Fellow SOLers,
I have now calmed down enough to write about a recent experience. I have been
trying to find an acceptable example of a 70-74 GT to purchase for about six
months. It seems that most of the GTs are located either in the Northeast,
California, or Northern climes. I don't know where all the GTs are in the
Southwest but I can't seem to find one.
I thought I had found the perfect car in the Northeast - '73, owned by elderly
gentleman for last twenty years, only 38K miles, never driven in rain (yeah
right), garaged, chrome wires, totally original. After extensive e-mail
traffic where I asked about every question I could think of, he sent me a set
of photos showing the vehicle. The photos showed a teal-blue w/ochre interior
spectacular looking car. This GT looked like it had been sitting in a garage
covered for the last twenty years. After further examining the photos with a
magnifying glass (really) and additional questions I felt confident enough to
make arrangements to make a visit. BTW, the gentleman seemed extremely sincere
and knowledgeable about his car.
After traveling from Dallas and spending the night I met the gentleman at the
garage on Sunday morning where the car was kept. Imagine my surprise when we
began to pull off the cover and discovered not only was the car Mallard green
(no big deal) but the paint on the hood was totally cracked, i.e. where lacquer
is sprayed over acrylic (or vice versa). I then proceeded to examine the car -
dent on lower passenger front fender, bad bondo job on hatch, interior totally
shot, door panels water damaged (so much for not driven in rain), slave
cylinder leaking, multiple switches inoperative (not unusual for LBC).
Needless to say we couldn't agree on a price and I went home with a much
thinner wallet and no car.
My point (there really is one) is, why do people constantly rate their cars as
"excellent" when in reality they barely qualify as "good". I am so tired of
looking a pieces of crap that people haven't taken care of for the last 10-20
years and act like the cars are in perfect shape. A "little" rust means holes
big enough to put your hands through. Recently "painted" means half-ass
day-glo metallic over a perfectly good BRG. People run the crap out of these
cars, don't do any maintenance, then expect to get top dollar for them because
they have "sentimental" value.
I kicked myself for going up to look at the car, but if you would have seen the
pictures, the car did look beautiful (they were taken on a cloudy day which
accounts for the defects not showing up). The gentleman could have had the
decency to say the car needed body work and a paint job knowing full well I was
traveling half way across the U.S. I don't want to leave you with the
impression that I'm trying to steal a car from anyone, but if I am going to pay
top dollar for an "excellent" example of a BGT I expect it to be "excellent".
Yes, I realize beauty is in the eye of the beholder but alot of MG owners must
have a low standard of beauty. BTW, I have owned an 80LE and two AH3000s so
don't flame me for not being an LBC lover.
If anyone has any recommendations about buying a car long distance I would be
more than happy to hear from you. Thanks for listening I feel much better now.
The nurse is here with my medication I've got to go now, later........
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>From Bill Schleusner
Texas Instruments Incorporated
b-schleusner@ti.com
972-917-6920
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