From:
markrock_REMOVE_470905_THIS_@yahoo.com
> does anyone know how many cosworths are left?<
As Duke says, this is probably the most predictable question asked at
any gathering of Cosworths or other similarly rare cars. But I'm not
sure even a review of registrations in 50 states would provide an
accurate answer. Why? Because there are two kinds of records--title
records and license records. If a car is licensed we can be
reasonably certain that it is operable. But cars that have been
sitting for 5 or 10 years or more are unlikely to be licensed, but
will still be titled. Undoubtedly they don't run, but as we proved
with #0307 that had been sitting for about 10 years indoors, and as
others have similarly found, these cars can be made operable in a day
or two of thrashing. I would count such cars, even if still sitting,
as among those still "left".
But title records don't tell the tale. You can't just count them.
Tom and I just scrapped a Cosworth body after we dismantled it. The
scrap dealer didn't even ask for the title, even though we had it
with us. That car will still show up somewhere as being in
existence, but it isn't. We actually watched it being crushed. So
we know 100% that it is gone.
Also, though the numbers in the grand scheme will be small, a search
of 50-state registrations will not turn up the more than 4 that are
in Canada, the one in Australia, and the ones in Europe. But clearly
these too should be counted among those "left".
With all that said, The WebCrew has concluded that the Internet
provides a potentially valuable tool for attempting to answer this
question. The
www.cosworthvega.com website contains a Registry page
where folks are encouraged to register their Cosworths, including any
numbered parts that they have. We urge you, and everyone else who
has not yet done so, to go to the Site and register their Cosworth
(s). If we can energize folks to do this, we will take a giant step
toward being able to answer this question.
Now, without trying to re-open a debate (or pour salt in a wound),
the answer to the question depends on one's definition of Cosworth
Vega. To Duke in this context it means operable. To another it
might mean an essentially original car with its Cosworth engine,
whether or not it is running, provided it is restorable to running
condition. To another, it might include the essentially complete
Seekonk MA car recently on eBay, or the essentially complete KY car
now there, neither of which will ever be restored or likely ever run
again. To another it will include every Cosworth that has been
transformed into a V-8 Vega. To yet another it might be the Cosworth
shell that is for sale in Michigan without any engine or
transmission. So, until one defines what is to be included in the
concept of being "left", the question cannot be meaningfully
answered.
So EVERYONE, let's work on this problem of how many are left. Please
take a moment and Register your car(s) at
www.cosworthvega.com.
Mark/The WebCrew
[This is message #10073 by user markrock on Yahoo! Group Cosworth Vegas:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cosworthvegas ]