Serious (no, really!) group purchase suggestion: Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire, or summat else

[Guest Breadvan72]

If anyone wants to meet in a pub or talk on the skype or whatever about putting a group together to buy, fix up, and enjoy a classy heap similar to the one shown below , please signal here and kick the idea about for a bit.  EDIT EDIT:  NB this thread started because I had seen the ad linked to below, but the car in that ad was sold some time ago.  Still, please read on.

 

There would need to be much discussion about where to keep the thing, who gets it when, bills and so on, but this kind of thing works well in, for example, light aeroplane and boaty worlds, and not just with high end expensive stuff (lots of groups own gopping beat up Cessnas and appalling Piper 28s and so forth).

 

We would need to go and have a good look at any proposed groupoheap before haggling for it.   An Armstrong Siddeley, if we can find one, is way rarer and at present much cheaper than equivalent age Bentleys and such.

 

All gags, mockery, and FFS what are you thinking of comments warmly welcomed and positively encouraged, but this is also a vaguely serious notion!

 

Here is the yarmouth that inspired this plan  (NB now sold): 

 

 

 

http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/armstrong-siddeley/sapphire/115324

 

 

 

[barrett]

Looks lovely, but my first move would be to find out whether it actually exists as literally 99% of adverts I've looked at on that website in the past have been either several years out of date or quite clearly scams. I don't think anyone actually uses it to legitimately sell cars in 2017. Apart from that, good luck!

[eddyramrod]

It's fucking gorgeous.  I just wish I was in a position, either financially or geographically, to join in.  Good luck!

[Guest Breadvan72]

The site was a new one to me, so maybe the car is a fiction. I may do some checking tomorrow.

 

EDIT: sold, but read on!

[richardmorris]

I think it looks great and OLA needs saving as she is, but am worried over potential humongous bills. I can't store it realistically.

At least four fellow idiots would be happier for me cost wise. I can tinker but not weld.

[richardmorris]

The site was a new one to me, so maybe the car is a fiction. I may do some checking tomorrow.

The site is fine, it's part of the classic cars publication as far as I know.

[Guest bangerfan101]

Seen a few seriously hanging examples bangered. Very nice bit of old tin

[Guest Breadvan72]

Gegraphical closeness would obviously be a good idea, but it wouldn't be an deal breaker, I hope, if group members were distributed over some distance. Not one in Cornwall, one in Thurso, etc, but we wouldn't all have to live in the same bungalow.

[Guest Breadvan72]

Maybe a group of four or five.  Any bigger might start to get tricky in terms of access to the car, potential for disagreements etc.

[Inspector Morose]

I had ne in the 90s to commute in. (Seriously - our family had a penchant for running wholly inappropriate cars, my brothers uni car was a Humber super snipe). Wonderful old bus - paid three and a half for it and that got me a worn but running example. I can't believe they are still this cheap. Not as refined as you would imagine but pretty easy to work on but check the body very carefully....

[Guest Breadvan72]

I add that I can't tinker, or weld, or paint.  I can sometimes guess correctly why a car is broken, and usually know when to stop driving a car that is about to explode (full disclosure:  one exception - I broke a Lancia by pressing on regardless) but I couldn't fix a broken biro, let alone a car.  

[chaseracer]

Seen a few seriously hanging examples bangered. Very nice bit of old tin

 

Didn't Plod finish one off a few years back?  That was mostly holes...

[richardmorris]

Dropped an email to my mechanic friend. I expect a sarcastic email back any time now!

[cort1977]

It's a good idea in principle, for geographical reasons aahm oot.

 

One thing I would say is that the mechanism for leaving the group should be made clear.   I know a guy who has lived in London for years who owns a quarter of a nice boat in Australia which he can't get rid of.

[Guest Breadvan72]

You must have a clear agreement about buy outs, share sales and so on.  The agreement need not be lengthy or complex, but must be clear.

[purplebargeken]

Great idea but no spare cash rules me out sadly. 

[dollywobbler]

The site is fine, it's part of the classic cars publication as far as I know.

 

Oh it's a legit site, but some of the ads on there are awfully, awfully old...

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Oooofffffff, this car is a honey. Let me drink a bit more of this 'Keo' Cypriot beer and see how I feel then.

[Junkman]

Although this is sky high on my bucket list, I won't participate for geographical reasons.

 

However, I do know a thing or two about these cars, so I suggest you to run any work necessary* by me first, for evaluation and advice.

They are much lesser money pits than contemporary Rollses/Bentleys, due to no scene tax, also their old fashioned look defies their relative modernness,

with pressed steel instead of coach built bodywork and no structural wood anywhere. Technically they are far superior to their R&B competitors.

[Guest Breadvan72]

Maybe ad older than car.  I will ring in the morning.  

[Guest Breadvan72]

Oooofffffff, this car is a honey. Let me drink a bit more of this 'Keo' Cypriot beer and see how I feel then.

 

 

Have a few Grappa and Raki chasers, and then do some drinking.  Maybe a couple of pints of Jagermeister, a Slippery Nipple, and a tin of Mackesons.  Then RSVP.

 

If we could get Cap'n Nadgers on the Team, it would be like the Avengers plus Batman and Obi Wan and Dr Who and Chuck Norris, only more awesome and unstoppable.

[eddyramrod]

Oooofffffff, this car is a honey. Let me drink a bit more of this 'Keo' Cypriot beer and see how I feel then.

I didn't realise you were on my old turf; where, approximately?

[sofarsogood]

Let me sleep on this idea. FYI I have some skills in car maintenance and repair and access to workshop facilities. Only off road parking no garage based in the Midlands. Car is a real looker. I must admit before I clicked the link I was thinking I might end up owning 1/5th of a jet engine.

[Skizzer]

I'm game as long as I don't have to store it or organise it very much. And yes, that does sound a bit lame, doesn't it.

[Guest Breadvan72]

The fact that the car has an incredibly cool and very classic aeroplaneish name is definitely a selling point I reckon.  

[Skizzer]

Only reason I'm in, in fact.

 

Edit: That and the suicide doors.

[Guest Breadvan72]

If we end up with a manual one, we would have to budget for Jeeves to operate the gears.

[Guest Breadvan72]

Bummer.  Will check in the morning.

 

EDIT: sold, but read on!

[Longblackcoat]

I'm game as long as I don't have to store it or organise it very much. And yes, that does sound a bit lame, doesn't it.

In on the same basis, for a max 25% share. And for God's sake don't tell my wife!

[holbeck]

You must have a clear agreement about buy outs, share sales and so on.  The agreement need not be lengthy or complex, but must be clear.

 

If only we had a tame lawyer who could draft something appropriate.

 

Seriously, I'm not sure this is the car for me, but I like the idea of such an AS syndicate.