Britsport of Seattle

206.283.3578

We are open Monday through Friday, Noon - 8:30pm by appointment only.

Please send us an email to get in touch.

Collector Car Inspections and Appraisals

Recently, I have witnessed two separate collector car inspections/appraisals conducted by two different “licensed and bonded” automotive appraisers for collectors wishing to have documentation to offer insurance carriers, mortgage holders, etc. The first gentleman, a very well known automotive appraiser appearing on television specials as well as a producer of DVD’s focused on the fine art of car collecting and valuation, was hired to inspect a Jaguar 4.2 Litre Series 2 E Type FHC for insurance purposes. The car was available at that time on the local market for $25,000 cash, a decent price if not a bit cheap even these days. I watched him carefully look over the exterior of the car, taking photos as he went, then inspect the somewhat tattered interior and grimy engine compartment. At no time did the gentleman inspect the engine or head stampings comparing those with the chassis plate fixed to the bulkhead, or even make a feeble attempt to peer underneath the car to determine the state of the body and chassis. The car was then pronounced valued at $50,000 fair market. I understand that the appraiser is working for the car owner, but a $50,000 valuation for a Series 2 FHC with some needs? The insurance company will not blink, as they have the appraisal in writing, and the premium payment by the owner. What about the poor chump 3000 miles away reading an ad stating the car is professionally appraised at $50K and buying long distance, sight unseen? Just asking…

The second instance was roughly the same. The appraiser, whose business card lists his expertise as “Antique/Special Interest/Sports/Classics/Trucks/Rods and Customs, was hired to inspect a vintage 1969 Alfa Romeo. His inspection was even shorter, taking sporadic photos, and not bothering to pull the hood cable to see if it indeed had a motor under the hood, and if it did, does it kinda look like an Alfa? His business card reminded me of a old boys card from Oklahoma that was sent to me with some 1917 Maxwell parts I had purchased from him back in the ’70s. Included in his listed professional pursuits was “land, fly swatters and manure”.

If you manage a living at it, I guess you are a professional.

Buy carefully, buy smart, buy right the first time if you can afford it. Quality inspections by marque specialists are always cheap, compared to the rat hole you can find yourself  in with a empty wallet, a mongrel in pieces in the garage, and your missus busting your chops.

Car Auction Observations

I attended the August 2004 RM auction at Portola Plaza in Monterey, CA. While strolling through the offerings on the back patio, a beautiful metallic blue Mercedes 300SL Roadster (unattended) caught my eye. As I was standing there in admiration, two obviously well heeled gentlemen, smartly dressed, stopped to inspect the Mercedes. One man looked into the cockpit with obvious respect, and gingerly opened the drivers door and sat on the sill to inspect the interior. Just at that moment, the owner of the car came by and loudly raged the potential buyer drawing the attention of many onlookers and auction patrons, castigating him at his audacity of touching his precious car. Little thought was given that this man could be a serious buyer and may offer a new world record for a 300SL at auction. At that time, nice examples were $350,000 or so. Three hundred fifty large, but you are not supposed to touch it? Just asking..

1961 Standard 10 Companion Wagon

1961 Standard 10 Companion

1961 Standard 10 Companion

1961 Standard 10 Companion. Another installment of the “Cool Cars That Show Up Often” segment of this website. Owned by a good friend and faithful customer, it was brought in for storage to escape the Seattle winter rain. Very cool car brought from the U.K. a few years ago and lovingly improved since.

Read the rest of this entry »

1967 Jaguar 4.2 Litre E Type

1967 Jaguar E Type

1967 Jaguar E Type

1967 Jaguar 4.2 Litre E Type brought in for door hinge rebuilding in 2005. Fairly fresh restoration from another shop. It appears the sagging doors were overlooked.

Read the rest of this entry »

1965 Austin Healey 3000 BJ8

Austin Healey 3000

Austin Healey 3000

Austin Healey 3000 BJ8. Driven into the shop. This was a old redo by a not so talented home restorer/car flipper. Completed covered in thick sheets of all-metal style body filler that covered several decades of rust, old repairs, sins and shenanigans. After several days of painstaking chemical stripping, the aluminum/steel work can begin. The gearbox leaks as much oil as my leather seal Moss gearbox in the XK120 OTS. Read the rest of this entry »

 
We specialize in Jaguar, MG, Austin Healey, and Triumph