THAT abandoned dealer again Swadlincole

[busmansholiday]

Worry about space after finding out the cost of buying them, that will be the easy but to sort out.

[SiC]

If that Maestro is low miles and little rust, £1k would be reasonable nowadays.

[Zelandeth]

I'm roughly 60 miles away so could lend a hand if needed, I've a pretty good history of convincing ancient vehicles that have been abandoned in the back of farm yards going if that's useful.

 

Couldn't offer long term storage, but I'm sure I could keep a close for a week or two and tidy it up a bit and give it a once over.

 

I imagine they'd not be too hard to re-home once in a condition where they're actually running and can at least drive onto a trailer and are more of a known project.

[greengartside]

This is most excellent news to read, I have always been fascinated with this garage and now potential saves of the cars are a possibility!

 

Obviously the Cavalier gets my vote but all three being rescued would be nothing short of sensational. I will be happy to chip a few quid into the pot.

 

Interestingly, out of the H*** CBM registered Vauxhalls, that Cav is the only one left.

[bub2006]

I too have a soft spot for the cav. Having briefly drove a 1.4 many moons ago I found it quite sedate to say the least. I think the auto maestro needs a chance too.

[bub2006]

Just checked the MOT history on the cavalier too. It failed dramatically in 2006. Springs,track rods,lots of welding,brake lines and brakes. A bit of time and know how though should be easy enough to fix provided parts can be found.

[HillmanImp]

Mega bucks a few years ago for these cars is probably cheap now if they haven't changed in price since then.

I did think that after I wrote it, crazy as the old car market is these days.

[sierraman]

Just read the test fail on that Cavalier. It was FUCKED in 2006 by sounds of it, unlike a fine wine it won’t have improved with age sat there.

 

If you’ve a similar Cavalier it’s still worth offering him scrap on it for the parts on it. By sounds of it the suspension was bollocksed, it was rotten in some potentially tricky areas to weld, the CV joints were goosed. But trim and panels might be ok to have.

[bub2006]

Just read the test fail on that Cavalier. It was FUCKED in 2006 by sounds of it, unlike a fine wine it won’t have improved with age sat there.

 

If you’ve a similar Cavalier it’s still worth offering him scrap on it for the parts on it. By sounds of it the suspension was bollocksed, it was rotten in some potentially tricky areas to weld, the CV joints were goosed. But trim and panels might be ok to have.

you read it too? Sounded a bit knackered

[AnthonyG]

The Maestro is probably the most saveable, although it looks from Burnsides photo that the sunroof is open. The Rover and Cavalier are probably parts cars, although worth having for this reason given the rarity of both now.

[MorrisItalSLX]

I would love to see that Maestro saved, it is my impression that autos are much less common and I will admit to having a soft spot for them.

[BorniteIdentity]

A shame, but they are the owner’s and it’s his sole decision and reasoning that counts.

 

There was a great argument on FB the other day when someone was complaining that an old boy wouldn’t sell the Sierra on his driveway that had, admittedly, seen better days. I said “it’s his- and nobody knocks on the door of a slightly run down house and just expects the seller to hand over the keys”.

 

Apparently only ‘true car people’ get it. I fucking laughed.

 

We’re all on the same page here fortunately. The dream of saving one of these heaps is a nice one but, once the honeymoon period is over, that Cavalier would probably reduce you quite quickly to tears. It’s unlikely he’ll sell at scrap money, so you have to be comfortable paying near concourse prices for a few panels and some nice wheel trims.

[mrbenn]

I've only looked up the tax checker on the Cav, hadn't seen the MOT history until now. Surprised it didn't head straight to the scrappy after that tbh, but would be nice if it lived on in some way having spent so long sitting around waiting for a new owner.

[bub2006]

Mot went online in 2006 but the garage closed in 2001 didn't it? Looks like it was parked up for a few years,someone tested it and decided to put it back on the forecourt

[andy18s]

A shame, but they are the owner’s and it’s his sole decision and reasoning that counts.

 

There was a great argument on FB the other day when someone was complaining that an old boy wouldn’t sell the Sierra on his driveway that had, admittedly, seen better days. I said “it’s his- and nobody knocks on the door of a slightly run down house and just expects the seller to hand over the keys”.

 

Apparently only ‘true car people’ get it. I fucking laughed.

I've seen posts where the owner "should be ashamed of himself" and "maybe a group of us should go and rescue it"

[Cavcraft]

What'd be brilliant (but completely out of reach) would be to buy everything including the 'building' and resurrect it somewhere as a real life AS headquarters. 

[AnthonyG]

I suspect* in this situation the only way to end up purchasing one of these would be to ring him up, or better still actually contrive to meet him somehow, state very simply ‘I want to buy the Maestro/Cavalier, how much is it, I can give you a cash deposit now’, accept his asking price (or 95% of it), and then turn up at the time of his choosing with a proper recovery truck or trailer, hand over the balance, winch it on and go.

 

If all the above can happen, then maybe one or all can be saved. Somehow, I doubt his ability to understand that you can check MOT histories online now, or accept that as a reason to haggle.

[mrbenn]

Around here, those cars would have "disappeared" overnight then 150 two and three bedroom houses for £950k each would have magically sprung up.

[Ian_Fearn]

I called by this garage today hoping for a nice cup of coffee whilst kicking the tyres of the latest models and discussing finance options......

 

Instead, i had do a professional* condition report for hopeful owners.

 

Rover: I reckon this is beyond sensible help. It clearly needs glass, wheels and the interior is damaged. I just can't imagine chucking a battery on this and it starting up (although i'd love to give it a try).

 

Maestro: On top it looks surprisingly solid, I reckon this could be saved.

 

Cavalier: Looks savable to me. Although all the cars are still behind well chained gates so it could be shot underneath.

 

I'd be hard pushed to pick between the Cavalier and Maestro when it comes to signing up for that PCP option.....

[Lord Sterling]

Rover: I reckon this is beyond sensible help. It clearly needs glass, wheels and the interior is damaged. I just can't imagine chucking a battery on this and it starting up (although i'd love to give it a try).

I have some front door glass, wheels and wheel bolts. I could easily get a hold of rear door glass too if it needs it. So, like the others, saveable. It just needs a couple more things than the others need.

[Ian_Fearn]

I have some front door glass, wheels and wheel bolts. I could easily get a hold of rear door glass too if it needs it. So, like the others, saveable. It just needs a couple more things than the others need.

 

It needs drivers side front and rear door glass and a windscreen. 

 

I'd love to get a working party together to try and rescue it. I think it'd be the biggest challenge of the 3 remaining cars.

[greengartside]

I’d be up for a party of sorts, I’m the other side of the country but I’ve always dreamed of getting something out of the garage so it’s totally worth it.

 

I see the Maestro’s windows have been put through. Jesus Christ.

[omegod]

Has anyone actually rang the owner for prices ?

[Vince70]

It needs English heritage to get involved

[Dick Cheeseburger]

Shit, I can see that lot being torched imminently.

The Rover needs saving.

Someone...

[Lord Sterling]

It needs drivers side front and rear door glass and a windscreen. 

 

I'd love to get a working party together to try and rescue it. I think it'd be the biggest challenge of the 3 remaining cars.

Didn't see the windscreen. Again, it's not impossible, I've got a windscreen providing contact. However, it would also be good for parts. Doesn't The Moog/Snagglepuss have a Mk1 820 that needs an engine?

[Pillock]

Shit, I can see that lot being torched imminently.

The Rover needs saving.

Someone...

 

I dunno, they've been like that for years. It is a residential area with houses overlooking, but it's not the sort of place with people just wandering past so hanging around gets you noticed. It is sad to see more broken windows than when I last visited though.

 

If there is a fire, it would probably be someone with an interest in the land as it's just right* for fifteen tiny little houses to be crammed on at £149,950 each.

[sierraman]

By all accounts the Cavalier was bollocksed when it was parked up. Comparatively speaking they aren’t that thin on the ground still, definitely worth pulling out for spares though.

[Burnside]

Shit, I can see that lot being torched imminently.

The Rover needs saving.

Someone...

I agree the next bloody school holidays and some scumbags will the way it's going.

 

Windows on the Maestro were fine a month ago when I took the photos on the previous page. The Rover just had a O/S rear door glass missing and the Cav had the nearside door glass missing. Seeing that has pissed me right off tonight.

 

Am happy to help with a rescue were I can if someone wants too and still have my friends ridged bar as previously mentioned to help pull them out. I think anyone of them can be saved. It just comes down to money for most people. Me included but happy to put some money towards a fund.

[Squire_Dawson]

If they were all listed on eBay from different areas of the country they would be laughed at for the worthless junk they are, if they were even deemed worth crowing about in the first place. Just because the site has some 'legendary' status does not change the fact that they are all still hopeless pieces of shit which ought to be stripped and cubed at the soonest opportunity. There are loads of well preserved examples of each of these cars and when they come up for sale hardly anybody gives a wank. Get over yourselves FFS, its hardly a treasure trove.