4:10 pm, November 14, 2009
KING of scrappage Hyundai has given a historic car chopped in under the scheme a stay of execution!
Hyundai UK and its Chelmsford dealer simply couldn’t bring themselves to scrap a 1098cc Morris Minor Traveller offered for scrap by a customer.
The buyer wanted to crush the classic, 77,000-mile car – which was registered in June 1967 – and receive £2,000 off a new Hyundai i10.
The dealer – which has already sent hundreds of cars to the crusher under the scrappage scheme – simply couldn’t bring himself to send it to the die.
So, he contacted Hyundai UK, and together they bought the car for £2,100 instead and plan to auction it off for Children In Need.
‘The owner of the dealership could not bear to see the car sent to the crusher, so he covered the scrappage allowance and saved the Minor,’ said a spokesman for the manufacturer.
‘Rather than just sell the car on, he has decided to put it up for auction on eBay, with every penny of the proceeds going to Children In Need.’
The Morris Minor Traveller is painted in ‘Rose Taupe’ with a red interior. The car will be supplied with a new 12-month MoT, and is classed as a historic vehicle so is eligible for free road tax.
BILL OF HEALTH
Hyundai wanted to help buyers bid with confidence so approached the Morris Minor Owners’ Club and asked them to provide an independent appraisal of the car.
Their expert said: ‘I found the car to be in basically good condition. The underside appeared sound with no bodge welding I could see and the engine ran very sweetly.
‘The cross-member and door bottoms struck me as being excellent. One front wing showed some corrosion but these are bolt on.
‘The woodwork needed one rear pillar replacing together with a waist rail. These are all available and a competent DIY car enthusiast could do these easily.
‘I was given an estimate of £250 for the woodwork and £300 for the wing for those who wish to have a Morris specialist do the job rather than do it themselves. The rest of the wood just needs some tender loving care and new varnish.’
Hyundai has also secured a full valet from experts Shine, so it will be in top condition for its new owner and is negotiating with a delivery company so the car will be delivered for free too.
As soon as the car is listed on eBay we’ll post a link.
EXCLUSIVE by James Baggott
