Details on potential buy for a newbie

[berjjj]

Hi all,

After years of lusting after one I've decided to pull finger and hunt down a 1200 coupe before prices get out of reach.
have found this example,
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing ... =765688968" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
however running the plate returns details for a ke20 corolla, and the general lack of info about it's history has me concerned.

Does anyone recognize this car?
Would like to get as much information as possible before purchasing from the other end of the country.

Any and all help would me much appreciated!

Cheers,
Berj

[2 doors]

hi berj, don't know the history, but happy to take a trip out and check it over for you, there are others on here who live in rangiora, and may make a similar offer of help, im a rust repair and paint guru, so if your really keen on it and want an honest assessment im happy to help out, but don't want to go out there if its a dream on your part.

no offence intended, but im a very busy guy and don't have huge amounts of spare time lol.

[berjjj]

Thanks for the offer.
I'm definitely serious about the car. Have sent the seller a few questions and awaiting a reply, if they are open to it your help would be great, especially when it comes to the state of the chassis as it seems to have had a respray (in the engine bay at least).

[Naki-Fisher]

Hey Berjjj
it dose stat that the Rego is dead mate so take this into account, if you can find some live plates you would have a score but without plates there is a bit of a hassle to go through exactly what I'm not sure but worth looking into.

The cage is no more than a couple of bars in it and if you were to put it back on the road you'd probably cut it out or have to cert it.

At 3 and a half grand with dead plates it's up there and 2 doors offer is very kind but there maybe better options out there.
the A14 shouldn't need a cert, the twin carbs should also be OK depending on who you go to.
Things to consider:
Re-rego $1500
Certs if need be $500

So potentially you are looking at a spend of $5500 to get it on the road but if it dose not have bad rust in the common places, under the dash, floor, sills, rear corners under the bonnet and rear quarters and the bones of it are good i.e. rust free it would be a good starting point.

otherwise turn it into a racecar

Not trying to destroy your dream mate but sometimes its better to keep saving and but a minter.

[berjjj]

Hi Naki-Fisher,

Thank you for all the advice.
Last I registered a car it was circa $500, this was with dead plates also. As long as there is some record of the vehicle being registered on NZ roads at one time or another the costs are reduced greatly due to no need for the full compliance check. I believe the $1500 you mentioned is applicable to imports or cars that are assumed to have never been registered in NZ previously.
All I needed was to sign a declaration of ownership verified by a JP, and a notice from the police noting the chassis wasn't of interest to them. Then going to vtnz and having what seemed like a WOF test, but quite a bit more intensive.
If this car is to the standards suggested in auction, I would be removing the cage, finding original seats, and hopefully not need an LVV cert either.
(This was all a few years ago though)
It all boils down to the condition of the chassis really.
Original plates just help a whole lot when tracking info down, and you can use those plates to register the car again as long as it hasn't been taken by another vehicle since (black plates are ideal haha). Just have to email the right person before going through the registration process.

Sorry if the above was a bit long winded, thought it would be good information regardless.

From what I've seen online at least, 1200 coupes seem to be going for 3 times as much as this one, but if you know of any that are well priced, do let me know!

Cheers

[Bartman]

Hey Berjjj,
I recognise your name off oldschool.
If 2doors goes out for a look, I'd quite like to come too. We can note the Chassis number, and there are ways and means for finding out the old rego number from that. That paint bothers me tbh. It's a bit too shiney, and kind of says to me "Im hiding some evil repairs".........
But if it's not fucked, it's probably as good as you'll find in that price bracket in today's market. Warrick has rebuilt many a rusty 1200 (He's doing some more work on mine soon too) So he knows what to look for, and where.
Sedans only had a body tag which is easily swapped out. But the coupes were all japanese assembled, and also have the Chassis number stamped in the firewall. Which is worth looking into, in case the rego was put onto another car.

[DylPhil7]

Thats why I love this club, Good cunts helping new cunts straight off the bat.

[berjjj]

Hey Berjjj,
I recognise your name off oldschool.
If 2doors goes out for a look, I'd quite like to come too. We can note the Chassis number, and there are ways and means for finding out the old rego number from that. That paint bothers me tbh. It's a bit too shiney, and kind of says to me "Im hiding some evil repairs".........
But if it's not fucked, it's probably as good as you'll find in that price bracket in today's market. Warrick has rebuilt many a rusty 1200 (He's doing some more work on mine soon too) So he knows what to look for, and where.
Sedans only had a body tag which is easily swapped out. But the coupes were all japanese assembled, and also have the Chassis number stamped in the firewall. Which is worth looking into, in case the rego was put onto another car.

That would be awesome Bartman (small world eh).
Once I get some sort of response from him, I'll definitely take you and 2 doors up on those offers.
Would be a bit difficult to send a box of beers down, but I'll find some way of reimbursing you for your time!
Glad the coupe's are a bit more difficult to bodge up though.

Thats why I love this club, Good cunts helping new cunts straight off the bat.

Couldn't have asked for a better response

[2 doors]

ill chase the seller up tomorrow ,and bart and I can go for a look, happy to help. and your correct with the rego, around $500 .

it will be in the system, as bart said these were Japanese assembled, cant see it being here 42 years and not having been on the road previous. just a case of making sure its not stolen

[berjjj]

That's brilliant, thank you.

Will PM you my contact details.