Indecisiveness pays off in the ULTIMAte way (MOAR PIX)

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

NOW WITH CAVETTE-STYLE PICS FOR EXTRA ORSUMNESS.

 

As you all know by now, searching for an LPG-converted car with all the toys is hardly an easy job, even if one's budget isn't that tight.

 

The whole thing was frustrating and disappointing, so I had just decided to buy the Shit40 for PISS OF MIND, INNIT. However, it hadn't been a good deal in the first place and the trader was doing his best to make it even worse, so I said "alright, let's have a little look online to see whether anything interesting's cropped up". And crop up they did. A seemingly very tidy QX (Maxima) that had been standing for a month and the owner CBA to even take in for a new MOT, a top-of-the-range (early mk3) Mongdeo Ghia X, and a Scorpio 2.3 "relisted because the buyer turned out to be impecunious". Not only was the Scorpio the more, erm, attractive (!) proposition out of the 3, but there was a good chance that the seller wasn't a toerag (ebay member in decency shocker!).

 

It was in Peterborough, so a bit far but not too bad really. I called on the landline number provided in the ad and he confirmed that everything on the car was working, there's a bit of history and told me the story about the prospective purchaser, letting me know that he would take a grand for it. "Assuming it all works, that's absolutely fine by me...Can I come on Sunday to have a look? I can call you tomorrow and we'll confirm it." "Yes, but I'm probably going to be out and I don't take my mobile with me". In the event, he wasn't out when I rang, so an appointment was arranged and I hopped on an Ist Toast train down to P'boro (BTW, first class advance tickets are highly recommended on Ist Toast, as for a little bit extra you get both working internet and tea/drinks/snacks).

 

The vendor, a very young 70, picked me up from the station in the Scorpio and we went to his house. Which is not only a house, but used to be the business premises for the business he had until he retired early this year- he was a "carriagemaster", hiring hearses and limos to funeral directors. As you've probably guessed, his limos tended to be Scorpio-based, but by this point my interest in Scorpios was fading, since I wanted to know all about this:

 

 

It's got a Consul engine, it is perfectly road legal and he drives it out to shows etc. Amazing stuff.

 

Remembering the reason I was visiting, I suggested we go in and have a look at the paperwork. There was a fair bit of old history, but he had had the car for 2.5 years and been doing his own maintenance, as with virtually all of his stuff. New wheelarches (only real rust spot, as with the Scorpio mk1/Granny mk3) last year, new Monroe self-levelling shocks in the back, new timing chain guides (or was it tensioners?), new this new that, fresh oil every 5k, you get the idea.

 

"Great, let's go out for a testdrive". So we go, and the care is really showing...This thing isn't just good- it drives better than a new C-Class, as well as the previous model E-Class (I haven't driven the current one). Right suspension, right steering, feather-light clutch, ALL of the gadgetry working perfectly. The engine is powerful enough but needs some gearbox (manual, therefore less to go wrong) action to get the torque out. So I agree to buy it. Get the money out of a cash machine, we go back to his place and do the paperwork. It was after this point that I decided to have a look around the car- and I was shocked. There wasn't one scratch in all that massive boat-like body. Don't remember seeing any dents, either. I commented that it seems to have no damage at all..."oh, yes, there is no real damage, but there probably has been some in the past...look at this [points at front end, which has some post-facelift bits with infinitesimally small differences from the pre-facelift design that the car is supposed to be].

 

After I paid him and we finished with the bureaucratic bits, I ask him whether he'd mind me having a look around the back garages. This is the stuff that's lurking there, together with a landrover defender special edition something or other. There was some more in a closed garage but it was pretty dark in there:

 

 

 

In another garage was the project he's currently doing...Mk1 Transit for all of you van perverts. Sorry about the quality of the pics, but it was tight in there:

 

Garage bonus- C-reg Suzuki scooter, he said he'll be selling it on ebay at some point in the near future (so if anyone's interested in that example of 2-wheeled shite, lemme know and I'll pass you his number):

 

Of course, that wasn't nearly enough, so I took some picture of the collection of scale models, too!

 

This was followed by a very relaxing cruise via the A1 and A57....Cruise at 61mph, aircon blasting cold fresh air, not a care in the world!

 

Didn't take any pictures of the actual car I bought until it was too late for my point-and-shit camera to produce a decent result...so, here's a small sample. It really is unbelievably mint- I'm almost hesitant to drive it!

 

Moral of the long story: Indecisiveness is GR11!

 

Forgot to say, the guy is on the Scorpio forum! I would have pointed him in the direction of AS, but I thought that maybe it isn't a very opportune moment...

[Alexg]

GREAT BUY! I always thought these looked good

[Pete-M]

A 'black light' one. Good man. Make sure you don't damage the headlamp washers, they're unobtanium and easy to break.

 

Great cars. I had a 24v one and liked it. This was mine, you can see how I know about the h/l washers.

 

 

Far better choice than the ovloV, and the Scorpios appear to be gaining in value if they're in decent nick. I'd definately have another, but it'd have to be a 24v Ultima Estate next time I think.

[AeroNautiCal]

Congrats on an absolute sweetie of a car!

 

The second minter Ford nabbed by Members today, great stuff.

 

Loved those toy displays, the Taxi, Transit... (you get the picture).

[trigger]

Although the photos are a bit pants that does look like a good buy, much better then some of the other stuff you have been posting up.

 

I think you have done well there, Nice taxi as well.

[CreepingJesus]

Great buy, and a chance to meet a proper old school chap!

[Tayne]

.

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

Although the photos are a bit pants that does look like a good buy, much better then some of the other stuff you have been posting up.

 

I think you have done well there, Nice taxi as well.

 

I'll get some pictures up tomorrow. To be honest, I am quite shocked by how good it is. Wouldn't have had a problem paying the best part of two grand for it.

 

Great buy, and a chance to meet a proper old school chap!

 

Yes, it was a fantastically shite-filled day, and he is mega-decent. I'll get myself on the Scorpio forum (I know some people off there from back when I had a Granada), and he's promised to help out if I get stuck with any rare spares!

[trigger]

I find meeting the owner can sometimes be half the fun of buying cars, The chap i bought my Escort of today was a lovely guy, he had a 1955 Ford Consul in his garage he was showing me over and me and the wife was there for ages chatting away him and his wife, We almost went home without paying!, It was only as we went to pull out the drive way i remembered I hadn't paid!

[meggersdog]

A minter for a grand is a good buy.As Pete said they are gaining in value now and I think the later smoked lights cars look just right.I've owned a few and they drive very well (every one had a rusty OSR wheel arch though).

If you look through the paperwork I'm sure you will find the LPG system has been serviced at Salvatorie's in Westwood (the best for miles around IMO) judging by the look of the car.

[morris_ital_lover]

A mint Beardmore and a perfect Scorpio in the same thread...

 

That looks to be a lovely purchase, what is it with shiters finding all this ex-showroom con tat these days!

 

m0rris

[Father Ted]

That looks fab-o.

Well done.

 

 

Not sure if I havent ridden in that Scorpio limmo in the first pic at Grandfatha teds funeral back in 97. If not that one, one very much like it owned by Browns.

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

A minter for a grand is a good buy.As Pete said they are gaining in value now and I think the later smoked lights cars look just right.I've owned a few and they drive very well (every one had a rusty OSR wheel arch though).

If you look through the paperwork I'm sure you will find the LPG system has been serviced at Salvatorie's in Westwood (the best for miles around IMO) judging by the look of the car.

 

I don't think the LPG system has ever been serviced- it's about 4 years old, the previous owner had been a bit of a tightwad (that's why he did the conversion, too!), and the chap that sold it to me has such a big fleet that he obviously does very few miles in any given car. In fact, he'd only bought it by chance- the previous owner was a fellow Scorpio forum member, and he thought he'd boost the auction price by bidding 20-30 quid extra but in the end nobody else bothered to counter that bid!

 

Therefore an LPG filter/service is the only job that I have in mind for the foreseeable future (even the oil was changed 600 miles ago).

[barefoot]

I think it looks nice & as I was saying to the current Lady barefoot,

"I can barely remember the last time I saw a grandad 3"

TBH I don't think she gave a fuckeroonington.

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

I think it looks nice & as I was saying to the current Lady barefoot,

"I can barely remember the last time I saw a grandad 3"

TBH I don't think she gave a fuckeroonington.

 

haha, but even this isn't a Granada 3...Grannies are getting pretty rare now!

[Barrett.in.the.USA]

Great buy LAU, there is no way anyone can accuse you of not having a proper luxobarge now. Love the limos and the Beardmore too.

 

I may be way, way off here but isn't a bag rather pricey for one of these? I thought they were firmly in $500* bilge territory now, or is that just the LPG conversion that sends the price up? Regardless of that this is still a proper nice motor. Will have to try one of these at some point.

 

 

*Still haven't worked out how to do a pound sign on this stupid Yankee laptop, soz

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

Even without factoring in the LPG, a pair of Monroe shocks for the self-levelling suspension will set you back 180 quid+fitting (it is possible to buy standard ones, but that kinda misses the point). Sorting the wheelarches would be another couple of hundred. Unless you manage to go to that chap and buy one of his limos, I wouldn't fancy your chances of finding another one that's got brand new shocks and spotless arches.

[Barrett.in.the.USA]

I bet Trigger could find one even nicer than yours for 35p and half a nectarine

[Albert Ross]

Parked at Sheffield railway station, I'm surprised you didn't get a fare for the journey home! It's like mine, but nicer!

[Cavcraft]

I bet Trigger could find one even nicer than yours for 35p and half a nectarine

 

 

Top work Luxo, like you say it paid off waiting forund for a while.

[scaryoldcortina]

It's like mine, but working!

 

EFA...

 

Also well done! I'd been dreading coming on here this morning but

[boobydoo]

That's very nice. I'm not the biggest fan of Fords...but these I actually do like! Probably coz nobody liked them when they came out which makes it a winner in my book!

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

Parked at Sheffield railway station, I'm surprised you didn't get a fare for the journey home! It's like mine, but nicer!

 

I didn't park there- only stopped to take a pic under some kind of light.

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

I bet Trigger could find one even nicer than yours for 35p and half a nectarine

 

Personally, I think he can find a nicer one AND get paid to take it off the seller's hands!

[trigger]

[tonedepear]

Very very well played!

[cort16]

Words cannot describe how much I hated these when they came out but as the years roll by I find myself warming to the ugly big spud. There's not many clean ones out there so I think you've managed to get yourself a bit of a result there.

[wuvvum]

*Still haven't worked out how to do a pound sign on this stupid Yankee laptop, soz

Alt+156 should do it.

 

Nice purchase Lux - I've had a couple of Scorpio Ultimas and they're a thoroughly pleasant way to waft around.

[eddyramrod]

Compliments, Lux, and well deserved. Sounds like you had a great day with exactly the right result.

 

Barrett, don't worry, I haven't got a Pound sign on my Greek keyboard either! In fact even the Euro is a bit hidden, on the E key. I can see it, but I've only managed to access it once and can't remember what I did. I've got a Dollar though...

[wuvvum]

In fact even the Euro is a bit hidden, on the E key. I can see it, but I've only managed to access it once and can't remember what I did.

Ctrl+Alt+E gives you a Euro sign on some platforms. Failing that, Ctrl+Alt+4 usually works.