James Morris' Samuri at Auction

Albrecht

Well-Known Forum User
Ahoy there! The original 'Letter From Spike' car comes up for sale again.

Valuation: A pound for every tall story.
 

uk66fastback

Club Member
Besides the Samuri, there are some lovely looking, quality motors there, no Stags or Mk 1 two-door Escorts needing restoration ... ! Oh to be in such exalted company, the Datsun is thinking to itself. I’m still to make up my mind on these to be honest, it’s all such a grey area.
 

Rob Gaskin

Treasurer
Staff member
Site Administrator
It's a smart car and was restored by Kevin Bristow his friend and rally driver (James was Co-driver).

I don't know James but when at Goodwood I would consider him to be a 'Gentleman Driver' so I expect the car is in good condition.

I reckon it will fetch 'strong' money.
 

Albrecht

Well-Known Forum User
It's a smart car and was restored by Kevin Bristow his friend and rally driver (James was Co-driver).

I don't know James but when at Goodwood I would consider him to be a 'Gentleman Driver' so I expect the car is in good condition.

Far from being "restored", it was transformed into what I'd call a 'paper' Super Samuri. It looked like a standard car before it went into Kevin's workshop. I saw its progress, and even supplied some parts for it.

I also saw it when it was auctioned at one of the Race Retro events at Stoneleigh, and that was when it had the fabled 'Letter From Spike' on the dashboard. To me it sums up the free and easy make-it-all-up-as-we-go-along 'history' of the Super Samuri cars that were either built from scratch or sexed-up in that period after Spike Anderson went to Spain. Who knew you could 'build' a car down a phone line?

The car has been out of James' hands for a long time - and has been through the JD Classics shambles with some of their own 'improvements' - so no knowing what its like now.
 

JK240

Club Member
Just sold for £41,500 plus fees and, in my opinion, it struggled to get there..!

PS Nick Whale's opening description was comical in it's errors, could have been scripted in Spain.


JK
 

Rob Gaskin

Treasurer
Staff member
Site Administrator
Just sold for £41,500 plus fees and, in my opinion, it struggled to get there..!

PS Nick Whale's opening description was comical in it's errors, could have been scripted in Spain.


JK

What were the errors Jonathan?
 

Pete

Well-Known Forum User
Not being a big 'car guy' I assume this sort of provenance stuff goes on all the time with other marques. Also assume that it only really concerns 'investors' as all the real people with an interest have been around long enough or interested enough to find out the ins and outs and with money not being the main objective.
 

SeanDezart

Well-Known Forum User
More money for less metal? its like a porsche forum!

Those 432r's must be £1500 more again.
Well, more again is right- ever touched one? The fivers stick to your hand.

Please mock but I don't BS, wait to see the evaluation report.

That JM car was CHEAP and maybe highlighting the(deliberate) confusion over what is and isn't alongside tribute cars and ringers.

In my view, it'd be best to see all those cars from spike AND Kevin be included and then a sub register for breathed in cars and later tributes which include FfS, lol et al.......

All clear, B and W, no memory lapses, no enhancements and even see more racing again as historic cloud racing remains where we can still drive them in anger safely!
 

JK240

Club Member
so worth the same as a 280z then?
I’ve never seen a £46k 280Z?
That doesn’t mean there isn’t such a thing, however if you’ve got one or indeed sold one for thatwell done....

Or have I missed your point?
Well, more again is right- ever touched one? The fivers stick to your hand.

Please mock but I don't BS, wait to see the evaluation report.

That JM car was CHEAP and maybe highlighting the(deliberate) confusion over what is and isn't alongside tribute cars and ringers.

In my view, it'd be best to see all those cars from spike AND Kevin be included and then a sub register for breathed in cars and later tributes which include FfS, lol et al.......

All clear, B and W, no memory lapses, no enhancements and even see more racing again as historic cloud racing remains where we can still drive them in anger safely!
I don't think 'cheap' is the right word Sean, I think it just realises the market and the traders asking £60k are just over pricing.

The vendor had this advertised for £59,995 for a good 12 -18 months without success and has now taken £41,500 plus fees, so did he blow or did he buy it for even less than that...?

Oh and get well soon mate, sorry we won't see you in July....again...!! 2022 back on schedule hopefully.

JK
 
I’ve never seen a £46k 280Z?
That doesn’t mean there isn’t such a thing, however if you’ve got one or indeed sold one for thatwell done....

Or have I missed your point?

I don't think 'cheap' is the right word Sean, I think it just realises the market and the traders asking £60k are just over pricing.

The vendor had this advertised for £59,995 for a good 12 -18 months without success and has now taken £41,500 plus fees, so did he blow or did he buy it for even less than that...?

Oh and get well soon mate, sorry we won't see you in July....again...!! 2022 back on schedule hopefully.

JK

Sean has a 280z for 40k, its somewhere on the forum.
 

Albrecht

Well-Known Forum User
That JM car was CHEAP and maybe highlighting the(deliberate) confusion over what is and isn't alongside tribute cars and ringers.

Any "deliberate confusion" around the car has definitely been about sexing up the dossier. As I said earlier, this is the original in-joke 'Letter From Spike' car. The 'Samuri' involvement was down a telephone line. The only hard part a used 'Spike' head.

I saw it being rebuilt! The starting point was - to all intents and purposes - a standard road car. It didn't look anything like it does now.

It is the definition of a 'Tribute' car.
 

Albrecht

Well-Known Forum User
I’ve never seen a £46k 280Z?
That doesn’t mean there isn’t such a thing, however if you’ve got one or indeed sold one for thatwell done....

Or have I missed your point?

Yes, you're due a Whoosh Parrot. Strato-value 280Zs are from Sean's too-much-cheese-before-bedtime style recent posts.

Hyping 280Z values is the next stage of the business plan.
 
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