Seen For Sale

Here are the cars we have found on the market that, if we had the money and space, we would be very tempted to buy.  

 

NO LONGER FOR SALE

1924 Bentley  3 Litre Le Mans Replica (Vic) Seen on Just Cars

At $275,000, this handsome Bentley is not a cheap car. However, over a long period, good Bentleys have proved to be worthwhile investments. For many wealthy enthusiasts, the ownership of a Vintage Bentley, particularly with a La Mans replica body is the aspiration of a lifetime. There is always demand for these cars and they are a commodity that is readily traded internationally.

These cars have been celebrated since the 3 Litre won at Le Mans in 1924 and 1927. Famously, Ettore Bugatti (whose cars were much more lithe) described the 3 Litre Bentley “the fastest lorry in the world”.

In the images accompanying its advertisement, this car looks typically spectacular. We assume that the body is not original, but this is not necessarily a great sin with these Bentleys as in many cases, the original bodies (often saloons or tourers) have rotted away – aided by a chassis flex. Replacement with Le Mans Replicas is very common.

Given the rarity of vintage Bentleys, each car’s history is usually known by marque experts. In a car of this cost, provenance and determining the degree of orginality is important in making sure that you get value. If you do not know exactly what you are doing, consult with experts.

WHY WE LIKE IT: In the minds of many people, a green Le Mans replica Bentley is the ultimate classic car. We are some of those people.

WORRIES: A big purchase, so make sure that the car’s history, orginality and restoration quality justifies the price.

CONCLUSION: The stuff dreams are made of.

As an aside, if you are looking for very original 3-Litre, Fiskens in the UK  has for sale a very original Le Mans car. This is the famous “Number 9” that was built for Tommy “Scrap” Thistlethwayte and co-piloted by “Bentley Boy” Captain Clive Gallop.

 

1959 MGA Twin Cam (NSW) Seen on Carsales

The best and rarest version of the lovely MGA is the Twin Cam. Just over 2,ooo Twin Cams were produced (out of a total of 1000,000 MGAs). This was the first twin cam engine to be fitted to MGs since the racing cars of the 1920s and 1930s. When released in 1958, the engine suffered from a range of problems variously blamed on having too high a compression ratio (9,9:1), poor tuning (especially ignition timing), clumsy drivers revving the motor to extremes and poor servicing due to many service items being hard to access in the tight engine bay. In the end, a reduction in the compression ratio to 8.3:1 improved things enormously, but by then the damage to the car’s reputation was done and the Twin Cam was dead soon after. The factory reverted to the sole use of the common pushrod engines for the cars that used up the last of the twin cam trim and four wheel disc brakes. In truth, a well developed, highly tuned pushrod engine can almost match the heavier Twin Cam for output, particularly a low compression Twin Cam. Furthermore, the pushrod engined cars are lighter in the front end and have slightly better steering geometry. On the other hand, the Twin Cam engine looks fabulous, is technically interesting, very rare and lifts the MG closer to thoroughbred territory.

This particular car does not have its original, matching numbers, engine (which still exists but is owned by another enthusiast). However, it appears to be a tidy enough example of a very pretty car. It was advertised for some months before disappearing, only to reappear on the market last week.

WHY WE LIKE IT: It is the cheapest Twin Cam MGA we have seen and it is the more desirable roadster version. Other than the rare Twin Cam engine parts, MGA spares supply is reliable and parts are often cheap.

WORRIES: It is a shame it is not a matching numbers car. MGAs rust, but all parts are readily available (try Kilmartin Automotive Sheetmetal in Ballarat, Victoria – theirs are the best panel and chassis repair pieces available). This car needs work to bring it up the to standard it should be.

CONCLUSION: We have a pushrod MGA and adore it. The Twin Cam is the ultimate MGA but we think we’ll hold out for a perfect, matching numbers car (and the money to pay for it) before we upgrade. If we didn’t yet have an MGA, at and advertised price of $42,000 this is probably the one we would buy.

1972 Aston Martin DBS – (VIC)  Seen on Carsales

At $45,000 this is almost certainly the cheapest Aston for sale in Australia. The good news goes on: in British Racing Green, with light tan interior, the car has a great colour scheme. However, there are some drawbacks: the car is the six cylinder rather than the more powerful V8. Also, this Aston is an automatic (3 speed Chrysler Torqueflite) which further reduces the performance offered by this heavy car. Having seen this particular car in the past (it has been on the market for a long time, but the price is now lower ), we can report that the car has some slightly worrying indications of rust here and there. It looks as though the car has been resprayed  – and the job was not brilliant. The trim looks a bit orange too and there is no air-conditioning. (The car was imported from Britain in the early 1970s – if we recall correctly). On the other hand, these cars, designed by William Towns, are beginning to be appreciated as stylish and handsome. We think they are better looking than the later V8s.

WHY WE LIKE IT: It is an Aston Martin. It is in British Racing Green. It is $45,000.

WORRIES: It is auto. It lacks air-conditioning. In some ways, this is the least desirable Aston model and specification. Also, is it just a bit of superficial rust here and there or is there something frightening lurking in the sills, for example?

CONCLUSION: If this Aston was a manual with air-con, we would have bought it ourselves. If it was V8 too, we would have been crushed in the stampede.

1976 Daimler Sovereign XJC (NSW) Seen on Carsales

The rarest of the XJ body styles, the two-door coupe was marketed as a “corporate sports car” by Jaguar. Critics pointed to the car’s weight and called it a “corpulent sports car”. More elegant than the sportier XJS (which shares the same floorpan), the XJC was was very closely based on the Series 2 XJ Jaguars. Even rarer than the Jaguar version is the more upmarket Daimler version. The main difference between the Jag and the Daimler is that the latter sports a crinkly radiator grille (a vestige of old heat dissipating radiator tanks of vintage Daimlers). Generally, after Jaguar bought Daimler, the famous old badge was used merely to denote more upmarket versions of Jaguars. The Classic Motorist knows that there is at least one Double Six (ie V12) Daimler coupe of this era in Australia. It was privately imported from England, along with its rust. In contrast, the advertised Daimler is a 4.2 litre version- using the famous XK twin-cam straight six motor launched in 1948. This particular car was privately imported from New Zealand. The ad suggests significant money has been spent on restoring and maintaining the vehicle. The main risk with these cars is rust. In addition to the usual places, such as guards and door bottoms, these Jaguars rust around the based of the windscreen and rear window. The seals were poor and, some say, actually corrosive. This particular Daimler, finished in a sandy yellow call “Greensand”, has been on the market for a long time – perhaps a year or more. At $13,500, it seems a cheap, charming touring car. It has leather and air-con – both necessities in our view.

WHY WE LIKE IT: Probably the most desirable XJ body style made rarer by being a Daimler. The 4.2 may lack the glamour of the 5.3 litre V12, but it is easier to maintain. Anyway, we know of only one Daimler Double Six (ie V12) in coupe Australia. Even if there are more, you will spend a long time looking.

WORRIES: These cars rust. We have seen some terminal cases. Full rust repair may not be economic.

CONCLUSION: Sensibly specified, period colour (though not entirely to our taste), this is an example of a charming and interesting car. At $13,500 this example has been on the market for a long, long time. Perhaps a serious offer would secure it. However, be sure to check carefully for tinworm.

1959 Sunbeam Alpine Convertible  (Vic) Seen on Carsales

These Sunbeams were produced by the Rootes group (who took over the Sunbeam-Talbot-Darracq combine after it went into receivership in 1935). The once great Sunbeam and Talbot names were reduced to being used for upmarket (fully rebodied) versions of Rootes vehicles. The Alpine, derived from the Sunbeam-Talbot 90 was the best of these Rootes vehicles of the 1950s. They looked pretty and, in the 1953 Alpine Rally, four Sunbeam Alpines won the Coupe des Alpes. Stirling Moss drove the car that came sixth in that race. The Alpine for sale in Victoria at the moment is an uprated replica of the Moss vehicle. Expensively restored and extensively uprated with boosted front discs, Toyota 5 speed box, power steering, air-conditioning and much else besides, this is an appealing car for fast touring. Asking price: $79,990.

WHY WE LIKE IT: A fairly rare, well-loved vehicle that has enough modern features – including air-conditioning – to enable extensive touring in considerable comfort. It would cost a lot of money to bring another car up to this standard.

WORRIES: This car may have been too heavily modified to suit serious enthusiasts or collectors, particularly in the future.

CONCLUSION: While we see the attraction and can understand the pleasures of well-chosen modern features, we could not justify spending $79,990 on this car. There are XK120 Jags around for that kind of money. If you are Sunbeam fan, it would be hard to beat though. As an aside, later tail-finned “series” Sunbeams are available for a lot less and are lots of fun.

1923 Minerva AB Tourer – (Qld) Seen on Just Cars and Pre-War Cars

Produced by the high-quality Belgian producer, this handsome and large tourer has one big problem: its Knight sleeve-valved engine is unusually quiet (even for a sleeve-valve) because it is seized. The car’s interior (which has never been restored) is in a real mess too. According to the vendor, the body was restored fifty years ago. The photos suggest that the body might be acceptable as it is, but more likely it is due for some restoration too. Asking price is $28,000.

WHY WE LIKE IT: A high-quality car in its day. Sleeve valve engines are interesting and very, very quiet. This is a three litre, six cylinder engine too, so – once on the road again – the car should perform well.

WORRIES: Seat trim (at least) is beyond saving. Engine is seized; can it be  returned to service cost-effectively?

CONCLUSION: An interesting car, but it needs courage to take it on.

 

1926 Bayliss-Thomas Tourer – (NSW) Seen on Just Cars

A small to medium-sized vintage tourer, this car has its original wiring and trim. It was repainted about ten years ago. The Bayliss-Thomas was produced by British company Excelsior (maker of motorbikes).  These are very, very rare cars. The advertised tourer has the 1.5 litre alloy, overhead valve engine. Asking price is $25,000 ONO.

WHY WE LIKE IT: Rare, sensibly sized and, according to the ad, very original.

WORRIES: Hard to get parts, not very fast, needs a tidy up.

CONCLUSION: Very tempting but we know that only the highest performance vintage cars keep up with modern conditions. Hence this car is probably nicer to show than it is to drive.