Is She Restorable??

bootz · Postby **bootz** » Sat Oct 23, 2010 5:30 pm

Sweet little Eunos roadster. Average to OK except for a boot up the blurter. Wondering if it is worth repairing and putting back on the road. NA6 so must be around '92 between 150-190,000 Km.

New boot, Rear Garnish Panel, RHS light, Rear Window. (What else do you think)

Whats a nice cheap offer to make,

Rob · Postby **Rob** » Sat Oct 23, 2010 5:48 pm

A nice cheap offer... let's see... $2500 maybe and go from there?

Even then, that'd be primarily for parts to go into another car because I wouldn't bother restoring this one.

Why? It's an early car so it's probably got the short crank problem... I'm not sure why you'd assume it's a 92; my money's actually on something earlier given the width of the license plate area... it will probably have done a lot of mileage... roof can probably have a new window dropped in but the fact its in that state makes me wonder what the rest of the roof's like even though it looks good in the pic... you don't know what has shifted underneath in the accident... lots of things to consider.

Personally, I'd be scavenging it for the wheels, seats, panels, steering wheel, stuff like that, to restore a late 91 onwards NA that's beyond the short crank problem, etc. But that's me. Other people would do it differently.

Given the amount of work that probably needs doing if you did want to push forward and restore it, you wouldn't want to pay much more than $3000-$4000 for it, otherwise that price, plus your restoration fees would be more than you can buy decent, existing cars for.

Old Dude · Postby **Old Dude** » Sat Oct 23, 2010 6:49 pm

If its already been written off offer them $1500, they be glad to get rid of it.
Cheers
Dale

bootz · Postby **bootz** » Sat Oct 23, 2010 8:07 pm

Thanks Dale and Rob,

I was thinking a max of $1000, the thing is even though NAs are getting rarer and rarer the price for an average one is only about $5000. These are classic cars, however the market has not appreciated that and the prices are diminishing. I think at some stage people are going to say this is a better prospect than MGB or whatever and pay accordingly. I don't think that has happened yet.

The other thing is to hang out for an NA8 and fang it. Love Mazda, love the reliability.

It might be an okay project, depending on price. I have 5 different cars (not all mx5) and am still looking. LOL !

Rob · Postby **Rob** » Sat Oct 23, 2010 8:14 pm

Bootz, I would imagine it all depends on how savvy the seller is when it comes to MX-5's.

If you look at the price of used parts, there's way more than $1000 worth of parts sitting there in that car (assuming the interior is as intact as the exterior).

Wheels, seats, engine, bits of trim... it's all fair game to enthusiasts. Pull out a selection of those things, price them out, and you'll be flying past $1000 before you know it.

If, on the other hand, the seller couldn't give a hoot and it's been sitting there for a year with rain pouring in that back window, and it's just taking up space, maybe they won't care at all.

Old Dude · Postby **Old Dude** » Sat Oct 23, 2010 8:38 pm

I agree with everything you say Rob regarding the value of the car pieces, but a lot of people don't have the space, time or inclination to strip the car down and then try to get rid of whats left, and from the look of the photo, its been written off and is just sitting in a yard waiting to be disposed of.
So yeh Bootz offer then $1000 and see what happens the worst they can do is say no

Good luck with your decision
Cheers
Dale

Hammer · Postby **Hammer** » Sat Oct 23, 2010 11:56 pm

If you decide not to get the entire car, make an offer on the wheels. They look like [hard to get in Aust] Borbet wheels.

bootz · Postby **bootz** » Sun Oct 24, 2010 12:29 am

Nice enough wheel, but surely nothing to get excited about?

Rob · Postby **Rob** » Sun Oct 24, 2010 12:42 am

Here's a concept... confirm the wheels are the rare ones... offer them your grand... get the car... flog the wheels... suddenly the car overall has cost only a few hundred at most.

Not a bad base to start from! LOL! :NA6:

bootz · Postby **bootz** » Sun Oct 24, 2010 4:36 pm

Seriously everyone, nobody thinks it would be a good prospect to put back on the road??

I don't think selling parts from Perth is a hugely practical proposition, and another rusty hulk in the backyard will not make me too popular. But then again what do I know about 2nd hand NA parts, I think Mazda would be charging a bomb for everything.

Rob · Postby **Rob** » Sun Oct 24, 2010 4:40 pm

Obviously someone would need to go over it in person, especially underneath, but if it's a straightforward repair on a car that only cost you $1000, I'm sure no one would be against it as a concept.

Personally, I wouldn't do it because, as I was hinting at earlier, it's probably an 89, 90 or early 91 with the short nose crank issue, and I've always been leery of those models and their potential to break crankshafts.

But hey, if you can get it cheap, and the repair's cheap, even if it throws a crankshaft at some stage in the future, it's not like you'd be stuffing a valuable investment.

taminga16 · Postby **taminga16** » Mon Oct 25, 2010 9:46 am

bootz wrote:Seriously everyone, nobody thinks it would be a good prospect to put back on the road??

Make some enquires with the relevant authorities about how many hoops you might have to jump through, rebuilding and reregistering a write off can be fraught with danger and frustration.
Greg.

bootz · Postby **bootz** » Mon Oct 25, 2010 2:32 pm

Thanks for all the advice. Might make an offer this week. Fingers crossed

Quicksilver · Postby **Quicksilver** » Mon Oct 25, 2010 3:22 pm

The damage to that back window didn't happen overnight. Either the car has been badly neglected by the previous owner or the car has been sitting there for a very long time. I would factor in a whole new top and check for surface rust on floor of cabin and rear parcel shelf. If possible, find out if the chassis was bent - it doesn't look like it hit hard but just a few mills of chassis damage will effect the handling badly, and you may not know until you push it through a twisty road. Check the gap around both doors for evenness and measure diaganally from front left wheel to back right and from front right wheel to back left (hard to do with the car on the ground though). If there is a rego sticker, see when it expired. A car sitting for long periods means seals will perrish, bearings start to rust. Fixable sure but adds to cost beyond the few body panels that are obvious. Good luck with it bootz, hope its an easy repair for you.

Mr Morlock · Postby **Mr Morlock** » Mon Oct 25, 2010 4:53 pm

If you want a hobby maybe but you can pick up running registered cars for say $8K. Unless you have the equipment and the know how to do body repairs replace panels and parts and repaint then be prepared for a surprise as a professional charges full rates. I doubt if it would be cost effective. You will be able to get a quote on the car as it stands for repair. Even with a repaired body do you then know the state of the mechanicals? The car is sitting there damaged unrepaired for a reason.