So long story short- I saw on ebay a classic car that was described being in great condition, running well, and would need very little tlc.

It was a long way from home, so after a couple of calls and discussions with the private (but I think does sell a few motors here and there) seller I decided to risk it. We agreed he would deliver the car to me, which he did (albeit several hours later than planned so it was dark by the time he arrived).

Anyway, it started fine, we drove it off the truck and parked it up in my street- it ran fine for a few minutes with no obvious problem. We sorted the V5, although in the rush no receipt was handed over (with the usual "sold as seen" etc. on)

The next day I decide before using it, it'll probably want a service and good look over. I pull out the dipstick to find it way above max with creamy fluid. The expansion tank was bone dry. Assuming I've been sold something with a busted head gasket, I put it down to bad experience and a week later get the head off, to find that one of the cylinder bores is pitted (along with the valve) and it essentially needs a new engine. The damage is such that it wouldn't have been possible to occur in the short few minutes we ran it for.

I've contacted the seller to propose that the engine was broken from delivery (my mate who helped get the head off was rather surprised how easily the bolts undid) and that I'd like him to contribute to some of the cost, and of course he has told me to "go away"...

So the question is, do I have any recourse here for a small claims based on the advert being misleading? Or is the law simple enough that once it's mine, it's my problem and I just need to chalk it down to being stupid?