,
she asked me to have a look at values and report back.
I scoured the likes of Classic & Sportscar and concluded that it was likely worth somewhere between £7-10,000, allowing for the probable cost of recommissioning and paintwork repairs, rather than a full restoration that it didn't need.
It transpired later that she rang the garage in the village, a Vauxhall dealership, and asked them to take it off her hands.
They paid £1,800.
In an earlier life I was an estate agent. I'd been asked to go to a smallish farmhouse where the lady's husband had died and she was unable to take the farm on so wanted to sell.
It was an unremarkable place except for one barn, which contained her late hubby's Jensen Interceptor. It was complete, dirty and with a dented front wing but certainly saveable and far from a basket case. I asked her what she planned to do with it, secretly wishing she'd offer it to me for a few grand. Sensing I was interested,
she asked me to have a look at values and report back.
I scoured the likes of Classic & Sportscar and concluded that it was likely worth somewhere between £7-10,000, allowing for the probable cost of recommissioning and paintwork repairs, rather than a full restoration that it didn't need.
It transpired later that she rang the garage in the village, a Vauxhall dealership, and asked them to take it off her hands.
They paid £1,800.
E12 M535i for £200 would have been quite the investment!
https://www.hpcclassics.co.uk/product-page/1980-bm...
I had a neighbour who had a surprise job opportunity in Singapore - has asked me to take his 190E 2.5-16 off of his hands for absolute buttons but I had neither the money nor space for it. It was a great spec and completely pampered. He pretty much gave it away to a dealer in the end.
https://www.hpcclassics.co.uk/product-page/1980-bm...
I had a neighbour who had a surprise job opportunity in Singapore - has asked me to take his 190E 2.5-16 off of his hands for absolute buttons but I had neither the money nor space for it. It was a great spec and completely pampered. He pretty much gave it away to a dealer in the end.
Didn't buy a beetle for £200. I was thinking of making a dune buggy, but to be fair, a running beetle for £200. Couldn't even buy the engine on its own for that now.
On a related note, I sold my aircooled 911 (lovely Carrera 3.2 in blue with matching Fuchs wheels and 60k on the clock) for £13k 18 years ago. More than I'd paid for it 6 months prior, but I'd never be able to afford another one now. Though I always have my eye out for a ropey Boxster!
On a related note, I sold my aircooled 911 (lovely Carrera 3.2 in blue with matching Fuchs wheels and 60k on the clock) for £13k 18 years ago. More than I'd paid for it 6 months prior, but I'd never be able to afford another one now. Though I always have my eye out for a ropey Boxster!
Turbobanana said:
I've just remembered another, from the late 80s / early 90s...
In an earlier life I was an estate agent. I'd been asked to go to a smallish farmhouse where the lady's husband had died and she was unable to take the farm on so wanted to sell.
It was an unremarkable place except for one barn, which contained her late hubby's Jensen Interceptor. It was complete, dirty and with a dented front wing but certainly saveable and far from a basket case. I asked her what she planned to do with it, secretly wishing she'd offer it to me for a few grand. Sensing I was interested,
she asked me to have a look at values and report back.
I scoured the likes of Classic & Sportscar and concluded that it was likely worth somewhere between £7-10,000, allowing for the probable cost of recommissioning and paintwork repairs, rather than a full restoration that it didn't need.
It transpired later that she rang the garage in the village, a Vauxhall dealership, and asked them to take it off her hands.
They paid £1,800.
My 'why didn't I' story is similar to yours TB - it's 1986 and the 19 year old me has been working full time for 2 years and now wants to step up from derelict Minis/Vivas etc. Spots a 1973 Mk3 Interceptor in AT - 65000 miles, 3 owners, stated as 'Condition 2'. Set off to view - as described, not perfect but not a rot box and drove beautifully (from a passenger's perspective at least - the owner could see I was a teenager and understandably wasn't go to let me drive!!) Alas my risk averse parents talked me out of it and maybe they were right - insurance quote was £660 pa (TPFT) and that was a lot of cash to stump up each year out of a teenager's wage packet 40 years ago, not to mention the 12 mpg and parts bills etc - asking price for the car - £3500 In an earlier life I was an estate agent. I'd been asked to go to a smallish farmhouse where the lady's husband had died and she was unable to take the farm on so wanted to sell.
It was an unremarkable place except for one barn, which contained her late hubby's Jensen Interceptor. It was complete, dirty and with a dented front wing but certainly saveable and far from a basket case. I asked her what she planned to do with it, secretly wishing she'd offer it to me for a few grand. Sensing I was interested,
she asked me to have a look at values and report back.
I scoured the likes of Classic & Sportscar and concluded that it was likely worth somewhere between £7-10,000, allowing for the probable cost of recommissioning and paintwork repairs, rather than a full restoration that it didn't need.
It transpired later that she rang the garage in the village, a Vauxhall dealership, and asked them to take it off her hands.
They paid £1,800.
Great price, if only!
I usually roll my eyes when anyone says "I'd kill myself" if they rode a motorcycle.
I'd say "Have you got a licence?"
"No"
"Then you are probably right"
Cool story bro!
The only BMW I have owned was a pristine 2002 in a kind of an off white colour. Amazing car and made my previous 70's/80s' British cars feel like 50s vintage junkers!
I usually roll my eyes when anyone says "I'd kill myself" if they rode a motorcycle.
I'd say "Have you got a licence?"
"No"
"Then you are probably right"
Cool story bro!
The only BMW I have owned was a pristine 2002 in a kind of an off white colour. Amazing car and made my previous 70's/80s' British cars feel like 50s vintage junkers!
nismocat said:
The only BMW I have owned was a pristine 2002 in a kind of an off white colour. Amazing car and made my previous 70's/80s' British cars feel like 50s vintage junkers!
My physics teacher at high school ran a Wolseley Six for most of my time there. It seemed to grow rust like bacteria in a petri dish, with holes that got larger each school year until you could put your fist through them.Then one September, at the start of a new term, he rocked up in the most beautiful 2002ti. It was bright yellow and in perfect condition. When questioned, his logic was to buy a nice car for a lot of money and run it until it fell apart, however many years that took, while saving up for the next one.
My own BMW history runs to a total of two, both strangely orange. First was an E12 520 (carburettor) with a 4 speed box and wind-up windows. It was a woeful thing, purchased for £100 from my brother as a means to get home after delivering a car. It was hurriedly packed off to auction where I considered myself lucky to get my money back.
At the same auction a few months later I left a cheeky bid on an E21 323i, in orange of course. My bid was successful and the supposedly non-historied, unknown former keepers 323 turned out to be one company owned from new and with a full, main dealer history in the boot the auction house couldn't be bothered to look in. Sadly it had a number of other issues, including knackered rear suspension, and was rapidly moved on for a small profit.
There endeth my BMW history.
My big regret was a Jensen Interceptor Series III - not mint but good condition and perfectly usable and had been featured in a Practical Classics magazine group test around 2003 with a note at the end of the article that it was for sale. The garage turned out to be about 15 miles from me and the asking price was £6,995!
Despite being able to afford it, and even Mrs D.R. not being against the idea, I reluctantly decided to pass on account of 9mpg and the fact that our house at the time only had allocated parking round the corner, and no actual driveway.
Funnily enough, a good friend, who I didn't know at the time, reckons it was around the same time that he was offered a very tidy Citroen SM for £5,000 and he also decided not to go for it, for various similar reasons.
We still get sad about these whenever either car is mentioned!
Despite being able to afford it, and even Mrs D.R. not being against the idea, I reluctantly decided to pass on account of 9mpg and the fact that our house at the time only had allocated parking round the corner, and no actual driveway.
Funnily enough, a good friend, who I didn't know at the time, reckons it was around the same time that he was offered a very tidy Citroen SM for £5,000 and he also decided not to go for it, for various similar reasons.
We still get sad about these whenever either car is mentioned!
sideways man said:
My regret was a Cortina Lotus Mk1. Seemed immaculate and only £1000….
This was 1981, and as a 17 yr old I probably couldn’t get insurance.
Even then I knew it was a bargain.
Yup this. Between the ages of 17 & 21, lots of cars & bikes that are considered exotic now were being bought and sold between mates for buttons. Mk1 & 2 Lotus Cortinas, Lotus Europas, a Cortina Savage, Mk1 & 2 RS2000s, Mexicos etc. Around 1982, someone down the pub has a genuine RS3100 Capri for sale for about £700 because it needed a bit or TLC. This was 1981, and as a 17 yr old I probably couldn’t get insurance.
Even then I knew it was a bargain.
6 cylinder Honda CBXs were always for sale for a couple of grand too.
My biggest regret was in the early 90s, not renting a large indoor storage area and buying up about 100 Sierra and Sierra Sapphire Cosworths when insurance was crazy high and owners were selling them off for absolute peanuts.
Edited by TwigtheWonderkid on Tuesday 4th June 15:00
TwigtheWonderkid said:
sideways man said:
My regret was a Cortina Lotus Mk1. Seemed immaculate and only £1000….
This was 1981, and as a 17 yr old I probably couldn’t get insurance.
Even then I knew it was a bargain.
Yup this. Between the ages of 17 & 21, lots of cars & bikes that are considered exotic now were being bought and sold between mates for buttons. Mk1 & 2 Lotus Cortinas, Lotus Europas, a Cortina Savage, Mk1 & 2 RS2000s, Mexicos etc. Around 1982, someone down the pub has a genuine RS3100 Capri for sale for about £700 because it needed a bit or TLC. This was 1981, and as a 17 yr old I probably couldn’t get insurance.
Even then I knew it was a bargain.
6 cylinder Honda CBXs were always for sale for a couple of grand too.
My biggest regret was in the early 90s, not renting a large indoor storage area and buying up about 100 Sierra and Sierra Sapphire Cosworths when insurance was crazy high and owners were selling them off for absolute peanuts.
Edited by TwigtheWonderkid on Tuesday 4th June 15:00
in the early `90's I tested a Renault 5 turbo2 (the roadgoing version of mid engined rally car) from Southern cars in Didsbury. It was dog slow and the head gasket failed during the road-test. it was up for about £7000. I asked them to call me back when it was repaired, so I could have a proper go in it- I assumed it was dog slow as was down on compression. They never did call me back and I wasn't really arsed. #IDIOT!!
Dapster said:
E12 M535i for £200 would have been quite the investment!
https://www.hpcclassics.co.uk/product-page/1980-bm...
I had a neighbour who had a surprise job opportunity in Singapore - has asked me to take his 190E 2.5-16 off of his hands for absolute buttons but I had neither the money nor space for it. It was a great spec and completely pampered. He pretty much gave it away to a dealer in the end.
Small world - My friend owned that car prior to its restoration - it was £800. I don't think it ever drove in his ownership though.https://www.hpcclassics.co.uk/product-page/1980-bm...
I had a neighbour who had a surprise job opportunity in Singapore - has asked me to take his 190E 2.5-16 off of his hands for absolute buttons but I had neither the money nor space for it. It was a great spec and completely pampered. He pretty much gave it away to a dealer in the end.
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