Last summer I spotted a nice and clean looking GTD40 for sale and contacted owner Ron to learn more about the car and the reason it was for sale. Discussing the car it seemed like a very noce example, albeit a road car and not a track car I was looking for.
After I learned more about the car I contacted both Malcolm and Paul to discuss the possibilities and possible modifications and in the end I also spoke with Mick from Southern GT and Glenn who has the 200 mph Southern GT. Naturally I learned a lot, but it also gave me a better idea what I was looking at and a rough idea what modifications and budget I needed. After some negotiations the deal fell through and I tried to find other GTD's for sale. Most were a lot more expensive or had modifications that were not to my specifications, but the owners wanted a premium for their car.
Seller Ron took his car of the internet for an autumn vacation abroad and I decided to wait till he put the car for sale again on internet and see if we could strike a deal anyway. Happily, after four or five weeks I spotted the same GTD40 on internet and I immediately contacted Ron again. He did have some other interested parties, but most were dealers or people that wanted to part ex boats, motorhomes, you name it.
It turned out Ron and I spoke the same language and had a similar feeling towards cars and motor racing and it felt he wanted me to buy the car. We picked up negotiations and thsi time we struck a deal. Unfortunatelly, Ron and his wife had to leave again for an early winter vacation, which meant I couldn't visit him and see the car for real. Nevertheless, he assured me the car was as good as it looked on the photographs and the way he spoke about the car did indeed give the impression I was talking to someone who cherished his cars.
We settled for the Christmas holiday and right after Boxing day my 9 year old son and I set off for a 1000 miles drive up to Scotland to see the car for the first time. A friend offered his Land Rover Discovery 4.4 V8 together with Brian James RS5 which made the long journey bearable.
When we arrived at Ron's at 08.00 in the morning it had all been worth the long wait and drive. The car looked like it had just been completed by the factory. We went over the car together starting at the front and explaining every detail and modification all the way to the back and it was clear Ron had indeed been a very good custodian for the 40. This made it a lot easier to part with my hard earned money and we loaded the car into the trailer to start the long journey back.
The Discovery hardly seemed to notice the extra 1084 kilos hanging in the back and we easily cruised home. The fact that we missed the train at the Eurotunnel late at night couldn't dampen my enthusiasm, nor my son's although we were happy thay could squeeze us in half way through the night.
After having been awake for 25 hours and having driven for 19 hours I drove the 40 of the trailer, went up and down the street and drove it into the garage. With all the adrenaline flowing through my body I could hardly not sleep at all and after 2,5 hours my brother turned up at the door ta have a look. I think it is only natural and a GT40 does that to people.
Ywo more days have gone by now and every couple of hours I went into the garage to have a look at the car and sometimes just sit in it. Let's hope winter will be over soon.
I put up some pictures and a link to youtube, although it doesn't show how clean and neat the car is.
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPtiw_9WoyU]Picking up the GTD40 from Scotland - YouTube[/ame]
John
After I learned more about the car I contacted both Malcolm and Paul to discuss the possibilities and possible modifications and in the end I also spoke with Mick from Southern GT and Glenn who has the 200 mph Southern GT. Naturally I learned a lot, but it also gave me a better idea what I was looking at and a rough idea what modifications and budget I needed. After some negotiations the deal fell through and I tried to find other GTD's for sale. Most were a lot more expensive or had modifications that were not to my specifications, but the owners wanted a premium for their car.
Seller Ron took his car of the internet for an autumn vacation abroad and I decided to wait till he put the car for sale again on internet and see if we could strike a deal anyway. Happily, after four or five weeks I spotted the same GTD40 on internet and I immediately contacted Ron again. He did have some other interested parties, but most were dealers or people that wanted to part ex boats, motorhomes, you name it.
It turned out Ron and I spoke the same language and had a similar feeling towards cars and motor racing and it felt he wanted me to buy the car. We picked up negotiations and thsi time we struck a deal. Unfortunatelly, Ron and his wife had to leave again for an early winter vacation, which meant I couldn't visit him and see the car for real. Nevertheless, he assured me the car was as good as it looked on the photographs and the way he spoke about the car did indeed give the impression I was talking to someone who cherished his cars.
We settled for the Christmas holiday and right after Boxing day my 9 year old son and I set off for a 1000 miles drive up to Scotland to see the car for the first time. A friend offered his Land Rover Discovery 4.4 V8 together with Brian James RS5 which made the long journey bearable.
When we arrived at Ron's at 08.00 in the morning it had all been worth the long wait and drive. The car looked like it had just been completed by the factory. We went over the car together starting at the front and explaining every detail and modification all the way to the back and it was clear Ron had indeed been a very good custodian for the 40. This made it a lot easier to part with my hard earned money and we loaded the car into the trailer to start the long journey back.
The Discovery hardly seemed to notice the extra 1084 kilos hanging in the back and we easily cruised home. The fact that we missed the train at the Eurotunnel late at night couldn't dampen my enthusiasm, nor my son's although we were happy thay could squeeze us in half way through the night.
After having been awake for 25 hours and having driven for 19 hours I drove the 40 of the trailer, went up and down the street and drove it into the garage. With all the adrenaline flowing through my body I could hardly not sleep at all and after 2,5 hours my brother turned up at the door ta have a look. I think it is only natural and a GT40 does that to people.
Ywo more days have gone by now and every couple of hours I went into the garage to have a look at the car and sometimes just sit in it. Let's hope winter will be over soon.
I put up some pictures and a link to youtube, although it doesn't show how clean and neat the car is.
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPtiw_9WoyU]Picking up the GTD40 from Scotland - YouTube[/ame]
John
