This weeks Classic Irish bargains that I'm not buying

elperello

https://www.donedeal.ie/vintagecars-for-sale/opel-ascona/28292564

Only two pics and the seller is a man of few words.

On the plus side it looks solid and he's not asking the earth.

unkel

Never had an NCT. What's the chance it's not a complete rot box? 10%?

elperello

unkel wrote: »

Never had an NCT. What's the chance it's not a complete rot box? 10%?

Could well be a rot box but you'd have to inspect to know.

On the other hand it was an old car before NCT came in and maybe, just maybe, it had engine trouble and got parked up in a dry shed.

In two years time it won't need an NCT anyway.

unkel

elperello wrote: »

In two years time it won't need an NCT anyway.

Am I the only one to think it's not really a good idea to have all these cars that were never tested (many of which are rot boxes) suddenly become exempt? Would be better to only get an exemption if the car was tested at the time it hit 40 years old.

Not an attack at you BTW, I agree with your point.

elperello

unkel wrote: »

Am I the only one to think it's not really a good idea to have all these cars that were never tested (many of which are rot boxes) suddenly become exempt? Would be better to only get an exemption if the car was tested at the time it hit 40 years old.

Not an attack at you BTW, I agree with your point.

I'd imagine there are not all that many cars involved but that's an interesting idea.

A kind of re-commissioning test and go on trust after that like everyone else?

There is of course an onus on all motorists to keep their vehicles in roadworthy condition at all times.

unkel

elperello wrote: »

There is of course an onus on all motorists to keep their vehicles in roadworthy condition at all times.

Yeah, but this is Ireland

No enforcement means no roadworthiness. Take a sample of classic cars for sale on DoneDeal and the overwhelming majority does not have a test. I'm not claiming to be a holy Joe here, my classic car for that I have for sale does not have a current test either. It was off the road for over a year. It is booked in for a test in a few weeks time and it passed its last test only a couple hundred miles ago.

But in general, it seems most people in Ireland don't give a rats about a car having tax, test or insurance. Free for all.

oceanman

unkel wrote: »

Am I the only one to think it's not really a good idea to have all these cars that were never tested (many of which are rot boxes) suddenly become exempt? Would be better to only get an exemption if the car was tested at the time it hit 40 years old.

Not an attack at you BTW, I agree with your point.

i think you might be the only one....

elperello

unkel wrote: »

Yeah, but this is Ireland

No enforcement means no roadworthiness. Take a sample of classic cars for sale on DoneDeal and the overwhelming majority does not have a test. I'm not claiming to be a holy Joe here, my classic car for that I have for sale does not have a current test either. It was off the road for over a year. It is booked in for a test in a few weeks time and it passed its last test only a couple hundred miles ago.

But in general, it seems most people in Ireland don't give a rats about a car having tax, test or insurance. Free for all.

I agree that like all laws this one should be enforced and people shouldn't be driving around in unroadworthy vehicles.

However it's sort of part and parcel of the classic car scene to have cars for sale with no test. There really is no way around it if we want to preserve the cars.

Cars which are restorable would end up being scrapped if they had to have a test before being sold.

Cars which are being sold after long term storage, illness or death of owner, lack of funds etc. would just moulder away or be scrapped if a lot of money was needed to make them roadworthy.

The idea that most people in Ireland don't care about tax, test and insurance is a bit of an overstatement.

unkel

elperello wrote: »

The idea that most people in Ireland don't care about tax, test and insurance is a bit of an overstatement.

Perhaps the bit about insurance is

Agree with the rest of your post. It would be a nonsense requirement for a car to have a valid current NCT at the point of sale. There really is no excuse for a near 40 year old car to never have had an NCT though.

Sam Russell

unkel wrote: »

Perhaps the bit about insurance is

Agree with the rest of your post. It would be a nonsense requirement for a car to have a valid current NCT at the point of sale. There really is no excuse for a near 40 year old car to never have had an NCT though.

Even a failed NCT might be a good idea.

If I buy a 40 year old wreck, having a failed NCT supplied with it might direct me in the direction of what needs to be attended to in order to make the vehicle road worthy. There could even be a simple road safety version of the test for such vehicles.

RobAMerc

they tried this pre sale inspection packs for houses and they couldnt make it fly, it wont for cars either.

The reality is selling a car that hasnt been on the road in 20 years without an NCT is fine because it was never compulsory. The issue is the whole NCT seems to be a grey area thats taken as a suggestion more than a rule.

I would scrap the 40 year no NCT rule. Sorry but if you are bringing a car onto the road it has to be proven road worthy. They should also enforce the NCT rules better with mandatory insurance and road tax checks for NCT

w124man

Most countries seem to have a 40 year rule, or something close to it. I would prefer to see anything after 1960 requiring an NCT for structural and safety items. I have seen far too many lovely looking 'minters' that are dangerous rot boxes. Of course, there would be nothing to stop the insurance industry introducing engineers reports from 40 years old.

slipperyox

40 year is a EU rule I believe, so no changing it

hamburg

elperello wrote: »

https://www.donedeal.ie/vintagecars-for-sale/renault-12tl/28262717

Renault 12 in Tyrone but original Dublin reg.

Complete with Axe the Tax sticker.

a neighbor of mine had one these,years ago when i was a boy. i seem to remember ,i could be wrong but wasn't there some sort of lever at the side of the headlight glass to adjust the light beam or something?

Sam Russell

hamburg wrote: »

a neighbor of mine had one these,years ago when i was a boy. i seem to remember ,i could be wrong but wasn't there some sort of lever at the side of the headlight glass to adjust the light beam or something?

I remember some Renaults had this because their suspension was so soft, a heavy load in the boot would set the headlights too high so that lever adjusted the lights down again. Off course that would not be allowed now. I think it was a French thing - yellow headlights, bouncy suspension, and rolling alarmingly on corners, but still hanging on - amazing.

CoBo55

Sam Russell wrote: »

I remember some Renaults had this because their suspension was so soft, a heavy load in the boot would set the headlights too high so that lever adjusted the lights down again. Off course that would not be allowed now. I think it was a French thing - yellow headlights, bouncy suspension, and rolling alarmingly on corners, but still hanging on - amazing.

The 4L definitely had them, a little white plastic lever. Ford had their own version on the square light version of the MK2 escort it was rolled up pieces of cardboard or the tapered end of a wooden clothes peg:pac:

Sam Russell

CoBo55 wrote: »

The 4L definitely had them, a little white plastic lever. Ford had their own version on the square light version of the MK2 escort it was rolled up pieces of cardboard or the tapered end of a wooden clothes peg:pac:

I had a VW Golf (2000) that had an adjustment for the headlights - a wheel next to the steering wheel (as far as I can recall). But Renault had a lever as part of the headlight.

Peew

unkel wrote: »

Am I the only one to think it's not really a good idea to have all these cars that were never tested (many of which are rot boxes) suddenly become exempt? Would be better to only get an exemption if the car was tested at the time it hit 40 years old.

Not an attack at you BTW, I agree with your point.

I agree, what happens with these non NCT cars if they ever have a claim, whether it be a tip or a glass claim.

Would the insurance company tell you to go whistle?

con747

1975 Daimler Vanden Plas 4.2 €1750 with possible link to Oliver Reed https://www.donedeal.ie/vintagecars-for-sale/1975-daimler-vanden-plas-4-2/28303206

oceanman

https://www.donedeal.ie/vintagecars-for-sale/cobra-kit-car/28302428
something different.

theoneeyedman

Sam Russell wrote: »

I remember some Renaults had this because their suspension was so soft, a heavy load in the boot would set the headlights too high so that lever adjusted the lights down again. Off course that would not be allowed now. I think it was a French thing - yellow headlights, bouncy suspension, and rolling alarmingly on corners, but still hanging on - amazing.

Most cars I've had over the last 20 years have a dial to adjust the headlights, mostly Toyotas, but not exclusive to them. I'd say most cars have them..... You might want to look at it again before you carry a load of passengers in the back

CoBo55

theoneeyedman wrote: »

Most cars I've had over the last 20 years have a dial to adjust the headlights, mostly Toyotas, but not exclusive to them. I'd say most cars have them..... You might want to look at it again before you carry a load of passengers in the back

The adjustment lever was outside beside the headlight, definitely wouldn't be allowed now. You could only lower the lights so they wouldn't blind other drivers.

Sam Russell

CoBo55 wrote: »

The adjustment lever was outside beside the headlight, definitely wouldn't be allowed now. You could only lower the lights so they wouldn't blind other drivers.

The original Citroen 2CV, at its most basic (even the highest spec ones were basic) had manual windscreen wipers - a lever inside the window operated by the driver - I kid you not.

French car designers of the day had an eye for basic designs and simple cheap solutions.

ba_barabus

The thing about those type of light adjusters is that people just don't use them when they need to and then get pissy when you flash them because they're blinding you.

CoBo55

Sam Russell wrote: »

The original Citroen 2CV, at its most basic (even the highest spec ones were basic) had manual windscreen wipers - a lever inside the window operated by the driver - I kid you not.

French car designers of the day had an eye for basic designs and simple cheap solutions.

Certainly better than the vacuum operated wipers Henry Ford lumbered people with!! The A class loco from the late 50s had vacuum operated wipers too, there was a lever on the back that the driver regularly used when vacuum was low, noisy feckers they were too...

26000 Elephants

Peew wrote: »

I agree, what happens with these non NCT cars if they ever have a claim, whether it be a tip or a glass claim.

Would the insurance company tell you to go whistle?

The responsibility lies with the driver to ensure their vehicle is in a safe and roadworthy condition - the NCT provides a check, but they are in no way liable. It was, and continues to be, the drivers responsibility.

Insurance companies will pay any 3rd party you injure, but could go after you if it can be proved that you drove an unsafe vehicle. Probably a civil prosecution too.

JabbaTheHut

This would be a bargain and a half if it's any way good. More than 4,000 views in 9 hours.

https://www.donedeal.ie/vintagecars-for-sale/bmw-e30/26233332

unkel

That's a steal. Nice find!

CoBo55

26000 Elephants wrote: »

The responsibility lies with the driver to ensure their vehicle is in a safe and roadworthy condition - the NCT provides a check, but they are in no way liable. It was, and continues to be, the drivers responsibility.

Insurance companies will pay any 3rd party you injure, but could go after you if it can be proved that you drove an unsafe vehicle. Probably a civil prosecution too.

I have never ever seen this happening, this line gets trotted out on boards regularly, maybe they'll cancel somebody's insurance but the type of person carrying on like that don't give a tupenny damn either way whether they're insured or not, or whether this week's crock they're driving is roadworthy or not.

CoBo55

JabbaTheHut wrote: »

This would be a bargain and a half if it's any way good. More than 4,000 views in 9 hours.

https://www.donedeal.ie/vintagecars-for-sale/bmw-e30/26233332

They are absolute buggers to rot, I looked at beautiful silver one a few years ago it really looked the business but underneath it was rotten. Be very very careful when viewing.