Saw this Intermeccanica 356 D $52,000

That's OK all the money is in the other end.

That's a lot of red.

Ron, you have a good point.  The color combination may be off putting for some.

 

The choice of a blue top is questionable.

 

I disagree. If the car was built to mimic the owner's Bentley, then it is probably a good choice. 

 

Red and blue, in the proper shades, looks very royal/regal, and in the case of this car, looks just fine.

Oh, I missed the part of it matching his questionably adorned Bentley 

 What about the price on this car?  The mileage is low and it is well equipped, but it may have been in a front end collision and it is several years old, do you think it warrants the price?

Couldn't you buy a real Porsche driver coupe for that kind of scratch???

 

Ok, that got me! you're a funny guy, Rich...

How do you know this - the front end collision, that is?

Bob,

 

I was talking with Michael Melville Intermeccanica US and he said he had knowledge of the car and told me it was in a front end accident.

 

 

Yes, good one.

 

Okay.  Thanks.

 

Maybe they got Alan 'DrClock' to fix it...I hear he's good at that.

 

I don't think you can find one at that price with low mileage and restored.

I personally think the car is a little over priced, given the age I see similar cars going in the $40k range.  Given the additional options maybe $46,000.  Your thoughts?

Henry Reisner confirms that this car was in a pretty serious front end collision.

Ouch!  I wonder who did the repair?  It looks good, but would need serious inspection.  I would think that should bring the price down significantly!  Still depends on the quality of the repair. 

       
       


This one gave me a good laugh...

I'd MUCH rather have this:  http://www.thesamba.com/vw/cla...etail.php?id=1598812

 

And it's considerably cheaper.

I am looking for the 356 d with a little more creature comforts, but this is a nice car.  I don't think the RED very RED car will go for over $46k.  That's my opinion if it has been in a front end collision, even with a great repair job.  Your thoughts?

Front end collisions:

Either a pan or tube chassis they all start out as pieces as well as the fiberglass body . 

When repaired and reassembled in a craftsman like manner, i.e. proper replacement of framework, suspension parts, quality fiberglass repair and professional paint, you'll have a speedster no different than originally assembled. A close inspection by a knowledgeable person should ease a potential buyer's concern.

There are million dollar Ferraris out there which have taken substantial damage, and unless you knew the history, you wouldn't know by looking at them. It is all about how well the repairs have been made.

Have the car inspected by a knowledgeable shop. How far are you from the guys @ IM?Maybe have them look at it or have them suggest a reputable shop?

Ted

The car is actually listed on the IM website. I think with that in mind, they should be willing to answer any questions you have. They will most likely invoke "lawyer speak" and reccomend an impartial third party inspection. They may also know who did the repairs. It's worth calling Henry.

Step one: will you be happy owning the car, regardless of it's past.
Step two: find out who did the repairs.
Step three: have the car inspected.

If the answer to step one, is at all questionable, you may happier with another car. Do some soul searching and answer that question first and foremost.

Ted

Henry will be glad to talk about the car with you aewgolf.

You make great sense in your reply!  You scare me for that!  (Just kidding)  What do you think of pricing on this car?  I have an email in to the owner and would like to get all things discussed addressed. 

As far as the market goes, I'm not into the 'roadster d' look, so I'm obviously biased in my answer.  I have no research to back my claims. That said, I kind of feel like pricing of that car is optimistic... for the seller.

 

IM's are known for the quality of their fit and finish. The repair history of this one needs to be investigated. This one also has a very specific color pallet which may scare off a lot of potential buyers. How long has it been on the market?  All these items play into the final price.  Once you get up into the 50k range, there are a lot of more interesting cars in that same price range. Some of which may hold their value as well, if not better, than this particular example.

 

I see that you're in Irvine, CA. You'd need to also add in the cost of shipping that one from Florida.

 

What exactly are you looking for? Do you have any preferences? Does this car 'tick' all the right boxes? How many others have you looked at?

 

Ask anyone here, I'm most likely the last guy to ask about pricing. I think I was noted as being "looking to buy a replica on a used Yugo budget".  That may or may not be true, but it gives some valid insight into my mindset.

 

No matter which car you get, make sure you are comfortable with the decision, BEFORE you buy the car.  A lot of these cars are purchased and turned over within the first year because people don't know what they are getting into.

 

Rely on the advice of the guys here, they are ALL great people. They won't mislead you. The decision is ultimately yours.

 

Best of luck on the purchase.

Ted

 

 

 

 

 

You have several SOC folks in your backyard.  I would recommend hooking up with them & picking their brains.

CA registration is a unique proposition.  You would be wise to understand that before committing to a purchase.

Oh yeah, +1 to what Tom just said. CA reg?! How did I forget that one!

 

 

Ted

Does it have a salvage title, or will it have one in California ??? 

I can't answer that for sure Bart. But as I searched for my IM, Henry and I talked about this car.

 

I believe the original owner is the gent that had the accident and had the car repaired. If that's accurate, it should not have a salvage title.

 

Henry has the car on Intermeccanica's site in the pre-owned section. Would he do that if it was on a salvage title?

Well, I would sure ask to see the Title and that would settle that issue... as for California, the different States have different criteria for salvage titles so if it has been in a wreck, I would check with them.

 

I don't have a problem with buying a car with a Salvage Title but it can have a considerable effect on the car's value and it will be a consideration if you ever intend to sell it.

 

On the other hand, you might make a very good deal if you intend to keep the car and it has no real problem. 

 

You drive the car and not the title, but unfortunately, if you sell the car you have to sell the title also.

 

I think it is a beautiful car and I like that make and model. 

some insurance company's will only sell liability for a salvage titled auto in California.

Top should have been black.  But other than that the colors are great.  Love the black in the interior.  I had that exact steering wheel on a Vintage Spyder I had in 2003.  Great wheel that feels perfect in your hands.  I'm sure Henry knows lots about the car repair or can direct you to the person who knows.

That's probably a $60,000 to $65,000 car new, so $52,000 is (in my opinion) in the ball park.

As for the front end damage, I'd be interested in who did the repairs.  If Henry did the repairs I wouldn't give it a second thought.

I've got no horse the the race, other than to agree that

 

1) If Henry did the repairs, I would not give a past collision a second thought. There's NOTHING halfway about what he does.

 

2) Every pot has a lid... but this is the internet, so everybody is entitled to my opinion. IMHO, red on red with a blue top just looks like a Tommy Hilfinger shirt from the 90s. I don't care if he was matching the color palate of his Bentley, his smurf girlfriend, or his grandson's Lego set-- it does nothin' for me.

Like this?

 

Or the Auckland National rugby team polo shirts

I actually like the interior and how it looks with the exterior.  The top and it's cover are tolerable, but would not have been my first choice.  That said, I like the fact that it is just a little different.

I agree Lane, this is one you may need to see in person to really judge.