The ultimate clunker? friends '89 Rolls Roycle Spur blew up! Needs suggestions!

[Jim B.]

THE CHEAPEST ONES ALWAYS COST THE MOST.....We say that about Mercedes Benzes, but it applies to Rollers too!!


My friend, who is NOT mechanically savvy, He is a lawyer that cannot pick up a wrench, 3 years ago bought a oh so pretty maroon 1989 Rolls Royce Silver Spur at a repair lien shop sale in San Francisco for $15,000 ( supposedly a bargain as the car had a retail blue book value of about $30,000 then)

It was good looking but had actually been abandoned at the shop by its owner that was disgusted at all the never ending repair bills and simply walked away from it)...

Before the sale, the engine was supposed "rebuilt" and a new transmission put in, and had been slightly "crunched" on the front and rear corners but fixed.

He has had it 3 years and put 6,000 miles on it.

AND OVER $30,000 worth of repairs and service into it.

On a trip the catalytic converter got plugged up and caused the engine to over heat a year ago.

But two days ago it overheated again and this time it is reported the head gasket blew and the engine may be toast.

Happened about a week after the cash for clunkers deal had ended.

HE IS DONE.

He wants to off this "lovely to look at" albatross, but does not know how to maximize its value.

Among the ideas he is exploring are:

The head is off already, and is at the shop, should he have it rebuilt, and made ready to sell as a runner?

DROP IN A used Rolls Royce engine (he knows of an '88 one somewhere that he could drop in)

Put in a used cheap Chevy engine?


Sell it to the shop as scrap?

Donate it to charity "as is" (his accountant says the numbers don't work for his tax situation)

A week too late for cash for clunkers, any hope that program would start again?

Or: Donate it to RROC (The Rolls Royce Club) online that would pick it up, take it to Conn. and restore/fix it as needed ... with the benefit he would be a club "hero" and get to still attend all the Rolls Royce shindigs (which, he says are unbelievably posh, as would be expected for this marque)


I suggested driving it to a really bad neighborhood in East Oakland, CA. (he lives in the suburbs about 20 miles away) leaving it on the street with the windows all down and the keys on the front seat (the car still can run, and there is no water in the oil or anything) and let nature take its course.....heeee (IT IS INSURED FOR THEFT!!)

He has a 2003 BMW 525i and a 2003 Bmw 330ci, both in mint cndition with low mileage and a 1956 Packard "The 400" coupe, in his garage, and no children either.

If there was cash for clunkers he was going to trade the heap in on a new Pontiac G8 but it is to late it seems for that....









OK GUYS, WHAT SHOULD HE DO?

[Fulcrum525]

Put a Mercedes V-12 into it. Most problems solved and a few more gained but it should be cheaper in the long run.

[Skippy]

The idea of donating it to RPOC sounds good, and is probably the right course of action for him. One of those ideas sounds a bit like insurance fraud, and we wouldn't want that now would we?

It might also be possible to sell "as is" to someone with a bit more wrenching skills. I don't know what the market for those cars is like, but I did used to work with a young guy whose dad had a similar vintage Bentley. He said (does this sound familiar?) that they aren't really that hard to work on and aren't really that expensive to keep as long as you do the work yourself.

[kerry]

In those circumstances I might look for some kind of trade. Maybe someone is tired of their boat and would be willing to swap for the Rolls.

[86560SEL]

What about the 4900 actual mile and MINT 1990 Ford Victoria that some clown traded in on the CFC. What a fool... dealer too for crushing it. They could sell it for more than $4500. The car is floating around on youtube now on video.

WHY couldnt they have traded that nice and practically new Ford to someone with a POS car and traded that car in? Still would have got $4500. Some people are morons... nicely put.

[tankdriver]

What is his intended purpose for the car?
If he just wants to use it, drop in some cheapish more reliable engine/trans (I assume some Chevys fit the bill since that's what you mentioned), and go.
If the body/interior are in good shape then it could be a candidate to sell to a restorer.

[iwrock]

You should buy it Jim...

[ImBroke]

Cut bait and run. Unless he likes that 30k in three years for maintenance.

I wouldn't trust an engine that's been overheated twice. How much for a rebuild, vice picking up the used one? I'd put the used one in and sell quickly.

[Kuan]

Chevy small block V8.

http://www.clusterflock.org/2008/11/rolls-royce-street-rod.html

[BodhiBenz1987]

Anyone who considered trading in a Rolls Royce to Cash For Clunkers shouldn't be allowed to touch such a car.

I don't think dropping in an engine would be of any help for someone who doesn't have the mind-set to learn about, tinker with, and PAY FOR, a Rolls Royce. It's not a cheap car to own, period, no matter what engine's in it.

He should sell it to someone who knows these cars and can afford to take care of it. Believe me, someone will really appreciate it if the body's in anywhere near decent shape. Lot of RR/Bentley guys out there with plenty of money and/or insanity to take it on. Hell, I'd consider it if I had the space.

[Brian Carlton]

You'd need to speak with someone who has knowledge about the repair of those vehicles. Any advice from others is basically worthless.

I'd suggest that you contact Roy via PM. He's repaired several of them to my knowledge and can put dollar figures on whatever this fellow might be considering.

They are definitely known as a perfect way to separate a fool from his money.

[neanderthal]

It does seem a little bit, to me, like he should get a bus pass.

How do you let a car overheat?

[PaulC]

Sell as is, where is, and wash your hands of this car. See if he wants in on an early W140 600SEL or a nice e32 750iL.

[Jim B.]

Originally Posted by iwrock

You should buy it Jim...

OMFG


lol

[Jim B.]

Originally Posted by BodhiBenz1987

Hell, I'd consider it if I had the space.

Get rid of the old broke down non running '75 240D, and your Jeep.

Then you will have the space, do it.


The car is cosmetically stunning, utterly breathtaking to behold, inside and out.

I have been in it, passersby gawk.