Hi Guest!
Hey - did you know if you click on the title of a thread it will take you to the first unread post since you last visited that thread?
but were afraid to ask: 
STOP!! Never post your email address in open forums. Bots can "harvest" your email! If you must share your email use a Private Message or use the 
smilie in place of the real @
Pretty Please - add it to our Events forum(s) and add to the calendar! >> 
I just got off the phone with a widow selling her late husband's TR3. She accepted my offer!!!
Here's the quick story:
I was showing my TR3 at the Triumph regional convention show, when a woman and her daughter came up to me saying that she still had her husband's TR3 that he bought in the 1980s. Showed me a few pictures and then realized I was the auto writer in the paper. She asked me the value, and I gave her the typical "depends on rust, mechanicals etc" and said that by the pictures it was hard to tell.
She called me about three weeks later and I went out to look at it. 1959 car, originally Powder Blue (as evident in the engine bay) but now BRG. Not a dent or dab of bondo anywhere. Hasn't run in over 10 years, because right after the starter died, her husband got very sick. Good top and tonneau, and aftermarket fiberglass hardtop (ick!) Interior has been redone by an upholsterer cheaply, but everything is there and in good shape. Very dirty! One scrape on the passenger door.
So not knowing the mechanical condition, I made an offer and told her to talk it over with her family (not wanting to be a guy who takes advantage of a widow.) I showed her the value guides and explained how I got to the number.
I didn't hear from her for another three weeks, and called her. She said her kids thought it was worth more, and someone else was coming to look at it.
Today she called back to tell me that her grandaughter's husband's friend had looked at it and offered $3500. I asked if I could come back quickly and do a little more poking.
I went back and tried to use a crank to turn the engine, but it was frozen. The clutch and brake hydraulics seemed to work, but the pedal seemed a little hard, making me think that a) the wheel cylinders are leaking and b)the clutch is probably seized to the flywheel.
But I said "I'm going to make an entirely emotional decision to offer to $3750."
She said she had to call the other guy. I said, given the question with the engine, if the other guy offered more, to accept his offer.
She just called back and said "He offered me an extra $50, but I want you to get it."
So it looks like I have a good winter project!!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hammer.gif (Like I need another project!!!!!!!)
I'm hoping to get this one going and give it to my dad to drive. I suppose that even if the engine is bad, I probably can still do okay starting at that price and doing a lot of my own work.
So needless to say, I'm going to be asking for advice, tips from the usual suspects
Here's the quick story:
I was showing my TR3 at the Triumph regional convention show, when a woman and her daughter came up to me saying that she still had her husband's TR3 that he bought in the 1980s. Showed me a few pictures and then realized I was the auto writer in the paper. She asked me the value, and I gave her the typical "depends on rust, mechanicals etc" and said that by the pictures it was hard to tell.
She called me about three weeks later and I went out to look at it. 1959 car, originally Powder Blue (as evident in the engine bay) but now BRG. Not a dent or dab of bondo anywhere. Hasn't run in over 10 years, because right after the starter died, her husband got very sick. Good top and tonneau, and aftermarket fiberglass hardtop (ick!) Interior has been redone by an upholsterer cheaply, but everything is there and in good shape. Very dirty! One scrape on the passenger door.
So not knowing the mechanical condition, I made an offer and told her to talk it over with her family (not wanting to be a guy who takes advantage of a widow.) I showed her the value guides and explained how I got to the number.
I didn't hear from her for another three weeks, and called her. She said her kids thought it was worth more, and someone else was coming to look at it.
Today she called back to tell me that her grandaughter's husband's friend had looked at it and offered $3500. I asked if I could come back quickly and do a little more poking.
I went back and tried to use a crank to turn the engine, but it was frozen. The clutch and brake hydraulics seemed to work, but the pedal seemed a little hard, making me think that a) the wheel cylinders are leaking and b)the clutch is probably seized to the flywheel.
But I said "I'm going to make an entirely emotional decision to offer to $3750."
She said she had to call the other guy. I said, given the question with the engine, if the other guy offered more, to accept his offer.
She just called back and said "He offered me an extra $50, but I want you to get it."
So it looks like I have a good winter project!!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hammer.gif (Like I need another project!!!!!!!)
I'm hoping to get this one going and give it to my dad to drive. I suppose that even if the engine is bad, I probably can still do okay starting at that price and doing a lot of my own work.
So needless to say, I'm going to be asking for advice, tips from the usual suspects
