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Another sad saloon story

We have posted similar stories regularly in the past (like the Bentley issue in 2011) . The slaughtering of saloons in favour of more profit delivering specials is an ongoing affair. Some people want us to leave out these ads (see Tim Brown's message below), but we will not. We show what's on the market aside of what we think of certain adverts. Much more than PreWarCar, you yourselves are in the position to save healthy saloons of this fate. By disencouraging friends to do so and by keeping an open eye of what's going on. Believe us in a not so distant future originality will become more and more important. And the demand for intersting saloons will rise. Come on laugh at us, but to start we will njow really open our pagesd for the so far unofficial Pre-war Salooning Club. Who is to welcome the first salooning event. Admission only for original saloons. Anything open will not be allowed at the event. Now raise your hand and say : Yes I will!

e-mail we received yesterday afternoon: "Is there anything you can do about the adverts for saloon bodes taken off running cars? By allowing the listings on your site, you are in effect condoning the destruction of vehicles that have been saloon cars for over 80 years or more?
The grey Riley Adelphi body on prewarcar at the moment, was taken off a good driving car at the admission of the seller. I copy his email reply to me below, to my offer to swap a complete adelphi chassis plus cash for his complete adelphi.
Many thanks"
Tim Brown

Today on PostWarClassic: A two stroke Mystery.

Comments

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#36 R.Mawer 2013-04-16 10:34

Well,I have read all the comments so far,& despair.Most continental buyers of old cars dont seem to realise these original old saloons (or drop-head coupes)have a past,in a charming unspoilt world which was good,& is worth remembering.You can take yourself back into to it by driving into some quiet countryside,(it s called "touring"-remember?)with a picnic in a basket,go for a walk,perhaps,& a gentle cruise home for supper.Or visit an old unspoilt town,where the car looks so right.But I dont think many of the people who have commented understand this,& are not interested.What they want to do is modernise an old car to suit the roads,houses,& lifestyles they wish to live.Why not leave old cars alone,& build a kit car instead?

#35 2013-03-04 02:58

Any chance of a spell-checker being applied both to articles and comments? It's not just old cars being destroyed here!

#34 2013-03-01 21:48

I've been following this thread with interest - as I've recently bought a 1936 Riley Merlin still with it's original body. Although I've since found out that the front seats are not original, this is the only thing I plan to change - and I intend to use and cherish the car in it's original configuration.

Having said that I agree with Bruce (post 26): there is much moaning and commiserating by the "preservation society members" on this post. Aesthetic and ethical musings are fine - as long as you don't have to put your money where your mouth is!

Perhaps it's also worth remembering that good looks can be deceiving. There was recently another Merlin for sale on this website which looked rather nice. The new owner is now currently undertaking a most likely very costly body-off restoration and intends to return the car to it's original specification. I take my hat off to the man - he has the funds (or the skills or both) to see this through. Check-it out for yourselves:

http://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk/forum/phpbb/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=13273

#33 2013-03-01 20:36

Can anyone of the anoraks imagine an enthusiast admiring for example a Riley Brooklands but not having the funds to purchase the real thing?
The next closest thing to a Brooklands is a proper Brooklands Replica for about 1/3 of the price...
Nobody needs the permission of the "specialists" to build or purchase his "dreamcar" if he likes to!
Don´t be so arrogant and blaim someone for living his dream!
At Peter Cole: Don´t you think it is just big fun to drive an open car from the thirties even when you´re not in the midlife crises, no matter if it´s an "Original" or a "Replica".
Driving a classic car is passion, not science!

#32 2013-02-27 19:40

I'm not in favour of replicas , or specials for that matter, but that is purely because they don't attract me. But here it is not as if Eddie Albers has destroyed the body - indeed his offering it for sale provides a good opportunity for anyone with an Adelphi which has rotted away ( and wood is always a potentially catastrophic problem with ash-framed cars of this era to restore an otherwise probably unsaveable Adelphi

#31 2013-02-27 10:01

This morning at breakfast I saw another so called postwar(?) dual cowl 'looker' for sale: Bentley R Type Special Roadster 1953/2013. As long as there is money to be made these Frankenstein-on-wheels will be produced. And on top of that a real bargain at GBR 128.000 :-)

#30 2013-02-27 04:02

Other side of the coin
Here in Thailand, Open top cars are "de rigeur" at the car shows.
Unfortunately they don't drive them to the show like that.
It's top up and Aircon wound fully up, because during the day it's probably 35/36 degrees C outside, and driving with the top down has been known to give you sunstroke.
At night it drops to a manageable 29 degrees, but who can see you (posing) at night ?
No - it all seems to be a Fantasy ! ..... Scorching wind in your face ! !
Stuart (Saloon owner)

#29 2013-02-26 20:06

Calm down guys!

Why is an open sports car worth so much more? Who is buying all these saloons and keeping them on the road? If you look at most of the happenings around the world, you see grinning faces in the worst weather conditions out of these "cut down" specials or original open cars.
Probably these cars are our belongings and we might be entitled to do that?
Or have we to be keepers of historic authentic vehicles with even original air in the tires to please these awful tirekickers at any occasion to tell us how it has to be done right?
These are the people who drive then off in a battered old rusty Toyota.
I still have a saloon sitting in my garage in really nice condition. Its from the early fifties, not driven in the last 30 years and everytime I put it up for sale the interest is stale. No Im not going to cut it up but for heavens sake im not giving it away for a fiver. So it may rest for another 30 years and my kids can decide what to do with it. But I´m not gona drive it. The old girl sure has style but I prefer an open top car. Anyway its interesting that so many saloons get still butchered, as there are so many rolling chassis and mediocre specials are on the market. I think it is a pitty but nevertheless saloons lack the missing top so I fully understand people who modify their cars as to please them. Anyways it has always been done so why is it cruel today and that 4,5 Bentley le mans from the 60´s is an icon?
So whatever the reason is for "cutting" the result will hopefully be appreciated an will be on the road again opposed to all those garage beautys we will never see.
Ask my kids: they will opt for the open sports car every time, the find not only saloons boring but also my dads 911 targa. Its not windy enough!
Kind regards from the Tyrol.
To much salt on the roads to have a decent winter drive but sure it makes a lot of fun to drive on snowy roads top down.
Keep up happy motoring, enjoy your things the way you like !

Thomas

#28 Maarten Hoeben 2013-02-26 10:36

Quoting Sebastien Simon:

But who is going to buy that nice Kestrel near Basel (CH) and keep it original, and drive it?

I will, as soon as the LG6 is sold...

#27 2013-02-26 09:23

So everyone is whining, condemning, and sharing old stories, done this, not done that, etc...!
But who is going to buy that nice Kestrel near Basel (CH) and keep it original, and drive it?

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