1996-2000 Continental R buying advice

Paul1979T2

I am looking to buy a late R. I am aware of the model specification changes made 1996 then 1998. I have read mixed reviews on the 1996 fuel injection and engine management changes. I appreciate these were the same as for the then 4 door cars.
My thinking just now is to go for a post 1998 model year car with the changed seats etc.
I have seen on them market various cars from 1994 on with vastly varying prices. I do appreciate it will be condition driven and a reputable service history showing actual work and parts rather than just oil changes.
Can anyone with experience of these cars let me know if there were many worthwhile changes post 1996/1998 and your views on the benefits or disadvantages of later cars?
Thanks in anticipation

Philip Edginton · Posted: Tue May 25, 2021 11:49 am Post subject:

The only comment I can make is that maybe reconsider.
I say this as I also really liked the look of them, however there is a member in Germany who is looking for a replacement door window and has not been able to find one, I even put feelers out in the UK for him but this makes me wonder what else may be impossible to replace.
Having looked again at the posts, it seems that we have another UK member looking for front wings and a bonnet.

Does not exactly fill one with confidence towards owning one of those.

Paul1979T2 · Posted: Tue May 25, 2021 2:11 pm Post subject:

I saw the post about he person looking for panels due to accident damage. Obviously you can get any panel made by hand if necessary. bearing in mind the cars only went out of production 18 years ago, I would have thought parts should be available? I haven't checked Flying spares etc but will have a look now. A fairy new car which is VOR due to non availability of common parts isn't a good ownership proposition!

John Murch · Posted: Tue May 25, 2021 2:57 pm Post subject:

I assume that templates or drawings for the parts for these cars must be somewhere, could they be obtained by the club and a spares scheme be initiated?

Philip Edginton · Posted: Tue May 25, 2021 3:16 pm Post subject:

Hi John, I see from the avatar you are still keeping your ear close to the ground.
The cost would be prohibitive I would imagine, even if possible.
I did watch a program a while ago where to get a replacement windscreen they cut down to size from a larger screen, but that was in the good old USA.

Paul1979T2 · Posted: Tue May 25, 2021 5:42 pm Post subject:

I was in contact with a guy in Norway some years ago about a windscreen for my Khamsin. He said he could make any windscreen, admittedly it was old Italian cars. I don't have his details any longer, although they may be on a car file. he shipped all over the world. The last I heard about 4 years ago he was making them for Espadas for Eurospars. May be worth an internet search for him.
He was quite clear that it was nearly as cheap to make tow as one as a lot of the cost was packaging and shipping plus taxes.