As some of you know I took on the task of resurrecting a neglected 20v NA coupé a few years ago. In the event it became a nut and bolt mechanical restoration with every single component removed and replaced under the car and within the engine bay.

Just before Christmas, and having been back on the road for over a year, Jigsaw rewarded me and my hard work by throwing her alternator belt out of the pram and into the timing belt! Joe came to the rescue with a great 62k mile engine and (on the coldest days of the winter!) the lumps were swapped over.

Since then though my medical condition hasn't improved and I'm finding the coupé just isn't being used. It seems tragic that I've rebuilt a coupé and it only moves once or twice a week to keep things lubed and running smoothly.

So, what do I do?

Unfortunately, what stops me advertising her for sale is the state of the body. She was owned by someone who obviously parked "by feel" and has more than her fair share of dings. A quote for decent respray locally, with all issues sorted, was *only* £1000 but I cannot justify that expense for a car that doesn't get used!

The thought of breaking her for parts doesn't appeal either, she runs perfectly, handles perfectly, as she should considering the very full rebuild she had.

Parking her and putting her on SORN might work but I fear that leaving her sitting, unused, will lead to deterioration in a lot of areas.

So what do I do?

Try and sell as she is? Someone prepared to invest in the bodywork would end up with a coupé that should run for years, sailing through many MOTs without issues.

Break my heart and break her up?

Any thoughts?

dont break her,as stated far too good to break.

Think it will more than likely be sold on the forum as we know how much time and effort went into this project.
Other problem i see is how do you put a price on the work that has been done. Obviously much further than simply(the big jobs have been done)

Id stick it up for sale and sit and wait for the right buyer to come through.Maybe waiting a while and have to be sorned but im sure an enthuiast will take her for what she is and add some life with a respray.

Id have no idea how much it would sell for though.

It would be a real shame to see it getting broken for parts. If money is an issue then I guess you have to do what is best on that front, but if it's not then I'm sure you'll find someone to take it on and finish the bodywork.

I don't see a problem only using it twice a week. That's all I do in mine.

If you break her I'll never speak to you again (not that we've ever spoken)
There you go, that should settle it.

On a serious note, you can't break a perfect running coupe!!! Somebody will buy her as she is - bodywork is nothing in comparison to having a great running engine.

Same here, keep it Stan

Get the bodywork done then you'll fall in love again and won't even think about selling/breaking.

Give it to me I will look after it for you

Thanks for the responses folks, I agree that she's too good to break but....

The problem with only running her once or twice a week is that she requires tax and insurance and that is now a bit of a luxury when we already have two good cars (as well as the coupé).

The biggest problem I'll face is trying to put a price on her. I don't mind that I'll never recoup the money/time expended on her but it's a case of trying to get a fair balance between understanding that the bodywork will require work (although I've driven her like this and still got admiring glances, then again maybe that's me and not the car? )and the fact that she lacks for nothing mechanically and will be MOT'd for a full year????

Thanks again for the responses, I'm veering away from breaking her up......for the moment

Firstly I hope your health improves Stan.

As for the coupe I wouldn't advise you to break it as you poured your heart and soul in to that car and to rip it back out would be unthinkable. Remember it will take a bit of graft to take all the parts of then parcel the items and then send them away.

Easiest option is to sell it, would it be worth it tho ?

Personally I would like to see you keep it off the road (sorn) until as such time you can enjoy it again. It just seems such a waste.

Fingers crossed you keep it.

Ronnie

I'd SORN one of your other cars Stan and keep the coop on the road

I would like to know how much you would let it go for stan?

Stan, I guess its easiest to say not to sell it or break it but everyone has different financial situations and priorities.

If you really feel that the coop is just not worth keeping anymore then i guess the best options is to just sell it the way it is. I'm sure if the price is right, someone will buy it and work on the bodywork. Breaking it is not an option!!!

Personally, i think its difficult to recuperate the cost you have spent on it..so i would just hang on to it anyway. Like what others have mentioned, just SORN it for now if things are getting abit tight.

Also, i reckon it would take some time to shift all the parts if you broke it. Seems that there aren't *that* many 20v's around, so you might be waiting a long time before anyone wants the parts off you

Therein lies the problem Sam, I have no idea how to fairly value it. It'll probably go for offers but I'll need to think about it all.

Stan.

No. Just No.

No Selling. No Breaking. Don't be stupid man. You are only supposed to take three of the blue pills and eight of the red ones. Not the other way around.

The car has had too much work don't to it, it is too rare and in a condition unfitting of breaking it. Also don't forget the practicalities of breaking.

Twice a week is an acceptable amount of use I feel. I know Insurance and Tax are other things which play on finances so consider SORNing her or another vehicle?

For what you would get it is not worth getting rid of her.