Allen,
Absolutely correct! Have all the fun with the little beasts that you can
that is what they are for. I'm really not trying to be argumentative or
disparaging to the modifications some people have done. Clearly, a 5 speed
makes the cars more roadworthy and the 1275 is a stronger engine. However,
the question was essentially which retains its value better. (More
accurately stated which one will you lose less money on.) My contention is
that the more original a car remains the easier it is to sell should you
want to.
For example, in my opinion (no empiracle evidence) a relatively unmolested
bugeye with 948 and smooth case tranny would be easier to sell than the V8
bugeye that has been discussed lately. That is simply because the market
is larger and the supply is smaller. Theoretically, any bugeye can be
stripped down and have a V8 shoe horned in. Reversing the process is not
nearly as easy. (Ask Pamela Anderson about returning to her natural cup
size.)
Another, more automotive, example is the '63 Corvette "split window" coupe.
That split in the middle was a poor design idea. It made sight out of the
back window difficult if not impossible. In '64, when the split
disappeared, thousands of owners had the wrap around window installed. It
was any easy change and made sense. Guess wich one is worth more now - the
one that is "better" (a '63 with the split cut out) or the one that is
"original" (with distracting split).
Herb G.
Ajhsys@aol.com on 10/07/99 10:23:17 AM
To: Herb Goede/AMS/AMSINC, spridgets@autox.team.net
cc:
Subject: Re: MkI & MkII Questions (LONG)
In a message dated 10/6/99 9:29:29 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
Herb_Goede@amsinc.com writes:
<< I'll need to disagree slightly with Frank. It won't be the first or
last
time. Just like anything else a car is only worth what someone is willing
to pay for it. A In my experience it is easier to sell one in close to
original condition than one that has been customized. "Improvement" is in
the eye of the beholder. Original is much less subjective. >>
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
There you go, perpetrating another old thread! :-) (Smiley inserted here
means I'm not complaining!)
There are no black and white issues when it comes to this hobby. My Midget
is not original, and was not when I bought it. It had been de-toxed and
the
ZS carb was replaced with a Weber. I still like it, but there is a part of
me that would like to have a completely original car.
There was a Sprite at MGs at Mercer last weekend that has only 1700
original
miles on it. It is the lowest mileage Sprite in the US, and probably the
second lowest in the world. There is one with only 5 miles on the clock in
the museum in Abingdon. It would be a shame to change that car in any way.
It even has the original tires. But for a daily driver, I see no reason
that
it shouldn't be up to the owner to make it comfortable, or to make it
handle
better or a little quicker, if he or she so desires.
To each his own. Just make sure you have fun with your LBC!
Allen Hefner
SCCA Philly Region Rally Steward
'77 Midget
'92 Mitsubishi Expo LRV Sport
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