One owner '73 144S value.

[vitalspark]

I am sadly having to dispose of my late fathers 144S.
Owned since new Jan 73 and tax exempt.
Garaged since new and covered genuine 61k miles.
Cherry Red with nice original features like Radiomobile and under dash pull out Phillips cassette unit..also Cibie 45 spots fitted when new.
Interior can only be described as new and totally unmarked with factory fitted and specified 164 door cards including wood inserts.
Bodywork which is original was I thought good until it failed its mot recently on rust at o/s sill and suspension mount.
Quoted £400-£500 for repair which is ok but when look closely and being realistic I would think there may be further issues around the corner for next year so will reluctantly have to part with it as my time is taken with another classic and I don't want to leave it stored for what might be another couple of years.
Car has been garaged all its life and since my father passed away in 2010 has only covered approx 30 miles/year to and from the mot station.
Currently garaged in east of Scotland and mot expired.
Valued at £2000 before rust issue and mot failure so realistic that value has dropped quite a bit but just how much would it be worth?
I have attached a couple of recent pics of car..transporter shot clearly shoes the rust on the sill and the shot in the path taken last year when it went for its mot.
The car starts and runs well and is a great driver and was my Dads pride and joy.
It was always serviced regularly and has a stainless exhaust.
I was intending to keep this car however I also inherited an older car from him and this is currently the focus of attention so sadly I will have to party with it.
A realistic figure as a guide to sell to hopefully an enthusiast would be greatly appreciated.

[windaelicker88]

Would be interested in having a look with a view to buying if possible??
I am located in Fife so the right side of the country..
teamgranny@live.co.uk

[Lucien]

That looks lovely, a real credit to your father. Good 140s have risen in value recently. I'd recommend fixing the sill rust issue before sale. In that colour, with its history and mileage, once sorted it'd be a cracker and being the S model with those factory options I'd say worth more than 2k. Best of luck with the sale.

Regards, Lucien.

[vitalspark]

Thanks guys for the encouragement I am going up tomorrow to have another look with a view to repairing and holding on to it for a bit yet however the car is up at a garage in Angus just now and I have difficulty in arranging time to work on it hence the thought that I should sell.
I have a very interested buyer and although I might secure more I believe he will spend the right money and have the car back looking as it should…probably much quicker than I can with my current commitments.
Still pondering hence the visit tomorrow.

keep you posted

Dave.

[vitalspark]

Thanks again to PMs sent..tried to reply but they refused to go as I have less than 30 posts.
Apologies.

Dave

[amaz'in]

I don't believe Volvo made a 144 S as late as this, around 71/72 they had the GL models which used the Fuel Injection B20 engine.

The other model was the standard DL single carb, it could have been converted to a twin carb though, I did this in the 80's to my 74 DL big bumper model along with the relevant cam change.

[vitalspark]

Originally Posted by amaz'in

I don't believe Volvo made a 144 S as late as this, around 71/72 they had the GL models which used the Fuel Injection B20 engine.

The other model was the standard DL single carb, it could have been converted to a twin carb though, I did this in the 80's to my 74 DL big bumper model along with the relevant cam change.

When Volvo introduced the facelifted 144 for 1973 they offered a DL..single carb…'S' twin carb and GL fuel injection.
The injected model was marketed as the 144E later when the big bumber model was introduced and before the 244 when I believe the S was dropped.
Side badging has the bottom half of the badge coloured Black for the DL..Red for the S and Grey for the GL.
The 'S' model was quite rare for the short period that this model was in production most buyers seemed to go for a single carb or injection.
The S I have was brand new to my father and was imported in Dec 1972 and registered Jan 3rd '73.
We had to prove to the DVLA that the car was manufactured in 72.. although registered 73.. to get tax exemption but they accepted this.

I was asked in a previous pm if I had any pics of interior but as said I can't reply to pms yet as not posted enough but took a couple of pics yesterday.
Shows the back seat..never been sat on!..fronts also immaculate with covers and carpet mats on the mats.
Rev counter in dash and underside solid apart from the mentioned issue with sills and rear o/s arch..stainless exhaust also.
The trailing arms and shocks and springs need done but I believe all parts are available and hopefully a straightforward job as I have now decided to repair for mot and hopefully redo the rear suspension as mentioned and keep the car for a bit yet.
There were no offers for this decent car above £1000..probably need to look at the bigger market down south when the time comes.

[vitalspark]

Thanks for the PMs..still can't reply as not yet reached the magic 30..strange rule right enough.
Will be speaking to the welder Monday hopefully and first step to putting the car back on the road with mot to follow.
I am looking at replacing most of the rear suspension which looks a bit tired with car sitting down a bit but definitely everything solid underneath apart from trailing arms so take it problem is 40 year old springs.
Priced the parts online and they all seem available..hope so..and should be under £400 for arms springs and shocks.
Need to make sure I acquire all the correct bushes bolts and sleeves too but as renewing everything hopefully it will be straightforward to fit.
I will enquire under a different post for advice unless anyone reading this has already carried out this job and has any pointers?
Thanks again you guys for the communication and keep you posted.

Dave

[Mark1Stu]

That is a fantastic looking car and a rare survivor. The interior condition looks second to none.

I just hope the bodywork gets done properly - so many nice cars I've seen have been ruined by rippled bodywork and poor attention to detail. Rear arches especially - with ragged inner wheel arch lips left as they were found when the outer arch was cut off. If it was me, I'd track down a properly restored car/s find out where the work was done, and get some quotes rather than take it to a well meaning garage/body shop who perhaps have been used to churning out average work and know no different.

Certainly a £1000+ car as is in my book which I could see command £5-6k+ with a dealer if properly restored.

I'm just glad I live so far away that I can't be tempted further.

[mpolov]

Agree with Mark1Stu. Your car deserves to be repaired properly given its overall condition, with proper sill replacement if necessary to make sure any underlying corrosion is dealt with. It's always hard to justify spending more money than perhaps the cheapest quote, but worth getting the right person to fix it in the long term if you are keen to preserve what you have.