I am looking at a clubman I found in someone's backyard with a view to making the owner an offer. He said he's thinking of selling, but to 'make him an offer' and wouldn't hint at what sort of dollars.

It is a standard 73 base model with 40K kms, 1100, orange (not faded red, faded orange) body straight but paint is severely faded/oxidised and there is one or two spots of surface rust. Interior is standard, few tears in seats and doorcards, tatty looking carpet.

Everything else is standard as far as I can see. looks its age tho.

The car was registered and a 'daily driver' until a year ago.

What sort of money do people usually offer for something like this?

Cheers
matt

with no pics i'd say anywhere from about $1000-3500

This is always hard but I tell people it costs $1500 to get an unregistered car onto the road and invariably, it pops the brake cylinders and a head gasket within a couple of months of being used. Its just a product of standing.

Its total value (the way you descibe it) is less than $2000 - probably only $1500. I would offer perhaps $250-$500 and then wave the money under his nose. Seeing money seems to affect people and cause them to say yes. But be prepared to walk away from it but leave your number. His wife/partner is likely to remind him that the electricity and phone bills are under the magnet on the fridge.

Dont get emotionally attached to this car - there really are quite a few out there - take your time and get a good one or at least a cheap one.

Thanks guys.

Mike I think you're right. The car's total value should reflect the cost it will take to put it on the road. For this one I'd say at a minimum:
Front and rear brake overhaul (cos they are kind of important so it's a no brainer as far as I'm concerned)
New master cylinders as the old ones are the original plastic jobbies.
New tyres,
radiator clean out,
renew ignition points,leads dizzy cap, new battery.
etc.

& then there is the bodywork. I suppose this is a bonus in some ways, it needs a new paint job and I can choose whatever colour I want (& the missus says is ok )

Hmmm. I think I might offer him $250, cash under nose like you say.

I already have one 'going' mini and two project vans waiting for the time for me to do something with them, I just don't have a clubman sedan yet....


Never know, maybe this is a good race car project for sprints.....

Well, I bought a 1977 Clubman LS for $2600.00.. Now 12 months and $15K+ down the track and I am still spending money on it.. (I have a list on all that I have spent so far)..

But if you want the car to be in good condition, then money has to be spent on it, maybe not as much as I have but it will still take a reasonable amount all the same...

if he wants heaps for it just explain to the guy what has to be done to the car...paintwork, brakes etc etc. and then tell him that its better off you give him a few hundred dollars for it before it ends up at a wrecking yard. offer to send pics of the resto to the original owner (its always a nice thing to do).

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real men race downhill - keiichi tsuchiya