Classic car purchase

Spicy_McHaggis

andygb wrote: »

It sounds like you are the one who doesn't have a clue.
I taught myself back in the seventies/eighties with Haynes manuals. I worked on loads of classics on a driveway, constructed an outdoor spray booth with washing line and polythene sheeting. I borrowed engine hoists, rebuilt cylinder heads, and bought a second hand MIG welder, and learnt to use it and weld sills on in a weekend.
Cars from the eighties and before were easy to work on.

I think with 30 grand to spare our OP wants a bit more than home spray job and diy mechanics.

Were you really then working on classics or an old model BL shed?

missile

andygb wrote: »

It sounds like you are the one who doesn't have a clue.
I taught myself back in the seventies/eighties with Haynes manuals. I worked on loads of classics on a driveway, constructed an outdoor spray booth with washing line and polythene sheeting. I borrowed engine hoists, rebuilt cylinder heads, and bought a second hand MIG welder, and learnt to use it and weld sills on in a weekend.
Cars from the eighties and before were easy to work on.

I am so glad you were not my neighbour

loskie

http://www.historics.co.uk/buying/previous-auctions.aspx

Useful for researching prices. I think there is a sale coming up. I wasted a day "attending" the auction online in November.

atrixblue.-MFR-.

Spicy_McHaggis wrote: »

I think with 30 grand to spare our OP wants a bit more than home spray job and diy mechanics.

Were you really then working on classics or an old model BL shed?

What are you talking about! Its been said that the escort doesn't HAVE TO BE EXPENSIVE to maintain especially OEM STOCK ones that's just the start that OP can find what ever make parts he want to fit to it. you banging on about cheap parts and DIY spray jobs is just making you look silly.


I proved that part availability isn't an issue and even some parts are cheap LUK clutch kits are hardly "cheap" as they are an OEM supplier to some manufacturers and the links prove that you don't have bust the bank to service it every year, even performance filters like K&N or Pipercross are cheap enough to buy.


You don't like the fact I proved the escort was not a massively expensive vehicle to service and maintain and that parts are widely available because you jumped happily to try and make me look stupid and it back fired. Hell if OP wanted to, he could used performance service bits such as K&N oil filter air filter fuel filter, and it still wouldn't cost as much as modern car to service.


timing belt is easy on them (said now for the second time just so you get the point) so labor times in a garage are low I can do it in less that 40 mins and you cant make locking tools for it or buy a kit for less than £40 not like cars of today who need a specialist tools that cost £100 plus per application.


Some OEM parts are still available at ford if you press them hard enough to phone around to check for surplus stocks and are not overly expensive.


and even when you hit a cross roads for the odd part you can find companies or people in know out there who will know where to get it reconditioned.


Its an escort cossie not some rare exotic.




http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Genuine-Ford-Escort-Cosworth-Oil-Filter-/120860281142 can even get OEM service bits on auction sites.

LandyAndy

JustinR1979 wrote: »

Lotus Carlton....

I doubt a good one would be in the OP's budget.

Spicy_McHaggis

atrixblue.-MFR-. wrote: »

What are talking about! Its been said that the escort doesn't HAVE TO BE EXPENSIVE to maintain especially OEM STOCK ones that's just the start that OP can find what ever make parts he want to fit to it. you banging on about cheap parts and DIY spray jobs is just making you look silly.


I proved that part availability isn't an issue and even some parts are cheap LUK clutch kits are hardly "cheap" as they are an OEM supplier to some manufacturers and the links prove that you don't have bust the bank to service it every year, even performance filters like K&N or Pipercross are cheap enough to buy.


You don't like the fact I proved the escort was not a massively expensive vehicle to service and maintain and that parts are widely available because you jumped happily to try and make me look stupid and it back fired. Hell if OP wanted to, he could used performance service bits such as K&N oil filter air filter fuel filter, and it still wouldn't cost as much as modern car to service.


timing belt is easy on them (said now for the second time just so you get the point) so labor times in a garage are low I can do it in less that 40 mins and you cant make locking tools for it or buy a kit for less than £40 not like cars of today who need a specialist tools that cost £100 plus per application.


Some OEM parts are still available at ford if you press them hard enough to phone around to check for surplus stocks and are not overly expensive.


and even when you hit a cross roads for the odd part you can find companies or people in know out there who will know where to get it reconditioned.


Its an escort cossie not some rare exotic.




http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Genuine-Ford-Escort-Cosworth-Oil-Filter-/120860281142 can even get OEM service bits on auction sites.

We'll agree to disagree on this, you maintain a car that not all Ford dealers were authorised to service at the time they were out are cheap to maintain and I'll stick with the view that maintaining an investment on a shoe string isn't the way to go.

andygb

missile wrote: »

I am so glad you were not my neighbour

They were generally quite understanding about it, particularly when I was able to do cheap servicing and repairs for them:D

atrixblue.-MFR-.

Spicy_McHaggis wrote: »

We'll agree to disagree on this, you maintain a car that not all Ford dealers were authorised to service at the time they were out are cheap to maintain and I'll stick with the view that maintaining an investment on a shoe string isn't the way to go.

The YB engine is hardly a piece of complicated machinery. Its a 4 pot engine just like anyother one its nothing overly complicated. just because a few ford dealers weren't servicing them when they were released doesn't mean anything.
Its also not my fault that parts are cheap for it now which is a plus for many owners it says a vehicle of this type is not going to rob you of all your money every year and if you hit financial difficulty your not going to have to sell it due its maintenance costs and can still enjoy owning it and driving it without treating it like a fragile piece of glass.


I could turn around and say if the OP really wants to spend out on it he can have http://shop.grahamgoode.com/ take care of many of his servicing and repairs.


After all the diversity and availability of parts and upgrades is an endless shopping list for the cossy if you have an open cheque book.
you can even take it to a ford dealership and have it serviced by a local mountune specialist dealer.
after all this is MSE he came here looking for some advice. I think he took it on board and got the point that went over you head. He wanted something that was 80-90's, something that wont break his bank balance every year and is an investment.
The cossy wont depreciate if its kept OEM spec serviced and winterized and in good condition.


Now your saying essentially because you can maintain it and parts are cheap for it EVEN OEM PARTS its not worth it, because it has to cost the earth to be a classic.


"you maintain a car that not all Ford dealers were authorised to service at the time they were out" first compliment from you thanks! I too have confidence in my skills that I am fortunate enough to have by getting my hands dirty and willing to learn.

atrixblue.-MFR-.

andygb wrote: »

They were generally quite understanding about it, particularly when I was able to do cheap servicing and repairs for them:D

My neighbors loved the fact a they could knock my door and ask me to take a look at their car saving them asking a garage and getting charged "diagnosis fee's" and knew the problem before they did decide to take it in to their chosen independent so they knew roughly how much it would cost what parts they needed do be replaced. I'm not well enough to do mechanical work no more, but I don't mind taking a look if I can help.

reeac

I complely rebuilt a 1958 MGA 1500 roadster between 1981 and 1983 and it's been taxed/insured and MOT'd ever since, doing an average of 1000 miles each year. My experience is that seizure of brake wheel cylinders due to insufficient use is the biggest problem followed by battery flattening. After over 30 years I had the complete hydraulics [including clutch] renewed last year. I've found that tyres last at least 20 years before sidewall cracking becomes a problem.