Consider the following;

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This general advice is aimed at those considering owning a Veteran, Vintage or Classic car or motorbike who do not have many, or any, mechanical, engineering or bodywork skills.

There are many joys to owning an older car or bike, you are likely to visit many new places both at home and abroad though rallies, trips and holidays and you will make many new friends. Most of all you will not be just another car on the road but an enthusiast safeguarding our automobile history.

 

First thing to consider is you are not buying a modern car. Older cars require different driving skills, will require more maintenance and generally require protection in the form of a garage. Their reliability, safety features, comfort and driver aids are less than modern vehicles in fact the older the vehicle the less there is.

  

The two main enemies of old vehicles are lack of use and rust. Ask anyone who was driving in the UK in the 60’s and 70’s and they will tell that most cars then on the road would be showing signs of rust to a greater or lesser degree.

 

Whether your buying a Ford Popular or a Ferrari Dino don’t put yourself under pressure by imposing deadlines on yourself, you aim should be to obtain the best car you can get for the money available and you should obtain as much information as you can about the model of car or bike you wish to acquire. You should know all it’s weaknesses, and the price you can expect to pay for the model you desire. Don’t buy a wreck unless you know what you are doing and be aware it is highly unlikely you will ever be in profit from bringing such a vehicle back to life. ‘Passion has no price’ is a nice saying and may well be true but ‘Passion’ certainly has repercussions. For example you could purchase a Series 2 Jaguar E Type, two plus two (four seater) in good order for about £16,000 you could also pay about £4,000 for one as a wreck. An E Type bonnet with fitting will set you back £5000, so for £9000 you have a wreck with a new bonnet. Building a car from a wreck just swallows money up, it was estimated in the 1970’s that it would cost 7 times as much to build a car from spares as it would to buy it new. You should also be aware there are various types within a model, which can affect the value enormously. For example staying with  E type’s it is available in 3 different engine sizes and 3 different series. Series 1 (3.8 & 4.2cc) Series 2 (4.2cc) Series 3 (5.3cc).

A Series 2 or 3 coupe (two plus two) is probably the cheapest in the range and a car in reasonable condition would fetch approximately £18000, a Series 1 open-top flat floor 3.8 cc would be in the region of between £45000 to £100,00 depending on history etc. Do your homework!

  

Whatever you decide to buy you need to do some work, the Internet is a good place to start and will contain a vast amount of information about your chosen classic and it will also tell you of local car meetings and clubs. Go to these local car/bike shows and speak to owners, get to know the good the bad and the ugly points of your chosen classic, consider joining the local club for that make, here you will get first hand knowledge from people who use the car regularly. Many clubs have (or know of) a very experienced person who for a nominal fee will inspect a vehicle, this may well save you time and money, it is a lot less likely that you will buy something unsuitable and he/she will find various faults which will allow you to drop the asking price. Your job, using the experience you have gained over the months is to track down a vehicle you think may be suitable and then get the expert to inspect the vehicle, draw their attention to anything you have concerns about, you can then be assured that you have done the best you can.

 

Create a list of questions.

Step1

Sort out your finance. You should know what is your absolute maximum for this project and remember all the obvious and hidden costs. Tax, insurance, MOT, service, garage, transport of vehicle, how much to put right, upgrades, clubs, sweeteners for loved one.

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Step2

Call the owner and fire away. How long has he or she owned the car? What is the owner history? What repairs have been done recently? What is the car's condition? Is there rust? What repairs are needed? If you are satisfied by the answers to these questions, arrange for a test drive.

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Step3

Call your mechanic. Tell him or her you may want to bring in a car for a pre-purchase inspection. Make a tentative appointment.

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Step4

Inspect the car carefully before you drive it. Check for rust and body damage. Check the fluids, the belts, and the hoses. Look for leaks.

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Step5

Test-drive the car. Was the car started before you got there? Ask the owner to start the car and watch what comes out of the tailpipe - blue or black smoke isn't good. During the drive, be aware of any sway in the front end. Does the transmission shift smoothly? Does the car have power? Does it pull to one side when you use the brakes?

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Step6

Ask to see repair records and all documentation. Be suspicious of an owner who can't provide any records.

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Step7

Bring the car to your mechanic, who will often find things that you overlooked. This will give you added leverage when it comes time to make an offer. Consider the purchase carefully if the car needs a lot of work.

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Step8

Make an offer in line with the price guide. Keep in mind that this car is for fun. You don't need it. Be prepared to walk away if the owner won't make a fair deal.

 

Buying a Classic Car or Bike a Few Tips

 

1. Be realistic you are not buying a modern car, reliability, safety features, comfort and driver aids are not to today’s standards.

2. Search far and wide, get the best you can for your money.

3. Do your homework, know your car and its faults, scour the Internet for model information, clubs and shows.

4. Consider its protection and maintenance.

5. The two main enemies of old vehicles are rust and lack of use.

6. Don’t put yourself under pressure by imposing time limits.

7. Know the price range of the model.

8. Don’t buy a wreck unless you are skilled and know the financial pitfalls.

9. Look at many vehicles, visit shows, talk, talk, talk to owners.

Get a skilled person (on that car) to join you on your final choice.