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Re: I need to be talked out of this... don't I?

I would ask myself,Do I want a special or a ruby saloon Mike.
Building a nice special body takes as much work as repairing a "restorable" body.
In the UK the options may include finding a better discarded ruby body.
What do you want from your restored car?

Location: Channel Islands

Re: I need to be talked out of this... don't I?

Try costing the materials and time consumed making a special.

Then double it.

Then decide if you really really can afford the time away from friends, family, and TV/books/windsurfing/(insert past-time here)/ etc.

Could you use the time more productively?

Could you spend the money on a repair man with the skills you don't have?

I was a bit ill this summer, and came to the conclusion that the special I was working towards just would't happen, and spent three times the money on a car instead.

The car needs lots of work - but - I can drive it around, getting the enjoyment - in the meantime.

Cheers

Simon

Location: On a hill in Wiltshire

Re: I need to be talked out of this... don't I?

agree with austin, it depends what you want to end up with.

if you want a ruby a tidy ruby they are usually out there for £5k to £6k already on the road. do the same as simon.

a ruby for resto on ebay sold for just over £2.5k last week. theres half your money.

if you build a cheap and dodgy special, it`ll cost you £6k anyway perhaps more.

usually plenty rubys on ebay, classic car. there is a ruby and a box saloon in the next HVA auction.

plenty of choice.

let someone else make the decision o braking or rebuilding your ruby.

tony

Location: huncote on the pig

Re: I need to be talked out of this... don't I?

If you don't have the skills, time and equipment I would advise looking for another complete body to fit or another car to drive away.
You have to decide what you want to do with your time which is infinitely more valuable than money IMHO.

Someone out there (could be me if you were in the UK, there must be others out there?) will buy your rotted out car and do something interesting with it which would at least put another Austin back on the road or track and maybe give you a couple of grand towards the replacement...

Location: Ripon

Re: I need to be talked out of this... don't I?

Thanks everyone. I will take that all on board. The build wouldn't be about the money as this is a hobby and lets face it all hobbies are just great big holes that we throw money into ( a bit like a divorce?). I live in a town that calls itself "The Art Deco Capital of the world" and am a member of the NZVAR. I would like a special and believe, having run a few numbers that it could be done for less than the repairs to the Ruby body.

I'll keep you posted

Location: New Zealand

Re: I need to be talked out of this... don't I?

Hi Mike, if he hasn't already contacted you get in touch with Ian Williams (he posts here or email me for his details). There is a special builders group in the NZ VAR who can help you and Ian can tell you everything you could possibly want to know about special building.

Material costs of a special aren't that bad if using steel and aluminium. Time, that's another story though!

Simon

Location: Wellington

Re: I need to be talked out of this... don't I?

Hi Mike,

Yes please do get in contact, I would be very happy to assist if I can, if your car is in the system and restorable it seems a crying shame to break it up, If you want a special there are far less destructive ways of achieving this. We are currently running some panel beating workshops here in Auckland for VAR members, if you felt like trailering your car up to one of these I am sure we could solve some, if not all of your issues.

Location: NZ

Re: I need to be talked out of this... don't I?

Mike, there is much to be said for retaining the original identity of your car and I am sure Ian is the man to help you to an informed decision.
May I echo his remark that there are ways to build a special that might be ultimately preferable.
Good luck!
Stuart

Re: I need to be talked out of this... don't I?

Thanks for the excellent replies.

I kind of do feel guilty about breaking up the Ruby but the body really is quite a mess and the ideal of a special appeals as it would be quite usable in Napier/Hastings.

The body is missing its builders plates the engine and chassis numbers don't match the Rego. papers and its mostly held together by its paint and builders bog.

I have read the threads on here in regrades to specials builds and Ian's input - obviously you are a man of great knowledge in this area, I have been following Simon's Blog as well and that is a big inspiration along with that of Max Betterigde who I have had some correspondence with.

Re: I need to be talked out of this... don't I?

If the body is bad a special is probably more fun to create. My Ruby body was not at all bad, and I do all my own welding and spray painting. Many times I felt it was an awful lot of work getting it back to a good condition. I might even finish it one day.

Re: I need to be talked out of this... don't I?

I vote for the special. It seems that A7 specials are becoming an art form in their own right. There are some quite elegant ones around.

Location: Wellington, NZ

Re: I need to be talked out of this... don't I?

Thanks Ivan,

I'm thinking along those lines too. Especially as the more I strip the car down the more rust and bodgery that I find. Am spending a lot of time on the net and at car shows doing the research.

Re: I need to be talked out of this... don't I?

Hi. If you want to give me a call or text I have a couple of spare ruby bodies and chassis. 027 22 99 734 Cheers, Matthew