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Hi All

 

I've just had my vehicle "evaluated" by a so called TR expert, who didn't actually view or drive the car but has made a number of "assumptions" on the basis of this picture that I sent on request.

 

I'd be appreciative of any observations, and in a day or so I will advise the quite staggering assumption that was made today.

 

This is a 1969 CP UK TR6 Full BOC rebuild in 2000-2001.

 

Thanks

 

ROB

post-9102-0-00848000-1370716855_thumb.jpg

post-9102-0-00848000-1370716855_thumb.jpg

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Hi Rob,

It would be tricky even for someone who is regarded an 'expert' to give an accurate view/valuation of yours or anyone elses car just by viewing photos. The car has been available for a while now and is priced, rightly, at the top end of the range. The problem,imho, is the glut of 6s currently available, just look at the number of ebay entries for example. In hindsight, I was lucky to get my modified 6 away late last year at near my asking price,in my case a local 'collector' of classic modified sports cars bought it,-the car now resides in the lap of luxury,-a dehumidified garage, and doesn't turn a wheel in anger very often.

I wish you luck with trying to sell it,-maybe worth considering a commission sale with one of the known TR specialists who still seem to be turning over stock,

cheers,

Laurence

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I used to love 'spot the difference' pictures as a kid so I'm game.

 

Something to do with no Commission Plate (or maybe mine is in the wrong place) ?

 

Something to do with the fact that you are running a ballasted coil on a CP car so he concludes it doesn't run very well due to a weak spark?

 

That's it for me so time to wait for Stuart and NTC :ph34r:

 

By the way, I wish my engine bay looked as clean!

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Hi Rob,

 

I may be missing something obvious here, but all that photo really tells me is that you have a decent looking engine bay appearing to be reasonably well sorted. . . . .

 

Yes there are points I might wish to consider in more detail, at the stage of Mk1 eyeball on the metal, but that's always the case - photo is stage 1, an initial indication, potentially capable of sorting wheat from chaff, but not grading the wheat finely.

 

I'm not sure how one could extrapolate any sort of evaluation of a whole car from a single underbonnet shot - that would be a leap of understanding way beyond even female intuition, up there in Star Trek territory and beyond.

 

A whole wadge of high-res piccies is no substitute for a physical inspection. As for driving - over the years I've viewed some ankle-savaging mangy mongrel dogs that still managed to drive like bandits, and on the other hand superlative looking concours rebuilds that drove like a bag of nails negotiating a cesspit.

 

It will be interesting to hear part 2 of your opening account !

 

Cheers

 

Alec

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I'm not sure how one could extrapolate any sort of evaluation of a whole car from a single underbonnet shot - that would be a leap of understanding way beyond even female intuition, up there in Star Trek territory and beyond.

 

 

It will be interesting to hear part 2 of your opening account !

 

 

I think that was Rob's point but he did invite us to play along :D

 

I too await part two with interest!

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Thanks Chaps.

 

Ragtag - no not the commission plate- that is present on the car but just out of shot unfortunately...another photo assumption but not true, ;)

 

Ok, here's the scenario.

(Yet another) Private buyer called me last week and asked for some pictures of my TR6- no one seems to want to jump in their car and view which is beyond me.

When I buy my next car I'll be travelling wherever to view a good car as soon as they are up for sale. "MK1 eyeball" as Alec said and there's no substitute for that.

I travelled far and wide as a fastidious TR buyer who has owned three of these since the early 1980s.

 

Pictures were sent and the guy appears to be a genuine interested party. I think however he forgot that he called me some months ago when the car was first advertized, but I do appreciate people take a little time to make their minds up when making a high value motor purchase.!

 

Buyer reviews pictures and asks for more info over the phone, and said he wants to proceed to view, but says it's too far for him to travel - would I be happy to have an expert view the car and send him a report. ?

"Yes of course, any inspection, just ensure your expert brings some comprehensive insurance if he wants to drive the TR6."

 

"Expert" calls and asks for pictures... I refer him back to his client who has the pictures, but in the event of helpfulness I agree to send another "wadge" of Hi-Res pictures to help the process, and ask when I can expect him, in the week, as we all work and need to accommodate viewers at home.

Did he want to arrange a local friendly garage to access their ramp/hoist?

 

No viewing appointment is made...

 

Next day I get an email from the buyer, no phone call, with "thanks for the pictures but I won't be taking this any further". ??

 

I called the somewhat embarrassed guy who said it was on his advice from the expert, who recommended he proceed no further from photos viewed, but was not willing to elaborate, and made a point that he was not "a time waster"...

 

So I called the "expert" - Apparently he stated from the engine bay picture, that my inner wings are full of rust, you can see it near the brake master cylinder!!

None of you saw that one... but it's not the case.

 

As both Laurence and Alec point out, you can't evaluate a car by pics alone, and this "expert" has scuppered my original potential "buyer" by doing just that.

He stated that 35 years of evaluating these cars enable him to pass a judgement on pictures alone, and that my 6 clearly has extremely poor inner wings, probably requiring a lot of remedial work, and is in that respect, overpriced, oh and "poor seam seals, more akin to a modern car but not good on a TR6".

 

This is a professional rebuild, just 8,300 dry miles since the rebuild, there is no rust on this car.

 

I don't intend to embarrass this guy by naming and shaming, but it's a little ironic that he has a high value car that he is discussing with the interested party!

To then state to me "it would be unprofessional of me to come and view your car at significant cost to the buyer, when I suspect it is a car full of inner wing rust and not worth it's value- that's not the way I work."

 

Even more ironic, when I have a report of a two hour physical inspection on file by Mr Brian Page of Classic Assessments, stating that the bodywork including all the inner wings are of "extremely high quality, devoid of rust or corrosion, and this is a very fine rebuilt car". I was told that Brian was wrong, on the evidence of a photograph.!

As regards pricing, I asked another well known classic sales expert who offered to sell my car on a sale or return basis, knowing the car very well, in his opinion "one of the very best TR6s out there" -price is set below the level he suggested as a retail price for him to sell (less a resulting commission) - see Laurence's recommendation - thanks mate, considered this too.

 

This "Expert" chap is well known in TR circles, will probably read this if he's on the forum and should in my mind, feel a little ashamed that here's another armchair laptop "expert" who makes blind assumptions and yet can't get in the car to view a potential purchase on behalf of a client.

I couldn't recommend a purchase from this guy - two TR Register members I know said that this "Expert" sells motors that are generally of poor quality at inflated prices, but as he said to me, "that's my "expert" opinion of your car", I'm equally entitled to my opinion.

 

I'm in no desperate hurry to sell the TR6, I'm sure a genuine buyer will eventually turn up.

 

Thanks chaps for the views and nice comments.

 

Cheers

 

Rob

Edited by robnob
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Gobsmacked.

 

I'm damn sure I would name and shame someone who had misrepresented my car to a third party and potentally had cost me a sale.

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Hi Rob,

they are equally incompetent in the other direction. A friend of mine bought a TR via the internet, got a so called expert to view.

The general drift was a bit scruffy, with some surface rust.

On the way from the private vendor to the buyer the rear suspension collapsed. So the car diverted to CTM for a new chassis.

I have subsequently had a look at the panels and apart from poor paint finish it is quite sound. But it has cost equivalent to a concourse car for a general run about.

 

Have estate agents move to motors!!

 

Roger

Edited by RogerH
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That is really poor. If, as you say the so called expert does read this, hopefully after feeling embarrassed, he would like to comment. It would be really interesting to hear how he reached his conclusion.

Name and shame I say, it will hopefully save someone else having the same experience as you.

Good luck with your sale Rob.

 

Jezzer

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Hi

I am being taken to the cleaners by my ex through the courts, while my car is certainly not to the standard being discussed this expert valuer seems ideal for me! The lower price the better! Wrong topic but where is the pipe from the metering unit off to?

Cheers

Smeggy

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I don't intend to embarrass this guy by naming and shaming.

Cheers

 

Rob

 

Sorry Rob but to protect other sellers (or buyers), who need an expert to view a car I wouldn't hesitate to name this so called 'expert'

 

Tony

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I don't see the point of evaluations!

All the Cars I've bought and sold over the years, I offer the lowest and hope to steal it when buying...when selling I ask the Earth! Somewhere in between is where both parties agree...if not...No Deal!

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