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Child Item

New, unregistered Irish-bought car from 1976 - where do I start?

alfa beta

So, my Dad (God rest his motoring and hoarding soul) bought a new Peugeot 504 in 1976, drove it home, decided he wasn't that keen on it, wrapped it in a few blankets and some plastic sheets, then kept it hidden away in the garage for the rest of his (and its) life.

It's now 2019 so the car is 43 years old, yet to all intents and purposes, it's actually brand new - unregistered as far as I can see and with just a couple of hundred miles on the clock. I'd love to get it up and running but need a few pointers as to where I should start with regard to the tax/registration side of things as I've no knowledge about classics at all.

The car has no plates and there is no sign of a log book or any form of documentation, not even a sales invoice/receipt or anything like that (you see, while he was an avid hoarder of things, he wasn't so keen a keeper of paperwork :-). So, my question is, what would be the first step to take as regard getting this car officially on the road?

(Btw, my dad's entire estate was left to my mum when he passed away last year, so I guess she would be the official owner now and we would be looking to register it in her name.)

As I said above, any initial pointers from anyone who has any direct knowledge of this sort of thing would be great. I have done some googling but I haven't found a scenario exactly like this, so I thought it would be worth asking the question here and seeing what you guys think and what advice you could offer - Many thanks in advance for your help.

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kadman

Kerrygold was in the front, along with all the other goodies,

well away from the heat:D:D

Silent Running

kadman wrote: »

I remember back in the day when we used to go across the border with the fastback.
On the way back when we hit the checkpoint the guard asked to see into the boot at the customs
checkpoint.

He walked around the back where 99% of all boots on cars were at the time.
Checked it out, saw the normal every day shop, shuffled around, and waved us through.

Good job he never knew there was a bigger front boot on these, than there was in the rear.

It was like duty free at the airport

How did you stop the Kerrygold melting?

kadman

I remember back in the day when we used to go across the border with the fastback.
On the way back when we hit the checkpoint the guard asked to see into the boot at the customs
checkpoint.

He walked around the back where 99% of all boots on cars were at the time.
Checked it out, saw the normal every day shop, shuffled around, and waved us through.

Good job he never knew there was a bigger front boot on these, than there was in the rear.

It was like duty free at the airport

wildwillow

swarlb wrote: »

I used to work with a man in the 70's who had a variant. We'd collect stock from a warehouse every week, and deliver it to various outlets. I was always amazed at the amount of stuff you could cram in the back.
We lost touch, and years later I bumped into a fella who knew him in the trade back then.
Have to say... I got a bit of a fright when I was told that the 'stock' we were collecting, was.... well, not being 'collected' as such, more like 'acquired without payment'....
Seemingly he'd been caught one morning, arrested, and spent some time behind bars.....

The only thing I could think of saying was...
'Wonder what ever happened the VW ?'

This thread just keeps giving.
There is a mini series or a book here with the main story and all the side avenues.

swarlb

I used to work with a man in the 70's who had a variant. We'd collect stock from a warehouse every week, and deliver it to various outlets. I was always amazed at the amount of stuff you could cram in the back.
We lost touch, and years later I bumped into a fella who knew him in the trade back then.
Have to say... I got a bit of a fright when I was told that the 'stock' we were collecting, was.... well, not being 'collected' as such, more like 'acquired without payment'....
Seemingly he'd been caught one morning, arrested, and spent some time behind bars.....

The only thing I could think of saying was...
'Wonder what ever happened the VW ?'

unkel

Not just you, both the variant and the fastback have always been my favourite VWs, good few of them around when I was growing up

kadman

Well....I'd take it in a heartbeat if the rust wasn't excessive, above any of the rest of them, but thats just me:)

galwaytt

...and hindsight being the wonderful thing that it is, there was a time when the squareback, fastback and - Variant - were worth, literally nothing.

I remember a dark red 412LE - the fuel injected Type 4 - being literally left to rot on the side of the road, here: https://goo.gl/maps/u6MneL9b9ghuwq7j9

Oooh to have that now..............

James Bond Junior

Silent Running wrote: »

It's all about nostalgia. 0-100 times rarely come into the classic car owner's mind.

100%. It's the car you wanted as a kid or one you had as young lad.

zilog_jones

Also, as your post confirms: They're rare

Silent Running

Igotadose wrote: »

Digression. I see a lot of love for that VW squareback. FD: never saw one in my life living in the US. I've ridden in a lot of different VW's, Dashers Karmann-Ghias, Scirocco, Buses, Rabbits, Golfs, Beetles of many eras, Passatsand I even owned an Audi for 10 years, which was the best car I've ever owned. Why so much love for what looks like a pokey box that doesn't seem like it'll handle or ride well nor be particularly quick?

It's all about nostalgia. 0-100 times rarely come into the classic car owner's mind.

Igotadose

Digression. I see a lot of love for that VW squareback. FD: never saw one in my life living in the US. I've ridden in a lot of different VW's, Dashers Karmann-Ghias, Scirocco, Buses, Rabbits, Golfs, Beetles of many eras, Passatsand I even owned an Audi for 10 years, which was the best car I've ever owned. Why so much love for what looks like a pokey box that doesn't seem like it'll handle or ride well nor be particularly quick?

zilog_jones

Besides the sills, the VW doesn't look too bad? Hard to tell how much is just surface rust...

Type 17

Silver on black was the standard from 1904-1974.
When Irl joined the EEC in 1974, black on red (rear) and black on white (front) became the new standard. UK joined at the same time, but chose yellow for the rear plates.

hullaballoo

Red plates go faster.

TheW1zard

Quick question whats the difference between red and black plates?

kadman

Definitely the squareback would be my favourite:)

alfa beta

Here are some photos of the VW Variant / Squareback now that it's emerged from its cocoon and can actually be seen from more angles than the rear.

alfa beta

spaceHopper wrote: »

Whats under the tarm to the left of the merc?

Morris Eight (from 1940s)

forgottenhills

stock> wrote: »

DB5..............................................................;);)

Or perhaps a DeLorean, driven once and parked up.

stock>

spaceHopper wrote: »

Whats under the tarm to the left of the merc?

DB5..............................................................;);)

WildWater

spaceHopper wrote: »

Whats under the tarm to the left of the merc?

At this rate, I'll be pretty disappointed if it's not a space shuttle.

spaceHopper

Whats under the tarm to the left of the merc?

kadman

Mum might like to see the squareback everyday for the happy memories, then again she might not want to be reminded
of all the happy memories by seeing the car everyday.
Its a funny thing like that.

I remember similar circumstances in my own family. And it was too painful for some family members to be reminded
by all the items of the deceased member, so they were sold on. Its a very individual thing.

There is probably a long list of people who would love that car, me included.

But I still think you should hang on to it. Or at least let it go to someone who would put it back on the road.
Its probably worth more to break it for parts, which is a sad thing,than sell it as it is.
And that would be sacrilegious in my view to such a car.

It needs to be on the road and driving.

eddhorse

My mum was delighted as she found some Horse Chestnuts in the glove compartment. She remembered picking them off a tree when herself and Dad broke down on their honeymoon and were waiting for the AA man to arrive - somewhere near Warrington I believe.

Ive changed my mind, keep the squareback !!!

stock>

alfa beta wrote: »

On another note, we also brought this machine out into the daylight for the first time in a few years. Started like a dream on a newly charged battery, and drove perfectly. But then got stuck in third for some reason and now seems impossible to get back into neutral. Maybe someone here is familiar with old Ford 3000's and knows something I don't!

Lift the gear levers and align the two selectors rods, you will see the two squares and align them,then replace the gear levers with a bit of sealant. The gear levers wear as do the selectors and one slips out of the other so be gentle when changing gear..............................................................

kadman

The squareback must hold a special place in your mums heart.
Maybe thats the one to keep. Get it running and drive it.

Gaspode

alfa beta wrote: »

My mum was delighted as she found some Horse Chestnuts in the glove compartment. She remembered picking them off a tree when herself and Dad broke down on their honeymoon and were waiting for the AA man to arrive - somewhere near Warrington I believe.

There's so much more to old cars than engines and chassis and body panels, isn't there?

What a lovely thing, this thread is the thread that just keeps giving!

alfa beta

kadman wrote: »

Here is what your type 3 should sound like, my maiden voyage today after a long resto,

now just small bits a and maybe a respray, or maybe not.

This looks (and sounds great) - I love the fastback shape - not really a fan of the squareback shape i must admit but i love this. (VW looked so much closer to Porsche back then, maybe that's what I like about this)

Well, we managed to move our VW today. It took hours as we only had an inch on each side (between the merc and the 504) and no way of getting to the tyres, or the steering wheel etc, so it was a slow process using some jacks and pulling it a few inches at a time. It's too dark to take photos now, but I'll get some tomorrow. It's in better nick than I thought so I'm quite happy with that. Seemed very solid when pulling it too.

My mum was delighted as she found some Horse Chestnuts in the glove compartment. She remembered picking them off a tree when herself and Dad broke down on their honeymoon and were waiting for the AA man to arrive - somewhere near Warrington I believe.

There's so much more to old cars than engines and chassis and body panels, isn't there? There are memories and secrets and character. Is that why we keep them?

On another note, we also brought this machine out into the daylight for the first time in a few years. Started like a dream on a newly charged battery, and drove perfectly. But then got stuck in third for some reason and now seems impossible to get back into neutral. Maybe someone here is familiar with old Ford 3000's and knows something I don't!

Type 17

Speaking of back on track, why the hell are we posting sample pics from the internet of period, pre-'74 black and silver plates when we have two perfect examples?

alfa beta wrote: »