Owning a car is great. The freedom that you get from car ownership can often not be put into words. Ownership of a car that gets you from A to B is one thing, but what about ownership of a vintage or classic car? When you purchase and subsequently own a vintage car, there are other considerations you must factor into your decision. Classic cars or vintage cars are often more expensive, so ensuring that you make the right decision for yourself and your wallet is crucial. So, what should you know and think about when purchasing a vintage or classic car?
Age and Previous Owners
As you are not buying new, you need to know where a car has been and for how long. Vintage cars may have exchanged hands several times, which means they might have had a few owners throughout their lives. Establishing what type of owners they have had and ensuring that this number of owners is appropriate to the age of the car is important. For example, if the car is 30 years old but has had 15+ owners, you might need to start asking more questions. A high number of owners could signal additional problems, which may end up costing you more.
Storage
Where are you going to keep your new pride and joy? Are you going to keep it out and exposed to the elements, or are you going to keep it in a warm, safe and secure unit? You will have invested a lot of time and funds into buying your vintage or classic car, and you will want to ensure that it is stored correctly and safely when not in use. When it comes to finding car storage near me, you need to think about safety and the environment within which it is housed. Not all storage facilities are monitored and as secure as you think. Checking out the safety and security is key, and so too is checking the environment. For example, if the storage unit is damp and drafty, your new beloved purchase could be getting exposed to the elements and possibly getting damaged as a result.
Intended Usage
Thinking about how often you will use your new car and for what purpose will help you establish a budget and checklist for your purchase. For example, if you want to use your car only in the summer months, then do you want to spend more than $20,000 on purchasing and insuring your new love?
Condition Versus Cost
Some vintage or classic cars look good, but on close inspection, you see that they are covered in rust and held together with glue and tape. Weighing up the condition a car is in will help you to make a wise decision and ensure that you do not pay more than you should.
Alterations or Modifications
Has the model been altered or modified in any way, or is it the same as when it was built? Alterations can make a car more expensive to insure, or they can even devalue it. Ask as many questions as you can to ascertain if the car or cars you are interested in have had any work or modifications carried out, and if so, when and why.
