Interesting story / item on eBay.

[S11A]

I think some of the eBay Land-Rover listings or purchases are fishy in another sense.

For example, I saw a lot of fuss made on another BBS about one that sold for around $68K. But if you read the text in the body of the auction, it listed the final amount of the sale. To the PENNY!

It had multiple bidders, and as far as I know eBay does not allow the person selling to change the auction after the first person bids on it. It is locked to prevent an unscrupulous person from changing the description from "mint" to "piece of junk" once the bidding starts or ends.

I have also seen the same truck sell more than 2 or 3 times, and the "buyer" leave glowing feedback each time.

I wonder if some people are having their friends bid and win to get good feedback and to pump up their ratings.

[S11A]

Aha, here we go:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4648668830&ru=http%3A%2F%2Fmotors.search.ebay.com%3A80%2F%3Ffrom%3DR40%26satitle%3D4648668830%26fvi%3D1#ebayphotohosting

The final sales amount, $69,800, is part of the description of the item (not changeable after the auction starts). After 10 bids, the auction was bid up to... $69,800.

The other suspicious thing about the auction is that the bidders' identifies are hidden. That is allowed by eBay, but adds to the "mystery".

[greenmeanie]

If you want to see someone being VERY liberal with the truth then this is for you:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Land-Rover-Defender-90-1983-defender-90-military-wolf-300-tdi-soft-top_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ31849QQihZ007QQitemZ170188515801QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

It may be a nice truck, it may indeed even be a 1983 although I am fairly sure the MOD didn't buy any the first year, but it is NO WOLF. At best it has some of the Wolf goodies dressing up a 2.5NA 90.

I think you are going to see a lot of '1983 honest guv!' 90's and 110's popping up on the ebay from sources in the UK. Now the 25 year rule is rolling round owners in the UK are very well aware of the drooling and potential demand in the US for early coilers that are worth very little in the home country. I can only warn people to only buy from a reputable dealer in the UK at this time.

Recently there was even a true 1983 spec Defender registered in the US on ebay. Unfortunately it had been imported as a SIII 109 some time ago which was going to result in a lot of headaches for someone if they bought it.

Cheers
Gregor

[yorker]

That is Kellog isn't it? Olympia WA?

[Terrys]

I remember seeing that listing last summer, and rolling my eyes. I have rebuilt a few series trucks, and restored a few also. I find it incomprehensable that someone could actually spend that much money. I suppose if they were paying some absurd shop rate, and huge markups were being tacked onto parts, it would be possible to grow the costs imensely, but, as far fetched as that is, I think it's equally rediculous that someone would actually pay that much. I did a prei-inspection on a beautifully restored (not just rebuilt) 109 a little more than a year ago, and my friend bought it upon my inspection. He paid under $20K. While that may be the exception and not the rule, it wasn't grossly underpriced either.

[greenmeanie]

Speaking of buying 109's. I got the the nod from my wife - my negotiation skills are getting better. Somehow I thought 'It's that or a Stolly!' would get me there.

The truck is, however, a SII and not a IIA. Does anyone have any ideas about differences between the two? Engine differences don't matter as it has had a Ford conversion and I suppose it will have an early suffix gearbox (Maybe not. With that kind of power it might have had a replacement.) The axles don't even fuss me as I am hopefully gong sals. Basically is there any reason not to use a SII as a base vehicle?

Cheers
Gregor

[rovertek]

Aha, here we go:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4648668830&ru=http%3A%2F%2Fmotors.search.ebay.com%3A80%2F%3Ffrom%3DR40%26satitle%3D4648668830%26fvi%3D1#ebayphotohosting

The final sales amount, $69,800, is part of the description of the item (not changeable after the auction starts). After 10 bids, the auction was bid up to... $69,800.

The other suspicious thing about the auction is that the bidders' identifies are hidden. That is allowed by eBay, but adds to the "mystery".

ive been doing ebay for some years and ive found that 2 out of 3 ebayers are stand up people, but you do see that obviously some people bid on thier own merchandice or have friends or relitives do so to drive up the price,those items you will see up for sale again and again ,keep in mind any one can sell anything for any price this is america, it is up to the buyer to inspect and bid cautiously,and if you pay with paypal you may dispute items not as depicted and you most likely will get your money back, thats why if im interested in an item i dont feed the frensy but wait until the last few seconds and "snipe" the item and pay using paypal, and i wont do buisiness with anyone who has less than100 transactions or 99.5% as a rule of thumb (unless they have over 1000 transactions) because alot of people just dont or wont leave bad feedback due to the other person may leave you bad feed back, i just dont care if its warrented i will leave bad feedback and im at 100%......

[yorker]

Gregor-

We probably ought to make a new thread but I can't see any readon not to use a series II. It may have the original and weaker tranny and transfer case but I think I'd end up putting in a NP435 anyway. Nothing wrong with a 289, but hooked to a np435 you would have a better tranny.

[DRTPOOR]

It's kinda funny how your espousing the age and expense of a series rover when your screen name appears to be Dirt Poor. . .

My License plates used to say DRTPOOR on my series. It was ment to be a joke. Guess your sense of humor is non existant? Sorry.

[Eric W S]

Another good one! No I'd say I have a better sense, albeit drier, of humor than you. Your screen name and your post were ironically funny the first time. Talking about how expensive these trucks were with Dirt Poor as your identity...If you were poor how would you know!

[S11A]

That is Kellog isn't it? Olympia WA?

Looks like it from the text of the auction.

Check out this quote from their web site:

"Because of the entirely exceptional nature and cachet of this and other examples of British Northwest's restoration work, the price is not advertised and will be divulged only after prospective owners have become knowledgeable to the owner, who insists that this machine go only to a fully qualified buyer. "

Anyone want to bet if the one of the buyer's qualifications includes a fully qualified checking account?

Their "forum" looks more like a single article advertising their skills, but makes entertaining reading:

http://www.land-roverco.com/forum.htm

[S11A]

FUD (Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt).

Those guys even posted the "article" from their "forum" on eBay in Korea!

http://ebay.auction.co.kr/detail.html?itemNo=230207721937&FeedBackPercent=97.6

Not to pick on them too much, but these sorts of things seem at least a bit odd...

[Saxondog]

Yes I got mine from UKLandrovers. Only paid for and expected 30 year unrestored truck. Condition was as I expected, it runs and drives,tranny a bit noisy but I figured I would sh--can the power train anyway. The Right Hand drive is way cool. Looks like it had a fairy overdrive on it at one time. As stated by others, I was more worried about actually getting it than the condition.

[S11A]

Well at least this guy is sure of what he has:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&sspagename=ADME%3AB%3ASS%3AUS%3A1123&viewitem=&item=280196802437

and if not, he has covered most of the bases...

[jp-]

...If you were poor how would you know!

Credit, baby.