Tips For Purchasing A Classic Vehicle
Are you thinking of purchasing a classic truck or car? If you’ve never purchased a classic vehicle before, you should know that there are a few things that you need to ask yourself before starting your search:
Are you thinking of an investment and fixing up something you can sell for a profit after some work is done to it? If so, will you have the time to do that work or will you need the help of a professional?
How regularly do you plan on driving the vehicle? Weekends or everyday?
Are you going to show the car? If you’re planning on showing the car, there might be additional expenses such as trailer fees to transport it.
All these sound silly to be asking but they are all good questions and the answers can make a difference in what you finally decide to purchase.
If you want something for its investment value, the price considerations and other factors will be different than if your simply looking for something vintage for the fun of driving it around the neighbourhood. Bare in mind that the condition of a vehicle does not always reflect the price of a vehicle. Try purchasing an old Hemi Cuda Convertible sometime. You’d be astounded at what they can go for, even if the engine is blown and the body is in poor shape.
Perhaps one of the best places to seek out advice is from classic vehicle owners. Go to car shows and meets. Ask questions. The majority of the owners of classic cars love to talk about their cars, and they are sure to let you know about what they’ve learned, what they would do over again, or some of the mistakes they made.
In the meantime, here are some tips you can think about that may be important to you, especially if in the market for as close to original as possible:
1. Make sure there is a clear title to the car. Is it registered to the person who is selling it or is not registered at all?
2. Where is the car from? Has it been registered in different States or Provinces? A vehicle from California or Florida might have more interest than one from Ontario or New York State due to the fact in the latter case, the vehicle may have been subjected to winter roads and lots of salt.
3. If you want a vehicle as close as possible to original, you’ll need to do some homework. Get the VIN number of the vehicle and find out if the engine in the car your thinking of buying matches with what that vehicle was sold with, for example.
4. Take the car for a 20 minute test drive and try to drive on a variety of conditions. Highways and city streets. How does it feel? What noises do you here? After the test drive, look underneath the vehicle for any signs of fluid leakage.
5. The Body. Look down the sides for any signs of damage. Take a look at the gaps between the body of the vehicle and the hood, doors and trunk lid. Are they uniform in width? If not, the vehicle may have had some body repair work done. Probably not what you want if you’re looking for a vehicle for an investment, but maybe ok of you just want a vintage car for yourself.
Look very closely inside the door jam area down at the doorsill plate and the rear quarter panels for any signs of welds or repair work. Other things to look for include welds and welding marks. More signs of repaired damage. These signs indicate you should have a professional look it over if you are seriously considering the vehicle.
6. Look everywhere for rust. Wheel wells, underneath the car, door frames, and especially along windows. Once rust has started, it can be very difficult to stop its progression.
7. Don’t forget about the interior of the vehicle too. Again, depending on what you are looking for, you might not mind having an aftermarket stereo installed which meant cutting a bigger hole in the dash, but that’s going to be what you want if you’re looking for a showcase vehicle.
Whatever you do, take your time. Do your homework and make sure you’re getting what you paid for. Don’t be afraid to ask for other’s who are more knowledgable than you for advice and help!
Tags: classic cars, used cars, vintage
