Titled ex owner, does it really add value to my classic?

[andrewws]

I have a classic car that will be coming up for sale in the new year. One of the plus points of the vehicle is that it used to belong to a very prominent MP.

I would hope that if not adding to the basic value of the car, it will make the vehicle more sellable. Has anyone on this forum had experience of this, do I just stick it in the classified or maybe go to the expence of putting it into a specialist auction?

The car is a Fiat 500L 1972.

[Kickstart]

About 20 years ago I had an old Scirocco which had (when new) Barbara Cartland's name as 1st owner in the log book - I advertised this fact and the car sold in days for a decent price - so my guess is that it will probably help although I don't think it will add to the price unless the connection is very special eg Frank sinatra/ movie star etc.

Just for completeness some years later when I knew who BC actually was I came to the view that the original owner of my car probably was a Barbara Cartland just not the writer. Ho hum

I don't think it helps being coy with the name - why don't you post it with some photos of the car and see what the pistonhead massif think

[andrewws]

The MP in question will hopefully replace the current clown in No 10 come the next election!!!! Given we have a ruling party change, but not lib dems.

Will post a photo, once I have dug it out from under my garage paraphanalia.

Edited by andrewws on Saturday 27th December 11:12

Edited by andrewws on Saturday 27th December 11:13

[john2443]

andrewws said:

The MP in question will hopefully replace the current clown in No 10 come the next election!!!!

He won't if word gets around that he used to own a Fiat 500!

[restoman]

Don't see why it should make the car more valuable or sellable - having said that I would keep it until the MP in question actually becomes PM and advertise it then

Edited by restoman on Saturday 27th December 20:52

[Kickstart]

If DC becomes the next PM (here's hoping) then I would agree that selling the PM's ex Fiat 500 would add a few quid - after all if you are going to buy a 500 why not buy the PM's car. Agree with the earlier poster that it is definately worth keeping the car until DC becomes PM.

The funny thing with 500's is that the only people I know of who own them tend to have car collections with some very tasty things. If this was your target market I can see them spending some serious money to have the PM's 500.

I imagine it would be worth spending some thought on how to advertise the car eg Country life ?, FT ? rather than the autotrader

good luck

[andrewws]

Thank You for your considered replies, it was always my intention to hang onto the car untill DC gets the job. Its an interesting dilema really, because several factors enter into my problem about if/when I will be selling it.
1. The way the economy is going at present, it may be that by the time Brown has the courage to call an election (and stick to it!!) we will be in such a bad state that the money will not be around for luxuries like this.
2. Much as I like DC as a politician, he may have a bit of competition from within his party for the big job. So should I sell it now on the potential future value?.
3. Having spent some considerable time and money bringing the car up to the standard it is now at, it seems a shame to sell it on. But I have too many cars and are more likely to get a reasonable price for this than my other hobby car.
4. I live in a very rural location (for Berkshire) and most of the population seem to think that a Land Cruiser is essential for going to the shops, try meeting one of them on a blind corner in a Fiat 500!! Number plate in the teeth anyone? Especially when the driver is increasing Vodafones profits at the same time. The Fiat is a great town car but a bit dangerous out here in the wilds.
5. Not being an attention seeker at heart, but love cars and the attention they recieve. I must say that this car gets more admiring glances and comments than any other vehicle I have ever owned. Its a strange phenomina that I also drive the car that recieves the most negative reactions that I have ever experienced, that being a 911 (rear engined and air cooled as well, spooky).

Theses are just the ramblings of a man who can't sleep.

Good luck also.......

[Ozzie Osmond]

This piece on "provenance" comes from a fancy art website and is just as relevant to cars,

"Just because a famous institution once owned a work, does not mean that you should pay a premium. There are many times when major museums deaccession works from their collection. Sometimes these works have little meaning to the museum’s main focus and could be fine quality works, or, to be blunt, they are just poor quality works and the museum does not want them taking up space in their storage rooms. If they are selling because the work is of inferior quality, would you want to own it? I hope not. And, would you really want to pay a premium because of its provenance? I doubt it.

"As we always preach … the most important factors to be concerned with are the quality, subject matter and condition of any work you are considering. Strive to buy really good/representative examples from the artists whose works you enjoy and if a partial or complete provenance is available great, but do not make that a major factor when deciding to acquire a work of art … especially those that are more modern or from periods that went out of fashion for a protracted period of time."

I imagine a Fiat 500 would need to have been owned by pricess di herself and used for a liaison with will carling to be worth more than face value...

[andrewws]

Interesting reply, it would be foolish to expect more than 'face value' but in this climate a bit of prominance would maybe ease the sale. The next debate is what face value is?

Just out of interest there was a Porsche 959 for sale at the Silverstone Classic auction last year that belonged to Eddie Irvine, that certainly made the car more sellable. But Fiat and Cameron are maybe not as exotic, but we shall see.

Thanks for the extract, my mind could not get around Di/Will doing anything in the back of my little car!! Not enough room.

Happy new year.............

[Soovy]

In my extensive experience, the gentry and MPs tend to be cretins. Who can't drive with any mechanical sympathy at all.

[a8hex]

Hey just looked at what happen the old VW the new Pope was owned.

[lowdrag]

My D type belonged to Michael Palin but I don't stick cotton buds up my nose, like goldfish nor walk funnily

[RichB]

My son bought a Porsche 944 Turbo and then found out that the previous bar-one owner was Nick Mason. He wrote to Nick at Ten Tenths and got a nice letter back saying it was his wife's daily driver. I've suggested he should ask him to discretely sign the dash whilst at Goodwood or somewhere

[Ozzie Osmond]

RichB said:

My son bought a Porsche 944 Turbo and then found out that the previous bar-one owner was Nick Mason.

Maybe there's a valuable demo CD left in the changer?

Or would it be an 8-track back then!!

[GTIR]

I once owned a car once owned by Tom Baker, he of Dr Who fame.

It was a Peugeot 405 estate diesel.

[Puff Puff]

GTIR said:

I once owned a car once owned by Tom Baker, he of Dr Who fame.

It was a Peugeot 405 estate diesel.

I once drove Richard Noble's car, he of land speed record fame.

It was a diesel Golf.

[Howell811]

An old Range Rover was listed on Ebay some time ago, claimed the first owner was Elton John. Sold for about £1650 !

[GBRM]

A "titled" owner might not add value but will definitely make it more saleable but you must be able to prove it.

[K50 DEL]

My Goddaughter's mother has Richard Burns' old, Prodrive built, Impreza - complete with several rather tasty mods, authentication letter and a personal memory from Burns' Dad when she met him a few weeks ago.
I don't think she paid more because of the owner, but it definately made up her mind that it was the one she wanted.