sumpcracker
Posted a lot
Yes, I’m still here.
Posts: 1,751
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My lovely understanding partner who grew up on the Berlin Poland boarder has some understading very lovely parents. They live on a farm and have given me the use of a large dry barn . :Dwhich came with a rusty ascona b in it  Emilia and her family speak German and Polish, and her father is a lorry driver and is happy to transport cars for me. So for a while ive been searching for a good Kadett C, coupe anything mint or tasty/ nothing as yet, but what I have found is a lot of Ascona B 2 doors, rekords of all shapes including 2 doors. I'm wondering if it is worth me buying some of the asconas ect and bringing them to the UK, they would be lhd and need to be re registerd ect. I can also get many 2 door jetta mk2s and there are a few 2 door jetta mk1s for sale too. Saw a polish golf mk1 small tail light for 350 pounds yesterday! was in daily use too. Also wheels seem to be cheap too, the dub scene has raped uk prices for anything worth having, but they seem half the price here. I'm considering buying the things we don't have in the UK ,obtaining a unit or gaff in the UK and boshing them out, cutting the problems and risks for UK buyers, I know there are people already doing this, so what are your opinions on it being worth while. retrorides.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=print&thread=75421 |
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I can't help thinking that's a great idea. I'm sure there is a demand for cars / parts in the UK. Personally I'd love an Ascona - something like this preferably ;D  |
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Currently driving a '68 Karmann Ghia as my daily. Don't ask about previous cars - there have been way too many and I stopped counting at 160!
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Whole cars I am not certain about - by the time you have factored in travel costs to get out there, fuel and ferry for the return and your time, will there be enough profit from selling in UK to make it worthwhile? Needs carefull research. IMO that length of road trip is only really feasable for buying a car for yourself, as you don't count your time on your own projects, but doing it for other people commercially...well, good will to all men etc is fine, but doesnt pay the bills, you need to tun a profit.
Parts would be a better bet, I would say. A single journey in a van should be able to bring back enough stuff to turn a profit especially if you use the trip as a holiday there, which helps to justify travel costs. Also think about body panels....something I have been half-heartedly thinking about every now and then is raiding the breakers here for rot-free body panels for retro stuff that are hard to find in UK. OE vauxhall nova wings and doors can fetch a serious premium amongst enthusiasts as quality is supposed to be way better than the pattern replacements they normally use.
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Last Edit: Dec 27, 2010 9:38:12 GMT by dave21478
1986 Panda 4x4.
1990 Metro Sport.
1999 Ford Escort estate.
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Dec 27, 2010 10:13:30 GMT
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does sound good but if you can get bits there for nearly half price,by the time you get it here and sell it and make your money,you will have to sell the for the same price as we can get things here,so there wouldnt be much point. id say importing the whole cars would be a better idea.  |
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SPOTS MUSH!
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Dec 27, 2010 10:56:35 GMT
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From what I've heard recently you'd be best off collecting cars, restoring them out there then selling them, a friend of a friend in a Motorclub is said to have sent his Viva Rally car and 205 Rallye (1293cc euro spec) out to Poland to be restored, eve with the shipping costs it's end up cheaper than getting it done here.
Isn't there still a culture of craftsmen in Poland? as there seems to be a shortage of good reasonably priced bodywork specialists and fabricators here.
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Gray
Part of things
Silence isnt golden!!!
Posts: 742
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Dec 27, 2010 11:22:53 GMT
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From what I've heard recently you'd be best off collecting cars, restoring them out there then selling them, a friend of a friend in a Motorclub is said to have sent his Viva Rally car and 205 Rallye (1293cc euro spec) out to Poland to be restored, eve with the shipping costs it's end up cheaper than getting it done here. Isn't there still a culture of craftsmen in Poland? as there seems to be a shortage of good reasonably priced bodywork specialists and fabricators here. The problem isnt that they don't exist, the problem is people are used to the jobs regular garages do for not alot of money and expect that from more specialised places, we get alot of folk in that expect the same price the regular garage would charge. High level repairs cost more, they are worth the money but it can be hard for folk like us to compete with bodgers and have-a-go's. A good example is sills, garages tac a cover sill over the rotten originals and then make it up with fibreglass and filler,A cheap and fast repair. A resto shop will use a full sill, cut everything out, repair the floor and inner sill to suit, and then refit the sill to manafacturer spec including fully welding anywhere it touches the bodywork, minimal filler etc. You get what you pay for and in the UK theres a whole culture of people wanting something for nothing. Even with our rates being below garage prices the hours we put in make some jobs look pricey. (luckily our customers know what they get for their money) I'm sure the other forum bodywork folks will understand this problem. Shipping cars abroad is certainly a much cheaper option but is adding to the problem of there being less and less places in the uk that will work to the same level  And, back on topic, what sort of money are Ascona B's going for over there? would be interested to know if its worth importing and sorting a few |
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Last Edit: Dec 27, 2010 11:42:01 GMT by Gray
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Dec 27, 2010 11:58:04 GMT
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Whole cars I am not certain about - by the time you have factored in travel costs to get out there, fuel and ferry for the return and your time, will there be enough profit from selling in UK to make it worthwhile? Needs carefull research. IMO that length of road trip is only really feasable for buying a car for yourself, as you don't count your time on your own projects, but doing it for other people commercially...well, good will to all men etc is fine, but doesnt pay the bills, you need to tun a profit. Parts would be a better bet, I would say. A single journey in a van should be able to bring back enough stuff to turn a profit especially if you use the trip as a holiday there, which helps to justify travel costs. Also think about body panels....something I have been half-heartedly thinking about every now and then is raiding the breakers here for rot-free body panels for retro stuff that are hard to find in UK. OE vauxhall nova wings and doors can fetch a serious premium amongst enthusiasts as quality is supposed to be way better than the pattern replacements they normally use. That's probably a good point on parts and panels. Until about 2 years ago I had a small sideline business importing VW Campers from Australia. We would always bung a few rust free doors etc inside when they were shipped and to be honest we made as much money from selling the doors as we did in profit on the camper vans!! |
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Currently driving a '68 Karmann Ghia as my daily. Don't ask about previous cars - there have been way too many and I stopped counting at 160!
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carmad
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,002
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Dec 27, 2010 12:22:53 GMT
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i am deffo interested in 1
i have tryed many ways to get them home
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80mojo
Part of things
Posts: 753
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Dec 27, 2010 15:21:41 GMT
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Think 2 door Asconas are especially in demand over here. As for cost effectiveness of restoring them and bringing them over here, guess you'd have to research it. Definately a potentially viable option though. Suspect a lot of them would end up in Ireland though so may be worth investigating the cost of them going direct there too.
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'71 Opel GT
'72 Manta A
'79 Dodge Autosleeper
'83 Monza & a half
'86 Manta GT/E V6
'91 Astra SXi
'94 Carlton Diamond Estate 24v
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sumpcracker
Posted a lot
Yes, I’m still here.
Posts: 1,751
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Dec 27, 2010 15:29:10 GMT
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Its not expensive for me to get them to the UK, my missis dad does empty runs to UK often and i can have 2 or 3 cars in a trailer. and i spend a lot of time here tbh, i can put flyers up in villages too, asking people to contact me if they have old cars, there are barns everywhere and most have an old car or 2.
If it goes well i will get involved in restortion, this was my trade for 15yrs.
Thanks for comments, all have been taken on board. Just bought a running ascona 2 door for 650 btw.
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carmad
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,002
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Its not expensive for me to get them to the UK, my missis dad does empty runs to UK often and I can have 2 or 3 cars in a trailer. and I spend a lot of time here tbh, I can put flyers up in villages too, asking people to contact me if they have old cars, there are barns everywhere and most have an old car or 2. If it goes well I will get involved in restortion, this was my trade for 15yrs. Thanks for comments, all have been taken on board. Just bought a running ascona 2 door for 650 btw. pics? are you selling it and how much are the transport costs?? |
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Just sent you a PM about this |
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Vauxhall Nova Estate
Vauxhall Carlton V8
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Bryan
Part of things
Posts: 45
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Dec 28, 2010 12:46:17 GMT
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2 Door Ford Taunus (MK5 Cortina) in good condition for me please.
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Dec 28, 2010 15:58:35 GMT
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state of the world... Totally understand this. I knew (of) a guy who was having his car restored professionally and it was costing £24000 and people were talking about this being "a rip off" but the last car I painted (DIY at home) had over a hundred hours in prep and so forth, Even at a basic garage rate plus your VAT thats five grand. Without any rust repairs... so to turn round a full resto? I can see that being £24K easy if you are allowing your restorer to eat and pay a mortgage. As for German cars... I'd like an old Opel Kapitan or Admiral.   Also there seem to be a lot of cool old American cars over in Deutchland |
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1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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sumpcracker
Posted a lot
Yes, I’m still here.
Posts: 1,751
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Its not expensive for me to get them to the UK, my missis dad does empty runs to UK often and I can have 2 or 3 cars in a trailer. and I spend a lot of time here tbh, I can put flyers up in villages too, asking people to contact me if they have old cars, there are barns everywhere and most have an old car or 2. If it goes well I will get involved in restortion, this was my trade for 15yrs. Thanks for comments, all have been taken on board. Just bought a running ascona 2 door for 650 btw. pics? are you selling it and how much are the transport costs?? I havent got pics yet, will post soon, its a yellow 1.9, rusty but original. *got some pics of the 4 door and the barn though, i will post all tomorow as I'm not on my laptop now. I have just realised the 4 door B that came with the barn is a diesel 2.0. I'm told it was driven last year. Its pretty rusty but I think il bodge it up and use it, no problem to get an MOT in poland lol. Then slap some 9js on it ect.. its got a tow bar too. How cool would it be using an old opel to pick up old opels.. As for the rest, I'm finding lots, kadett coupes ect in germany. They are bloody expensive but I think there are people who will pay for a rare mint car on some wide german splits. We have next to nothing in the UK. All PMs returned. |
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nconst
Part of things
funky fresh since 89'
Posts: 447
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Dec 29, 2010 12:13:43 GMT
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Also there seem to be a lot of cool old American cars over in Deutchland ive noticed this , wherever there are/was American soldiers stationed theres cool American cars |
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jasonj
Part of things
Posts: 220
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Dec 29, 2010 12:54:10 GMT
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Its not expensive for me to get them to the UK, my missis dad does empty runs to UK often and I can have 2 or 3 cars in a trailer. and I spend a lot of time here tbh, I can put flyers up in villages too, asking people to contact me if they have old cars, there are barns everywhere and most have an old car or 2. If it goes well I will get involved in restortion, this was my trade for 15yrs. Thanks for comments, all have been taken on board. Just bought a running ascona 2 door for 650 btw. Good choice on the Ascona.. I'm rebuilding mine next year and will be needing some panels. Doors wings etc. So if you do decide to start buying and transporting parts / cars into the uk, I would definately be interested |
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Team Supercharged Opel Ascona 400.
294bhp - 235 lb/ft
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Dec 29, 2010 14:04:49 GMT
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Also there seem to be a lot of cool old American cars over in Deutchland ive noticed this , wherever there are/was American soldiers stationed theres cool American cars I think many have been brought in separate to that. Being an LHD nation I suspect helps. Seems to be a lot of cool ones in Poland also. |
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1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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sumpcracker
Posted a lot
Yes, I’m still here.
Posts: 1,751
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Dec 30, 2010 17:40:16 GMT
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The barn-  The other end of it-  The free ascona   the lump  Sill-  ]Floor /sill-  got lots of pics for reference, just shat myself when I saw this one, never notice the spider when I was sitting in it!  The 2 door, well rusty! but cost £400 in the end. will be in the barn by tuesday .  |
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Dec 30, 2010 21:45:50 GMT
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can you get parts aswell for 2dr models that werent available here?
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