Description
TODAY, and for the third time in quick succession, Martin Howey Classics (Est. 25 years) is offering for sale a one owner, low mileage Japanese classic. This time it is a 1974 Toyota Carina 1600 Deluxe which next year will be 50-years-old. How long do we reckon they were expected to survive in the UK back then. Five years. Seven maybe? Well this old girl has survived incredibly well and is so original that it is difficult to comprehend.
Never restored in any way whatsoever, never painted, never welded, immaculate floors in body colour, not even undersealed underneath, stunning interior and dashboard. Other than that, a mega fit engine, a great driver, super handling and just so 70s!
She has had the same owner from new and has covered just 32, 000 miles. Her last MoT expired just five years ago (No advisories as you would probably imagine). So is there a catch after this superlative build-up? Well, not really no. Cars are only original once and this rare survivor has no inherent rust or rot. The main cosmetic problem is the lifting of paint, mainly to the roof and some on the bonnet. You do not need to be Sherlock Holmes to work out that bird poo has been left on for too long and has burned its way through the bronze paint. In a way, it would be a shame to paint this car such is the staggering degree of originality. However should the new owner opt to do so, it would be a simple enough task due to the super straight panel work and lack of real problem areas.
Open the doors and the door shuts are brilliant. Lift the original carpets and so too are the floor pans. Lift the original boot mat and so too is the boot floor. This low mileage, one owner Carina has so much going for it. If this model floats your boat then don't hang about. Anyone interested enough to come and view - and already armed with my description - will buy it!
This description is based on my opinion of the vehicle, the paperwork that comes with the car and anything I have been told about it. The vehicle is 49-years-old and this cannot be taken as a definitive statement for obvious reasons. As with most classic cars, there may be faults and quirks whilst, almost inevitably, some degree of tinkering and care will always be called for. Such are the joys of owning an antique vehicle and they must be taken within their own context and not compared to modern day cars. They are sold as old, mainly out-dated machines and come without any comeback whatsoever. They are my terms and conditions.
My classic cars are motoring antiques. This car, for example, is 49-years-old. It's not two, five or even ten-years-old as your own everyday car may be. It has been in service for more than half a century and so will have quirks and faults in there somewhere. However, faults on these old girls are not always apparent when buying and selling classics which is what I do. I do not restore them, nor do I pretend that they are concours cars. The majority of them go out as they came in, and I continue to enjoy finding more - a skill which is becoming increasingly difficult as many of you will be aware. They deserve to be taken on as "family pets" and cared for through thick and then. They don't make them any more and demand now out-strips supply. Please bear all this in mind, and enjoy your classic car. I can also assist with delivery and so please ask for a quote.
I have now been established as a one-man band classic car dealer for 25 years and pride myself on my buying prowess and - due to small margins - my prices which I firmly believe are up there among the very best in the UK classic car marketplace.
Thanks, Martin. the details below.
