Which would you choose, an almost complete restoration listed on eBay for $11,000 or a low mileage survivor here on eBay for $14,000? The survivor is completely original with 24,000 miles and has been stored in a climate controlled garage for 30 years. It’s also a rare competition model. The restoration project is mostly complete with a rebuilt engine, new wire knock off wheels and tires, new interior, brakes and lots of new parts. The fenders need to be painted, the radiator shell chromed and the rest to be sorted. The engine has not been started after the rebuild, but should hopefully fire right up. So which would it be? The project car that is nearly done and $3k cheaper or the more expensive survivor that might need body and paint work?
Personally I’d go with the competition model (rarer), as I’m more of a get it back to the way it was kinda guy, ‘n it may not need all that much, as those ol’ engines are a piece of cake (used to own a TF), even it you’d have to throw another thou or so in it, you can still drive it, ‘n/or restore or whatever down the road.
The Ken Miles car without any hesitation
I’d take the Mk II in a heartbeat. Then I could pretend I was JFK back in the day…….
looks like the project car is being replace by a miata. i would go with the survivor over the stalled project in this case. nice finds.
My dad bought one brand new in 1952. It is my understanding they only came in bright red and dark green. We drove it from Connecticut to California when the heater got stuck in the on position and wouldn’t shut off. We stopped in some small town in New Mexico where an Oldsmobile dealer managed to disconnect the heater.