1973 144DL Auto 15k miles only

[Rob1950]

Entered in Mathewsons March auction 15k miles from new! Guide £7-9k

https://www.mathewsons.co.uk/auction...pp=96&pn=1&g=1

[john.wigley]

Originally Posted by Rob1950

Entered in Mathewsons March auction 15k miles from new! Guide £7-9k

https://www.mathewsons.co.uk/auction...pp=96&pn=1&g=1

With the 'NR' registration mark that will be a Leicestershire car, probably supplied by Yeates' who had dealerships in Loughborough and Leicester. They were our local main dealers - always very helpful. It will be interesting to see the photos when they are put up. As a late model, it should have impact bumpers and later 240 esque dash. Depending on condition, the reserve doesn't look unreasonable, either.

Regards, John.

[ITSv40]

Originally Posted by john.wigley

With the 'NR' registration mark that will be a Leicestershire car, probably supplied by Yeates' who had dealerships in Loughborough and Leicester. They were our local main dealers - always very helpful. It will be interesting to see the photos when they are put up. As a late model, it should have impact bumpers and later 240 esque dash. Depending on condition, the reserve doesn't look unreasonable, either.

Regards, John.

That does sound like a Unicorn 144 and deserving of a good home. I hope it doesn't have the big bumpers - I think they were introduced in '74 at the very end of 140 production. In my opinion the '73 grille with small bumpers and rectangular rear lights is the prettiest of them all. Obviously, just my opinion.

Matthewsons have been achieving some good results. This last week a superb 1800ES - showcased in Driver magazine - made £29500 and a very nice C70 £3800.

[cassell]

Although it states 'dry stored since 1982' the last tax disc expired in May 1977 so the 15k miles done in four years!

[Steve 940]

Think this one may have been posted before if memory serves me right.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/126335133...3Avlp_homepage

Cheers
Steve

[Moomoo]

Originally Posted by Steve 940

Think this one may have been posted before if memory serves me right.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/126335133...3Avlp_homepage

Cheers
Steve

Aye, that’s been around before Steve.👍

[john.wigley]

How times change with advancing years! I remember when good, running and MOT'd examples changed hands for a few hundred pounds. My own first Volvo was a 12 year old '72 145E purchased on a whim, while on holiday in Bournemouth, from a dealer for £650. Both the supplying dealer, and later Yeates' in Loughborough, and the car treated us so well that we have seldom been without a Volvo since.

Regards, John.

[RoscoMac]

Do we think 15k miles is genuine though?

[john.wigley]

Originally Posted by RoscoMac

Do we think 15k miles is genuine though?

Hard to say without the benefit of photographs which have yet to appear. I'd look for wear on contact surfaces, pedal rubbers, etc. With that mileage it should be minimal - although pedal rubbers can be easily changed.

Our cars are currently averaging 2 - 2.5K PA and my late MIL only did 1 - 2K PA in her last few years driving, so yes, I would say that it is entirely possible.

Regards, John.

P.S. It's also a 6 digit odo, so potentially more difficult to reset without obvious 'tampering'. J.

[ITSv40]

Originally Posted by RoscoMac

Do we think 15k miles is genuine though?

There is no reason to doubt that it isn't genuine. It hasn't been taxed since 1977, so 15,000miles in four years would have been reasonable back in the '70s. The odometer goes up to 999,999 before back to 0, so it is extremely unlikely it has been 'round the clock'

It will be interesting to see the photos when they are put up.