Classic Cars

February 23rd, 2009

If Cinderella had ridden in the back of a pumpkin truck, rather than a beautiful glass carriage, would it be as wonderful a fairy tale?  Even the late Princess Di must have agreed because when she alighted from the royal glass carriage, the world’s population (at least the female portion of it) collectively sighed.  That was the stuff of dreams.  It’s not unlike James Bond and his world-famous special edition gadget loaded spy cars like the Aston Martin, Rolls-Royce, Bentley and the Lotus, to name a few.  Would James have the same cachet if he zipped around Marseilles in a Ford Pinto?  No.  When a limousine is just too blasé for your big entrance, it’s time to consider hiring a car to match the occasion… perhaps a classic, exotic, antique or a sports car?  You can rent a very special car, for as few as a single day.

Before you whip out your Carte Blanche card, you better take a few minutes to evaluate your needs.  You may be thinking of hiring a sporty two-seater roadster like the Alpha Romeo GTV6 (like the one James Bond used in Octopussy) to pick up your soon-to-be fiancé, but you fail to take into account the fact that her being in a full body cast means she can’t bend at the waist and there’s no way that she will fit into that little car.  You don’t need a coupé, you need a pick-up truck!  Always match the car you plan to rent to the person and to the occasion.

Keep this in mind:  Even if you’re of legal age, have the right to vote and imbibe alcoholic beverage, you may not be old enough to rent a classic car.  Some companies may have placed driver age restrictions on their cars, though they may allow you to pay a surcharge to circumvent this restriction.

You must have a valid driver’s license and a clean driving record, and the rental agency will verify this (as opposed to taking your word for it).  You are also generally required to have a credit card in the name of the driver.

You may not be able to drive the classic car, at all, regardless of your age.  Some classic cars are so “special” that they come with their own driver.  So if you were longing for a little tête-à-tête with your soon-to-be fiancé you’ll just have to hope your driver will keep his eyes on the road.

Bear in mind that renting any car is generally expensive and a classic car even more so.  You will at least spend the amount you’d spend for a high end limousine – say several hundred dollars a day.

The insurance for a classic car is another issue that you must take into account.  Cheap auto insurance will probably not be an option, as most classic car rental agencies will require full coverage auto insurance, in an amount sufficient to cover the classic car’s value.  If you don’t have your own insurance coverage in that amount (and few people do, unless you happen to own your own Aston Martin, of course), you’ll be required to take the rental agency’s insurance and liability protection.

Reserve the classic car that you want, well in advance of when you need it.  If you wait until the last minute, you’ll likely be driving your Hyundai to your special event, after all.  So much for grand entrances.  Remember, it’s not how you got there, but how you arrive!

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