Russell,
What you have there is quite a rare thing. A nice late example with low mileage in unmolested condition, in the ownership of someone who clearly takes great care of it and respects its originality and puts the work in to keep it that way (you, in other words). This situation does not come up very often.
Compared to getting a fixer upper later, well I have had both cases over the years, getting good uns that have been kept well and then keeping them that way (eg my v reg), and the other way which is finding a less well kept example with less pedigree and then firing the money cannon at it until it is respectable again (my red Mk1).
The first way, though not yet impossible, is getting harder to get into, as good minters are getting progressively thinner on the ground to buy. The two tone Mk1 on eBay right now would be a great one to go for but it is more the exception than the rule, so you cannot rely on having the opportunity in the future. The second way (fixing up) is time consuming, becomes a less and less assured outcome as time goes by (parts getting scarcer), and costs a LOT more to achieve than the first way.
Using my own hindsight from my own experiences, and lots of things I would have done differently had I known more at the time, I would definately say you should SORN the car to freeze the running costs, wrap it up in that nice garage of yours, and find the 600 smackers some other way. You and that car are made for each other, and you clearly love it in a way that I recognise in myself towards my cars (nothing kinky mind!
). Seriously though, I dont see that very often, and it comes across very strongly with you.
In the future you may well be able to do the two car thing and have a mk1 AND this mk2 (now who'd be fool enough to do that, I wonder?). It becomes affordable in time... The stock that is out there, and where it is going, will make the nice situation you have with your current car very difficult and expensive to replicate in the future. I have learnt this the hard way with 2 cars I have had in the past that I bitterly regret letting go now, and this situation you face looks eerily similar to me.
Take it from one who has been there...
Good luck with your decision.
In all honesty if someone came and gave me £500 they could take it away and enjoy it, just need to shift focus to this house as its going to consume an alarming amount of ££ and every little helps.
I mean storing the car in the garage indeffinately for you wouldnt be an issue as its just sitting in there doing nothing anyway so its not as though im physically needing it out of the garage, could easily sit there until next year for collection, im just needing the wonga to make the most out of house deposit land! Dam you no 100% mortages anymore lol.
