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Thread: Chairman's Rant, July 2019

  1. #21

    Re: Chairman's Rant, July 2019

    Ge Norman, you have definitely started something, most users online at any one time, on the 10th, 836, up from 500 odd which has stood for yonks before.
    Last edited by Longtimefan; 11-07-2019 at 11:03.

  2. #22
    Site Supporter ProtoTipo's Avatar
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    Re: Chairman's Rant, July 2019

    Quote Originally Posted by Normb666 View Post
    and the yellow Hawk at Total Headturners, both sold inthe mid 50’s, Nick’s (inpractically no time at all) to a car collector whose garage already contains a Miura and aMcLaren, and the Hawk taking a few months to sell, having been reduced from the initial £59K to £55K.
    So Mick's old Spyder chassis 12V Alfa Transformer, or this?:
    https://www.pistonheads.com/classifi...0-2017/9053430


    and a couple of thousand pounds change.
    Last edited by ProtoTipo; 11-07-2019 at 08:37.

  3. #23
    SEC Member renmure's Avatar
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    Re: Chairman's Rant, July 2019

    But there’s a lot of folk out there, perhaps away from the budget kit car building crowd, who aren’t really having to make a choice in the same way. So, it’s not a case of a £55k Stratos replica OR an Exige, it’s what Stratos replica to go alongside the Exige and probably the Range Rover Sport and Aston for the weekend.

    The quality of of the latest “kits” mean that many folk are just looking to take money out the bank, safely turn it into a car and, whenever they fancy a change, turn it back into money. Sometimes a bit more money. The car is a commodity more than a build project. The gratification of owning it is an instant (perhaps short term) thing rather than a long term labour of love. IMHO of course.

  4. #24
    Site Supporter ProtoTipo's Avatar
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    Re: Chairman's Rant, July 2019

    Yep, the original Stratos enthusiast is definitely a dying breed.

    How someone can desire ownership of a Stratos, whilst at the same time have eyes glazing over at the mention of the likes of Claudio Maglioli and Georgio Pianta is difficult for me to contemplate.
    But I suppose time marches on, and that's where we are?

    Ok, so maybe not dying, but getting older and outnumbered?
    Last edited by ProtoTipo; 11-07-2019 at 10:10.

  5. #25
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    Re: Chairman's Rant, July 2019

    Looks like this has inspired some lively debate as intended - some good points being made and opinions stated!

    One of the things I was trying to bring out was what Chris J just said - the "old order" of Strat enthusiasts is being replaced, or maybe augmented, by a different type of person entirely. It's the sort of person who's into cars, has realised the Stratos is a classic and wants a piece of it, and also sees it as a bit of an "investment" in an exotic car at a cheap price point (compare to values of classics such as E types, Big Healeys, originals, etc.) They don't know anything about the kits themselves and all they see is the shiny Stratos shape, and assume they're all pretty much the same underneath. This is borne out be the similar prices fetched by the two cars I used as examples - Nick's immaculate, low-mileage, beautifully built LB and the yellow THT Hawk which was based on lots of used parts and, I believe, had a 164 12v motor? To us on here there should be an obvious price disparity, and normally there would be - I wasn't trying to say all Strat reps are now worth mid-50k's! But now you've got this new "breed" of buyers appearing, not having done their research, and just hand over the loot.
    I personally find it hard to believe that anyone would enter a market like "ours" without doing some research, maybe coming on here, asking questions, etc. But hey, it's their money, their decision, and caveat emptor...

    I still believe us on here, though, are a bit behind the curve regarding prices. The world's changed for cars that are "interesting" and "different". As Jim (renmure) said, there's a lot out there with no interest in building a car, and they want their desires satisfied NOW (maybe a bit of the moneyed individual who's used to getting their own way instantly, going on there?) - they'd probably even consider a yellow car with blue wheels :-P

    If LB does at some point go turnkey-only, then I assume they'll have some sort of base spec and a price for that car, with a further list of priced options. That'll help stablise uncertainty over prices to some extent, if you know exactly what a new one costs, but that "I want it now!" will still inflate used prices if the waiting list for new is long... interesting times, methinks, but let's not worry too much, eh, cos "what it's worth" is only really important a) if you're buying one, and b) if you're selling yours...till then it's an ace, fun car that takes yonks to get from A to B cos you're too busy fighting off peeps with smartphones taking pics

    P.S. who're these "Maglioli" and "Piano" guys???? (I jest, honest!)
    Last edited by Normb666; 11-07-2019 at 11:29. Reason: addition

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    Re: Chairman's Rant, July 2019

    By the way, Robin - we've beaten 836 users today - gone up to 1400-odd this morning...not bad for a club with only 200-odd members! I suspect there's a faulty redirect from a popular porn site somewhere

  7. #27
    Free user Lancialulu's Avatar
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    Re: Chairman's Rant, July 2019

    Quote Originally Posted by Normb666 View Post
    One of the things I was trying to bring out was what Chris J just said - the "old order" of Strat enthusiasts is being replaced, or maybe augmented, by a different type of person entirely. It's the sort of person who's into cars, has realised the Stratos is a classic and wants a piece of it,
    I should point out that back in the late '80s kits were being professionally built by approved builders. For Example my "Shades" was built by Bob Pilot of Courtney Garages (at the time the only GH approved Transformer builder). I have eye waterying bills of over £30k spent then on the build, and that was around a Beta unit. The customer was involved in all the decisions and came away with and extremely well built Replica. Guy and or Gerry may know how many customer Transformers hit the market. My point is that there were those folk back then. I am one of those who wanted a finished article (not that I did not make it more finished), but I am not a "builder" SEC member but a "driver" SEC member and I suspect I am not alone....

    Interestingly the customer of Shades did not own it for long and it went to an engineer who transplanted the 164V12 and uprated all the brakes and suspension units. I then bought it and fettled the upgrades and made some other improvements - now I just drive that. It is my favourite of my fleet.

  8. #28

    Re: Chairman's Rant, July 2019

    Quote Originally Posted by Normb666 View Post
    By the way, Robin - we've beaten 836 users today - gone up to 1400-odd this morning...not bad for a club with only 200-odd members! I suspect there's a faulty redirect from a popular porn site somewhere
    Perhaps it could be something to do with phrase that has appeared in the thread (L of L) when Googled!!!!! Or it could be that Norm is trending?

  9. #29
    Free user Sando's Avatar
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    Re: Chairman's Rant, July 2019

    Never thought I’d say it,......but even as one of the Oldskool, I would still have to think twice if someone with £50k+ burning a hole in their pocket wanted my Hawk now. As much I have loved (and still do love) and constantly keep it 100% reliable and used as it should be. Life moves on, there’s a lot you can do with that sort of money and still have change for something to have fun in/on/pilot.
    ..Dark thoughts! But you never know........Really didn’t think I’d ever say that!

  10. #30
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    Re: Chairman's Rant, July 2019

    All good stuff, makes me smile to think that the value of my car when I finally finish it (Paintshop booked for the start of Autumn now!) will approach the value of a proper one when I started to build it over 30 years ago!!

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