HELP!! Dolomite SE Potentially being scrapped! NOW GONE

[JListerSE]

You've probably seen my thread on the restoration of my 1980 Dolomite SE.

It's got to the point now where there's so much rust around the car that it's going to cost around £2000 to get it sorted. I don't have the facilities or the expertise to have a crack at it myself.

So far, including the £475 the car cost me - I've spent £1645 on it so far on panels and parts. Currently it's sitting at the welders with no paint on after being sand blasted.

The cheapest the paint job is going to be is £2000, and again - it's not something I can do myself.

Bottom line is, the car's going to cost me £5500 at absolute best. Contemplating if it's worth continuing, considering I could make around £1200 back if I were to sell all my parts and scrap the car. An SE in top condition would go for around £3500 at best. I know no one does up a car looking to make money, or even break even - but I had no intention of spending this much!

THOUGHTS? NEED TO LET THE WELDER KNOW MY DECISION TOMORROW OR WEDNESDAY.

[matt of the vivas]

What are you going to do with the car when its done?
Sell it? Then no, not worth carrying on, you will lose a fortune. Part it out and walk away.
Use it, enjoy it, keep it for evermore? Then £5000 - £6000 to end up with a rust free car that needs no more work for a long while is not over the top. Assuming you dont use it in winter, and its well waxoyled, looked after, and the bodywork is done to a good standard then another 10 - 15 years before it needs doing again, quite possibly longer, is quite realistic. Spread that £6000 over 15 years of enjoyment and its starts to look like a cheap hobby. Even assuming the car will depreciate to zero, which it wont - it will have some residual value when your finished with it, even if its in poor condition again by then. Of course, if its kept nice it will likely appreciate in value, making the lifetime cost a lot less. You wont make a profit, but it should be manageable.
Just my opinion.
Matt.

[xvivalve]

^^

What he said!

[matt of the vivas]

Just to give you an example: Chap i know has a mid 70s MGB GT. Back in 1992 he had it restored by one of the best specialists around at the time, the bill then came to around 10 grand. The body was completely rebuilt, painted, rustproofed correctly with the best materials, retrimmed, new engine, gearbox, poly bushed, SS exhaust.. Everything done with longevity in mind, to the best standard it could be done to. Everyone at the time told him he was mad - but 22 years later the car still looks good. Theres stonechips, a few scratches, and a few bubbles, but essentially its still rock solid and reliable. He goes to shows in it every weekend in the summer, and is well known on the local show scene. Hes spent very little on the car apart from servicing and mots, plus a set of tyres and brakes since the restoration. The cars now probably worth £2.5 - 3k? So thats £7k for 22 years worth of days out and enjoyment. Not expensive in the long run! Hes now planning on a respray and freshen up, around £2k, which will probably last another 10 years.

[AlanH]

I think that you have to decide if you want to carry on with the car. It sounds to me that you don't but you don't want to scrap it either.

Looking at your thread, I don't think that there is anything there to worry a lot of the people in the club.

Do you have all of the parts to get it sorted?
If so, would it be worth somebody who can weld taking off your hands for something like the break up value and getting it done?

It really depends if anybody is willing/able to take it on.

[TrustNo1]

£5k for a 'new' rust free car that will if looked after last another 30 years, that's a bargain in my book.

[tamtrucks]

i can take it on but carn`t give you anything for it,,my brown one has all my money had fun doing my dolly

[Jon Tilson]

Who is doing the welding?

2k sounds a lot to me....

We may be able to find some cheaper people.

Where is it?

PM me.

And I also agree totally with Matt's analysis.

6k gets you nothing these days in pure car terms, but it can get a lot of classic.

Jonners

[Howard81]

I agree with what others have said!

If you decide not to restore the car, please don't scrap it. Sell it to someone who who would put it back on the road!

[JListerSE]

I've decided to not continue with it. Means that I need to find someone to take it off my hands for me ASAP. It's in Hamilton, Lanarkshire at the moment - and I don't want to mess the guy around for him to hold onto it. I really don't want to scrap it, but realistically it's going to cost £6500 in total as I'm sure there'll be more bad news when the sills are removed. And I'll no doubt come across more parts that need to be replaced (seals etc) when re-assembling. Plus I have transport costs from Glasgow to the spray shop, then spray shop back to me.

If you know anyone that could take it the shell off my hands, I'd be more than happy! I'll be selling all the parts very soon. Such a shame and a disappointment, but I seem to have no choice.

[tamtrucks]

sorry youv had to come to that conclusion..sad news ,fingers crossed it saved by someone,please post links to what your selling
seeing as the cost of welding is high,have you thought of re-shelling? or has your heart gone from this dolly,i had the same with my 2000 mk1 estate these are far far far more expensive to repair

[sprint95m]

I've decided to not continue with it. Means that I need to find someone to take it off my hands for me ASAP. It's in Hamilton, Lanarkshire at the moment - and I don't want to mess the guy around for him to hold onto it. I really don't want to scrap it, but realistically it's going to cost £6500 in total as I'm sure there'll be more bad news when the sills are removed. And I'll no doubt come across more parts that need to be replaced (seals etc) when re-assembling. Plus I have transport costs from Glasgow to the spray shop, then spray shop back to me.

If you know anyone that could take it the shell off my hands, I'd be more than happy! I'll be selling all the parts very soon. Such a shame and a disappointment, but I seem to have no choice.

Your decision is perfectly understandable. It is realistic to expect the welding costs to rise as Dolomite sills do tend to rot from the inside out.

Have noticed this early Dolomite for sale in Glasgow?
Having run both I can confirm that an 1850 is more practical an everyday car than a 1500 because it will keep up easily with the traffic and still give reasonable fuel economy of c.35mpg
(which can be improved by fitting an o/d gearbox or a five speed as I have done).




Ian.

[ragtop]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TRIUMPH-DOLOM ... 27eb9785f3

Have you seen this, Build your car into this saving a lot of work & money,