Why are Scimitars so 'affordable'?

[reanimation]

As mentioned in alfietinkers thread, my dad had one that he fixed the front end and resprayed, well smart, i should try find a pic to attach to this thread later...

Anyway, i have always liked em. But why are they so 'affordable'

Is it cos:

A: They have a big boat anchor guzzly Ford V6 in em?
B. Made of glass, so a bit dangerous, flimsy, vunerable?
C. Have an old mans car image.
D. Drive rubbish? (i dunno)
E. Made by a 'joke manufacturer'?
F. Cost of running, parts, insurance?
G. They don't handle like a sports car?

Or summat else, or are they actualy expensive and i'm talkin rubbish! ;D

I'm getting seriously perverted thoughts about customising one!

Not short of projects, this is one for a later date but still one thats gettin me juices flowing!

[skoda_norman]

hmm...i really dunno. you can get them for about £500 but its hardly worth it when you can get quite a nice one for about £1200.
maybe it is because they are shaddowed by the more popular MG models of the time or something?

here is our's. it was £1700 2 years ago. it had had the same owner for the last 15yrs or something and he had really looked after it. it's not perfect, but then it is a 1973 car!!

[BenzBoy]

I really like 'em. I haven't a clue why they're so cheap - perhaps they're just overlooked by a majority of the classic / retro community?
Before I bought my Merc I was in the market for one, but couldn't find one that was any good (i.e.: not a project) at the time.

[JonnySierra]

There was a rough looking (but complete) Scimitar for sale at the Ford day at Battlesbridge last summer. I can't remember whether it was £30 or £50, but that included a nice pair of Cobra seats.

Madness!

[reanimation]

Thats gorgous Skodanorman!

It is wierd isnt it. TBH though i'd want summat cheap to medal with, thinking of chops n cuts n all kinds of Krazy mods, nice idea in theory!

[skoda_norman]

a while ago there was a fully restored SE5 on eBay with a modified engine...nothing too amazing, but still quite nice. it had slotmags, etc, the whole works...it only sold for about £2k...madness - but all the more reason to get out there and buy one!

[akku]

They used to be quite expensive and sought after as a classic and values juest seemed to fall off. They have a rather rife reputation for overheating and unreliabiluty (usually electrical problems) and a reputation for leaks, rattles and poor fit.

OTOH, rip the body off and you have a nice strong chassis with a torquey ford V6, tough rear axle and a decent front suspension, ideal to drop anything from a Cobra to a '32 Ford body onto.

[reanimation]

It is madness,

So i'm having more daft ideas befor the world notices and begins a buying frenzy and they end up at VW bus prices! LOL

[rodit]

They were a bit renowned for poor build quality and the electrics can be a mare like a tvr because of double earthing things.
This said it has probably one of the best rear axle set up's out of the box for the 1/4 mile so bang a big8 with a blower in the front and go have some budget fun.
Recon price could also be due to the fact it's so much harder to repair and paint glass properly compared to steel (although brought a few steel cars someone must have thought should be made of glass) ;D

[reanimation]

alistairk said:

They used to be quite expensive and sought after as a classic and values juest seemed to fall off. They have a rather rife reputation for overheating and unreliabiluty (usually electrical problems) and a reputation for leaks, rattles and poor fit.

OTOH, rip the body off and you have a nice strong chassis with a torquey ford V6, tough rear axle and a decent front suspension, ideal to drop anything from a Cobra to a '32 Ford body onto.

Some answers there.

I actually like the body design-with tweeks that is.

[akku]

Popular Classics had one on their fleet and it was always breaking down in quite a high profile manner, that can't have helped their image

[akku]

I know a chap who built an insane SE4 version. You know the one thats often on eBay now...

[reanimation]

bit like Clarksons GT40! LOL

need to tuck one away in a lock up somewhere and give it the works at some point...


Great answers BTW all.

That green thing is wild

[akku]

Clarkeson's was a GT and I don;t think it put many people off owning one.

[Smiler]

At the moment they have got to be the best car out there for the money. I have been after one for a while now (as I have posted in the past) and they have lots of potential. Mine would end up as a project with a V8 though. Just need to finish and sell the Escort and possibly the Cortina and then get one before they do sky rocket.

[reanimation]

check out the FS section smiler.

Have you driven one BTW?

[Mr_Bo11ox]

I used to think they had MGB doors, but apparently thats not the case at all. Very similar profile though.

[Smiler]

reanimation said:

check out the FS section smiler.

Have you driven one BTW?

Yeah, I borrowed one for a weekend last summer. It was great! Only problem it has was the front bushes had been replaced and the suspension not set up properly after. Above 50mph things got a bit twitchy so I couldn't take full adavantage but it still impressed me enough to want one.

Smiler.

[Autofive]

A: They have a big boat anchor guzzly Ford V6 in em? - lots of torque
B. Made of glass, so a bit dangerous, flimsy, vunerable? - body of the early ones were alluminium (please someone correct me if I'm wrong)

D. Drive rubbish? (i dunno) - only if poorly maintained

I remember a few people i know/knew in the past had overheating and electrical problems

and cheap ones will almost definately need chassis outriggers replacing

wonder if the 2.9 cosworth would perk up the image a little - and overcome the overheating problem, and if the 2.9 wiring harness was used may sort out of the electrical failures too

[reanimation]

I think we've ironed this question out now. good work.

And what a top idea autofive, sling a granny job lot in. Result. Like it.

Only prob is it has to be done now!!!!