Matthewsons Sales Pitches

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ESSEXV6ESSEX
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Matthewsons Sales Pitches

Post by ESSEXV6ESSEX »

https://youtu.be/eAXw47NeM1k

I bet the owners of the restored cars were pleased to be hear him slag off thier cars. Yeah it's unrestorred but it has a rusty bonnet, been painted badly by the owner. The rubbers and seals will be knackered, as for just changing the cambelt??? How about stripping the engine down as its been stood thirty plus years, changing the fuel lines??? I bet the exhaust and fuel tank will be corroding from the inside. The tyres will be knackered etc etc, the list goes on. I get this unrestorred lark but bollocks are they better then restored. It wants restoring and I bet you find other bits. Every time they list a car they over sell it. I don't like them.
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Re: Matthewsons Sales Pitches

Post by Jasonmarie »

It does have the best engine in the world and a news paper from 1985 with page 3 being the one and only Fiona Flaps :cool: that add more money :lol:
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Re: Matthewsons Sales Pitches

Post by Major_Tom »

I don't think he was slagging off the restored cars, more bigging up the unrestored original one. That's obviously what he prefers. I think I do too, I like imperfections and the story behind the car, that tends to be removed when restored, like reformatting the brain of an android... it might be "new", but the personality is lost!
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Re: Matthewsons Sales Pitches

Post by Andrew 2.8i »

My preference would be a mint unrestored car. However, that is getting more unlikely as our cars get older. Personally, I would prefer a mint restored car over one in tatty unrestored car. Still, we're all different and we all like different things.

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Re: Matthewsons Sales Pitches

Post by SCP440 »

A car is only original only once, the problem is a lot of restorations either over restore or bodge it up to sell it on. The best cars in my view are the ones that are sympathetically restored or maintained. When I was looking for my Capri I was shocked to see how many were bodged up, full of filler and patches with numerous bodges. A quick glance and it looked like you were getting a great car but I suspect a few months or at the next MOT and you would be shocked.
A classic car should be usable and be well rustproofed so it can be driven in the rain if need be, being 40 odd years old they will all need working on but that is all part of the classic car experience in my view. Penetrating oil is probably going to be your best friend. The other thing is you should be friendly with a decent body shop, they will need some paint even if they have been painted in the last 10 years.
It shocks me when a new classic car owner thinks they will just be able to drive it like they do there modern car.
A sympathetically restored car will have doors that shut nicely, the seats will feel comfortable if a bit saggy and the edges of the arches should be sharp. That is being over simplistic but if it passes these tests it is probably worth looking at further. A rusty rocker cover or air cleaner can be fixed at home with a rattle can but unless you are good with a welder putting in floors and sills is not my idea of fun. I was told years ago there are 3 things to look at when buying a classic car Rust, Rust and Rust, everything else can be repaired with a set of spanners.
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Re: Matthewsons Sales Pitches

Post by Major_Tom »

SCP440 wrote: Tue Oct 04, 2022 8:16 pm. I was told years ago there are 3 things to look at when buying a classic car Rust, Rust and Rust, everything else can be repaired with a set of spanners.
That's what I was told (on here I think!) about 16 years ago. Buy something solid!
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Re: Matthewsons Sales Pitches

Post by Jasonmarie »

I can only talk watches here as they have been around a lot longer , a original Rolex watch say that has seen a hard life with a original strap , glass , strap and internal workings sells more then a restored watch . Then if the watch needs new parts they should be from a original of that year not new .
It’s a mad mad world .

I do look sometimes and think that capris / Escorts I see on aution sites we all see better examples in the breakers back in the day . :lol: :lol:
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Re: Matthewsons Sales Pitches

Post by SCP440 »

A fellow classic car enthusiast I know has been importing cars from around the world, he only brings in RHD models that will be popular. For example He found a used car dealer in South Africa that had several Cortinas and Escorts around the back of his lot. The cars all had mechanical problems but were rust free and of course RHD. All need painting and rustproofing on arrival in the UK but were all sold in a few weeks with a reasonable profit. I did ask him to look out for a Capri but he reckons that they are fetching good money almost everywhere now. He did make an offer on a genuine V8 in South Africa but was outbid.
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Re: Matthewsons Sales Pitches

Post by Major_Tom »

I've been checking out those South African imports. There are some great looking cars, sort of next gen classics, like XR6 Sierras and 6 cyl Cortinas... all proper Ford stuff too, really tempting vehicles, modded but not.
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Re: Matthewsons Sales Pitches

Post by SCP440 »

Major_Tom wrote: Thu Oct 06, 2022 10:37 pm I've been checking out those South African imports. There are some great looking cars, sort of next gen classics, like XR6 Sierras and 6 cyl Cortinas... all proper Ford stuff too, really tempting vehicles, modded but not.
He has ket away from them so far, all the ones he has brought over are almost UK spec apart from the Speedos and some minor details. He did find a Cortina with A/C but it was not working and reckoned it was probably more hassle than it was worth.
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Re: Matthewsons Sales Pitches

Post by Major_Tom »

SCP440 wrote: Fri Oct 07, 2022 6:02 pm
Major_Tom wrote: Thu Oct 06, 2022 10:37 pm I've been checking out those South African imports. There are some great looking cars, sort of next gen classics, like XR6 Sierras and 6 cyl Cortinas... all proper Ford stuff too, really tempting vehicles, modded but not.
He has ket away from them so far, all the ones he has brought over are almost UK spec apart from the Speedos and some minor details. He did find a Cortina with A/C but it was not working and reckoned it was probably more hassle than it was worth.
Strangest one I've seen so far was a yellow MK1 Granada coupe, but it had a different body shape to the UK one, a more coke-bottle style rear quarter. Might have just been photographic trickery, but I remember comparing two models and they looked different. I will try and find the car.. was a year ago though..
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Re: Matthewsons Sales Pitches

Post by Major_Tom »

Didn't take long - it's still for sale 🤔 not SA either, it's LHD. Bloody nice looking car I think.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/115525153010
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Re: Matthewsons Sales Pitches

Post by SCP440 »

This is the kind of thing that is available in South Africa https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/234606152325 ... R6Kc3Yn3YA
This person also has some other interesting Ex south African cars like Sierra 3.0. A lot of these cars are rust free but will quickly rust once in the UK if not protected.
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Re: Matthewsons Sales Pitches

Post by Major_Tom »

Yes been checking out carcavescotland, love his sales pitch on the Granada, "two good tyres, one near the legal limit and one balder than I am." :lol: :lol: :lol:
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Re: Matthewsons Sales Pitches

Post by SCP440 »

Tyres are easily replaced, rust is not. Buying anything that is rust free or at least only surface corrosion is a lot easier to remedy.
If you can buy any car that is 40 plus years old with only mechanical issues it has to be the better option over a car full of holes and filler.
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Re: Matthewsons Sales Pitches

Post by Major_Tom »

SCP440 wrote: Sun Oct 09, 2022 9:14 am Tyres are easily replaced, rust is not. Buying anything that is rust free or at least only surface corrosion is a lot easier to remedy.
If you can buy any car that is 40 plus years old with only mechanical issues it has to be the better option over a car full of holes and filler.
Yes I'm aware thay tyres are easier to remedy than corrosion ;) I wasn't taking the piss, I like his sales pitch because he's got a sense of humour and clearly enjoys his job 👍 I bet if you went down there and came back empty handed, you'd still have a smile on your face.
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Re: Matthewsons Sales Pitches

Post by mjcapri »

Major_Tom wrote: Fri Oct 07, 2022 11:10 pm Didn't take long - it's still for sale 🤔 not SA either, it's LHD. Bloody nice looking car I think.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/115525153010
I think only we got the squarer shaped coupe for some reason. I do like the European shape I must admit!
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Re: Matthewsons Sales Pitches

Post by andyd »

Major_Tom wrote: Sun Oct 09, 2022 9:24 am
SCP440 wrote: Sun Oct 09, 2022 9:14 am Tyres are easily replaced, rust is not. Buying anything that is rust free or at least only surface corrosion is a lot easier to remedy.
If you can buy any car that is 40 plus years old with only mechanical issues it has to be the better option over a car full of holes and filler.
Yes I'm aware thay tyres are easier to remedy than corrosion ;) I wasn't taking the piss, I like his sales pitch because he's got a sense of humour and clearly enjoys his job 👍 I bet if you went down there and came back empty handed, you'd still have a smile on your face.
This is the guy that sold the Mk2 Cortina to Paul and Drew in Salvage Hunters Classic Cars a few series ago. Lots of Fords there at the time.

It was good body wise but needed all new door rubbers and bushes etc, but according to the show the engine was bad so they put a Harris motor in it.

Good place to buy though as the money you might save on purchase price helps towards repair costs!? A bloody long drive to look though :D
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Re: Matthewsons Sales Pitches

Post by andyd »

As for Matthewsons, personally I wouldn't want my car to go there for auction.

Don't like the way people are all over them with potential to damage paintwork (I assume other auctions would be the same?) And old Geoffery Bubbles with his bucket and sponge that's just asking for swirl marks :roll:
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Re: Matthewsons Sales Pitches

Post by SCP440 »

andyd wrote: Sun Oct 09, 2022 12:39 pm As for Matthewsons, personally I wouldn't want my car to go there for auction.

Don't like the way people are all over them with potential to damage paintwork (I assume other auctions would be the same?) And old Geoffery Bubbles with his bucket and sponge that's just asking for swirl marks :roll:
Sadly most car auctions are only after a sale and care little about much else, I have a car auction a mile from my house and most cars arrive get a pressure wash, glass clean and some tyre dressing. I have even seen them use the pressure washer in the engine bay on some ( maybe it has been requested) . Good luck tracing electrical problems on one of those.
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