Independent Evaluation Service Near Oxford?

[Grasshopper]

Hi,

 

I have a rather strange situation which hopefully somebody can help me with.

 

Firstly a bit of background, I'll try and keep this brief: I bought a flat at the end of 2013 (completed late December); the flat included a garage. When I took possession I found out that the previous owner had not removed their car from the garage, a 1973 (I think) DS23. The car is in a real state, just the body work alone looks like a lot of work, but knowing that these were valuable vehicles I was careful about how I dealt with it. All correspondence has gone through my solicitor, but no response was given by the previous owner. 6 months later the car is still there (!) but last week my solicitor served a letter stating that previous owner had 7 days to remove the car or I would dispose of it myself. This has got their attention, but they have also indicated that they won't be able to comply with the 7 days (also given their general conduct through the sale and in the last 6 months I have no expectation of them doing anything at all)

 

I am in no rush, so won't be aiming to have it towed on day 8 or anything. If I am to dispose of it though I would rather sell/give it to somebody who will actually restore it because it could be an amazing car, and I would hate to see it go to waste.

 

The owner keeps saying it's worth £20-40k, which it would be once restored but certainly not in the state it's in now. If I am to sell it/have it towed I need to show that I didn't swindle them of large sums of money. Does anybody know of an independent valuation service who could look at the car for me? The car is in Oxford city, if that makes any difference

 

Thanks in advance,

G

[paul.h]

Welcome to the forum.

 

This company may be worth contacting, on their home page it  says they can provide restoration so should be able to give an idea of costs. DS23s on their site look to be about £23k so the restored car estimate range of up to £40k may be far too high. http://www.frenchclassics.co.uk/

 

Obviously you would have prefered to not have to deal with the car, but I hope you are able to claim back garage rental/storage costs from the car owner so if you do have to sell it, you can deduct this from the amount you need to return to the owner as well as any other costs incurred such as your solicitor. As for disposal, did you try just telling them it will be removed from the garage and left on the road for them to collect or dumped outside their house and then send them a bill ?

[Grasshopper]

Paul,

 

Thanks very much for your reply and the recommendation. I will check them out.

 

Yes the garage rental/storage issue is also being handled by my solicitor.

 

It is an option to push the car to the area of visitors parking next to the flat, but I would have to break in to the car in order to steer! Probably not too difficult with a vintage car though. Having it towed to their house and sending them the bill is an interesting idea though, if I can retrieve costs. Then they can't come back at me for having "stolen" it.

 

Thanks for the advice.

[paul.h]

A trolley jack will lift up the front so you can steer (and the handbrake, if on, may be on the front wheels if like a C5) or there are also wheel dollies that go under a wheel so the car can be moved - eg Machine Mart AWD1 £53.99 for a pair http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/awd1-automotive-wheel-dolly-pair

 

A couple of years ago our C4 was in a crash and we got the RAC to recover it and that cost about £80 - so this is an option for the owner. This was outside of our RAC membership terms/conditions but the money was paid back by the insurance company. All we did was phone the RAC and they sent a truck fairly quickly - so not being able to sort something in 7 days is nonsense.

[Johndouglas]

If I am to dispose of it though I would rather sell/give it to somebody

Unless you have the V5 for the car, you can't sell or give it to anybody. Even a scrapyard shouldn't take it unless you also give them the document. Presumably someone must be applying for SORN every year.

[C 5 Estate]

Re the SORN.

 

I was totally ignorant about Statutory Off Road Notice and got taken for £80 about 12 years ago a I had not used my 1984 VW LT31 for some months and had parked it around the back of the house. It was a lovely van.( a work shop on wheels)

 

When I was given an old motor cycle by a friend I went to the Preston  DVLA Office to make absolutely sure I did things correctly. 

 

After repeated annual renewals of the SORN I the rules changed, in that until such time as I taxed the bike it would automatically have the SORN renewed at the anniversary of original SORN,

 

I presume someone has their name on the DVLA list.

 

They may be pushing up the daisies and the original poster may be communicating with the relatives.

 

Tim