insideSUSSEX Magazine Issue 21 - November 2016 | Page 97

MOTORS
Q&A WITH SUSSEX-BASED CLASSIC CAR SPECIALIST, NICK FALK cont.

What services do you offer to your clients?
I try to offer a one-to-one service to explain
what ownership of a classic car means; the
realities of ownership and how to fulfil your
expectations. Everyone who desires a classic
has a reason and I try to pair the right car
with the right person. I offer professional
maintenance services from fixing a bulb
right through to general servicing, or a full
restoration. I am also happy to inspect a
vehicle before purchase, or organise a work
schedule that will keep you enjoying your
classic for years to come.
Most people think of classic cars as
hugely expensive - is this accurate?
They can be more affordable and reliable than
you think. If you go as old as an 80s GTI, you
can drive a really useable car for under £5,000
with insurance premiums of £200-£300. A
classic Jaguar, Mercedes, BMW or Rover, if
older than 1976, has no road tax and agreed
value insurances under £200. So, it can truly
be a cheap and rewarding alternative to
conventional car ownership.

What cars are you currently restoring to
their former glory?
Currently, I have a 1997 Mercedes CL600; a
spectacular twelve cylinder super coupe, the car
was priced when new at over £100,000 - that’s
twenty years ago and house money! It was
bought by a J. P. McManus, having one lawyer
owner since and only 59,000 miles on the clock
- it’s barely run in. With a specification that reads
like a new car; parking sensors; climate control;
heated memory seats; a fridge and even factory
satellite navigation, it’s a car that’s good for
another 20 years and beyond, and can now be
bought for £8,995, less than a tenth of its original
cost. With £240 road tax and comprehensive
insurance at around £300, how much better can
you feel in a car that doesn’t depreciate?
I have a 1985 Jaguar XJ12 Sovereign, a lovely
British gentlemen’s express with classic Jaguar
looks and th