Patton
Jedi Warrior
Offline
I was heading back from a meeting in West Houston today when my well-trained British Car eye spotted a Sprite for-sale parked in front of a MACCO.
This wasn't your everyday Sprite, but a modified car. I decided to stop and ask about the car, and it belonged to the shops detailer. She LOVES her Sprite, and is only selling it because they moved from a house to an apartment, and the car does not need to be stored outdoors. The car has some low profile tires, along with a Toyota engine. The shop owner told me the car was "scary-fast". The car is a 63 Sprite, and they are asking.... $6500.
Here is my dilemma. I am looking at a car the owner obviously has spent some real time on the car, probably as much as many of use would spend restoring one to original. The work looks pretty good, at least better than the common 100 lbs of bondo and a cheap paint job. The biases of my personal taste make me wants to laugh at the car, but I appreciate the work they put into it, and really appreciate the passion she had for the car. Additionally, the owner is far of the traditional LBC demographic, and I think its good to encourage passion for our cars wherever I find it.
I told her I was president of the local Healey club, and would pass the information on, and I am, but is that enough? Should I try to give her a realistic view of the value of the car? Is there a market for modified Sprites to the pimp my ride types that would give it a different value structure? How do you react to cars that don't fit the norm?
Anyhow here are the pictures, including one with the phone number if you are truely interested. I hope it finds a good home....
This wasn't your everyday Sprite, but a modified car. I decided to stop and ask about the car, and it belonged to the shops detailer. She LOVES her Sprite, and is only selling it because they moved from a house to an apartment, and the car does not need to be stored outdoors. The car has some low profile tires, along with a Toyota engine. The shop owner told me the car was "scary-fast". The car is a 63 Sprite, and they are asking.... $6500.
Here is my dilemma. I am looking at a car the owner obviously has spent some real time on the car, probably as much as many of use would spend restoring one to original. The work looks pretty good, at least better than the common 100 lbs of bondo and a cheap paint job. The biases of my personal taste make me wants to laugh at the car, but I appreciate the work they put into it, and really appreciate the passion she had for the car. Additionally, the owner is far of the traditional LBC demographic, and I think its good to encourage passion for our cars wherever I find it.
I told her I was president of the local Healey club, and would pass the information on, and I am, but is that enough? Should I try to give her a realistic view of the value of the car? Is there a market for modified Sprites to the pimp my ride types that would give it a different value structure? How do you react to cars that don't fit the norm?
Anyhow here are the pictures, including one with the phone number if you are truely interested. I hope it finds a good home....