Wanted to make a post on here to get people’s thoughts on a 3000GT i’m currently looking at. I’ve been interested in these cars for a few years and always wanted a bit of a project.
I came across this 1992 UK 3000GT through a friend and it’s been sitting in a yard for around a year. The exterior is in pretty rough condition (see images below) and from a report I know it was a cat D (cosmetic) write-off in 2000. The report didn’t bring up any salvage pictures, but if I had to guess i’d say the right side has been resprayed badly (peeling paint, overspray in the front arch).
The previous owner had the car for 23 years before it ended up in the garage’s yard. From what i’ve been told the engine runs fine but the gearbox is faulty, possibly due to a broken reverse gear but it wasn’t entirely clear. I’ve also been told it has NO RUST, which seems hard to believe given the overall condition but the source is fairly reliable. I’m currently waiting for some pictures of the car on a lift to confirm. Also the milage is very low at 33k, which is genuine.
Obviously a lot of information missing here which i’m hoping to find out soon, but it would be great to get the thoughts of the experts on this forum who know a lot more than me . My gut tells me this would be a great example to restore and get back on the road and for the price they’re asking (under £3k), it seems worth a punt.
<Ran into the new user 2 image limit so maybe more to follow later>
For <3k, its worth a punt if it really does have no rust and your willing to do the work yourself, but as its been off the road for so long (zero digital mot history!) it will need pretty much all its rubber replacing + every other service item, they dont like standing still! Then theres the issue of finding out why it was taken off the road in the first place.
doing all that, getting it resprayed, you could end up with a nice low millage car, but you wont make your money back (thats ignoring the cat status). It will take plenty of graft and searching for parts to say the least!
if your after a light resto job then there are better ones out there probably not for much more money, the only thing going for it is the low millage and no rust assuming thats true, some people have very different opionions of what that means
Hi @Spacey I went to look at this car a few yrs ago in Bolton I think. I didnt find any rust underneath when I looked. We also could not get it started, didn’t have any tools with me to assist. So a jump batt and fresh fuel was all we tried.
I also had suspicions about the mileage, no history was available despite being in a long term ownership and the wear of some of the interior parts did not stack up for a 33k car. I think the steering wheel and pedals are the big give away. I rekon it is on 133k, these clocks are very easy to manipulate. Look at the amount of fresh import GTO’s available all on 60k or 70k….
At the time £3k was the price and it needs alot of work to make it presentable. Looking back I think if I could of heard it running I may have bought it.
With it not running I didn’t offer anything on it. You need to hear it running other wise it’s a parts car price of about £1k
it will be a really nice car when done - UK MK1 - 1992 = a rare car - I have the same model and really happy with it. it will be factory undersealed as a UK car which might explain low rust. Agree with Mad_Luka though - finding anything on the Euro spec MK1 front end is impossible so that would be the main thing to consider for me
@e55t33 That’s what made me interested in the first place. Seems like the best spec you could find (IMO) with gen 1 styling and upgraded internals.
I have seen a picture of the car at the garage it currently sits (Google streetview) with that front lens in place, so it’s gone missing recently and may still be around.
@Paulw this is great info. The milage is definitely something to be skeptical about as you say, some of the interior wear doesn’t seem to match.
I’ve been told it does run so hopefully I can get a video of that soon, but with so little history and the amount of time it’s been off the road, it’s definitely a gamble.
I’d go and see it myself if it wasn’t 5 hours away
If you’re mechanically minded and want a project for the next few years it would be perfect, it will need a complete restoration. But if you’d need to get a garage to do most of the work or want a car that runs and drives in a couple of months, then you’d be better off buying a better example.
Looks incredible, definitely a goal for a few years down the line . I would be doing all the work myself, my daily has had almost every bit of the running gear replaced, probably double what I bought it for in costs. I’m too sentimental and have vowed never to sell it, so in a way it’s priceless!
I’ve been sent some videos around the car. Anyone able to shed some light on this front strut? Looks to be missing the electronic module, but is it a coilover or still OEM?
Despite saying the car was running, it’s currently missing the radiator and intake piping . I wouldn’t consider buying it without all that in place and running so I’ll give them a while to put it back together.
makes is a lot more tricky - either the price needs to go way down or they need to spend money to get it running - personally I would want a new cam belt (and oil) on it as well before trying for a start
Obviously still disassembled and it’s got a hole in the exhaust which I already knew about. I can also hear a tapping noise but not sure what that could be, maybe lifters?
I’m planning to go and see the car soon to check everything over properly, but barring any major issues I think i’d be likely to buy it.
Also need to start hunting for a gearbox or reverse gear set
Good luck with this purchase Spacey. There is quite a lot of potential there, but also a serious amount of work for you to get through.
The tapping noise is very likely the lifters - a well known issue with these engines, easily rectified by replacing the existing lifters with 3rg gen lifters, which have 3mm oil holes.
The exhaust repair is pretty simple, though I should think you’ll be able to source a newer, upgraded section if you needed to.
Gearbox internals - well some owners manage to source gearbox components from the USA, and I’m sure someone will advise you about that.
You wont know what you need reverse wise until the gearbox is apart, but, I do have the remains of a good 5 speed gearbox I took apart many years ago that might help, if you do get the car.
. My gut tells me this would be a great example to restore and get back on the road and for the price they’re asking (under £3k), it seems worth a punt.
. I would be doing all the work myself, my daily has had almost every bit of the running gear replaced, probably double what I bought it for in costs. I’m too sentimental and have vowed never to sell it, so in a way it’s priceless!
. I wouldn’t consider buying it without all that in place and running so I’ll give them a while to put it back together.
