I posted a question here a few weeks ago regarding my attempt to purchase a car which has stood in a field for a few years. I was buying it from the guy who had bought it from the owner of the field, and A. N. Other had come forward saying, "That's my car!" Consensus was that Mr Other should claim against the owner of the field but he refused to do so. After a bit of tact and diplomacy, I have managed to ease the situation and today I collected the car.
So what is it? A 1936 MG SA saloon. It is a bit of a gamble thanks to the state of it; I may have bought a pile of spares held together by a V5! The main bone of contention was the registration number, MG 4732. How much would you think it is worth?
Hands up if you said three to four grand. Nope, bugger all. Because the car has been off the road so long, it had also lapsed from DVLA records, and when you get the number restored it is categorised as non transferable. It does of course, add to the value of the car itself but ONLY if I can restore it. If I have to scrap it, the DVLA get the number back and they sell it for £££? Once I proved this to the understandably wary claimant, he relaxed his claim and is currently looking out all his old documents for me.
It is going to need a new body and a colleague has unkindly suggested I convert it to a hearse on the basis that it is going to take so long, I'll get at least one ride in it!
Pete W