I have recently bought a new house and it’s caused me to do something I never imagined I would; think about selling my car. Emphasis on think here, I am still, really wanting to keep it, but out of sheer morbid curiosity. If I were to sell it, what kind of money should I be looking for?
It’s a '91 limited edition (number 166) NA, BRG, all complete with full, very extensive service histroy and matching numbered log book, all original including mint condition OZ wheels, complete with original offset securing bolts and original key. Only things not original are the MeisterR ZetaCRD coil overs that have done about 2k miles, and the BBRgti turbo that was done about 10k miles ago(was done at 53K miles and has full paperwork, cost about £5k in total) and the Runaround M2 mirrors fitted, imported from Japan. The car has done 61k miles.
I have second set or OZ wheels in worse condition and missing the off-centre safety bolts and no key so just have normal Alans to hold the centre caps and also a set of Rota Flush wheels could all be included? It has a green soft top and also a black hardtop that could also be included? I also TR Lane roll cage could be included?
It’s a difficult one due to the age of the car and extras fitted. Checking the MOT history it’s not without its failures or the dreaded rusty parts in the past.
Can’t see you getting anything like say the £5k outlay back on the car.
It’s really difficult too asking for a guesstimate off a few pictures (no inside or underbody shots) and any two members coming up with a similar pricing.
I don’t think we are allowed to say anyway, how much is my car worth questions, I think that’s daft anyway so I’ve said it anyway.
Several factors are unclear for your initial assessment, the level of rust and the BBR GTI turbo install.
Depending on the level of professionalism used to renovate the rust issues highlighted on the MOT and the overall condition of the car now.
Also who did the turbo installation, was this BBR GTI themselves?
If the car is in very good condition and BBR did the installation and you have all the paper work then you can market these points.
The ideal of purchasing a Mk1 Limited Edition with the original wheels along with a original specification BBR turbo will be very desirable to many enthusiasts.
Depending on these factors I would estimate anything from £5.5k to 8k. If you can hold to the spring obviously that will help. I have also looked at selling on Collecting Cars which maybe another option too.
Nice machine, the colour won’t suit everyone but if you have an extensive repair file with pics before and after anyone who is serious about ownership could do worse that give it some serious consideration, I know cause i have just done a total well so far 85% rebuild with only a thumbnail size rust hole in a sill, seriously anybody who has taken one of the NA’s apart totally and rebuilt then repainted the shell, screen out doors off bonnet and boot and mudguards off… will realise that to actually see what you’re rebuilding is done as it should be and thats where the major costs lay… There are garage queens out there beautiful to look at, with perfect looking soft sills very modest mileage but from harsh experience gained from over 30 rebuilds, they haven’t been dismantled and the 30 year old gaskets, brakepipes , hoses,susp bushes and rad/heater pipes replaced and personally if i was asked to drive one home to N.Ireland from the south of England i’d say no, get it delivered… we’ll go through it when it arrives… That vehicle in my mind is worth retail around 9/10 k, i wouldn’t pay that, but consider what your getting and i know what it costs today and with my trade contacts and self skills ,i’m almost at 7k before I do a G/box change and add a fresher motor… they aren’t making them any more,& they are the most sought after MX5… A true ICON…w
I disagree, OK. consider total rebuilds on early aircooled Porsche, ASTONS, JAGUARs etc etc are you saying that these aren’t making money invested in repairing chassis, etc etc because someone had to strike up a mig or gas welding torch, many of the would be buyers, who just like these cars for their looks and become garage queens that are a way of putting money where its never really seen, very very mobile and very quickly liquid and who just want the car, with its total rebuild dossier, if the work has been done to an excellent std and a picture history kept, remember cars are built by men and rebuilt by skilled men… perhaps the NA series hasn’t quite reached that level yet but a few years back you could have bought a half decent early 911 for very little money, so have a look at what aircooled 70’s and 80’s are making today and by the way, they were as rusty as a rusty thing… ask me how i know… i did the insurance estimates and accident repaired a few…w
I would say the higher end for sure, the subframe and wishbones look like it’s been done, would still like to know more about the sills and chassis rails. The fact that you have the BBR Turbo was installed by BBR GTI is really good news too and as you mentioned this is a £5k install for a desirable special edition. BRG with the tan interior is going to work for a lot of enthusiasts…
I would say £8k is the least you can expect at this stage.
It’s got a lot going for it to realise a decent sale price but how decent is pretty much down to a discerning…or just plain difficult… buyer as I admittedly would be if I was paying heavy money.
Being a pain…I’d be looking for photographic evidence of the historic rot repairs one of which was recorded as a dangerous Fail.
I’d want to ramp it to poke around the bits I know are well known weak spots…I’ve had two restored and one of them restored in certain areas twice. Rot always returns…even in remetalling cases.
I’d also shrug a bit ( that’s just me) at the BBR turbo as at the end of the day…it’s an aftermarket bolt on albeit a professional one that seem to be holding it’s own.
The big thing about these cars now is not so much the bolt on/off whizzy bits but things like unobtainable door cards, leather, and other trim bits.
Mk1 (cheap) used spares worth fitting are becoming very hard to find eg the PAS rack etc.
People are more looking for un-modded factory OEM examples for 7/8 -12k I think.
As Wayne Carini of F40 Motorsports would say…“untouched factory originals are all…a mod is just another mod”
I say all this as someone just about to pay a restorer and well known OC Club supplier probably about £1500 to finish off what I started a couple years back…so it’s running around £4.5k now.
I’d be lucky to see 2.5k for it, maybe if some bloke wandered up my path with a white stick and a guide dog…3k.
It’s probably worth more stripped.
I don’t really care…as I know people do not get their cash back on either mods or repairs to any great degree unless…maybe…a bare tub nut and bolter.
I have a guesstimate deal maker/breaker figure in mind for the OP’s car but…I think I’ll keep it to myself.
I have to agree regarding repairs. I spoke to a specialist renovator who took me through his process regarding how his company deals with carrying out a repair. He went on to say two paths could be chosen, basically a fix or a renovation, albeit they only do renovations. Hence the question around who did the work to the OP. I don’t believe that all renovations are equal and would necessarily fail after a length of time.
Logic would dictate that if the route cause was dealt with and renovated correctly then there would be no reason for the initial issue to return. Obviously many factors will help to keep the car in good order, especially one over 30 years old.
Cheers,
Sudden Chronic Heart Failure ( probably a gene print I’m assured) sort of altered daily priorities.
Anyhow…on circa £1200 per month’s worth of drugs…tons better and I can drive.
Just awaiting the call form Andrew @Autolink who has been refurbing my Roadster to collect.
Then it’s hood down up the Glens for a spot of pheasant, haggis, and Tourist hunting. I hear Tourists are good eating this year if a bit fatty.
I care less what Carini thinks or says, his stuff and the guys who he prances around with have loads of garage queens, and in many cases more money than sense, I mean who cares whether a Z28 Camaro, et al have matching numbers on not, they’re a load of torque, weighty, plasticy inside,OEM with ill fitted panels, shut lines like a 60year old A35 and won’t go around corners, and people are paying way more that they’re worth, of course thats the USA for you,everything is bigger ,better, stronger and faster, Ireland , well, Bushmills were selling them whisky before they had a bloody country, the oldest Distillery on these islands, if not the known world…
I agree a car is only original once, however whats forgotten is when I go to get myself a suit I either buy whats available, or am measured by an expert for one that suits and fits me, I have the same notion around a vehicle, I massage it to suit me, I’m the same with the bicycles I build…W
To be honest Saz I thought the Garett T25 unit was always used until 2011 when it was improved to the GT25, but you may well be right, I appreciate your encyclopedic knowledge on all things MX-5. I think for the OP this install definitely adds value and the fact it was installed by BBR GTI is good news.
There are “original” BBRs that were dealer fitted (seen as “factory fitted”), that attract a certain premium over another car (but not that big a premium; £1000-2000 at most). There are also a few “BBRs” that were built from crashed/salvaged parts. BBR exported kits overseas, which were owner installed, and totally irrelevant here.
I don’t think BBR-GTi had nearly as much involvement in what is effectively the BEGI turbo on NA currently offer.
If BBR fitted it, I suppose that’s saying the turbo was professionally fitted. In the UK, most Flyin Miata turbos were “professionally” fitted by P5 (RIP). I would make a distinction between the original BBR turbo and the later rebaged BEGI turbo (feel sure someone else was also importing and fitting these BEGI kits; these kits were being offered with affordable Chinese turbos or Garrett turbos, as I recall).
ie. take two identical condition Limited Editions. One have the period correct original 150hp BBR, the other has a circa 2010 BBR-BEGI. The former will be worth more, even though the latter has likely had the advantage of more years of BEGI development.
