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TR4/4A Opinions and questions re an eBay TR4

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Brinkerhoff said:
Now's the time to get a TR4 or 4A before its too late. The numbers coming up for sale have been diminishing quickly for a few years now. Too many have been scrapped and what's left has been rode pretty hard. A good one will just keep racking up the miles and they are easy to live with. I don't see any decent running cars under $10K , does anybody?
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I agree. A good TR4 or 4A is getting hard to find, though a friend of mine really blew it on a "one owner" five months ago. Lost the bid playing around. When you know what you want, just do it would be my advice. But I wouldn't buy without actually seeing the car, and all consideration would go the the body. I'd much rather get a good body up front and spend my money making it road worthy than parking it for a year with a shop that wanted $20K to restore a bunch of rust and misaligned body panels. If a car has very good sheet metal and is well cared for, I'd not worry about the little stuff--and all of the following are little compared to body an overhaul: brakes, interior, carpeting, wheels, tires, tie rods, ball joints, and even an engine and transmission rebuilt. Piece of cake compared to any kind of body mess. Of course some of the body folks around here make that work look easy.

So, anyway, yes, I'd go for a good TR4 or 4A any day and put the premium on the body--and see it with your own eyes.
 
Gosh, guys, I thought this thread had run its course--and tonight I looked in again, and it's on its third page.

I have to admit, I'm of two minds about starting another restoration project. I had some serious space problems when I did my MG TD, and my Porsche 912 had to sit outside under a cover--only room for one in the garage. I didn't like that, but if I have two cars, one has to go outside. I also have some time problems--I should spend more time on fixing up the house and garden. I also have a disabled wife who needs a lot of help, so that also affects the amount of time I have. And, finally, I still work for a living, even though I'm of retirement age.

On the plus side, I have to stay around home for my wife, so I need to find things to do around home. I had a blast working on the TD, and I sold it for about what I put into it, so I had a couple years of project fun for free. I had a TR4A in my younger days, and I've always wanted another. Nostalgia for lost youth and all that pathetic stuff.

In all honesty, I don't have a cost limit or anything like that. I just want the project to be cost effective, which means not terribly upside-down on it. And, it can be done--it just requires doing (almost) everything yourself, not expecting perfection, and being resourceful. Also, I want to start with a complete car--if I have to buy a lot of bits and pieces, the costs rise pretty fast. Also, not too bent up, or requiring other work I can't do and have to subcontract. Rust repair is OK, as long as it's not too extensive.

So, with that, and the fact that TR4s are pretty thin on the ground, I haven't found anything. But I keep looking.
 
Sarastro said:
Gosh, guys, I thought this thread had run its course--and tonight I looked in again, and it's on its third page.

Nostalgia for lost youth and all that pathetic stuff.
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Well, I'd say that if you have your health you haven't lost your youth, and there's nothing pathetic about doing what you want and living out your years latching onto to whatever thrills you. I get a little jaded hearing my partners use the nostalgia word whenever they see my TR4A. It's not a about that for me. It's just pure fun, and the simplicity the vehicle, nuts and bolts, ignition to fuel.
 
KVH said:
Well, I'd say that if you have your health you haven't lost your youth, and there's nothing pathetic about doing what you want and living out your years latching onto to whatever thrills you. I get a little jaded hearing my partners use the nostalgia word whenever they see my TR4A. It's not a about that for me. It's just pure fun, and the simplicity the vehicle, nuts and bolts, ignition to fuel.
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Amen to that! But I'd add one thing: share the adventure with others!

Tom M.
 
The talk about what's the most logical way to buy a car reminds me of an MGA I got years ago. We found it in a garage all apart, needing lots of 'little' bodywork, chrome, interior etc. etc. It had wire wheels and it just smoked ever so slightly....but it STARTED RIGHT UP.

After spending several several thousands (I had a body shop, though it still cost some real $$), I was so proud of how smart I'd been by scoring a running car that only needed the cosmetics!. Well, when I started it up after a year or so, the first thing I noticed was that it looked beautiful....and smoked ever so slightly. Engine rebuild.

My take away was that if given the choice, I'd rather get a clean car that has a blown engine. Just MHO.

Thom
1959 TR3
#TS34909L(O)
 
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