Author Topic: Mileometer  (Read 2907 times)

RAY

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Mileometer
« on: October 02, 2020, 17:17:58 »
Hi All,
I would be interested to know at what point members have reset there mileometers back to zero, presuming they have.
Is it only when they have had or done a nut and bolt restoration or maybe after a major refurbishment, including engine and gearbox and rear axel rebuild.
Is it the done thing to do this at all, have you just logged the milage at the point when work was completed and let the odometer carry on.
Keep safe out there.
Ray

Peter

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Re: Mileometer
« Reply #1 on: October 02, 2020, 19:36:37 »
Hi Ray,

I did a nut and bolt restoration of the complete car, no part untouched, and at that moment I have reset there mileometer back to zero, the car is as new!
For the record I have picture of car and mileometer from before the restoration.

^Peter

Shvegel

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Re: Mileometer
« Reply #2 on: October 04, 2020, 14:50:31 »
I am finishing a complete nut and bolt restoration and I am leaving mine as is.  It is a low mileage car with and only the cylinder head has been rebuilt. For me the picture of the top of a stock bore piston verifies it's low mileage.

louie2

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Re: Mileometer
« Reply #3 on: October 04, 2020, 21:25:35 »
I had car restored by Gus in Houston. I have docs going back to 1980's for miles did not change miles showing on speedometer.

Cees Klumper

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Re: Mileometer
« Reply #4 on: October 04, 2020, 23:16:09 »
My odometer was 'reset' when the PO swapped out the US speedo for a European one, to pass the import technical inspection. I bought the car with 3,600 kms showing and no records, so it's anyone's guess what the true distance covered is. Now it sits at approx 76,000 kms.
I would not reset the odometer at any point, including after a comprehensive restoration. It kind of denies the history of the car.
Cees Klumper
1969 Mercedes 280 SL automatic
1968 Ford Mustang 302 V8
1961 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Coupe 1600
1962 FIAT 1500S OSCA convertible
1972 Lancia Fulvia Coupe 1.3
1983 Porsche 944 2.5
1990 Ford Bronco II

RAY

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Re: Mileometer
« Reply #5 on: October 07, 2020, 16:43:35 »
Thanks for the replies, a useful insight to what members do and there reasoning.

Stay safe

MikeSimon

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Re: Mileometer
« Reply #6 on: October 08, 2020, 12:07:55 »
Buying and selling vintage/classic cars a lot, I recommend to keep the original mileage. Keep a good record of the restauration and document at what mileage it was done, but let the original mileage remain. If you ever decide to sell the car, a potential buyer is most likely interested in the total mileage of the car. If it shows a reset odometer, it always leaves the scent of something fishy...just saying.
1970/71 280SL Automatic
Sandy Beige
Parchment Leather
Power Steering
Automatic
Hardtop
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German specs
3rd owner

Cees Klumper

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Re: Mileometer
« Reply #7 on: October 08, 2020, 12:39:03 »
The only issue is that our odometers only go to 99,999 and it's unlikely for a car this age to not have topped that at least once (or twice? Three times?). So barring having complete service history, the odometer is far from a sure indicator of actual mileage.
I remember growing up in the sixties that most cars were not expected to cover as many as 100,000 kms (60,000 miles) over their lifetimes, which is a logical explanation for 5-digit odometers.
Cees Klumper
1969 Mercedes 280 SL automatic
1968 Ford Mustang 302 V8
1961 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Coupe 1600
1962 FIAT 1500S OSCA convertible
1972 Lancia Fulvia Coupe 1.3
1983 Porsche 944 2.5
1990 Ford Bronco II

Fred Verboon

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Re: Mileometer
« Reply #8 on: October 08, 2020, 14:48:08 »
Dear Cees, do you still have your mileometer? I would be very happy to buy it from you and convert it to a KM version.

Kind regards
Fred

Fredverboon@gmail.com

Cees Klumper

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Re: Mileometer
« Reply #9 on: October 08, 2020, 21:04:45 »
Hi Fred - no, the previous owner did the swap, I did not receive the old speedometer. Probably these come up on Marktplaats or Ebay from time to time, I would look for one there? Succes,
Cees Klumper
1969 Mercedes 280 SL automatic
1968 Ford Mustang 302 V8
1961 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Coupe 1600
1962 FIAT 1500S OSCA convertible
1972 Lancia Fulvia Coupe 1.3
1983 Porsche 944 2.5
1990 Ford Bronco II

johnk

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Re: Mileometer
« Reply #10 on: October 09, 2020, 13:08:10 »
I am just competing my rotisserie restoration and I am leaving the odometer as is. In my case I think it helps to show that the car only had 80,000 miles on it when restored. You may touch or even refurbish every part but you don’t replace them no matter how extensive the restoration
John Krystowski
Avon Ohio
1968 Euro 280sl under restoration
2016 Jag F-Type R sold june 2021
1950 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 SS For sale
2008 E350
2007 GL 450
2019 BMW 540

stickandrudderman

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Re: Mileometer
« Reply #11 on: October 09, 2020, 16:46:18 »
If the car has documented mileage history I would leave it alone.
If it's had a nut and bolt restoration and there's no history, I would zero it.

Jordan

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Re: Mileometer
« Reply #12 on: October 10, 2020, 01:21:33 »
If the car has documented mileage history I would leave it alone.

So true.  Unless there is a documented history, the odometer really means nothing.  As with other cars of the era, it is not that difficult to swap out a speedometer (it takes about 15 minutes for an early 911).  My car has had 3 speedometers in its 54 years.  Fortunately I have a history of the mileage so I know that the odometer is not even remotely close to the actual mileage.  So as Colin states, unless you have the documented mileage history it doesn't really matter what you do except maybe make note of what it is when you do a complete restoration.
Marcus
66 230SL  Euro 4 speed