|
News
of RV8s seen at
recent auctions in Japan The latest RV8 auctions news is at the top of this column. The news is provided by our local correspondents. As the auctions are at locations all over Japan, we do not have reports of all RV8s coming to auction in Japan. The information is based on brief reports from local contacts but no responsibility can be taken by the V8 Register for either the completeness or accuracy of the information in these reports. See our caution. 9th
June 2005
 Nightfire Red 1008 is Grade 4 with 33,000km was sold at auction on today. A literal translation of the auction report says "dirty seats, overfender (bumper) scratched, door mirror scratched (meaning the paintwork, not the glass)". Our local contact says the windscreen frame is good, the woodwork shows only a couple of minor lines, brake master cylinder and water pump appear to have been replaced at the last service, and the air conditioning seems to work well. It will be interesting to see where this RV8 turns up next but certainly Nightfire Red cars are very popular in the UK. No photo or copy of the auction report is available yet. On seeing our report, Chris Watkins of HS Imports confirmed he had purchased this car and sent a photo of the vehicle in their yard in Japan awaiting shipment to the UK (16.6.05) 18th
May 2005
Our local correspondent reports an RV8 coming up for auction in Japan tomorrow. Oxford Blue 1794 (1996) is a grade 4.5 with interior garde A. It has a low mileage (shown as 16.914kms recorded) and very little information other than that. The condition report says a few marks shown on the body have been removed. There is no indication as to whether or not it comes with a service history but we will check. Taken at face value, this looks like a lovely car in a popular colour.  
16th
March 2005
Our local contact has reported this morning "another surprise" that: Woodcote Green 1948 with 21,000 kms, the third RV8 that was withdrawn last week, is now entered for auction again so the set of three cars is there again! 15th
March 2004
Our local contact has reported this morning "what a surprise - of the three RV8s that were withdrawn last week when they appeared not to have made their reserves, two have reappeared at auction this week, and now one has a higher grade on the auction report! It seems that if at first you do not succeed, try again!" Woodcote Green 2116, registered in 1997 with 34,800 kms. Woodcote Green 1890, registered in 1997 with 26,183 kms. 10th
March 2005
One of our local contacts reports there are three RV8s up for auction today but no details are available other than the basic information. Woodcote Green 2116 registered in1997 with 34,800 kms. Woodcote Green 1948 registered in 1996 with 20,800 kms. Woodcote Green 1890 registered in 1997 with 26,183 kms. Update: our local contact reports that none of these cars made their reserve at auction, possibly an indication that unrealistic prices are now being sought for RV8s with moderate mileages. 7th March 2005 Nightfire Red 0868 has been sold at auction to a UK buyer - further details awaited.  Woodcote Green [VIN unknown] registered Jan 1995. A contact in the UK reports there is an RV8 at auction tomorrow at Motorway Auctions inside dock gate 4 at Southampton. Odometer shows 5,590 kms but there is some concern over that figure. At this stage we do not know the VIN for this car but we hear the last one they sold went for £8,000, so this one should start "selling" (another way of indicating the reserve price) at £7,700. Our contact says he understands this RV8 is straight off the ship from Japan and with no Japanese auction report. It seems the Elm burr trims will need relacing although this is far from unusual and not too costly, and the driver's seat is worn. Update: the car is thought to have made between £8,500 and £9,000 at auction but is said to have had a high mileage. 11th February 2005 Woodcote Green 1475, Grade 5 with a recorded mileage of 26,400km, went through auction on Thursday last week. Whilst the local contact has not provided a copy of the auction condition report, this example may be an illustration of the care needed with those reports and how relying on the grading system can really be a very dangerous way to buy a car at auction in Japan. Recently a UK based RV8 specialist commented "it is fair comment that one is advised never to buy "blind" relying solely on the auction grade - as indeed the V8 Website has been advocating for several years". With Woodcote Green 1475, our local contact mentions "signs of a rotten screen frame and the other oddities which the photos provided indicate!" He adds "we have no idea who bought this car, or even if it was sold, but it is getting increasingly common for RV8s to appear in auction and not meet somewhat optimistic reserves".  Photo of the screen provided by a local contact who was at the recent RV8 auction Return of the Australians to the RV8 auctions in Japan had been expected following the first RAWS approval and our local contact reports "it was not too surprising to meet the Australians in Tokyo with their buying boots on. We suspect this will make the supply of cars coming back in a westerly direction even more restricted". 3rd February 2005 Our second local contact reports that "to see one RV8 at auction in Japan is getting to be a rarity, but four in one day is unheard of these days, so it must be worth mentioning". Woodcote Green 1105 with 11,556kms and Grade 4A with good paintwork, a very nice clean interior and original optional boot rack. Bidding was very strong therefore the price was higher than expected, which does underline the increasing scarcity of fine quality cars. It is believed this car is heading for the UK. Nightfire Red 2181 with a high recorded mileage and what appeared to be a recent set of tyres. Liberal amounts of sealant were seen around the screen rubber so any purchaser will need to make a prudent check for water leaks and rust on the windscreen surround. The report mentions poor wood, a bad hood and leather actually flaking off the passenger seat, something not often seen with RV8s, and a rusty exhaust, paint marks, and faded MG badges. Woodcote Green 2210 with 29,629kms and Grade 4C. The C interior grade probably results from the condition that our local contact describes as "a shabby one with cracking wood and a rather dingy interior" which might clean up with good preparation. The local contact also reports Oxford Blue 0759 (which was mentioned in the report posted yesterday) with similar concerns over the mileage. No photos or copies of the auction reports available. 2nd February 2005 Oxford Blue 0759 is Grade 4 (B) and is up for sale tomorrow. Our local contact says the notes on the auction report state that the speedometer was replaced in November 2002 and the new one shows 3,665Km. The "proper" total mileage is said to be 31,900Km but there is no indication of a service history to support this. The other comments are pretty well par for the course - worn interior, boot dampers failed, scratches and marks repaired. No photos available. 20th January 2005 Woodcote Green 1166 is Grade 4 with 36,700km recorded, registered December 1995.  
Our local contact says the auction report notes the "seats are dirty, minor scratches repaired and no service history". On inspection he notes the "wood dash is cracked". The auction report also has an "XX" note on the bonnet of the diagram above which our local contact advises means the bonnet has been replaced but, as the car is Grade 4, the replacement is unlikely to be due to road accident damage but possibly because someone slammed it too hard or sat on it - something like that. Woodcote Green 1978 is Grade 4.5 with 8.250km recorded, registered 1996.  
Our local contact reports the "seats are dirty, gearknob worn, minor scratches repaired, one owner and a service history". On inspection he notes "the half grade extra for this car seems to reflect the better wood, as well as the low mileage". 19th
January 2005
Woodcote Green 2210 appeared today at the JAA auction. The auction report shows it was registered in 1997 and has 29,700km recorded.  
Our local contact reports "It had a very high start price and in the end the seller refused to let it go when the bidding stopped at JPY1,340,000. It will no doubt reappear soon. Various dents and scratches have been repaired, although one dent remained on the boot lid. The boot lid dampers failed and the petrol tank is dented. A rear panel (underside) is mis-shapen too". 12th
January 2005
Oxford Blue 1616 is Grade 4B with 56,735kms recorded on the auction report.  
Our local contact says "here is just a literal translation of the "assessors comments" in order from the top (left hand side Japanese writing) of the auction report - the comments are: service books and spare key with car, interior valeted, wood dash cracked, gearknob/seats worn, boot lid dampers weak, rust underneath and scratches have been repaired. In addition to the above, if you zoom in on the photo of the car you can see a wooden steering wheel. Apparently the original is not in the boot, although I am told this was a genuine Rover option, I have only seen one before and that had to be changed back to the original for sale". It will be interesting to see where this RV8 ends up.
30th November 2004
Woodcote Green 0731. Our local contact reported the following day that "we looked the car over and found the dashboard is in pieces, but that is not a problem to replace. The driver's seat was "black" and it was not easy to assess whether it would all clean up satisfactorily, but it did not appear torn. However the start price was just 20,000 Yen (just over a hundred pounds!) so it seems possible this car may have been bought for parts. We shall have to see. Sadly I heard the final details too late at night (4 am UK time) to inform your members who might have wanted to bid for the car for parts". 29th November 2004 Our local contact says that "an RV8 coming up for auction on Tuesday may be worth reporting just to show that there are sometimes grades lower than 4, and this interior is marked "D". One can't help supposing this car is indeed the worse for wear. We shall look at it at the auction to see why the grades are so low". Woodcote Green 0731 is a Grade 3.5 with an interior grade D but only an indicated 27,812kms.    The report says the rear screen is split, the Elm burr dash veneer is broken into pieces, the body dents and scratches have been repaired (but presumably some have not, or the car wouldn't be a grade 3.5). The interior is said to be very dirty and worn - will this mate with the shown mileage?. The engine bay shows oil spillage or leaks. However, the car does have a service book - that is the proudly displayed large japanese script, in the "sales points" box. 4th November 2005 One of our contacts in Tokyo reports four RV8s are up for auction: Woodcote Green 1232 is a good car with 19,000 km recorded with much interest from overseas buyers. Woodcote Green 1525 has 35,000 km recorded with a full service history and appears excellent. Woodcote Green 1775 has 37,000 km recorded. Woodcote Green 2027 with 53,000 km recorded with poor Elm burr trims and hood, windscreen rubber peeling away but not rusty. There is a definite tap from the engine which may be a worn cam follower. 5th October 2004 Nightfire Red 1733 is a Grade 4.5 and seems a top condition car with a recorded 16,300 km. Outline information has only just come through and it may have been a late entry but it is up for auction on Wednesday 6th. We hope to have a photo and auction condition report. A good quality RV8 in Nightfire Red is likely to be sought after at auction! Woodcote Green 1659 is a Grade 5 with an A grade interior with only 13,940 km. It's up for auction on Thursday at the USS auction. The minor scratches shown on the frame have been removed, the soft top cover is apparently missing, and headlamp (or headlamps) misted up. 
Prices at the auctions in Japan - comment Our local contact reports that "over the last week or so several good quality RV8s have gone through the auctions and have attracted some high prices which would have been regarded as "silly" only a year ago. There seems a company in Kyushu in southern Japan may have bought two RV8s recently for extremely high prices and one can only presume they are buying for an offshore client, presumably in the UK". It will be interesting to learn how much these RV8s go for at auction. We will try and give you an indication although our previous revelation of auction prices produced a terse rebuke from one trader outside the UK connected with the auctions! In the UK market, condition is the major factor on price and then mileage, but the UK market has accepted low mileage RV8s as normal now as so many appear as reimports with such low recorded kilometeres which suggest very low use in Japan. If you are paying a premium for a low mileage on an RV8 reimport, it seems prudent to have it inspected by an engineer or experienced trader familiar with the model to attempt to verify the figure is reasonable in the light of the mechanical condition and general condition. 4th October 2004 (1996) Woodcote Green 1981 - although "half the auction report is missing, it shows it is a one owner car with seven recorded services in the history which is good. The car is is at the auction at JAA Tokyo on Tuesday 5th October. The report indicates small scratches marked are not repaired". 
Woodcote Green 1556 - the auction report indicates 43,660km "which is perhaps higher than we often see but if this means the car has been driven a few thousand miles each year then it could be no bad thing. The car is at the USS auction on Thursday 7th October. There are very few comments on the auction report and it looks to be quite a nice car with a service history". 
30th September 2004 Update: Our local contact reports that both the cars in the report below were sold at auction, and provides just a little more information. Woodcote Green 2207 "went for a very high price so hopefully someone has obtained it through a direct agent because that would result in a half sensible price. If it was bought by a dealer then it could become a very expensive car" when shipped and prepared and eventually offered for sale in the UK. Oxford Blue 0455 had "a drivers seat worn through to the cloth and the rear bumper was cracked and sat at "a jaunty angle". It only fetched a modest price which was really cheap for an Oxford Blue car so you can probably guess the state it was in". 29th September 2004 Woodcote Green 2207 is Grade 5 with an interior grade A. The auction report indicates a very low mileage (7,223km) and is apparently "as new". Our local contact says "I very much doubt whether anybody I know can afford this one, although the start price is reasonable. If it is sold it will be a good indicator of an RV8 at the top of the range". 
 Oxford Blue 0455 is an early chassis with a relatively high mileage (indicated as 42,400km), Grade 4, interior grade C. Our local contact says "this car has quite a few adverse comments on the report, but they are not necessarily too bad, individually. The rear screen seems obscured, boot dampers are no good, the interior is worn and dirty, front screen chipped, scratched or cracked, the dashboard Elm burr is broken and flaking, the soft top has been repaired but is still classed as damaged with a 20mm split. It claims that all the marks on the diagram have been repaired, so it would need close examination as to how well it has been done. This one would certainly fit the recent trend of having to replace all the timber and the soft top. Buying criteria would have to include the condition of the leather and the paintwork".  
21st September 2004 Oxford Blue 1564. Our local contact reports that "this car was damaged in an accident at the auction a few weeks ago. The insurance claim has been settled and the car is now for sale. This week nobody bid and it ran through unsold. It's worth making a note of this car in case it appears as a repair job later on, although the economics of that seem unlikely - it's more likely to be bought for spares". On 28th September another contact, Fred Jenns, reports "this car was offered at auction on 13th July in Yokohama as a Grade 4B car with a recorded 32,600kms. Apparently it was sold but then turned up again with, I understand, signs of a close encounter with a utility pole". Fred quotes from the notes "quite nasty, front RH seriously pranged and steering wheel bent". 
It's certainly a pity this car was damaged so badly as Oxford Blue cars are in demand in the UK. 15th September 2004 Woodcote Green 2030 with an incredibly low mileage (5,926km) with service history. Marks said to be repaired (no filler). Underside below rear bumper has taken a knock or been scraped but buyers will check before bidding. Update: this car went for a very high bid price probably based on the low mileage. 
14th September 2004 Woodcote Green VIN?? is at JAA Tokyo tomorrow (Wednesday). Although the auction report is cut off it is a grade 3 car for some reason. Looks to be covered in considerable dents and scratches, and the large note in scribble says that the "front right inner is bent". Clearly it will need to be checked carefully as that may not mean just the inner wing, but might possibly be the frame (chassis). It was registered in 1997, is a one-owner car and records only 7800Km. The start price is very high presumably the seller reckons its age and mileage outweigh the condition, or maybe it is an easy fix. We shall see when we check it out. 31st August 2004 Woodcote Green 0500 is reported on the auction condition report as Grade 4(B) with 16,000km recorded. It is up for auction at the USS auction on Thursday 2nd September. As it is pre-VIN0644 it almost certainly has the earlier LT77S gearbox rather than the later R380 unit. (1.9.04)  
Our local contact reports the "start price" for this car is Yen 780,000 and if this follows the usual convention of indicating around half of the final figure the seller is hoping for, then it is unlikely to sell. He would not expect this car to exceed Yen 1,200,000 but feels we may be seeing the continuation of the trend towards milking every Yen out of the remaining RV8s in Japan. (1.9.04) 2nd August 2004 (1996) Woodcote Green 2067 turns up on eBay - an RV8 auction report back on 10th December 2003 noted "1996 Woodcote Green 2067 is Grade 3.5 with an interior grade C so it is probably well used which seems likely as it has an unusually high mileage at 101,000km. These high mileage cars may not be so bad but clearly need close inspection, but it is often the type of RV8 the discerning buyer for a specialist RV8 reimporter in the UK would dismiss out of hand". Fred Jenns reports that what appears to be the same car is offered on eBay with, we understand, a recorded mileage of only 65,200kms - he wonders whether it drove backwards all the way from Japan! (4.8.08) 30th
June 2004 (1996)
Woodcote Green 1925 is Grade 4 with an interior Grade C
(grubby) with 31,868km and a service history. It's a one owner
car first registered in July 1996. We understand the auction
condition report states the wood console "has a lot
of cracks and the seats are worn and dirty". 17th
June 2004 |
 V8 Register - MG Car Club For
enthusiasts looking for an RV8, this webpage should provide useful
information on the level of activity and an indication of the quality
of some of the RV8s passing through recent auctions in Japan.
Please note the information on each car indicated by the auction report cannot be relied on and any prospective buyer must ensure a vehicle is carefully checked by a reliable local engineer or trader who physically inspects the car and is experienced with RV8s and able to judge condition and quality. RAWS updates In December 2004 Jim Dolbel has sent a note saying "Just received some important news that of yesterday 23/12/04 Stuart Ratcliffe of RV8 Cars has received his accreditation under the new RAWS regulations to resume RV8 imports into Australia". So brace yourself for some renewed interest at the RV8 auctions in Japan. Stuart Ratcliffe sent a note saying "Accreditation as a RAW ( registered automotive workshop ) came through yesterday so we are now able to comply vehicles for Australia". (24 & 23.12.04) In May 2003 we first reported that a new set of regulations had been introduced in Australia which had effectively stopped Aussie enthusiasts importing RV8s. Gavin Brown, who runs the MG Car Centre in Launceston Tasmania, provides an update and suggests it may be another six months before Australian buyers are back at the auctions in Japan. Report as RV8NOTE215 (29.9.04) RV8 auction price trends update For some time now we have been watching to see what happens to RV8 auction prices in the first half of 2004. Chris Watkins has previously reported the flow of RV8s coming to auction has slowed and the quality has varied. He feels that "it is safe to say that average condition cars (Grade 4) are now certainly commanding the prices we used to pay for top grade (Grade 4.5) cars. From the report (see below) top grade cars are expected to return much more than a year or so ago. I suppose this is a sign of things to come as the supply dwindles". (13.4.04) Prices at auctions in Japan? Members may have wondered why our auction reports do not mention prices at auctions in Japan. Well this is because the auction system in Japan seems to be run on a different basis to those in the UK with only members of the auction having access to recent price information for each model, but not for individual cars. We understand that hammer prices are published on a two-weekly basis under each model and year. Earlier this year we mentioned a price of a tatty RV8 in one of our reports on this webpage, and then shortly after an overseas trader sent the V8 Webmaster a curt email effectively insisting that releasing prices "was not in the interests of the market and the various stakeholders - including the end customer". Surely both economic theory and common sense suggest that restricting information to one group operating in a market will tend to result in a less than perfect market? No doubt V8 enthusiasts will have their own views on this but for the time being our RV8 auction reports have no prices - only information gleaned from the auction reports for individual cars which show their VIN, colour, mileage and condition. The rational bidding activity of reputable specialist RV8 reimporters or their local representatives at auctions in Japan will of course be to bid for individual cars at up to what is in effect their "residual value" for the particular car. The residual value will be derived by working back from the likely market price back in the UK or Australia for the particular quality of car less all costs including bid price and associated charges, shipping, and all servicing and preparation. In a note available on this website on the factors influencing RV8 prices in the UK - see What to pay for an RV8 - we suggested that vehicle quality is by far the major factor, together with of course colour of course. With signs that some tattier RV8s are beginning to appear at auctions in Japan, buying from a reliable RV8 reimport specialist with experience of the auction system in Japan, a close knowledge of the model, and a good reputation in the home market - UK or Australia as the case may be - for quality and fair business dealing will become increasingly important. See our prices update on 13th April 2004. New local auctions contact We now have a new RV8 auctions contact in Tokyo who is providing news of RV8s appearing at some of the auctions in Japan, with useful views on the cars and photos of the cars, including a copy of the auction condition report. The auction condition report is a useful guide but should not be relied on when closing the purchase of a reimported RV8 - it is wise to get a professional inspection of the car to check its mechanical condition and quality. We also have reports from time to time from Gavin Brown in Tasmania who is in constant touch with the auction houses in Japan. From time to time we will also have additional comments from Chris Watkins (who runs the specialist RV8 reimporter, HS Imports, in Somerset) with his views on the UK market and on the RV8s appearing at auction in Japan. Auction system in Japan For an explanation of how cars are sold in Japan and the auction condition report, see our note on RV8s at auction in Japan. The aim of this webpage is to let V8 Register members and prospective purchasers of RV8s have news of the RV8s passing through the auctions in Japan. Our earlier auction news reports reports are available on our auction news archive. For translations of the Japanese terms used on the auction condition sheets, see our RV8 auction report translations webpage. Reports of "dirty seats" on auction reports Many of the RV8 auction reports have the note "seats worn and dirty" which may seem puzzling as many of the RV8s at auctions in Japan tend to be low mileage vehicles. For an explanation, see our note on dirty seats. Considering buying an RV8? For UK based members considering buying an RV8 you have two options - appointing a local agent based in Japan to bid for a car to your requirements and arrange deregistration formalities and shipping or you can use a specialist RV8 reimporter based in the UK with a reputation for quality and reliable trading. See our note on these reimporting options which highlights some of the issues and concerns you will need to consider before making your choice. Using an experienced RV8 reimporter with a reputation for quality cars and trading integrity who is based in the UK with good contacts with the auctions in Japan is our recommended option. Where can I find a specialist RV8 reimporter? See our listing of the RV8 Reimporters. In Australia we have had good reports of the MG Car Centre at Launceston in Tasmania which also has good RV8 servicing and spares back up. Caution The information set out here is provided by a local auctions correspondent in Japan. We have been unable to check or verify any of the auction information supplied to us and consequently do not vouch for or imply that it is accurate. It is reported here simply for general information and visitors to this website should not rely on any information provided here when considering or making a purchase of any of the RV8s mentioned above or the purchase of any other RV8. We recommend you deal with a reputable RV8 reimporter and have any vehicle you wish to purchase inspected by a suitably experienced and knowledgeable motor engineer who has direct experience of RV8s and the key areas of mechanical, bodywork and trim concern with the model. V8 specialists recommended by our members as providing good quality spares and services are listed in the V8LIFELINE. RAWS
impact on Reassurance
with RV8 reimports "Dirty seats" on RV8 auction reports Understanding RV8 auction reports RV8s
for Sale Earlier RV8 auction news reports 12th
May 2004 Another high grade RV8 was sold at auction today which our local correspondent feels was a better example than the RV8 sold at the Tokyo auction yesterday. Today's car is believed to have attracted a slightly lower price but that price was still more than most specialist RV8 reimporters could offer at this time. But are these signs of RV8 prices beginning to turn up as Australian buyers come back into the market as the RAWS restrictions come off downunder? Well it is reported a group of overseas buyers were at the auction today - surely it cannot be long before Australian RV8 enthusiasts are buying again! Woodcote Green VIN TBA is Grade 4A with 29,000 km recorded. The VIN has not come through but the auction form does note "BP" on the offside which stands for "body packing", the Japanese term for filler. 
Woodcote Green 1236 was sold yesterday at the Tokyo auction and as expected the price was quite high. The auction report mentioned a "dirty seat" which was thought to be the usual cautious comment but upon inspection the passenger seat was worn out! On the face of it this was at odds with the very low recorded mileage on the auction report. Well one possible explanation might be that this RV8 could have been used as an exhibit. There has been at least one other case in Japan where an RV8 belonged to a restaurant owner who had the car located at his restaurant as an "attraction" and wedding couples particularly enjoyed having their photo taken posing in the car! In fact that owner had even gone so far as having a painted backdrop resembling the English countryside! In that case the interior was a little tired even though the car had only recorded a few thousand kilometres. 13th
April 2004 28th
February 2004 10th
February 2004 Woodcote
Green 1076 with 31,400kms is Grade 4 with an interior Grade
C. The condition report shows the bonnet has been replaced,
the dashboard veneer is cracked and the seats and steering wheel
are "worn out". This might be the Japanese being cautious
as usual over the crinkly leather seats (see our notes on "dirty
seats") but it does cast possible doubt over the low mileage,
although there is a service history book with the car. Maybe
the car was left out in all weathers? The car has had two owners.
15th
January 2004 13th
January 2004 10th December 2003 Our new RV8 auctions correspondent in Japan reports that three RV8s have been seen at auction this week - all Woodcote Green. 1995 Woodcote
Green 1530 is Grade 4 with an interior grade B and a moderate
mileage at 15,328km. It has a service history too. We only have
an auction sheet at this stage but the car is said "to look
nice". |
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