Hello from The West Country!

[RichardM]

Hello people!

My name is Richard and I'm a Paramedic living in The West Country.

I've had a number of interesting cars over the years, most recently just sold a TVR 400se.

Very interested in the Delorean, but as I've only ever seen one once in the flesh (and that was on the back of a recovery truck) I would love to see one for real, and chat to owners about what I might be letting myself in for!

Firstly, I'm 6'2" and pushing 18 stone (really must diet!), will I fit ok? Secondly, any owners down Exeter/Taunton way who would let me see one of these cars for real, close up please?

Thanks for having me.

Richard.

[Chris Williams]

Quote:Firstly, I'm 6'2" and pushing 18 stone (really must diet!), will I fit ok? Secondly, any owners down Exeter/Taunton way who would let me see one of these cars for real, close up please?

Yes you will! well I do at 6'1" and fairly rounded also!

I know it's short notice and a long way away from you but you would do well to look at this event: http://www.deloreans.co.uk/forum/viewto ... f=8&t=5440

Chris

[88mph]

Hello and welcome
I'm 6'5", 16 stone of rippling muscle :lol: , I fit in fine, surprisingly comfortable actually.
Down in Torquay. Delorean is all working but confined to garage due to drive being blocked by 20 tons of rubble and soil.

[RichardM]

Thanks for the welcomes

88mph, would you mind if I could pop down and meet you and the car please? Would really like to see and hear first hand what ownership is like.

What about importing? This one :

http://m.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C269964

Says approx £17.5k landed at a UK dock. So, plus 5% (??????) tax, plus £100 DVLA fee plus MOT and RHD lights and rear fog, Robert's your father's uncle.....? That's only around £20k. Can't be as simple as that.......

[andyd]

I'd factor in a goodly chunk of cash for parts all the things wrong with it, and the same again for labour unless you are going to do it all yourself...

They are 30 years old remember, and may need a greater or lesser degree of spannering to get roadworthy and/ or MOT'd.

Definitely leave a bit in the pot as a reserve. There are a few for sale in the UK just now, and it seems to be quite a good time to buy?

Good luck! Even when they do your head in, they are still awesome!

a

[88mph]

Welcome anytime Rich. PM your mobile if you want.
I imported one last year, you can definitely get them cheaper in the US, but at more risk, sending £20,000 to someone you've never met, on the other side of the world, for a product you've not seen/tested or know even exists, is alittle un-nerving!
The actual legal import paperwork really is kinda straight-forward ( Deloreans do qualify for 5% VAT rate) but always alittle tense that the searches won't show up something unexpected/expensive!
As said, any "original condition" 35 year old car, will need things doing. Brakes-suspension-fuel system are common areas that will need refurb.
That ad is very vague. IMO, 4 new tyres suggests its been sat for a long long time. (see above ^^)
Good luck.

[Dangermouse]

RichardM Wrote:What about importing? This one :

http://m.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C269964

Says approx £17.5k landed at a UK dock. So, plus 5% (??????) tax, plus £100 DVLA fee plus MOT and RHD lights and rear fog, Robert's your father's uncle.....? That's only around £20k. Can't be as simple as that.......

fwiw, I'm not sure about that car. It was listed on ebay last May, for $26k, with 107k miles using the same pictures, by our old friends at BHCC (Beverley Hills Car Club - search the for sale section on here), even though the pics aren't BHCCs usual inside shots. This ad text is copied verbatim from the ebay ad.

The current seller is a broker (so he doesn't have any "inventory" to speak of). He may be a broker for BHCC, who knows. I'm not saying it isn't a genuine car for sale, though.

While it has 108k, which is generally a good sign (preferable to only 8k if you are wanting a daily driver), the carfax shows that it had 97k in 10/98, meaning it has only done ~10k in the last 17 years.

So plan a replacement parts budget accordingly.


If you haven't done so, join dmctalk.org, the largest US/International forum as it is often better to buy "known" cars from forum members, or dmctoday.com which is a smaller forum with it's own vibe


good luck

[Chris Williams]

All very good advice given above, really would be worth checking out 88mph's car if he's happy to allow it (it was on Ebay recently) fairly local to you and has had a good long drive recently!
Chris

[RichardM]

Thanks for the welcomes!

I would love to get to the annual meeting, but it is as you say a bit far. But never say never....

Any thoughts on this car?

http://dmctalk.org/showthread.php?11131 ... ia-History

I'm looking for a daily driver type car rather than a restoration job.

88mph, I'll drop you a PM.

[Chris Williams]

It does look a nice car but at the top end of the price range I would say. I would suspect by the time it's in the UK it would be probably getting near 30k and there are good cars for that available in the UK. Certinally well worth checking out 88mph's car at less money plus it's UK ready.
Chris

[88mph]

Kind words Chris, but after all the messing about and timewasters, have decided mine is presently off the market.

[88mph]

RichardM Wrote:Any thoughts on this car?

As Chris says, Top top money and IMO not worth the hassles, stresses and risk of import.

[RichardM]

Chris Williams Wrote:It does look a nice car but at the top end of the price range I would say. I would suspect by the time it's in the UK it would be probably getting near 30k and there are good cars for that available in the UK. Certinally well worth checking out 88mph's car at less money plus it's UK ready.
Chris

Thanks.

The owner has emailed me more details. It had a frame off refurb 5 years ago (barn find before that), and he has done lots of small jobs since then. It apparently needs almost nothing. I dont want to post that email publicly here but can share via PM if anyone is interested.

What sort of USD$ price do you this should be, if it is all good, it make it worthwhile to import?

Thanks!

[RichardM]

Hello 88mph,

I did send you a PM a few days ago, did you get it? I'm heading past your way today if it is convenient for you at all.

Cheers.

[RichardM]

What do people think of this one, asking price $28,000:

http://dmctalk.org/showthread.php?12311 ... n-for-sale