Why is carhunting so damned difficult?
OK, I know it isn’t really. You just look for a fairly cheap Jag or a Rover 75 and have done with it. The thing is, at twenty neither of these options is really open to me unless I’m willing to part with a kidney, a lung, and much of my liver. So something a little more sensible is on the cards – and as a member of the Maestro and Montego OC’s committee a Maestro or Montego is indicated as the obvious choice; if I indulge my love of the Vanden Plas 1500 it’ll look a tad odd to say the least.
This is where the problems start. I don’t really care for metal-bumper base spec Maestros such as the City, Special, or Clubman – nor do I care for blue interiors, and due to insurance my realistic limit is 1.6 litres with 2.0 carb as the very outside edge. I prefer Montegos to Maestros, but the right Maestro would be preferable to the wrong Monty. I also like nice specs, so HL or above is preferred, and it has to be an Austin because insurers deem these the lowest risk. It also must have tax and an MoT, and be in good enough condition to show but not so concours I daren’t use it in winter.
So, Austin Montego or a Maestro at a push, 1.3 or preferably 1.6, good condition, roadworthy, decent spec, good condition. Preferably not a blue interior but that’s sortable if need be. Oh, and did I mention I’m working to a budget? Not a small budget as far as MMs go, but equally I’ll never afford a minter.
Seems impossible, doesn’t it?
I’ve been offered a concours car by a friend – a car that has been featured on this site and otherwise would not be for sale. But it’s TOO good to use daily – I couldn’t do it justice if I used it through the winter and left it outside in all weathers. I’m awaiting a report on a Montego 1.6L in Wiltshire, and there’s a less-than-pristine Maestro on the backburner that could be serviceable at the right price. Other than that, nothing.
I don’t want to push myself into buying something that isn’t right just because it’s there – but there have been moments during this search when I have doubted that the right car exists. I’ve even asked friends with suitable cars if they’d consider parting with them to no avail – understandable but it could have been perfect if they’d agreed. A known car, after all, is a far safer bet than one which has eluded the club for so long – not least because the previous owner’s reputation goes with the car – there’s less risk of a pup being sold.
Thing is, car-hunting for something so scarce can be a double edged sword. On the one hand, you could settle for something less than ideal only to find that within a fortnight the dream comes up – I’d end up with a Maestro 1.3L to find a Montego 1.6 Mayfair on eBay the following week – or on the other hand you could sit and wait 12 months for the perfect car and still not find it. I’m fortunate in that I do not currently need personal transport – it’s a luxury and a hobby for me rather than mere transport. As such, I can afford to wait for the right car – but I don’t want to spend 12 months hunting if I can avoid it.
I suppose it’s too much to expect “From The Captain’s Chair” readers to own high end Maestros and Montegos, let alone to expect they are looking to part with them. But please contact me through the site if you are.
