Bajansailor
Well-Known Member
I have always had a soft spot for all Contessas, and the 32 is no exception. Hence I have been collecting Contessa info over the years, and have acquired a fair bit on the 32 (and the 26 as well).
This is what I have - if anybody would like any copies, please do revert, and I can scan it and email it to you. Am sure there must be quite a few Contessa owners and aficionados on here.
1) Jeremy Rogers catalogue from December 1975, including a price list - a basic 32 then, complete with a Perkins 1.36M 12 hp diesel engine, and mainsail, genoa, working jib and storm jib by Bruce Banks, cost GBP 12,250 ex. VAT.
And I think that VAT then was 25% - ouch!
For contrast, I also have a catalogue on the Claymore 30, and her new cost then was GBP 20,000 - I think that inflation has probably gone up about 10 times since then, hence probably about 200k in today's money?
And the Contessa 32 would be around 125k probably. Which sounds reasonable.......
2) A report from Classic Boat in 1992 called 'Coming of Age' re her 21st birthday.
3) A YW 'Test of time' report from May 1991, also an article on 'Getting the best out of your 32' from August 1991.
4) An article by Adrian Morgan from (I think) Classic Boat in 1998 about Simon Croft's Wild Call, when she was under previous ownership. However this is just a black and white photocopy. The cost of a new 32 in 1998 was GBP 67,000 ex sails and ex VAT....
This is what I have - if anybody would like any copies, please do revert, and I can scan it and email it to you. Am sure there must be quite a few Contessa owners and aficionados on here.
1) Jeremy Rogers catalogue from December 1975, including a price list - a basic 32 then, complete with a Perkins 1.36M 12 hp diesel engine, and mainsail, genoa, working jib and storm jib by Bruce Banks, cost GBP 12,250 ex. VAT.
And I think that VAT then was 25% - ouch!
For contrast, I also have a catalogue on the Claymore 30, and her new cost then was GBP 20,000 - I think that inflation has probably gone up about 10 times since then, hence probably about 200k in today's money?
And the Contessa 32 would be around 125k probably. Which sounds reasonable.......
2) A report from Classic Boat in 1992 called 'Coming of Age' re her 21st birthday.
3) A YW 'Test of time' report from May 1991, also an article on 'Getting the best out of your 32' from August 1991.
4) An article by Adrian Morgan from (I think) Classic Boat in 1998 about Simon Croft's Wild Call, when she was under previous ownership. However this is just a black and white photocopy. The cost of a new 32 in 1998 was GBP 67,000 ex sails and ex VAT....
