Time to sell my Melos

[James Doulton]

i have eventually realised that I am never going to get around to finishing off my Melos, so it is time to cut my losses and regain a little bit more room for my other cars. I shall be sad to see it go because I get attached to these things. The one insurmountable problem with it, as far as I am concerned, is a weeping core plug at the back of the engine, behind the flywheel. I think that is a body off job. I know myself well enough not to start taking it apart that much because I will get fed up with the scale of the job and just give up.

I bought the car for fun, not to let it get me down, so it has got to go. In fairness, I didn't know about the core plugs when I bought it - the seller only mentioned it in passing when I had loaded the car onto the transporter. I shan't do the same to the next guy, I'll put it in the advert. I know that I'll lose money on it as I replaced all of the brakes (everything apart from the pedal and the copper pipes) but couldn't get it MOT'ed as it just boiled over because of the leaking core plug. Still I have only spent £1500 on it, so it isn't worth worrying about.

So is it best to advertise on eBay or on gumtree? Should I include the hard top and tonneau cover in the sale or sell them separately? I also have some other parts that I bought for it, e.g. Cylinder head (injection), exhaust, bike carbs? Maybe I can force the buyer to take a spare set of wheels, as it came with 14" pepper pots on it.

Just in case anyone on here is feeling like a new project, the car is an S2 Melos, mostly orange but with some patches of red paint. It has a 2 litre Pinto with an Escort 4 speed gearbox. It was Mk1 based but with Cortina discs and P16 calipers. It goes quite well and stops properly. It has a newish exhaust and a newish radiator. It still has the original Dutton seats.

Hopefully, it should be sunny tomorrow so I'll take some pictures then. I'll post them on here first. Sunday is the traditional ebay day, so I should be ready for then.

P.s. Don't tell my wife, but I've seen a nice Scimitar GTE that I could buy myself as a reward.

[James Doulton]

Just both of my Duttons then!

[Dave Adams]

all of mine........past and present, but then on my cars i would remove the engine to do a clutch. 

[Steve Kerswell]

you could do a deal for this:http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WANTED-kit-car-TRIKE-hot-rod-rat-rod-kit-...

[Steve Kerswell]

Well, I stand corrected. And surprised. I have seen 4Dutton's including my own, this year and all have a detachable crossmember fitted. Must be a west country thing, thinking outside the box(sic). When Adrian did his leggie I actually posted my gearbox sub frame in his discussion. Seems such a simple thing to do while rebuilding a chassis. Just looked under the Spartan here and that has one too.

[Steve Kerswell]

anyway, back to the plot, this isn't helping James to mend or sell on the Melos :-)) Once again the thread has been hijacked :-))))

[Steve Kerswell]

after a quick visit, it seems I have more egg on my face! I'm the one who chopped his chassis and put a crossmember in when he ditched the type 9 and put a "proper" gearbox in, his words. I really do not remember it but do remember helping to change the box and doing the prop, strange.

[James Doulton]

Well, the Melos has now gone to its new home with Terry Scott. He lives near to Gatwick Airport. He seemed a really nice chap so I hope that it all goes well for him. His first job will be to join the DOC, so stand by Ade.