Then it starts,
"Eeh bah gum lad, ist tha on t'internet?"
"What?"
"Get thasen on t' eBay. Thers a car ther w' your nem writ reet ova it. Item number....."
"What?"
I phoned Steve and repeated what my man had said,
"What did he say, Steve?"
"Ay, they talk reet funny uvva ther."
"Don't you start, FFS, just tell me what he said. "
"There's a car on eBay you ought to buy. It might be cheap"
Now that word will alwsys attract the interest of a
Yorkshireman or a Scot and despite his vertically challenged frame and funny voice, my man does know his old BMWs, so I flung on a bid of £750 and forgot about it.
A few days later the very efficient staff at eBay advised me that I was the lucky winner.
Of an E23.
Restoration Project.
In Newbury.
For £750!
You can imagine how lucky I felt, but a deal is a deal so I made arrangements to collect it.
As time passed, I became more depressed about it. Why? What would I do with it? I can't even break it because there's only a handful and therefore no demand for parts.
The advert didn't really inspire confidence. Poor photos and the standard eBay blurb where what is left unsaid is probably more important than what is said.
"BMW 735i Auto for Restoration completion,All body work done needs fitting up and trim fitted all parts present few new trim parts been dry stored in workshop past few years have to have space.engine good but needs new fuel pump also there are 2 new ABS hubs for rear as these were rusted.wheel and tyres are new all in all goty the makings of a great classic.
All documents and history. No MOT
Cash on collection by trailer or recovry
Happy Bidding". Hmmmmmm.
I was sceptical and sure I'd be disappointed once I saw it On arrival yesterday, it pretty quickly became apparent to me that the unsaid bits were indeed significant.
So what was left unsaid?
Two owners from new.
82000 miles
Current owner since 1982
100% complete
Full history
Amazingly original down to the mental Blaupunkt radio/cassette with stalk mounted remote control/graphic equaliser - with manuals.
Resprayed by painter used to spraying nothing but Rolls Royce/Bentley
New wings, doors, arches, exhaust and much more.
The sellers occupation - restorer of Rolls Royces. He had everything from a gorgeous 20/25 doctors coupe, through a £120000 restoration of a SilverCcloud - a car doing well to break £40000 - right up to to a few current Bentleys.
The chap was a true gentleman and his car has been restored to RR/Bentley standards. The paint is absolutely flawless.
Here's a few photos:-
It's amazing. It's a real time warp car and the standard of the bodywork restoration is astonishing.
I've only had a quick look, but it looks complete and fairly easy to put back together - just like a bigger six series.
And Christ is it big?!
The best part? It was late when I got home last night and I left it on the trailer parked in the drive. Lady Cecotto saw it for the first time this morning and declared that she hoped we were "keeping that one for a wee while".
