Sammio for sale
 

Today I was contacted by a German gentleman regarding this car found in a showroom in Dusseldorf.
Nice the see a SAMMIO surrounded by some very expensive marque. :nod:

https://i.imgur.com/mlEjxbTh.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/d9zc9Gvh.jpg

I'm sure it's one built by Dave in his Poole workshop.

I am also sure the price tag will up-set the trolls again. :faint:

On the plus side, I informed him I could build him one for half the listed showroom price and he's now coming over next week for a chat. :whoo:

I would suggest the price is spot on ! Assuming he shifts it for that or a close offer you can bet he will be asking you to build more.

Ditto, I believe the price is right too.

As for building one for half the price, assuming you mean you'd charge the customer around £11,500 and would be in profit yourself, you'd barely be making minimum wage for your time. The customer would probably export it to Europe then sell it on for twice what he paid for it anyway.

There are people out there with deep pockets for classic replicas - Suffolk Sports Cars' stand was swamped with toffs at Goodwood, while the maker of the Aston DBR1 replicas is also trading very nicely in the £70-120k bracket, then there's these:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Reliant-F...53.m1438.l2649

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Maserati-...oAAOSwVnFbXPoj

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1956-Mase...sAAOSwbxBbQ3ax

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ABSOLUTEL...EAAOSwZZlbomrs

Kit cars and specials, one and all.

Looking at the picture, the front indicators are certainly not symmetrical, in fact the whole front looks as if it isn't symmetrical. Having read what Paul L bodyshell had to go through to knock it into shape, I think anyone starting a Sammio has to be very brave.
Would need to knock a "0" off the price for me, compare it to the car Smash sold last year, his black 250. The Formosa looks a much better bet as the shell is far better finnished.
Not meaning to piss anyone off, just my opinion.

I was a bit worried that my 250 TR would be knocked in value because I have fitted the "wrong" engine. The two Maserati's listed above have shown that won't matter too much as they both feature Chevrolet V8's and are on the pricey side.

With regard to Sammio body I would say that a little mis match from side to side is quite acceptable. If you take a tape measure to most cars of that era, the hand built cars in particular, most will show variations.

Aren't they both the same car?
:eusa_naughty:

I saw that !!

I wonder if Gary ever imagined his creations being in a showroom in front of a 300SL Gullwing.

A few quick points from me…

- I think the front indicators are just a trick of the camera angle, as all the photos I’ve seen of other Sammio builds from Dave/Bisto34 have been top quality cars. :cool:

- Remember that I had the rarer Sammio Cordite model, not this Sammio Spyder version.

- Compared to the DNA asking prices, I think Smash should have sold his for more, especially with the bumpers.

- Agreed the Formosa is higher quality, but Chris’s one on Ebay is the equivalent of €43k, so significantly more.

- If you think the correct price should be €2,550 then you must be ‘aving a laugh. :icon_wink:

Cheers, Paul. :)

Or in a private car collection that included a SWB 250, etc. :cool:

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...psz823kw15.jpg

My bad, didn't look too closely at the ads as I was getting ready to go out.

Just put the ad through Google Translate:

domestic equipments
vehicle description
This triumph Sammio reminds by its appearance on one of the most famous racing cars from the 60 's: The Shelby Cobra 289! That was it! This Triumph Sammio has been made in a small series based on a Triumph Herald and looks like a daring historic race car. But he is not! The engine has a pure 1296ccm and is therefore in small four-cylinder and no beefy eight-cylinder. But no matter! This sports car looks good and is very sporty despite its small engine! A nice leisure time for the garage and the country road.

Couldn't have put it better myself! Well, perhaps I could've...

Maybe Google translate doesn't pick up on the subtleties in the German language !

I suppose there is a bit of a Cobra look to the front end but it hadn't occurred to me before and you do need to squint a bit.

obviously been selling mine far too cheap!

this dealer is well known for its "special" prices

only people with "thumbs on all fingers" or total amateurs are buying there.

the triumph and kitcar community in germany is already warning to buy this car for that price.

update:

car is now advertized for 18.500 euro
does not really look serious if dealers play-up with prices in a region of ~35%

at beginning of year 2018 the importer (a dealer in south germany) has tried to sell the car at least 3 times via ebay...no success...and now another dealer is trying...450km further north ...with the same success...none.

https://suchen.mobile.de/fahrzeuge/d...2-d7dcce8a7f7c

Absolutely agree with Rochdale here, E18,500 is a ridiculous price.

If they really want to sell it they should advertise it for double that and hold out for a buyer for whom that's a very modest sum of money for a weekend car, and who appreciates the beauty, style and WOW! factor they're getting for not a lot of Euros.

Well done, Rochdale, thanks for raising the pricing issue. Again.

I'm with Towed on this one !

see what yoo get for 18000euro. (an original lotus seven, 2 westfield seven, a TVR griffith or cerbera, a perfect lotus europa, 2.5 lotus excels in good condition, 3 relant scimitars in mint condition)...and than compare it with such a sammio, botched together in a shed from a private builder ...with a "tricky" suspension (rear), a poor performing engine.....for that money it must not only "look" good...it must perform well (there are several spacialists whoare able to bring some horsepower even into a triumph engine) and the condition must be spot-on....which this car is far away from!!!

thats clear enough !

I know I shouldn’t feed the Troll, but I am under the influence of cough mixture. :rolleyes:

rochdaleGT - Perhaps something is getting lost in translation, but generally over here in the UK, we think of this as a “shed”.

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/590/2...692c8a3b_c.jpg

Whereas, this car was built by David/bisto34 in what we would call a “workshop”.

http://www.madabout-kitcars.com/foru...2&d=1521847951

Similarly, this is what we would call “botched together”.

https://i0.wp.com/www.careofcars.com...ap-repairs.jpg

Whereas, this is what we would call an example of a professional standard modifications.

http://www.madabout-kitcars.com/foru...2&d=1443569035

bisto34 has produced a number of quality Sammios over the years and here is another one below. :cool:

http://www.madabout-kitcars.com/foru...8&d=1503265213

So rather than just insult his work without providing any evidence…

Perhaps you could point out the "botching" you are referring to in relation to car DWY 417B?

Saucer of milk !
 

Saucer of milk for this one, wife must have run off in a Sammio with a big grin!

Aside from the quality and price debate, why oh why do people persist in dressing up a fifties shape in a sixties/seventies livery?! I know this is very much a personal gripe, but the Gulf colour scheme looks terrible on them! Harrumph!

I think it is one of the few colour schemes that you can get away with on a period car, simply because it is such a nice colour scheme.
It did cross my mind on my 250 but even I though a Forrd colour scheme on a BMW trying to look loke a fauxarri would be a bit much.
Would like to see a Tribute Cobra painted in that colour scheme.

Not a huge fan of Gulf colours on a 50's inspired car myself, but it really is down to personal taste and on that car it actually looks pretty good.

Thing is, you'd have to be a fairly serious motorsports enthusiast to recognise that the livery isn't right for the style of car, and to most people it's just going to look like a really cool and very old racing car.

One of the things I did with my Spyder was to fit a modern wireless, joking that it was there so I'd have something to listen to while I waited for the RAC to come and tow me home.

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...7.jpg~original

The first time I took the car to a show I loitered near it and listened to the opinions of those who stopped to talk about it.

http://i1301.photobucket.com/albums/...b.jpg~original

One pair of old chaps spent ages arguing about it: one said it was obviously an original, hand beaten aluminium racer that had survived in unmolested condition since the 50's, citing the patina on the paint as evidence of that (I'd sprayed it about a fortnight earlier).

The other insisted that it was obviously not original, but had undergone a recent and expensive restoration, citing the modern radio as evidence that its owner had added 'improvements' it didn't have in 1954. Both, however, agreed that a hi-fi has no place in an old racing car, which is one of the reasons that I removed it, but neither of them even considered that it might be a fibreglass special that the owner built himself.

I think my point is that this class of car is very much one that the owner can put their own stamp on, using non 'correct' colour schemes and detailing, and that Joe Public will still love the car despite it not conforming to the period rules that builders of replica Cobras, GT40's, C-Type Jags etc. feel they have to follow.

Sorry about the images not embedding properly, Photobucket problems today, I'm afraid.

I also find it hard to accept the asking price for these cars considering the underpinnings.
Take a look at a Marlin Cabrio or Sportster which in the case of the former can be had for less than half the price and it's a no brainer.

As this listing is SAMMIO FOR SALE!! I thought I might try and sell one. :director:

I have a customer who's possibly getting banned from driving (to many points), so I waiting for him to decide what's happening to his car and my bill!!:eusa_snooty:.
Because of this I thought I might see if anyone on here might be interested as it would make some one a very nice Christmas present!!!:icon_lol:

It's a Sammio Spyder, on a 1968 Triumph chassis fitted with a vitesse 2lt driving a 4 speed gearbox with a very short exhaust (sounds assume) .
The car is almost complete and nearly ready for an MOT. It's running 14" MG steel wheels, fiberglass seats, full rewire ect.
It is un-painted so will need cosmetic attention.

If it come's up for sale you can take it as-it-is or for a little extra cost it could be sold running and driving with a new MOT and registered correctly with DVLA.

In light of the recent postings I think offers around £14,000 would be about right. How ever I would consider £10,000 in monopoly money and the £4,000 in sterling please. :loco:
Sorry as yet, no photo's but I'll ask if I can post some when I next contact the customer. :boom:

Anyone interested PM me.

In General - I really don’t understand the fuss around someone trying to sell a car. :rolleyes:

There is no requirement to buy any car, so if you think it is not value for money, buy something else.

If you think you could build one to a better standard yourself for less money, then go ahead.

It is largely a free world after all.

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Alan – Sorry to pick on your logic in particular, but we’ve had this debate a number of times before.

Surely the finished car can be worth more than the sum of its parts?

Or should this $200 million painting be described based on its underpinnings, which is just some paint thrown onto a canvas afterall?

https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nm42yEEfn...ber%2B_17A.jpg

Its only a ‘no brainer’ if the look of the Marlin appeals to you more than the look of the Sammio.

Seeing a Marlin didn't inspire me to build a kit car, but seeing just photos of a Spyder did! :eek:

Also, I do understand all the arguments about running gear and performance, etc.

But on that basis, my wife’s Kia Picanto outperforms my car in pretty much every measurable area. :icon_sad:

However, her car is completely anonymous, whereas my car turns heads and gets a very positive reaction. :cool:

So I really believe that my car is worth more than the sum of its parts, but also accept it is not for everyone.

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Mike – Follow Mister Towed’s advice and double the price for a quick sale. :icon_wink:

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Peace and goodwill to all, Paul. :)

Well said, Paul.

The original, Marina based Marlin with Alfa Romeo livery was high on my list of desired cars thirty-five years ago, even though its underpinnings were from one of Clarkson's worst cars of all time, solely because it looked like a 30's racing car.

They've since taken the car in a different direction, with powerful BMW drive-trains, big alloys with wide rubber and retro/modern styling similar to some of Morgan's modernised designs.

I know that makes them fast and exhilarating and they have a real fan base who love their cars, but they're no longer the class of car - classic replicas - that I find desirable and really feel a need to build. They also don't stir the emotions as much as something prettier, hence they're competing against second-hand Sevens for sales, which typically attract buyers in the £6-8k bracket.

As for the performance side of things, Paul's right again, my own daily driver, the mighty 2016 Nissan Pulsar 1.2 turbo, has a roof, a windscreen, an efficient heater with aircon, a radio, bluetooth, a professional spray job, is safe, quiet, comfortable, spacious, has cruise control, is very economical, has great brakes, dynamic stability control, and is faster than a mk1 Golf GTI, so it's a 'better' car in almost every respect than anything I'm likely to build, or even an M3 powered Marlin Roadster. So is it a more desirable and valuable car than a Sammio Spyder? No, I keep losing it in car parks, even when it's the only car there.

I think we have a bit of a Brexit style impasse here:

Those of us who 'get' the Sammio thing are like those MP's who are happy with the current deal that's on the table - something that has questionable underpinnings but looks good to those who appreciate it.

Those who'd prefer a Marlin are like the MP's who want a hard Brexit with no compromises - more money left in your pocket in the short-term, performance at any cost and never mind what it ends up looking like.

RochdaleGT is like the DUP - they really don't know what they want but are prepared to shout everyone else down to get it.

Anyway, this debate is likely to be pretty redundant after 29th March next year as instead of enjoying our cars we'll all likely be living rough, wearing loin cloths, wielding stone axes and smearing woad on our faces. :(

I was watching an episode of Wheeler Dealers the other night. They were featuring a Messerschmitt bubble car. Mike found one to restore that cost £18,000. They then spent a fair bit of time and money ( time costs are not factored in remember ) and ended up selling for £25,000. It wasn't to my taste and its not the style of car for me, but it was a cracking car when it was finished. Sold to an enthusiast who wanted a really nice example and that's the going rate for them at the moment.

You certainly got my profile right --I'm very much in the 'out and to hell with it' camp.
My Mx5 does everything that you could probably want in a 'fun' car , but my Alfa powered Marlin provides the grin factor at a lot less money , though I appreciate that they are not to everyone's taste.

Just goes to prove that in todays marketplace what a phenomenal bargain a second-hand Marlin is, particularly roadsters. Entertaining to drive, reasonably comfortable on a longish run, plenty of thumbs-up from fellow motorists and great conversation pieces.

Lucky - those Messerschmitt tandem 'bubble' cars are now fetching serious money despite their obvious shortcomings as a car. I remember seeing one in a custom car mag decades ago that had a ruddy great Japanese bike engine complete with back wheel powering it. The owner said it would hit 60 in less than five seconds but he daren't go any faster than that.

You'll also see one crossing the line at the end of the Mille Miglia in James Martin's 'The Real Italian Job' while the celebrity chef watches on after his million dollar Maserati broke down. If I recall correctly, someone says 'Haven't you got one of those?' to which he solemnly replies 'Yes'. Could've saved himself an awful lot of money and finished the event if he'd just thought to enter it.

A-H, I love the idea of an alfa powered Marlin, I take it it's an old one? Any pictures? I too bought an MX-5 about a decade ago but it wasn't for me as it was just too good at everything. Where's the fun in that?

Just wanted to use this as an example that a car doesn't have to have much in the way of performance, practicalities and the like to be desirable, collectable and interesting.

Ed China found the bubble car a bit small so he bought an Outspan

https://i.ibb.co/dtCqrFT/IMG-3109.jpg
I promise you that I'm not taking the pith.

Beautifully trimmed inside.

Alfa powered Marlin
 

Try this!

Roadster
 

Taken these prior to engine removal to address oil leak.
Engine is taken from an Alfetta 2.0litre and is mated via purpose made adaptor to Ford type 9 gearbox.

You are right, the Cabrios especially. There was a Roadster in Scotland advertised for around £2,500 recently. I was very, very tempted, just to try it out for a few months. But having owned an NG in the past, I know that there is always something more that needs fettling, and that something more can range from a couple of quid to several hundreds.

JagTVR - I understand that the Outspan's performance was quite zesty for its day. So long as it had some juice in it you could peel back the tarmac with its Seville hundred horsepower.

I'll get my coat...

Alan H - very nice looking installation. I Love it.

It's now confirmed this car is for sale.
https://i.imgur.com/rRsQjQNh.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/Nwm7VTbh.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/asqEmAvh.jpg

Still asking £4,000.
PM me if your interested. :director: