How Many Left?

[TR Tony]

Yeah I know we have talked about this website before but I saw some figures this evening on there which worried me.

According to the site in both Q2 & Q3 2013 there were 305 TR7s that were licensed to use on the road - no real surprise at that consistent figure given that it is the time of year most people use there car.

For SORN vehicles (for the benefit of our friends outside the UK that means not licensed to use on the road) the Q2 figure was 644 cars, but the Q3 figure was 544 cars. Given that the alternative category of Licensed cars did not increase then what happened to those 100 cars? Scrapped? An error in the data? I hope it's the latter .....

Tony

<font size="1">1981 TR7 FHC Cavalry Blue
1980 TR7V8 DHC Jaguar Regency Red - sadly sold!
1977 TR8 FHC EFI Factory development car Inca Yellow</font id="size1">

[FI Spyder]

While you don't see many on the road here there are many that pop up from time to time that need restoration on the for sale websites. They're tucked away waiting for the day restoration starts but because of their value means the money will never be gotten out of them, it's never done. There was a guy last summer who was waiting for me in the parking lot last summer who had three, none on the road, had never seen him before, lots of those people out there. There was a lady just a few blocks from me a number of years ago who had one for sale. Never saw it on the road before or since.

- - -TR7 Spider - - - 1978 Spitfire- - - - 1976 Spitfire - - 1988 Tercel 4X4 - Kali on Integra - 1991 Integra - Yellow TCT

[Graham.Fountain]

I haven't checked this at all, but did they not recently change the rules on re-SORNing a car? Something to do with not having to do it again every year. Might that affect the numbers if they only show those actually SORNed in the prev. 12 mnths?

TR7 Sprint VVC 697S (some of)
TR7 Sprint A TR7 16V (fake, rusty):
B&Y '73 Doly Sprint (kids!)

[John Wood]

You still have to SORN at the moment. I think this maybe the last time though?

TR7 Sprint SJW550S
TR7 Automatic

[TR Tony]

That's right John, we will still have to declare SORN but AFAIK we will no longer have to renew SORN every 12 months, once SORN is declared to DVLA for a vehicle it will stay on SORN until it is either licensed for the road or scrapped.

However I don't see that will affect the figures as the SORN will now be on file all the time for a vehicle, not just for 12 months. If anything it should make the data more reliable as you won't have people "forgetting" to renew SORN each year for those cars that are off the road long term.

Tony

<font size="1">1981 TR7 FHC Cavalry Blue
1980 TR7V8 DHC Jaguar Regency Red - sadly sold!
1977 TR8 FHC EFI Factory development car Inca Yellow</font id="size1">

[moodyblue]

Even though registered in my name, one of my TR7s wasn't taxed, or on SORN for 20 years, it wasn't a legal requirement. There must be quite a few like that either lying around, stored, or undergoing a very long restoration like mine was.

[TR Tony]

I am sure you are right, there will be cars that have been off the road since pre compulsory SORN days that obviously will not reflected in these DVLA figures, so the overall total of surviving TR7s must be higher.

It would be interesting to see a figure for TR7s that still exist in DVLA records as registered cars i.e. a V5 in existence regardless of whether SORN, licenced or unlicenced, that would give a truer picture of the total of surviving cars.

However, based on the figures DVLA do have, the drop of 100 cars quarter to quarter is a concern I feel.

Tony

<font size="1">1981 TR7 FHC Cavalry Blue
1980 TR7V8 DHC Jaguar Regency Red - sadly sold!
1977 TR8 FHC EFI Factory development car Inca Yellow</font id="size1">

[John Wood]

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Century Gothic, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by TR Tony</i>

I am sure you are right, there will be cars that have been off the road since pre compulsory SORN days that obviously will not reflected in these DVLA figures, so the overall total of surviving TR7s must be higher.

It would be interesting to see a figure for TR7s that still exist in DVLA records as registered cars i.e. a V5 in existence regardless of whether SORN, licenced or unlicenced, that would give a truer picture of the total of surviving cars.

However, based on the figures DVLA do have, the drop of 100 cars quarter to quarter is a concern I feel.

Tony

<font size="1">1981 TR7 FHC Cavalry Blue
1980 TR7V8 DHC Jaguar Regency Red - sadly sold!
1977 TR8 FHC EFI Factory development car Inca Yellow</font id="size1">
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I think hat is why the prices are rising (for good cars) because there is less to choose from.
I've also had a couple in the past that were pre SORN.

TR7 Sprint SJW550S
TR7 Automatic

[moodyblue]

I think you're correct about the values rising, and not before time.

[j.johnson23]

I don`t want values rising,they have to stay cheap or we will end up getting screwed over on parts like the TR2,3,4,5 and 6 owners do.
I`ve always smiled when people have rubbished them over the years and feel only those of us who have had them for years know the bargain they are.
I have never known a tr7 owner who expected to make money on their car,they have bought it to use,unlike many other makes and models.

[FI Spyder]

The only problem is you find these good deals and end up with too many. Terrible problem to have.[:(]



- - -TR7 Spider - - - 1978 Spitfire- - - - 1976 Spitfire - - 1988 Tercel 4X4 - Kali on Integra - 1991 Integra - Yellow TCT

[Roy Hankins]

If the value of our cars continue to remain low they will always be considered bargain basement. It is a fact that with an increase in values, there will also come a respect for the TR7. There have been some very good articles with a positive vibe appearing in the classic car press lately about our cars,this is because of a few hard working enthusiasts, mainly from the TR Drivers club, have got involved and made sure that the right facts get printed. This, I believe has brought about the increase in the value of our cars,particularly the Coupe. Yes,if I buy another TR7 it will cost me more money from now on,but as an enthusiast looking at the big picture it can only be a good news for the TR7. I also believe that there are far more of our cars out there hidden away,not seeing the light of day for many a year. If the value of our cars keeps rising, maybe just a few of these cars will get pulled out of their resting place,restored and put back on the road by their owners who were reluctant to do so before because of there low value.

TR7 Coupe KDU 366N
TR7 Sprint ARW 181S

[Maxwell]

I was in Smith's Library today and read that the guy in Classics Monthly [I think it was CM] has bought a white Drop Head fitted with a Sprint Engine, so maybe a bit more 'Good Press' might be on the way.... He went out with CT in his and was convinced!

Maxwell [;)]


2.0 TR7 FHC \ Current
1.8 Mazda MX5 \ Current

[REPLIC8]

I fully agree with Roy. The problem is if the cars are still being sold for a few pounds then they're more likely to be scrapped for parts. Restoration is very expensive and the value of a well restored or excellent original car needs to reflect this.
As with any commodity it comes down to supply and demand. There is an ever decreasing number of good cars available, and this can only mean prices will increase. As owners we've been our own worst enemy, selling our cars for peanuts. I recently paid a high price for my FHC, but I also sold my TR8 for a very good price, so overall I'm no worse off than if I'd bought/sold both for much less.
It's no different than when house prices increase, your house is worth more but the one you want to move into is also worth more. It's only the new buyer that has to pay extra.
Compared to most classic cars, £4k to £8k for an immaculate car is not really that much.



Andy
1981 TR7 FHC

[Graham.Fountain]

I'm still curdled by that t**t (a four letter word, of Anglo-Norse [Northumbrio-Inglis] origin, that means a clearing in a forest where I plants me seeds) Quentin Willson, saying they'll never amount to anything because they're a bit plastic.

But please lord, make them more valuable, just not yet, to misquote St Augustine, I'm looking to buy another.

TR7 Sprint VVC 697S (some of)
TR7 Sprint A TR7 16V (fake, rusty):
B&Y '73 Doly Sprint (kids!)