Spent all lunchtime readin the diary at www.projectvixen.com - brilliant read, and hilarious in places (Mt St Delorean thanks to the AC... go read it!) That should set any mind at rest that restoration adds value. Martin danielpwillis@xxxx wrote: > Hear hear Martin. > > To put a point on this case (and not to start an arguement ;) ) my > car has taken 18 months so far to repair and has another 6 months > ahead. PLUS I'm now out of work (redundancy) so I think there is > always room for a DeLorean. I actually agree with a lot of what you > say Chris, especially the strain a restoration can put on "people" as > well as finance. I think though, if people have gotten as far as to > ask for your advice then they already have will do go forward. > > As for DeLorean's future value... well, waste of time speculating! > I'll never get back what I've put in, neither will anyone else. But > who really cares? :) > > Just my 2 cents. > > Dan > Vin#5641 - Maddie - Oct'81 - www.projectmadness.com - 'STALLED' > > --- In doc-uk@xxxx, Martin Gutkowski <webmaster@xxxx> wrote: > > Chris, I am moved here to ask what you'd do with all those > DeLoreans which are "beyond economic repair" as you seem to be > > suggesting? > > > > As you know I'm on the verge of buying a project car. However I've > found one with low mileage that has sat for four years, > > where the body's in prostine condition, but the interior's tatty > (mainly sun damage) and all the non-stainless trim is in need > > of a lick of paint and/or _minor_ repair. > > > > I own two cars already, my Xantia and my BX. My BX was my first car > and as a student at the time, I really HAD to learn how to > > work on it myself, and establish channels for sourcing parts at non- > dealership prices. It's truly amazing what you can find if > > you look hard wnough. Last June I had an accident in it which would > have clearly written it off had I reported it to the > > insurance company. Instead, it sat on my mum's driveway for 9 > months while I got the readies together, bought a knackered BX > > for parts and nursed it back to health. It's now going strong for a > freind who's at university. 176,000 miles and rising... > > > > My point: Especially here in the UK, we put different values on > things DeLorean. Our friends in the US often seem to need to > > replace repairable parts - eg the auto governor computer, interior > trim, even body panels. Mechanical items such as brake > > calipers can be bought new over the counter here as long as you > have a decent parts cross-reference. James Grant seems to be a > > man after my own heart, sourcing places to repair interior trim, > the original manufacturer for his windscreen, and the brake > > caliper mantioned above - £16 wasn't it James? Engine and > transmission parts are STILL available from Renault. I expect to > > find out just how much as soon as my mechanic gets hold of my car - > he's ex-Renault. > > > > At Eurofest, a bunch of us "young-uns" put an informal plan > together to take a road trip round europe when we've all got our > > D's on the road. Chris Hawes was clearly worried about putting so > many miles on what is likely to be a gem in the club's list > > (he wants as near to a new car as he can get). My car has fewer > than 2500 miles on it, but having nursed it back to health > > myself, I'm going to relish every last mile I put on that car, > because it's my hands that have made it possible. > > > > ...and the preliminary estimates suggest my "project car" will be a > good investment, but only time will tell. Plus buying this > > one and spending on it over time will enable me to buy it sooner, > and enjoy it sooner. Even if it ends up costing more than a > > "newer" one would, it'll still be MY DeLorean, that I'VE rescued. > There's no greater reward IMO. > > > > And one day, when it's up to scratch, I may well sell it and find > another project car to restore. That's being a true > > enthusiast I'd say. > > > > Martin > > > > Chris Parnham wrote: > > > > > Dan, > > > There are a few people, like you and Chris N , who have been able > to commit > > > time (2 years?), money, and some help from others, and still keep > the dream > > > alive. BUT I have many conversations with people with VERY > limited budgets > > > and time, and family's etc. , for whom, a tatty "cheap" DeLorean > project > > > would be a disaster. > > > > > > I have restored 6 cars over the years, it put a lot of strain on > family and > > > finances...its all right for you flushed young lads! > > > > > > I want people to feel good about owning a DeLorean, not wish to > hell they > > > have never seen one! > > > > > > Yes, the ideal purchase for any new member, is one that "some one > else" has > > > put all the money and time into. > > > > > > Sorry just my "shop keepers" view. > > > > > > Chris (Arkwright) Parnham > > DOC UK Website: www.delorean.co.uk > Unsubscribe: doc-uk-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxx > ** Unless otherwise stated, all messages posted to the group are assumed public and may be printed in the club magazine ** > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/