The Craziness Continues

[Accumulator 52]

It is probably a combination of all the things mentioned topped by a few very rich individuals who know nothing but have money burning a hole. They will of course be advised by others who claim to be experts and see a percentage in it for them.

Being a boring old git I remember the same thing happening in the classic car market in the late 80s, the prices of Astons and Ferraris went through the roof and inevitably crashed spectacularly a couple of years later. Famously, Lord Brockett tried to recoup his money by torching the lot and claiming the insurance. He was however found out and spent some time at Her Majesty's Pleasure. Meanwhile, us lowly Riley owners were scarcely touched by it all, a Grade 1 RME being catalogued at £3,600 before and after the shenanigans.

The moral is I guess, stay away from the top end of the market until those with a surfeit of cash over brains have come a cropper. At that point there should be a few bargains to be had even if a few prime specimens will have mysteriously melted in a fire.

Now I understand the 'Red Riley' moniker, Derek. Luckily I bought into a classic, from one of the brands you mentioned, at the bottom of the market in the early 2000's. Mine's also red and not been a bad investment despite the heavy annual service costs though, as I only drive it on the odd sunny Sunday, the cost per mile is something I don't want to know! There must be a few classic car owners amongst us?

I became a Triumphophile for a while. I had a 1200 Herald saloon (two-tone green), a 13/60 white Herald convertible, and a 1500 Mk IV Spitfire. My one and only mechanical claim to fame was rebuilding a 13/60 engine around a rebored crankshaft using a Haynes manual. Well, I did it once - why ever do it again? I would have liked a TR6 and a Stag, but those were out of reach.

Back in about 1980 I did a full re-build of a 1968 Porsche 911S engine using a Haynes manual... yes, they really did publish one! Can't imagine many owners doing that these days.

[Accumulator 52]

Here it is (back in the day):

[DaveG38 405]

It is probably a combination of all the things mentioned topped by a few very rich individuals who know nothing but have money burning a hole. They will of course be advised by others who claim to be experts and see a percentage in it for them.

Being a boring old git I remember the same thing happening in the classic car market in the late 80s, the prices of Astons and Ferraris went through the roof and inevitably crashed spectacularly a couple of years later. Famously, Lord Brockett tried to recoup his money by torching the lot and claiming the insurance. He was however found out and spent some time at Her Majesty's Pleasure. Meanwhile, us lowly Riley owners were scarcely touched by it all, a Grade 1 RME being catalogued at £3,600 before and after the shenanigans.

The moral is I guess, stay away from the top end of the market until those with a surfeit of cash over brains have come a cropper. At that point there should be a few bargains to be had even if a few prime specimens will have mysteriously melted in a fire.

Now I understand the 'Red Riley' moniker, Derek. Luckily I bought into a classic, from one of the brands you mentioned, at the bottom of the market in the early 2000's. Mine's also red and not been a bad investment despite the heavy annual service costs though, as I only drive it on the odd sunny Sunday, the cost per mile is something I don't want to know! There must be a few classic car owners amongst us?

I always regretted not buying an Aston martin DBSV8 back in 1986 or so, when it could have been had for £17k. By 1990 the price had leapt up to around £90k, before coming right vback down again during the late 90s, to more the sensible £20k mark. However, instead of buying one and looking after it, I succumbed to the entreaties of my missus and bought a white Volvo P1800 - remember the Saint? Still got it and last year spent many happy(?) hours dealing with seized brakes and a blown head gasket, quite apart from the 'fun' of dealing with it's instruments, most of which seem no longer to work. The net result of wonership over some 13 years is that is that the value has probably increased by about 10% if I'm lucky, and that doesn't take account of all the costs of parts etc.

By comparison, Astons have near on doubled their price over the same period and are going off into the stratosphere again - drat and double drat.I shall have to wait for prices to fall again before I can afford one. Even the more reasonable classics, such as the E-type are going off the scale. The only ones that aren't are Volvos!

[DaveG38 405]

It is probably a combination of all the things mentioned topped by a few very rich individuals who know nothing but have money burning a hole. They will of course be advised by others who claim to be experts and see a percentage in it for them.

Being a boring old git I remember the same thing happening in the classic car market in the late 80s, the prices of Astons and Ferraris went through the roof and inevitably crashed spectacularly a couple of years later. Famously, Lord Brockett tried to recoup his money by torching the lot and claiming the insurance. He was however found out and spent some time at Her Majesty's Pleasure. Meanwhile, us lowly Riley owners were scarcely touched by it all, a Grade 1 RME being catalogued at £3,600 before and after the shenanigans.

The moral is I guess, stay away from the top end of the market until those with a surfeit of cash over brains have come a cropper. At that point there should be a few bargains to be had even if a few prime specimens will have mysteriously melted in a fire.

Now I understand the 'Red Riley' moniker, Derek. Luckily I bought into a classic, from one of the brands you mentioned, at the bottom of the market in the early 2000's. Mine's also red and not been a bad investment despite the heavy annual service costs though, as I only drive it on the odd sunny Sunday, the cost per mile is something I don't want to know! There must be a few classic car owners amongst us?

I always regretted not buying an Aston Martin DBSV8 back in 1986 or so, when it could have been had for £17k. By 1990 the price had leapt up to around £90k, before coming right back down again during the late 90s, to more the sensible £20k mark. However, instead of buying one and looking after it, I succumbed to the entreaties of my missus and bought a white Volvo P1800 - remember the Saint? Still got it and last year spent many happy(?) hours dealing with seized brakes and a blown head gasket, quite apart from the 'fun' of dealing with it's instruments, most of which seem no longer to work. The net result of ownership over some 13 years is that is that the value has probably increased by about 10% if I'm lucky, and that doesn't take account of all the costs of parts etc.

By comparison, Astons have near on doubled their price over the same period and are going off into the stratosphere again - drat and double drat. I shall have to wait for prices to fall again before I can afford one. Even the more reasonable classics, such as the E-type are going off the scale. The only ones that aren't are Volvos!

[Accumulator 52]

It is probably a combination of all the things mentioned topped by a few very rich individuals who know nothing but have money burning a hole. They will of course be advised by others who claim to be experts and see a percentage in it for them.

Being a boring old git I remember the same thing happening in the classic car market in the late 80s, the prices of Astons and Ferraris went through the roof and inevitably crashed spectacularly a couple of years later. Famously, Lord Brockett tried to recoup his money by torching the lot and claiming the insurance. He was however found out and spent some time at Her Majesty's Pleasure. Meanwhile, us lowly Riley owners were scarcely touched by it all, a Grade 1 RME being catalogued at £3,600 before and after the shenanigans.

The moral is I guess, stay away from the top end of the market until those with a surfeit of cash over brains have come a cropper. At that point there should be a few bargains to be had even if a few prime specimens will have mysteriously melted in a fire.

Now I understand the 'Red Riley' moniker, Derek. Luckily I bought into a classic, from one of the brands you mentioned, at the bottom of the market in the early 2000's. Mine's also red and not been a bad investment despite the heavy annual service costs though, as I only drive it on the odd sunny Sunday, the cost per mile is something I don't want to know! There must be a few classic car owners amongst us?

I always regretted not buying an Aston Martin DBSV8 back in 1986 or so, when it could have been had for £17k. By 1990 the price had leapt up to around £90k, before coming right back down again during the late 90s, to more the sensible £20k mark. However, instead of buying one and looking after it, I succumbed to the entreaties of my missus and bought a white Volvo P1800 - remember the Saint? Still got it and last year spent many happy(?) hours dealing with seized brakes and a blown head gasket, quite apart from the 'fun' of dealing with it's instruments, most of which seem no longer to work. The net result of ownership over some 13 years is that is that the value has probably increased by about 10% if I'm lucky, and that doesn't take account of all the costs of parts etc.

By comparison, Astons have near on doubled their price over the same period and are going off into the stratosphere again - drat and double drat. I shall have to wait for prices to fall again before I can afford one. Even the more reasonable classics, such as the E-type are going off the scale. The only ones that aren't are Volvos!

I've always thought the Volvo P1800 a stunning car, much like the Karmann Ghia. I was never a fan of the DBS, just too big and bulky for my taste. My Aston favourite will always be the DB5.

[Coinery 1,153]

Apologies for side-tracking the classic cars (my first PROPER classic was a Jaguar 420G, would have loved an XK150, but alas) but returning to the title, an apparently 'UNC' EDVII 1902 halfcrown went on eBay tonight for £330 + post, how did that happen? You couldn't even tell if it had full lustre from the photo, or any at all for that matter, not to mention it would have been difficult to grade much over EF from the images! I had a go at it, around the EF mark, but wouldn't even have bought one side of it with my bid (150786453548)!

[Coinery 1,153]

Apologies for side-tracking the classic cars (my first PROPER classic was a Jaguar 420G, would have loved an XK150, but alas) but returning to the title, an apparently 'UNC' EDVII 1902 halfcrown went on eBay tonight for £330 + post, how did that happen? You couldn't even tell if it had full lustre from the photo, or any at all for that matter, not to mention it would have been difficult to grade much over EF from the images! I had a go at it, around the EF mark, but wouldn't even have bought one side of it with my bid (150786453548)!

I have got to confess on revisiting the images, that it is somewhere near the grade, but there is little to point at the FDC price it achieved, certainly not in my humble opinion! I lost out regardless!

[argentumandcoins 70]

Apologies for side-tracking the classic cars (my first PROPER classic was a Jaguar 420G, would have loved an XK150, but alas) but returning to the title, an apparently 'UNC' EDVII 1902 halfcrown went on eBay tonight for £330 + post, how did that happen? You couldn't even tell if it had full lustre from the photo, or any at all for that matter, not to mention it would have been difficult to grade much over EF from the images! I had a go at it, around the EF mark, but wouldn't even have bought one side of it with my bid (150786453548)!

I have got to confess on revisiting the images, that it is somewhere near the grade, but there is little to point at the FDC price it achieved, certainly not in my humble opinion! I lost out regardless!

A few problems with using ebay as a barometer of market prices;

It looks like a proof from the pics although the obverse scuffs knock it down quite a bit in price.

A sold price on ebay is not always a true price as we know there are sometimes bids that are not real bids shown on items (I am not alleging that here just stating a fact).

Novice bidding can often be frenetic and totally off the wall, pushing prices into stellar proportions.

Finally, why not check Chris, Rob, Derek, Bob or my sites for a realistic (ish in my case) price on something you may want to know the price of if you were "in the market"

I have a proof on for £150 that I should probably auction on ebay looking at that result!

Edited March 31, 2012 by argentumandcoins

[Coinery 1,153]

I'm wondering whether British coins are now being collected more widely, internationally that is? Around 75% of what I'm selling has gone to the US, Aus, Hong Kong, even Taiwan. The last five coins over £1K that I've sold, gothic crown, anne gold, charles crown, etc, all went overseas. How many of us are buying from overseas? Is the UK pot getting smaller? Also, whilst I don't actually know this, as I neither follow, nor understand, the complexities of the world economy, but are people buying from abroad at 'regular' prices for them, when taking the exchange rate into account, leaving the UK buyers paying with GBP with nothing but saliva dribbling down his chin?

It isn't as clear cut as you might think. Americans view our coins as cheap. That's why a 1901 1d sold for $600 in a US saleroom - finest known, i.e.highest graded equals worth paying megabucks. This country is not unreasonably the largest source of British coins, which means that any overseas interest will look to these shores when trying to buy the series. The internet has unquestionaly made buying easier for a worldwide customer base, but the real driver of prices will ultimately be the same old boring supply and demand. The finite numbers of coins available are augmented daily by detector finds, but the old cabinet toned rarities that have been sought ever since collectors existed are the real prize. There are now a lot more people chasing the limited numbers available, and we can't all have one. A few very wealthy individuals will pick up more than the likes of me and you, but it is only a relative thing. Even the less affluent collector can win something he or she desires if he is prepared to push the boat out, even if only on a very occasional basis. It was ever the same with a clear pecking order amongst collectors even back into the 19th century.

Looking from the other side though, more than one person on this forum has spent quite a bit in CNG sales or from their shop, so it isn't all one way. The exchange rate has been quite stable for a while and so currency volatility isn't really an issue. It has been in the past and will be again in the future, but the climate is benign at the moment. There is a ready supply of money from both sides of the Atlantic for the right pieces, and both sides will compete on fairly equal terms.

It's certainly interesting to see how coins bounce back and forth across the pond!

One of the first 'proper' coins I ever bought for myself was a common enough, but really pretty, martlet XII of Elizabeth. I had to part with that coin soon after I bought it, and was surprised to double my money in a sale to Canada.

Two years later, I spotted if for sale on eBay, but now in the hands of a UK seller. Call it luck, but I won it for less than I paid for it the first time around, and then re-presented it for sale, where I took my second handshake from the coin, and posted it back over the pond!

I'd very much like to have it back at this point in my life, I wouldn't sell it a third time!

[azda 979]

Apologies for side-tracking the classic cars (my first PROPER classic was a Jaguar 420G, would have loved an XK150, but alas) but returning to the title, an apparently 'UNC' EDVII 1902 halfcrown went on eBay tonight for £330 + post, how did that happen? You couldn't even tell if it had full lustre from the photo, or any at all for that matter, not to mention it would have been difficult to grade much over EF from the images! I had a go at it, around the EF mark, but wouldn't even have bought one side of it with my bid (150786453548)!

Maybe take a good look at the ebay seller ID and see what you spot. To give you a little hint, there's a * in the name, so i would'nt trust that price what so ever

[Coinery 1,153]

Apologies for side-tracking the classic cars (my first PROPER classic was a Jaguar 420G, would have loved an XK150, but alas) but returning to the title, an apparently 'UNC' EDVII 1902 halfcrown went on eBay tonight for £330 + post, how did that happen? You couldn't even tell if it had full lustre from the photo, or any at all for that matter, not to mention it would have been difficult to grade much over EF from the images! I had a go at it, around the EF mark, but wouldn't even have bought one side of it with my bid (150786453548)!

Maybe take a good look at the ebay seller ID and see what you spot. To give you a little hint, there's a * in the name, so i would'nt trust that price what so ever

You've got me there, Azda, what do you mean? If it was shill bidded, there's still £33 to pay in fees! And why bid up your own item that high, surely it suggests there was still someone willing to pay over £300?

As I said, though, the coin may well have been UNC, but without having it in hand, and no talk in the description about lustre, etc, I couldn't even conceive of a bid at half of what it went for!

[Nick 329]

Apologies for side-tracking the classic cars (my first PROPER classic was a Jaguar 420G, would have loved an XK150, but alas) but returning to the title, an apparently 'UNC' EDVII 1902 halfcrown went on eBay tonight for £330 + post, how did that happen? You couldn't even tell if it had full lustre from the photo, or any at all for that matter, not to mention it would have been difficult to grade much over EF from the images! I had a go at it, around the EF mark, but wouldn't even have bought one side of it with my bid (150786453548)!

Maybe take a good look at the ebay seller ID and see what you spot. To give you a little hint, there's a * in the name, so i would'nt trust that price what so ever

You've got me there, Azda, what do you mean? If it was shill bidded, there's still £33 to pay in fees! And why bid up your own item that high, surely it suggests there was still someone willing to pay over £300?

As I said, though, the coin may well have been UNC, but without having it in hand, and no talk in the description about lustre, etc, I couldn't even conceive of a bid at half of what it went for!

That was one of the sellers with whom there was more than a whiff of collusion between him and other eBay sellers with similarly styled names. The coin definitely looks to be a proof though, not a currency piece.

[azda 979]

Apologies for side-tracking the classic cars (my first PROPER classic was a Jaguar 420G, would have loved an XK150, but alas) but returning to the title, an apparently 'UNC' EDVII 1902 halfcrown went on eBay tonight for £330 + post, how did that happen? You couldn't even tell if it had full lustre from the photo, or any at all for that matter, not to mention it would have been difficult to grade much over EF from the images! I had a go at it, around the EF mark, but wouldn't even have bought one side of it with my bid (150786453548)!

Maybe take a good look at the ebay seller ID and see what you spot. To give you a little hint, there's a * in the name, so i would'nt trust that price what so ever

You've got me there, Azda, what do you mean? If it was shill bidded, there's still £33 to pay in fees! And why bid up your own item that high, surely it suggests there was still someone willing to pay over £300?

As I said, though, the coin may well have been UNC, but without having it in hand, and no talk in the description about lustre, etc, I couldn't even conceive of a bid at half of what it went for!

That was one of the sellers with whom there was more than a whiff of collusion between him and other eBay sellers with similarly styled names. The coin definitely looks to be a proof though, not a currency piece.

Correct on all counts Nick

[Coinery 1,153]

Apologies for side-tracking the classic cars (my first PROPER classic was a Jaguar 420G, would have loved an XK150, but alas) but returning to the title, an apparently 'UNC' EDVII 1902 halfcrown went on eBay tonight for £330 + post, how did that happen? You couldn't even tell if it had full lustre from the photo, or any at all for that matter, not to mention it would have been difficult to grade much over EF from the images! I had a go at it, around the EF mark, but wouldn't even have bought one side of it with my bid (150786453548)!

Maybe take a good look at the ebay seller ID and see what you spot. To give you a little hint, there's a * in the name, so i would'nt trust that price what so ever

You've got me there, Azda, what do you mean? If it was shill bidded, there's still £33 to pay in fees! And why bid up your own item that high, surely it suggests there was still someone willing to pay over £300?

As I said, though, the coin may well have been UNC, but without having it in hand, and no talk in the description about lustre, etc, I couldn't even conceive of a bid at half of what it went for!

That was one of the sellers with whom there was more than a whiff of collusion between him and other eBay sellers with similarly styled names. The coin definitely looks to be a proof though, not a currency piece.

Correct on all counts Nick

Ah, right, the penny's dropped! :-)

[Peckris 579]

This is one of the Heralds :

[Peckris 579]

And the other ...

[Accumulator 52]

And the other ...

Loved those cars. As a youth, one of my friends had the Vitesse. Bit like the TR6, way too much performance for the chassis though.

[Peter 615]

Heralds had a fantastic turning circle....although my Morris Marina 1.8 super coupe delux was the dogs.I rebuilt the engine...you could always smell a knackered Leyland...and then I got my 1st company car a brown 1.1 escort which I nicknamed "the turd"this was replaced by a spanking new 1.3 escort.WOW

[DaveG38 405]

It is probably a combination of all the things mentioned topped by a few very rich individuals who know nothing but have money burning a hole. They will of course be advised by others who claim to be experts and see a percentage in it for them.

Being a boring old git I remember the same thing happening in the classic car market in the late 80s, the prices of Astons and Ferraris went through the roof and inevitably crashed spectacularly a couple of years later. Famously, Lord Brockett tried to recoup his money by torching the lot and claiming the insurance. He was however found out and spent some time at Her Majesty's Pleasure. Meanwhile, us lowly Riley owners were scarcely touched by it all, a Grade 1 RME being catalogued at £3,600 before and after the shenanigans.

The moral is I guess, stay away from the top end of the market until those with a surfeit of cash over brains have come a cropper. At that point there should be a few bargains to be had even if a few prime specimens will have mysteriously melted in a fire.

Now I understand the 'Red Riley' moniker, Derek. Luckily I bought into a classic, from one of the brands you mentioned, at the bottom of the market in the early 2000's. Mine's also red and not been a bad investment despite the heavy annual service costs though, as I only drive it on the odd sunny Sunday, the cost per mile is something I don't want to know! There must be a few classic car owners amongst us?

I always regretted not buying an Aston Martin DBSV8 back in 1986 or so, when it could have been had for £17k. By 1990 the price had leapt up to around £90k, before coming right back down again during the late 90s, to more the sensible £20k mark. However, instead of buying one and looking after it, I succumbed to the entreaties of my missus and bought a white Volvo P1800 - remember the Saint? Still got it and last year spent many happy(?) hours dealing with seized brakes and a blown head gasket, quite apart from the 'fun' of dealing with it's instruments, most of which seem no longer to work. The net result of ownership over some 13 years is that is that the value has probably increased by about 10% if I'm lucky, and that doesn't take account of all the costs of parts etc.

By comparison, Astons have near on doubled their price over the same period and are going off into the stratosphere again - drat and double drat. I shall have to wait for prices to fall again before I can afford one. Even the more reasonable classics, such as the E-type are going off the scale. The only ones that aren't are Volvos!

I've always thought the Volvo P1800 a stunning car, much like the Karmann Ghia. I was never a fan of the DBS, just too big and bulky for my taste. My Aston favourite will always be the DB5.

I agree about the styling - I can't believe that Volvo ever came up with it, let alone put it into production. However, it also has stunningly lousy performance, even by the standards of the day, probably because of it's weight. Mine is a 1965 model and when I recently took the door panels off to sort out the window runners, I was amazed to find that even back then it had side impact bars. The body work steel seems to be about a half inch thick, so all together it's no wonder the performance is poor. By contrast the 5.4 litre Aston engine - sighs in delight - for me it's the difference between a BU 1689 halfpenny and a VF 1845. No contest.

I must say that if I do go for another classic, I might just be tempted by a Jensen Interceptor. Performance isn't much short of the Aston, parts are much cheaper, cubic capcity is enormous and the styling again is brilliant. And more importantly, the price is under half that of an Aston. On the other hand, that's a whole lot of coins I shall have to forego! Mmmm, tricky decision.

[Accumulator 52]

It is probably a combination of all the things mentioned topped by a few very rich individuals who know nothing but have money burning a hole. They will of course be advised by others who claim to be experts and see a percentage in it for them.

Being a boring old git I remember the same thing happening in the classic car market in the late 80s, the prices of Astons and Ferraris went through the roof and inevitably crashed spectacularly a couple of years later. Famously, Lord Brockett tried to recoup his money by torching the lot and claiming the insurance. He was however found out and spent some time at Her Majesty's Pleasure. Meanwhile, us lowly Riley owners were scarcely touched by it all, a Grade 1 RME being catalogued at £3,600 before and after the shenanigans.

The moral is I guess, stay away from the top end of the market until those with a surfeit of cash over brains have come a cropper. At that point there should be a few bargains to be had even if a few prime specimens will have mysteriously melted in a fire.

Now I understand the 'Red Riley' moniker, Derek. Luckily I bought into a classic, from one of the brands you mentioned, at the bottom of the market in the early 2000's. Mine's also red and not been a bad investment despite the heavy annual service costs though, as I only drive it on the odd sunny Sunday, the cost per mile is something I don't want to know! There must be a few classic car owners amongst us?

I always regretted not buying an Aston Martin DBSV8 back in 1986 or so, when it could have been had for £17k. By 1990 the price had leapt up to around £90k, before coming right back down again during the late 90s, to more the sensible £20k mark. However, instead of buying one and looking after it, I succumbed to the entreaties of my missus and bought a white Volvo P1800 - remember the Saint? Still got it and last year spent many happy(?) hours dealing with seized brakes and a blown head gasket, quite apart from the 'fun' of dealing with it's instruments, most of which seem no longer to work. The net result of ownership over some 13 years is that is that the value has probably increased by about 10% if I'm lucky, and that doesn't take account of all the costs of parts etc.

By comparison, Astons have near on doubled their price over the same period and are going off into the stratosphere again - drat and double drat. I shall have to wait for prices to fall again before I can afford one. Even the more reasonable classics, such as the E-type are going off the scale. The only ones that aren't are Volvos!

I've always thought the Volvo P1800 a stunning car, much like the Karmann Ghia. I was never a fan of the DBS, just too big and bulky for my taste. My Aston favourite will always be the DB5.

I agree about the styling - I can't believe that Volvo ever came up with it, let alone put it into production. However, it also has stunningly lousy performance, even by the standards of the day, probably because of it's weight. Mine is a 1965 model and when I recently took the door panels off to sort out the window runners, I was amazed to find that even back then it had side impact bars. The body work steel seems to be about a half inch thick, so all together it's no wonder the performance is poor. By contrast the 5.4 litre Aston engine - sighs in delight - for me it's the difference between a BU 1689 halfpenny and a VF 1845. No contest.

I must say that if I do go for another classic, I might just be tempted by a Jensen Interceptor. Performance isn't much short of the Aston, parts are much cheaper, cubic capcity is enormous and the styling again is brilliant. And more importantly, the price is under half that of an Aston. On the other hand, that's a whole lot of coins I shall have to forego! Mmmm, tricky decision.

The V8 Aston engines are gorgeous and I've always had a soft spot for the Jensen. The engine in my classic toy is different altogether

[Peckris 579]

And the other ...

Loved those cars. As a youth, one of my friends had the Vitesse. Bit like the TR6, way too much performance for the chassis though.

Yes - you had to VERY careful about cornering in one of those in case the rear end came round to shake hands with the front end

Heralds had a fantastic turning circle....although my Morris Marina 1.8 super coupe delux was the dogs.I rebuilt the engine...you could always smell a knackered Leyland...and then I got my 1st company car a brown 1.1 escort which I nicknamed "the turd"this was replaced by a spanking new 1.3 escort.WOW

That's very true, supposed to be the equal or better than a London taxi. Parking was brilliant - you could get into spaces with less than six inches clearance front and back.

[DaveG38 405]

It is probably a combination of all the things mentioned topped by a few very rich individuals who know nothing but have money burning a hole. They will of course be advised by others who claim to be experts and see a percentage in it for them.

Being a boring old git I remember the same thing happening in the classic car market in the late 80s, the prices of Astons and Ferraris went through the roof and inevitably crashed spectacularly a couple of years later. Famously, Lord Brockett tried to recoup his money by torching the lot and claiming the insurance. He was however found out and spent some time at Her Majesty's Pleasure. Meanwhile, us lowly Riley owners were scarcely touched by it all, a Grade 1 RME being catalogued at £3,600 before and after the shenanigans.

The moral is I guess, stay away from the top end of the market until those with a surfeit of cash over brains have come a cropper. At that point there should be a few bargains to be had even if a few prime specimens will have mysteriously melted in a fire.

Now I understand the 'Red Riley' moniker, Derek. Luckily I bought into a classic, from one of the brands you mentioned, at the bottom of the market in the early 2000's. Mine's also red and not been a bad investment despite the heavy annual service costs though, as I only drive it on the odd sunny Sunday, the cost per mile is something I don't want to know! There must be a few classic car owners amongst us?

I always regretted not buying an Aston Martin DBSV8 back in 1986 or so, when it could have been had for £17k. By 1990 the price had leapt up to around £90k, before coming right back down again during the late 90s, to more the sensible £20k mark. However, instead of buying one and looking after it, I succumbed to the entreaties of my missus and bought a white Volvo P1800 - remember the Saint? Still got it and last year spent many happy(?) hours dealing with seized brakes and a blown head gasket, quite apart from the 'fun' of dealing with it's instruments, most of which seem no longer to work. The net result of ownership over some 13 years is that is that the value has probably increased by about 10% if I'm lucky, and that doesn't take account of all the costs of parts etc.

By comparison, Astons have near on doubled their price over the same period and are going off into the stratosphere again - drat and double drat. I shall have to wait for prices to fall again before I can afford one. Even the more reasonable classics, such as the E-type are going off the scale. The only ones that aren't are Volvos!

I've always thought the Volvo P1800 a stunning car, much like the Karmann Ghia. I was never a fan of the DBS, just too big and bulky for my taste. My Aston favourite will always be the DB5.

I agree about the styling - I can't believe that Volvo ever came up with it, let alone put it into production. However, it also has stunningly lousy performance, even by the standards of the day, probably because of it's weight. Mine is a 1965 model and when I recently took the door panels off to sort out the window runners, I was amazed to find that even back then it had side impact bars. The body work steel seems to be about a half inch thick, so all together it's no wonder the performance is poor. By contrast the 5.4 litre Aston engine - sighs in delight - for me it's the difference between a BU 1689 halfpenny and a VF 1845. No contest.

I must say that if I do go for another classic, I might just be tempted by a Jensen Interceptor. Performance isn't much short of the Aston, parts are much cheaper, cubic capcity is enormous and the styling again is brilliant. And more importantly, the price is under half that of an Aston. On the other hand, that's a whole lot of coins I shall have to forego! Mmmm, tricky decision.

The V8 Aston engines are gorgeous and I've always had a soft spot for the Jensen. The engine in my classic toy is different altogether

Mmmmm, VERY nice. Makes my Volvo engine look like a clear date Victorian penny!

[coin watch 1]

Great cars!! I fully appreciate a decent vintage! though I hate driving today!

Anyway just getting back to coins on this nice sunny Sunday afternoon, which incidentlly I was feeling very happy with until I read some of these posts! Again I can't help but feel negative agian about these latest price trends in the auctions. OK the prices have increased beyond my aim for the better top end coins that interest me, so as a collector I am now left with the moderate 'run of the mill' coins!?! So what now?....More of a concern is the lack of interest in the coins that fit into the next grade down, I don't mean the Ebay fodder, but the moderate coin even with a 'ticket' which in some cases not reaching the estimate as shown in this Spink auction and others.

Oh well maybe I should aim for these lower grades for a possible bargain.....or are they?

Help very low again with collecting!!!!

[Coinery 1,153]

Great cars!! I fully appreciate a decent vintage! though I hate driving today!

Anyway just getting back to coins on this nice sunny Sunday afternoon, which incidentlly I was feeling very happy with until I read some of these posts! Again I can't help but feel negative agian about these latest price trends in the auctions. OK the prices have increased beyond my aim for the better top end coins that interest me, so as a collector I am now left with the moderate 'run of the mill' coins!?! So what now?....More of a concern is the lack of interest in the coins that fit into the next grade down, I don't mean the Ebay fodder, but the moderate coin even with a 'ticket' which in some cases not reaching the estimate as shown in this Spink auction and others.

Oh well maybe I should aim for these lower grades for a possible bargain.....or are they?

Help very low again with collecting!!!!

I guess this is what happens! When the cream gets too hot, we all step down a grade, or stop buying coins, which eventually revives that slack market, which in turn drives those who have been happy collecting the VF coinage into scratching around in the buckets (more or less).

[coin watch 1]

Hhmmm, this is not really helping my negative collecting vibes! someone please make me feel better with collecting VF's!!

I'm off for a walk in the garden to smell the roses!!!!