Service History and Classics?
Discussion
I live in Cyprus and have been offered a 1976 Toyota Celica (first generation). Maybe not a true classic but very rare in RHD and UK spec.
Basically the Cypriot chap who owns it has restored it himself and has been less fastidious about holding on to the associated documentation for previous work etc but does have the necessary ownership docs.
My question is how much difference does only a little service History have on a classic of this age?
Basically the Cypriot chap who owns it has restored it himself and has been less fastidious about holding on to the associated documentation for previous work etc but does have the necessary ownership docs.
My question is how much difference does only a little service History have on a classic of this age?
pictures would be nice
Recent history is very important with old cars- although nice, nobody cares whether a car had its due oil change in 1980! But it would be nice to see recent documentation.
Does he know where it got the work done? You could always ask them, and remember to also ask an important, but simple question:
"did you advise him on anything which should be done, but he didnt?" ie did the owner cut corners
Recent history is very important with old cars- although nice, nobody cares whether a car had its due oil change in 1980! But it would be nice to see recent documentation.
Does he know where it got the work done? You could always ask them, and remember to also ask an important, but simple question:
"did you advise him on anything which should be done, but he didnt?" ie did the owner cut corners
Just my 2p.
I have restored a 67 GT Junior. I couldn't give you a receipt/bill for anything apart from a list of stock numbers for parts and paint.
The car has not been near a garage in 7-8 years unless it was for something I couldn't do or was stuck beyond my toolbox (three things come to mind).
However, the car is spotless - well apart from some work needed to the interior, which I'll get to in time.
Would I but one without history? Yep, as long as I had a good feeling about who I was buying from, saw the state of their garage/other cars and the guy was enthusiastic about the car and selling for a reason. Hard to guage but I think it is possible.
Turn up at mine if I was selling I'd expect a buyer to see a new project replacing the Junior. Not that that will happen. IYSWIM?
I have restored a 67 GT Junior. I couldn't give you a receipt/bill for anything apart from a list of stock numbers for parts and paint.
The car has not been near a garage in 7-8 years unless it was for something I couldn't do or was stuck beyond my toolbox (three things come to mind).
However, the car is spotless - well apart from some work needed to the interior, which I'll get to in time.
Would I but one without history? Yep, as long as I had a good feeling about who I was buying from, saw the state of their garage/other cars and the guy was enthusiastic about the car and selling for a reason. Hard to guage but I think it is possible.
Turn up at mine if I was selling I'd expect a buyer to see a new project replacing the Junior. Not that that will happen. IYSWIM?
[quote=Benengo]I live in Cyprus and have been offered a 1976 Toyota Celica (first generation). Maybe not a true classic but very rare in RHD and UK spec.
Basically the Cypriot chap who owns it has restored it himself and has been less fastidious about holding on to the associated documentation for previous work etc but does have the necessary ownership docs.
My question is how much difference does only a little service History have on a classic of this age?
[/quote
Service history is basically unimportant PROVIDING you get a thorough technical report (by a marque expert) prior to purchase.
Basically the Cypriot chap who owns it has restored it himself and has been less fastidious about holding on to the associated documentation for previous work etc but does have the necessary ownership docs.
My question is how much difference does only a little service History have on a classic of this age?
[/quote
Service history is basically unimportant PROVIDING you get a thorough technical report (by a marque expert) prior to purchase.
Myobb said:
Service history is basically unimportant PROVIDING you get a thorough technical report (by a marque expert) prior to purchase.
I think i'm going to struggle to get a marque expert out here :0(...and I suppose there'd be no point going to Toyota as they'll know nothing about a car of this age?
Anyone know where I can find out how hard spares would
be for her?
Edited by Carlos Harper on Wednesday 8th July 11:59
Whilst I do agree that it's important to get a feel for the previous owner, and this feeling can be used to gauge how well he/she has looked after the car (and certainly, a home-maintained car, if done well, can be vastly superior to a garage-maintained one) a nice thick bundle of paperwork also tells me that the owner is careful, cautious and (maybe) pedantic; all things that I want to see in a car owner. I've never bought a duff car that had good service history but have sometimes regretted buying a car without history because it looked good and the seller persuaded me that he was a nice bloke...
The cars that I've made money on (not many, it's true, but enough for a pattern to emerge) are the ones that have plenty of paperwork and where I've indexed and presented the service history in a nice folder, supplemented by a simple spreadsheet that records all the work that I've done to it, with the receipts. So, even if the lack of service history doesn't bother you, it might bother the chap that you want to sell it to!
Having said all that, if the car is rare, and you like it, then hang the caution; go and buy it and live with your mistakes. Read the "The Gold Plated Porsche: How I Sank a Small Fortune into a Used Car and Other Misadventures" by Stephan Wilkinson to reassure you that you aren't alone and stop worrying!
The cars that I've made money on (not many, it's true, but enough for a pattern to emerge) are the ones that have plenty of paperwork and where I've indexed and presented the service history in a nice folder, supplemented by a simple spreadsheet that records all the work that I've done to it, with the receipts. So, even if the lack of service history doesn't bother you, it might bother the chap that you want to sell it to!
Having said all that, if the car is rare, and you like it, then hang the caution; go and buy it and live with your mistakes. Read the "The Gold Plated Porsche: How I Sank a Small Fortune into a Used Car and Other Misadventures" by Stephan Wilkinson to reassure you that you aren't alone and stop worrying!
lovely car
My stepfather owns a 1934 Jaguar SS1 with the entire history of the car with it. This history has significantly raised the value of the car because it's probably the only one with this much info on it in the world. (also genuine 55000 miles)
The history can make a tremendous difference to how much a classic is worth, however, for the most part is completely irrelevant, only relevant in more exceptional cases. Most people do not care about the history. I'd love to get my hands on one of those classic toyotas (and I consider them a classic). If I was to buy one though, as long as the bodywork was in good shape and the car had an MOT on it and it was in budget, I'd have it. I wouldn't give a fk about the history of the vehicle quite honestly. I'd say it will always make some difference, just not very much, maybe 5 to 10% of the car's value?
My stepfather owns a 1934 Jaguar SS1 with the entire history of the car with it. This history has significantly raised the value of the car because it's probably the only one with this much info on it in the world. (also genuine 55000 miles)
The history can make a tremendous difference to how much a classic is worth, however, for the most part is completely irrelevant, only relevant in more exceptional cases. Most people do not care about the history. I'd love to get my hands on one of those classic toyotas (and I consider them a classic). If I was to buy one though, as long as the bodywork was in good shape and the car had an MOT on it and it was in budget, I'd have it. I wouldn't give a fk about the history of the vehicle quite honestly. I'd say it will always make some difference, just not very much, maybe 5 to 10% of the car's value?
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