Do Your Homework Before Buying A Classic
February 6th, 2010
Talking about owning a classic and actually buying one to restore are two very different things. When you are ready to get into this challenging and rewarding hobby, there are some things you will want to take stock of before you buy. The more homework you do in advance of a purchase, the more likely it is you will enjoy every minute of project down the road.
As you research getting into this hobby more closely, consider doing some soul searching and homework on these things:
The kind of car you wish to purchase – This is pretty subjective, but you probably will want to toss some ideas around and research them more closely. Like it or not, budget can play a big role. While you might have your heart set on owning a Bugatti, your budget may guide you more toward an American classic. Do some studying on availability, pricing and difficulty associated with restoring some of the makes, models and years you are interested in. Unless you luck into a buy, it can help to have a few favorite picks in mind as you start looking for a car to purchase and restore.
Budgeting and space – Restoring a classic does take money, time and even some space. If you plan on doing all the work yourself, without hiring a mechanic or body person, you will need to have a garage to work in. You will also want to have a good handle on how much you can spend. As you start looking at cars, make sure to have rough estimate of your budget not only for the purchase, but also the restoration.
Difficulty of the restoration – While you will not know exactly what you’re getting into until you actually make a purchase, it is a good idea to ponder this point in advance, as well. Some makes, models and years are fairly easy to restore because parts are available and affordable. For other cars, however, you may have to have more patience, time and money on your hands. The harder parts are to find, the bigger the challenge. Do some homework on the types of cars you are interested in to get a better handle on the difficulty you may face.
The more research you do in advance of making a classic purchase, the better positioned you will be to make your restoration dreams come true.
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