Sorry to wade in here, but I think Dayton is getting beaten up here a bit much.
I can't remember who accused him of being a 'newcomer', but he's been on this
list at least as long as I have (a couple of years now), I have noticed his
input, and he has frequently offered to help members who want to buy items
that he could source for them cheaply in China. As for any suggestions of
dodgy business practice, poor quality, or other such stuff, this seems a
little harsh before the enterprise is even set up, let alone any evidence
available. Although I'm still not sure what the quality of his own car proves
in this context...
Spitfire ownership is already a global experience - that is why this list is
made up of Brits, Americans, Canadians, Dutch, South Africans, Kiwis,
Austrians etc. Why should the Chinese be excluded from enjoying Spitfires,
and other classics? As for the export of cars from America, well that is
already happening, as many cars are re-imported from America to the UK
(particularly TR6s for some reason). And, Jeff, you didn't seem to have any
moral mis-givings about buying Mrs. Jones, who had been dragged from her
original home in the UK (OK, I'm stretching a point here, as the circumstances
were rather different).
However, I have a suggestion. For some of the more popular classics, it is
almost as cheap to build a new car from available parts as it is to do a
top-spec restoration - particularly if some parts can be sourced cheaply in
China. Importing parts may also avoid some of the high car import taxes?
This is more applicable to MGBs, Midgets/Sprites, and TR6s, for which
complete, new body-shells are available; for Spitfires, a donor car would
probably have to be used, but this could be a beyond-repair car. By this
process, Dayton could actually increase the world supply of running classics -
surely this cannot be a bad thing? In fact, if Dayton plans to restore cars
that might be beyond economic restoration in the US, or would have been left
to rust (we don't know the details of what cars he plans to export yet, so I
am guessing here), surely a car saved is better than a car left to rot, even
if it is in China?
I know I am going against the flow here, but many others have voiced their
opinions, so this is mine.
Richard and Daffy
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