RHD Project for auction, 1st Sept 2018

[Chris P]

On its way back to Derby thanks to two very damp volunteers.  The initial verdict.......     much better than expected!

You probably can't see it from this picture, but the grill badge is totally unique (to my knowledge) being recessed as part of the grill!

And it has the rubber headlight/facia trims that Matt C is re-creating.

[Chris P]

Couple more picks, a big thank you to Andrew and Matt....ETA this afternoon!

[Matt Clark]

Well I've always said they look better in the rain...

Cosmetically the car is really tidy. There's the usual issues re: saggy headliners etc but the panel fit looks superb, the doors close wonderfully, and from what little I could see underneath, the chassis looks ok? I dare say you have a bargain as RHDs go! The interior looked good on first inspection. It was great seeing this unicorn car being towed out of a wet field! I also got to drive it while Andy pushed, so technically I've driven two of the three factory RHDs

That grille is *really* interesting, it felt like 1 piece of plastic - with the badge moulded in, all in black, and the silver letters appear to be an applique over the plastic. Felt like a pro job, not an aftermarket one - so I would love to know more about that.

You'll be very happy when you get her!

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I think you've also become a custodian of one of the great-great-great-great-great-great grandkids of the snails from 2002!

[TristanC]

I knew I recognised the MGJ Reg.....

My very first DOC news!!!!





I look forward to coming to see it myself at some point!! 
Well done CP

[Stuart Rees]

I like the last paragraph in that article... It has gone to the right owner, that's for sure!

[MrToast]

Great stuff! Looking forward to seeing more pics and details on this as You get stuck into. It Chris!

[Chris Williams]

All great stuff, that front badge is really interesting. Wonder what the story is behind that?
Chris

[Chris P]

2 large Costco Kitchen rolls later, the interior is looking a lot better, the seats are eventually clean after repeated scrubbing with Wiko leather cleaner and Glipstone leather treatment......spray, scrub, wipe, ditto , ditto, Only stop when the kitchen roll comes back damp but clean. 

Very therapeutic, same with carpets, spray (water) rub, blot. Works every time. Photo's tomorrow..I've had enough for tonight.

[Matt Clark]

Pickup pictures! It was actually really strange to see this car in the flesh after all it's small, fuzzy appearances in old magazines, and even odder to know I had posters of it on my wall 20 + years ago....










Note different rub strip to the other RHDs:

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The grille is very interesting - this doesn't look like a hobby job to me. If anything it's a more advanced moulding than the factory one; look at the way the grille fins go over the recess for the badge - yet by virtue of having what I think is a plastic badge with a silver transfer on top, it's of a cheaper finish/look than stock. I'd love to know what was going on here.

[MrToast]

Great pics! Some unique bits on the car by the looks of it. Hopefully we can find out some more about them.

Is that the last of the factory RHD's or was there one more?

[Chris P]

It is believed that one of Dave Howarth's RHD's, "WIA" was converted later....It was a custom job for 80's pop idle John Taylor of Duran Duran. But as much of this work was done during Receivership....records and few and far between.

[MrToast]

Cool, I didn't know that. Thanks Chris

[Stuart Rees]

I thought I recognised the VIN from somewhere... Looks like AXI 1699 was at the 25th Nov '82 auction 

See 1:25 into the clip





Which I think is the same auction as AXI 1698 was sold at, Chris?

[Chris P]

Hi Stuart,
definitely AXI 1699, (1 min 30 secs in) but sure about 1698.

[Phil Peters]

Hi Stu,

According to the Thames News piece there was only 1 RHD DeLorean at that particular BCA auction, although an article in The Times the following day shows a photo of AXI 1698. Perhaps Thames News got their facts wrong?

According to the Times article, the most expensive out of 11 DeLoreans sold that day was a RHD automatic at £15,250.