Noah :
Overall, it sounds like the car is in outstanding condition. I'm no
expert, but I know it would cost much more to buy the typical 'beater'
and put it back in that condition, so it sounds like at least a
reasonable deal. Since it's a dealer, I wouldn't worry about insulting
them with a low offer, start at $10K if you want. They might be willing
to accept $12K, if the car has been on the lot awhile.
There are a few contradictions that worry me, though :
1) Perhaps your expectations are too high. These cars were not all that
reliable when new, the owner was expected to be able to perform basic
troubleshooting, maintenance and repair. And, 35 years of age will not
have helped that. They are simply very high maintenance cars, compared
to modern cars (even somewhat high compared to their contemporaries).
If you have to take the car into the shop everytime something isn't
quite right, I fear you will be unhappy. Maintaining a LBC is not
difficult, but does require some special knowledge (like where all the
zerks are and how many shots do they need) so at the very least you will
have to build a relationship with a knowledgeable mechanic.
2) Lucas headlamp bulbs that are 37 years and 70,000 miles old, and
still work ?
3) Voltmeters were not part of the standard gauge package until sometime
in TR6 production. If the car has one, then that part, at least, is
_not_ original.
4) It's very strange for the oil pressure to get _higher_ when warm.
5) There were no "Lucas electronics" on these cars. The only original
electronic device would've been the (optional) radio, which was not made
by Lucas. The rest of the electrical system was made by Lucas, but did
not include any 'electronic' devices like tubes or transistors.
6) The dealer gave you a ride (presumably off the lot), but won't let
you take it to an independant mechanic ? I would absolutely insist on
driving it myself (with a rider from my insurance agent, if necessary),
and would be very dubious about someone that refuses to let another
mechanic see it. (BTW, it's most unlikely you will find an independant
mechanic who is willing to go to the dealers lot and do a thorough
inspection. The dealer knows this.)
Also BTW, IMO the TR4 should be an easy car to learn to drive a manual
trans with. (TR3s certainly are, and the TR4 is pretty similar.) The
engine has so much low-down torque (and so much rotating mass) that it's
almost impossible to kill accidentally. With a warm engine, if you just
let out the clutch without using the throttle, from a standing start in
1st gear, it just jerks and chugs away. Driving one _smoothly_ is a
different matter, of course.
Just my $.02
Randall
59 TR3A daily driver - self maintained
"Freeman, Noah" wrote:
>
> My goal- I want a nice, drivable TR4 type (4, 4a, 250) for commuting, etc,
> that will not cost crazy amounts to keep up. I personally am not a mechanic
> type, nor does my lifestyle allow me to start doing this now, so repairs,
> rather than being a fun activity, would simply be expensive for me.
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