OK, HQ versus HX. I'd take the HQ but it depends how you're wired. There is lots of posts on this site that dance around this issue and everyone has a different spin. Here's mine. There car is only worth how it makes you feel when your driving it (what it is intended for). I fix them and get them painted cos I want to drive them. I still enjoy working on them and I get to spend time with my daughter doing this but we both still love driving them. I'm not reliving my youth - I never owned a panel van. We originally bought the HX to tow a horse float, cart hay etc. and some how I got caught up in the history. I love the cheeky irreverance of it but every time I get in it I smile. If I drive it to work then its an event, and I drive it as often as I can. Closely related to this I think is the guys who love restoring them. Bringing a piece of history back to life. I also have a lot of time for these guys and the value of these cars should factor in the time and costs invloved. Obviously this makes the HQ a bargain.

Now the other aspect is the speculators. I think in a previous post Hainzy was talking about a simpler time when these cars were in there prime and then we somewhat lost the plot. Thats speculators. Lots of arguments about if you have original chassis etc then it is isn't a sandman and values of replicas against originals etc. I don't think it makes a dot of difference and I see no value in the argument. What is functionally different between a belmont chassis / body, and one retrofitted with the same bits? Nothing (so long as its legal!!). For those guys spending 500,000 on GTHO's because they have an aluminium plate when 50,000 would buy a Grand Tourer replica that is probably better? Whats the price per kilo on the aluminium plate that adds 450,000 to the cost of that car? These guys love the cut and thrust of wheeling dealing, selling, talking up markets and screw it up royally for those that like to drive, restore, etc.

Now back in my box.