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evosal
25-03-2014, 00:14
After months of searching for a Williams 1 that's original and low mileage I finally found one listed on ebay as spares or repairs, 56,000 mls and unused since 1999 apart from a 6 month period in 2008 when it was taxed for the road and used briefly.

Im hoping I can get some help and advise, where is the best place to get the wheels re-furbed back to factory finish ?
I also need a tailgate as it was damaged whilst in storage by something falling on it, will it be easy to find a mint tailgate ?

I've not started the engine yet as im having all the fluids drained flushed and replaced along with the cambelt before attempting to start it. all 4 tyres are perished so im going to replace those along with a brake and suspension re-fresh, bodywise its really good and original, just one rust scab near the bottom of one arch which seems to be just superficial and paint flaking on the rear bumper.

I also need a spotlight for the front bumper, any advise greatly appreciated.

619161926193619461956196

16v_paddy
25-03-2014, 00:31
Nice find 8)

http://www.project-wheels.co.uk/ these do the wheels correctly and are very reasonably priced, will be taking my wheels there for refurb when I can be arsed to do anything on the williams.

How bad is the damage on the tailgate? With it being such low mileage I reckon you could be better off just getting it fixed, it's not impossible to find 1 but I reckon it'd be very difficult to find 1 that's mint & rust free

glyn211269
25-03-2014, 00:35
most importantly....what number is it please?!!

evosal
25-03-2014, 00:42
Its number 153, the damage on the tailgate is right on the swage line it wont dent master out and I don't want to have it filled, ideally I'd like to find a mint original tailgate and just swap it over, I want to keep the paintwork needed to a minimum to keep it as original as possible.

Chris197F1
25-03-2014, 09:15
Congrats on the purchase mate. In a similar situation to yourself where I wont start my new purchase due to the cambelt needing doing as its a few years out of date lol. All the best :)

B00ST
25-03-2014, 14:07
Great find and definitely worth the time and effort to bring it back to it's former glory!

For wheel refurbs there are a few places that can get them close, but unfortunately, if you put them next to an original they are never the same, even if the correct paint code is used.

jamiecrookston83
25-03-2014, 15:56
Nice find.

northy
25-03-2014, 16:16
I can already see a car cover and that garage is to die for.

Looks to be in great shape.

Red_Dash
25-03-2014, 16:59
That's a great purchase!

I was also speaking to the seller about buying the car the morning that it went on ebay, but I think you must have offered more that I did :)
Good luck with the work, hope to see it on the road soon 8)

Incidentally, where are you based - might be useful if you need contacts in your area to help with tricky bits of work/parts etc..

Cheers,
Dave

evosal
26-03-2014, 00:02
Hi Dave

Im in Bolton.
I saw it within moments of the ad going live, I didn't steal it, I offered a decent price and he accepted straight away.
I might have got it cheaper if I waited and just bid on the auction but I would have been gutted if I missed it.

p4cks
26-03-2014, 09:38
If the numbers have rubbed off the gear knob I can fix you a new one :)

Chris197F1
26-03-2014, 09:42
^ I need one off you P4cks

p4cks
26-03-2014, 09:44
Just PM me and we'll sort something out...

OP - Looks a good car and well worth saving. Well done !

northy
26-03-2014, 11:32
Still local then. Im only over in wigan if you need any bits / help

northy
26-03-2014, 11:36
Whats your car history to lead you onto restoring a williams then?

Danno
26-03-2014, 17:29
Whats your car history to lead you onto restoring a williams then?

Always an interesting question this........

Dean250
26-03-2014, 19:45
Looks a good car, I posted about it after seeing the car on ebay! should hopefully be rot free underneath too!

evosal
27-03-2014, 23:56
Im actually in the car trade, I specialise in Lotus elise and exige (www.lotusracing.co.uk (http://www.lotusracing.co.uk)) and I have a business dealing in classic cars (www.barnfindclassics.co.uk (http://www.barnfindclassics.co.uk/))
I have had a few Williams years ago, bought myself a low mileage Williams 3 a couple of years ago but sold it after a few months as I really wanted a reasonable miles series 1.

I gave it a bit of a clean off today, its in mint condition underneath, no rust issues anywhere on the sills etc


62146215

Daz.
28-03-2014, 03:10
I'm in Bolton all the time - it's been a while since I've seen a Williams on the road.


I do miss having one from time to time, there was something just 'nice' about being in one.

p4cks
28-03-2014, 09:23
Im actually in the car trade, I specialise in Lotus elise and exige (www.lotusracing.co.uk (http://www.lotusracing.co.uk)) and I have a business dealing in classic cars (www.barnfindclassics.co.uk (http://www.barnfindclassics.co.uk/))
I have had a few Williams years ago, bought myself a low mileage Williams 3 a couple of years ago but sold it after a few months as I really wanted a reasonable miles series 1.

I gave it a bit of a clean off today, its in mint condition underneath, no rust issues anywhere on the sills etc



Well it's quite a small world as I've got a VX220 Turbo and a W3 :)

northy
28-03-2014, 10:02
is this one a keeper then or one to tidy up and sell on?

If it is forsale once finished - Dibs first refusal!

1. northy

Andy
28-03-2014, 11:26
do you not have enough lol

bagsy 2 nd refusal

ollie16v
25-04-2014, 10:38
It's on eBay now

dimma
27-04-2014, 20:34
just over an hour left,its at £5501

Danno
27-04-2014, 21:00
Anyone know why its for sale? It seems strange that you would look for ages to find a low milage example, then sell it on, unless its got underlying issues or the temptation to make a quick decent profit is to good to turn down. I don't recall what it was originally advertised for before the current owner had it, but it certainly wasn't anywhere near 5k, and for that reason i wouldn't buy it.

dave17
27-04-2014, 21:44
It's his line of business by the looks at it, looking at the other cars he has for sale.

Red_Dash
27-04-2014, 21:51
Let's see how deep peoples pockets are for this. Wonder who on here is bidding for it...I bet there's somebody.
Good luck if you are! :)

Red_Dash
27-04-2014, 22:03
Go on then, who's bought it?

walters300
27-04-2014, 23:02
I bid to £3350, can't believe it went that high, I remember a 13k Williams 1 going for less in circa 2003, not worth the final bid in my mind..

Coops
28-04-2014, 10:21
if Mat Brown hasn't bought it i'll eat my hat ;)

northy
28-04-2014, 11:02
What flavour hat do you want Coops?

MattDilley
28-04-2014, 12:30
I'll fire the BBQ up Coops lol

Coops
28-04-2014, 12:32
why the hell would he not? he's been whinging for years about finding just this? FAIL

and my hat is fortuitously made of candy floss :)

talkingfish
28-04-2014, 16:06
I agree with you Mr Coops - why would Mr Brown not go for this one??

ianbirch
28-04-2014, 18:37
I bid to £3350, can't believe it went that high, I remember a 13k Williams 1 going for less in circa 2003, not worth the final bid in my mind..

2003 was a long 11 years ago... an age in the life of these cars. Having said that I would be very surprised if a 13K Williams went for that price.

I bought my first Williams in the year 2000 on 18K miles and paid £7,500 for it.

Regards Ian

MattDilley
28-04-2014, 18:42
Ummm candy floss............
Don't think it was quite what Mat was looking for?

Hoppo1979
28-04-2014, 19:09
2003 was a long 11 years ago... an age in the life of these cars. Having said that I would be very surprised if a 13K Williams went for that price.

I bought my first Williams in the year 2000 on 18K miles and paid £7,500 for it.

Regards Ian

an auction where the reserves met is an absolutely true snapshot of the used car market. And I was in the game for 12 years, working for Porsche, MINI and Mercedes Benz.

These cars are extremely rare, the Williams 1 is the most sought after as it is numbered, and this car had low owners, had never been welded and was very low mileage (sub 80k on these card is very low IMO)

There was also a nice Willy 2 that went for £4k I think last time I looked. That was low miles and about 5 or 6 owners.

If you own one of these cars cherish it and enjoy it. Its a no brainer they will rocket in value like the Lancia Delta HF Integrale did. I remember in 2002 I was on the verge of buying an Integrale Evo 1 for £7500. It would be worth 3 times that now!

walters300
28-04-2014, 20:47
2003 was a long 11 years ago... an age in the life of these cars. Having said that I would be very surprised if a 13K Williams went for that price.


I bought my first Williams in the year 2000 on 18K miles and paid £7,500 for it.




Williams values have been very up and down over the last 15 years with them dipping from 2002 on, I sold my w3 with 30k miles for £6750 in 2000 and bought it back for £3500 in mint condition in 2005 with 50k miles, Williams 1 can make upto 30% over 2s and 3s in my opinion as its the one to collect, its a nice car and it will be one of the lowest mile w1 out there, to an enthusiast who has deep pockets price doesn't matter,the 13k car was in Somerset somewhere and the guy removed it before it ended, he told me he sold it for 6k. It seems things are looking up for these cars at last if its got the right blend of condition and owners, the car will be one we all want to own but I am personally surprised it made so much.

northy
29-04-2014, 09:18
lets see if it gets relisted

Coops
29-04-2014, 10:18
Ummm candy floss............
Don't think it was quite what Mat was looking for?

he's going to be looking forever then ;)

ollie16v
29-04-2014, 10:49
The lancia delta argument is a good one but I don't think the clio would quite achieve those values but who knows. Trouble is it would never be an investment for me even this Williams 1 needs some money putting in to it to be perfect. I would rather see them go to people who will actually use them and love them than hide them away. There is something about the clio that always keeps people coming back to them...

MattDilley
29-04-2014, 11:01
he's going to be looking forever then ;)
Fingers crossed Renault begin manufacturing them again?

Coops
29-04-2014, 12:18
Fingers crossed Renault begin manufacturing them again?

that's the last straw he has left to clutch at

Hoppo1979
29-04-2014, 19:23
What's rarer? Clio Williams or Lancia Delta HF Integrale? The answer might surprise you all.....
http://i1208.photobucket.com/albums/cc376/Hoppo1979/bc26ea817c7595c46e8aa74de0deb665_zps990015b7.jpg
http://i1208.photobucket.com/albums/cc376/Hoppo1979/c6e70f2ffacfb02e1c85c2383b2ab029_zps80856534.jpg

189 Clio Williams
216 Lancia
Not including sorn

cherish these cars. They are more exclusive than the Lancia, share the rally heritage and carry Frank Williams name.

just saying.........

walters300
29-04-2014, 21:50
A Williams clio is a very special car to anyone who has owned one as a general passenger vehicle, I remember my 1st and I can honestly say I truly loved that car, I would come home every night and see it on the drive and it was was like claudia shiffer was there,, from 95 to 2000 was Williams clio time for me and I have extremely fond memories, from spending 3hrs hard driving through Wales on exceptional roads and scenery absolutely flat out to doing my best at removing the intimate itinerary of fine ladies in the very cramped rear, this car will never be a statistic or trend of whatever, its very much a true love affair of anyone that's owned one and what he can afford at that period in his life to reattain that one and only experience a Williams can attain.

MatBrown
30-04-2014, 06:25
he's going to be looking forever then ;)

Did you go and look at the Williams?

Red_Dash
30-04-2014, 08:54
This was the original listing on ebay that was made by the previous owner (for anyone who is interested):
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Renault-Clio-Williams-1993-No-0153-57-000-Miles-Spares-or-Repair-/181354663627?ssPageName=ADME%3AX%3ARTQ%3AGB%3A1123&ViewItem=&item=181354663627&nma=true&si=O7s%252FGcEYNHiFnJEJEHif5wnIZTs%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Coops
30-04-2014, 11:58
Did you go and look at the Williams?

no mate, was it a mess?

MatBrown
30-04-2014, 14:19
Not a mess, but if it had been good enough I would have bid.

Coops
30-04-2014, 16:48
to exacting sir, I stand by you will be looking forever

in fact how many possibles are left from the register (as in unknown willy 1's that could be in a shed somewhere unmolested and 'fit for a clio king')

Chris197F1
30-04-2014, 16:59
The more I see the asking prices for some of these clios the more I think mine really was a bargain lol

Hoppo1979
30-04-2014, 19:30
Despite the tears shed and money spent on mine over the last 9 months I'm soooooo glad I have one of the handful of a Williams 3's left in the UK. Sure it's not a 1 with a number on the dash, but it's the final run of an icon, the only Williams to be finished in Monaco Blue. It's an absolute scream to drive and wherever I go it gets huge interest. Sure there's always someone who says "it's not a proper Williams" but that's down to them. It's the most stupid statement if ever I heard one.

its great to be a part of this exclusive club. My car will be at Pendragon PLC Car Cafe at Neway House just off a Junction 27 of the M1 on Saturday morning 8.30am to 10.30am. Refreshments, 'bring your metal' and share a passion in cars. My Williams won't be going anywhere anytime soon.

dave17
30-04-2014, 21:53
Despite the tears shed and money spent on mine over the last 9 months I'm soooooo glad I have one of the handful of a Williams 3's left in the UK. Sure it's not a 1 with a number on the dash, but it's the final run of an icon, the only Williams to be finished in Monaco Blue. It's an absolute scream to drive and wherever I go it gets huge interest. Sure there's always someone who says "it's not a proper Williams" but that's down to them. It's the most stupid statement if ever I heard one.

its great to be a part of this exclusive club. My car will be at Pendragon PLC Car Cafe at Neway House just off a Junction 27 of the M1 on Saturday morning 8.30am to 10.30am. Refreshments, 'bring your metal' and share a passion in cars. My Williams won't be going anywhere anytime soon.


Well said! I love my Williams 3. As much as I'd like an original 1, I'm happy looking after my 3"

cheers.

MatBrown
30-04-2014, 23:55
They are out there! Lol

Coops
01-05-2014, 09:04
They are out there! Lol

your thinking on the X files chap ;)

northy
01-05-2014, 11:09
Original advert reads:

1993 Original Clio Williams - Listed for Spares or Repair

I bought this from Renault Bellcharm in Warrington in late 1995 as the second owner. The original owner had apparently bought it from Bellcharm and chopped it in with them for a Megane. I saw it when I was taking a short cut through Warrington on the way back to London, This was back when they were still selling above original list in the motoring section of the Sunday Times so I bought it there and then.
I used it up until 1999 at which point I bought an M3, so it went to my Mum who used it for a year and a half before passing it on to my elder brother. He used it for just over a year and then I took it back from him.

I used it occasionally between late 2001 and 2004. Between then and now it saw use briefly (1000 miles) in 2009 when it had its timing belt replaced.

Since then it has just sat....

Problems which I can see are:

- Wheels need re-furb (wheels in good shape & rims are un-kerbed, they were part way through re-paint when the car was laid up)
- Two of the wheels' centre caps missing
- Rear Tires perished
- Dent to rear tailgate, cracked OSR lens and scrape down offside door (from a marquee during a storm)
- Small rust patch in usual rear arch area (nearside, offside is perfect)
- Missing NS front fog lamp
- Brakes are corroded
- Paint peeling at edge on both front and rear bumpers
- Alt light showing on dash
- Small patch of de-lam on lower nearside edge of windscreen
- Clearly would need a full service before use
- No MOT or Tax, obviously

Comes with:

- All original docs etc..
- Both keys and both fobs (for the Renault Alarm / Immobiliser and locking wheel nuts which I had Bellcharm fit when I bought it).
- Original brochure.
- Spare wheel has the original Michelin tyre on it.
- Original suit-carrier rear shelf is with the car, but saggy a little on one side. The car has a standard shelf in it.
- I have a new front number plate (original plate would have been an MOT fail).

There's no way now that I’m going to be able to ever get the time to sort everything out & get it back on the road so it's offered up now for spares or repair.

If I think of anything else I'll add it in; if you've any questions let me know.

Cash on collection only, please (from south Cheshire).