Realistic Metro Values?

[Exasperant]

Been forever since I was last on here.

Anyway, I've been looking for something interesting/ fun, and spotted a mk1 Metro 1275S.

But it seems quite expensive given it needs a LOT of work.

Can't really find any for sale to give me a clue what they're actually worth, so does anyone have an idea of value?

[automax]

Not cheap. Have one myself I saved from a farm in Devon. A restoration project will be at least £1500, possibly more if it got the original 1275 engine (running or not). 'S' interior is also difficult to source so check that's complete. Also, be wary of how expensive things like wings, front panels, Mk1 headlamp panels etc are these days.

[Exasperant]

Let's just say it's more than the "at least". Although it does look pretty much complete, if tired inside and out.

I can't remember the differences between mk1 and mk2 panelwork. I know the bonnet's different, but thought wings were the same? And front panel, or can a mk2 at least be made to fit a mk1?

I'm probably more of a mk2 person anyway, and this S is maxing out the budget I don't have unless I manage to get rid of something. But good to know it's not a total curse word take on the price.

[akku]

I saw a basic 5 door Metro make £6K at a classic car auction recently. They aren't £300 cars any more for sure.

[automax]

Feb 7, 2024 0:22:12 GMT Exasperant said:

Let's just say it's more than the "at least". Although it does look pretty much complete, if tired inside and out.

I can't remember the differences between mk1 and mk2 panelwork. I know the bonnet's different, but thought wings were the same? And front panel, or can a mk2 at least be made to fit a mk1?

I'm probably more of a mk2 person anyway, and this S is maxing out the budget I don't have unless I manage to get rid of something. But good to know it's not a total curse word take on the price.

Mk1's had a 4-hole front panel, Mk2's were 5-hole. Bonnets obviously different, headlamp panels also had difference although relatively minor. If you don't buy it, I might be interested.

[Exasperant]

Feb 7, 2024 12:01:34 GMT akku said:

I saw a basic 5 door Metro make £6K at a classic car auction recently. They aren't £300 cars any more for sure.

£6k!?

No wonder the tatty 998 Clubman I was watching went for so much. I didn't realise, especially when other retro/ classics seem to be struggling, Metros were shooting up so much.

Especially after some of the comments when I floated the idea of selling my tired GTa...

I've got a lead on a 1.1S, but for some reason I can't quite feel the same love for the Rover/ K series cars.

[gezzard]

6 grand? I better drag mine out of its winter slumber and get it sold!

[slater]

Haha

They arnt worth much at all. Don't fall into the trap of listening to dreamers on the internet. Look at what they actually sell for on ebay auctions etc.

To give you an idea I bought a rust free shell the other day for 300quid. It's only the shell and closures but it's the most important bit. They arnt an easy car to weld up with limited panels avaliable etc. Valuing them is 90% about how rusty it is.

A few years back I bought a project car (1980 mk1 998 HLE). Was described as 'rust free' (*spoiler it wasnt) it was about as 'rust free' as you are likely to find a project car but still needed new wings and a tidy up around the bottom. Cost me £2100 on an ebay auction so it was it's real value and not just our 'idea' of what it was worth. Is a early car that's tax exempt which makes a big difference to value. A later car that has a long time to wait for historic status would probably only have made a grand.

A 1275 engine adds about 500quid to the value. That's just what the engine is worth.

Shop around and you will find some decent bargains, there's plenty about.

6k would have to be a minter or an MG

[ChasR]

Feb 7, 2024 21:15:54 GMT Exasperant said:

Feb 7, 2024 12:01:34 GMT akku said:

I saw a basic 5 door Metro make £6K at a classic car auction recently. They aren't £300 cars any more for sure.

£6k!?

No wonder the tatty 998 Clubman I was watching went for so much. I didn't realise, especially when other retro/ classics seem to be struggling, Metros were shooting up so much.

Especially after some of the comments when I floated the idea of selling my tired GTa...

I've got a lead on a 1.1S, but for some reason I can't quite feel the same love for the Rover/ K series cars.

While I hear another poster about what they sell for, I've also seen a few sell for reasonable sums, and deal with classic auctions now and again. There's mates rates and what the general public give.

As an example, I sold my Stag for £4.8k years ago. If you asked a load of specialists that I knew at the time, they valued mine at £2k or less in 2012. That goes for anyone who deals with the cars alot.

Last year, a mate sold a tatty, but solid Moggy for £1k. An owner's club member reckoned it was worth double. With the interest he had, I can believe it. He literally had folks falling over to buy it.

Bear in mind that a non-oversilled Mini that won't bleed you dry will be north of £7k, even today, due to insatiable demand. I fancy once, but not at £7k, yet that's what Minis, even oversilled snotters, I've seen go for. Metros are the next best thing.

I'd agree that MGs go for £6k, but Turbos are now 5 digit cars in good order. There's none around, it's that simple. When Allegros are making £2k, that's going to set the bar really as for how much similar cars fetch.

It's known that in the market, 1275s aren't far off £1k, which won't help values one bit whatsoever ; it's the easiest way to get more power out of Metros and Minis. The days of a £500 MOT'd car are over.

[slater]

ahem.. i think you mean minis are the next best thing to a metro

Seriously tho half the problem is people don't understand how to value an item, they just revert to internet hearsay most of the time! Unless you have something very unique where there might be one or two buyers after one or to examples it really comes down to what you can sell something for over and over again, not what you might be able to get for something if you get really lucky and find an ignorant buyer with a fat wallet. 1275 mini engines are a good example. There's loads about (even tho people claim there isnt) you can buy a unit for rebuild for £500max all day long. Ive bought over 10 in the last couple of years. £500 is therefore their value. Their value isn't £800 because you once saw someone bid that for one on ebay or £1000 because someone on market place is asking that. its £500 because if you're patient you will buy one for that easily and be able to do it again and again and incidentally its not £300 because although I have picked them up that cheap you need to get somewhat lucky for that.

[Exasperant]

Last 1275 lump I bought needed a diff rebuild (mica washer, not pin) before I'd driver it, and cost me about £750. I wish I could get a running one for 500!

I guess my issue with values is, aside from the optimists thinking anything "classic" has to be worth £5k, I don't get how a car that maybe makes £2k in great condition can be worth half or more of that in rusty pieces. Especially when the same people telling me these cars are worth quite a bit also near accused me of criminality when I suggested my own, not rusty or in pieces, one was worth more than a KFC family bucket.

[ChasR]

Feb 18, 2024 17:52:23 GMT Exasperant said:

Last 1275 lump I bought needed a diff rebuild (mica washer, not pin) before I'd driver it, and cost me about £750. I wish I could get a running one for 500!

I guess my issue with values is, aside from the optimists thinking anything "classic" has to be worth £5k, I don't get how a car that maybe makes £2k in great condition can be worth half or more of that in rusty pieces. Especially when the same people telling me these cars are worth quite a bit also near accused me of criminality when I suggested my own, not rusty or in pieces, one was worth more than a KFC family bucket.

That's exactly my point. I was referring to running engines bought off eithers punters or folks not in the trade.

I could base my valuations off what tradery/specailist mates of mine pay for cars but I'm aware for non tradey folks it's unrealistic, unless they scour eBay all day ; which with a family or full time job is tricky to do.

[slater]

Why? Saved search 1275 mini engine on ebay and look at it once a week. Is that really that hard? It's all I do!

It might not get you one tomorrow and I guess that's one reason that makes people pay over the odds. Impatience! but imo it's far more about people beliving what they hear on Facebook posts about how they are supposedly all really rare and worth a fortune rather than observing real world markets.

A running one is a bit differnt but then so many people pay for a 'running' engine when theres no proof of it running. Same with engines with supposedly fancy parts in them that no one can prove. No proof no value!

[slipngripross]

If you are patient you can still pick them up dirt cheap. There were 6 barn find at auction last year all went for under £750.

[Mercdan68]

My lad bought a rover metro from a shop window ad
One owner mot failure on a brake pipes £300
He then decided it wasn’t for him and got £500 a few weeks later

[Exasperant]

Feb 20, 2024 10:02:30 GMT slater said:

A running one is a bit differnt but then so many people pay for a 'running' engine when theres no proof of it running. Same with engines with supposedly fancy parts in them that no one can prove. No proof no value!

I got rid of a couple of needing total rebuild 1275 lumps last year for well under £500. But I think most people wanting a 1275 want something that's got a chance of "fit and forget", and those are certainly not cheap!

Of course, I'd have been able to forget the one I dropped in, if I'd not been too cheap to do the clutch first...

[Exasperant]

Feb 26, 2024 18:20:26 GMT Mercdan68 said:

My lad bought a rover metro from a shop window ad
One owner mot failure on a brake pipes £300
He then decided it wasn’t for him and got £500 a few weeks later

I'm currently kicking myself I didn't go for a mouldy 114 GSi on Feebay a couple of weeks ago. Sold for under 300. For some reason it's back up, and already over £400.

Still, my project shopping might be over. In theory I've got a poverty spec mk1 heading my way. Hope it gets here, as I've already been buying bits for it!