Brightwells Modern Classic Sale (DEAD LINK)

[Rusty Wishbone]

The online catalogue for this sale is now available, and they are selling a red Elan SE Turbo, which might interest someone here.

The highlight for me, however is the wonderful Renault Avantime. I can't understand why so few people bought one first time around.

Also of interest is the Subaru SVX. They don't come up often,

[Saltire]

Brightwells usually have some interesting stuff. I’ve never - yet - managed to get there in person, but often watch online. Frequently tempted to bid, but so far I’ve resisted

about the Avantime, by the way.

[simonbuk]

Nearly bought one of those SVX's once, interesting cars. Seem to remember the gearboxes being the weak part - or something to do with the cooling of the box ?

[Bern]

Wow, very close registration to mine - it's H146 LDA, mine is H157 LDA! Must've been at the same dealer at around the same time I guess.

[paul27848]

I bought an Avantime to complement my Elans a few years ago. Although the cars are very different in size and concept there are some similarities. Although badged by Renault they ware designed and manufactured by Matra. Like Lotus the Matra company has a glorious F1 history and a reputation for producing radically different road cars.
The Avantime ( French for "Before Time" or futuristic) was produced 2002/3 and was the last vehicle produced by the company, withdrawing from vehicle manufacturing when the vehicle was a marketing failure.

Like the Elan the Avantime has little use for steel in its' bodywork, only the bonnet is steel. The huge panoramic roof is supported on aluminium roof rails and everything else is plastic. Mechanical/electrical parts are a mixture of Matra/Renault and difficult to find, Matra ones particularly. The unique figure of eight rear light assemblies make the Elan ones seem inexpensive in comparison. Last time I looked a windscreen was £4k, which would be the end of the car if the insurer refused to pay the cost. Added to a thirsty V6 engine, ownership can be expensive.

But when you press the Grand Air button you forget the downsides, all the pillarless glass retreats into the bodywork and the vast panoramic roof opens up. you are left in a huge 2 door/4 seat open top/side funmobile. It's big because it's built on the floorpan of the 7 seat Renault Espace -mad!

Paul

[simonbuk]

Can you remove the seats out the back of an Avantine to have a flat floor ?

[HJ2]

The Avantime is truly a design statement! Running costs are high indeed.
That's why i bought a VelSatis instead a couple of years back. I called it "St. Pieter" (named after a big Dutch kathedral)
It was comfy and a treat to drive in on the motorway.Short distances in the city were dreadfull. Those big floppy wheels kept bouncing in the wheelarches and you could feel the alignment deviations during the process. Not for me! (The XF does that a whole lot better )

[Fredjohn]

The Avantime ( French for "Before Time" or futuristic)

Technically there is no word "Avantime" in French. If it existed it'd literally be either "avantemps" or "avantheure". But there is in Franglais: it means what you suggest, but is a combination of French "avant" (before) and English "time".

End of Franglais lesson.
Comments from Giniw expected!!!!!!

PS the Maserati 4200 took my eye, having seen Wheeler Dealers recently(?) restore a 3200. I would have gone to the auction but will be in Formby that day.

[dapinky]

End of Franglais lesson.
Comments from Giniw expected!!!!!!

Bonnet de douche, Rodney.

[paul27848]

I've long been tempted by the Maserati 3200, I think the boomerang shaped rear lights are extremely handsome but again extremely expensive to replace IF they can be found. There's a definite pattern here of me fixating on cars that are expensive when things break.

No the rear seats don't come out but they do fold down and tilt forward. In that mode the rear floor is big enough for me to sleep diagonally in a sleeping bag, although I'm short and slight. When I bought it I had visions of going to far flung car meets and overnighting in the back of the Avantime, but never tried it and bought a VW campervan as well.

Paul

[Rambo]

Great little car for El Geoffos. Lot 13. Fiat Barchetta. LHD. £3-4k

What's not to like ?

Trip to Spain anyone ?

[simonbuk]

.
No the rear seats don't come out but they do fold down and tilt forward. In that mode the rear floor is big enough for me to sleep diagonally in a sleeping bag, although I'm short and slight. When I bought it I had visions of going to far flung car meets and overnighting in the back of the Avantime, but never tried it and bought a VW campervan as well.

Paul

Ok thanks, thought it might make an interesting camper car, but at 6"2 I'm 'oot !!

[Rambo]

£3630 for a lowish mileage Collapso red S2 today

Billy bargain

[simonbuk]

They've been going for nearly twice that at Classic Car auctions - so that's a bit weird ?

[Rambo]

Unfortunately I was on holiday at the time otherwise that would now be in my garage

It's probably gone to a dealer and it will resurface with a price tag of £9999

[Fredjohn]

If that's the hammer price, don't forget to add buyer's premium (10%?) and vat. That makes it about £4792.

Still the cheapest?

Last time I went to Brightwells one went for about the same and the other (better one) didn't sell.

[Giniw]

The Avantime ( French for "Before Time" or futuristic)

Technically there is no word "Avantime" in French. If it existed it'd literally be either "avantemps" or "avantheure". But there is in Franglais: it means what you suggest, but is a combination of French "avant" (before) and English "time".

End of Franglais lesson.
Comments from Giniw expected!!!!!!

This is what I thought when I read Paul's post but I see I am a bit late!

[Kipperozzy]

Will Jamie bid for the CRX ?

[clemo]

The online catalogue for this sale is now available, and they are selling a red Elan SE Turbo, which might interest someone here.

The highlight for me, however is the wonderful Renault Avantime. I can't understand why so few people bought one first time around.

Also of interest is the Subaru SVX. They don't come up often,