Buying A Classic Car … The Right Way (Part I)

9 November 2016 Redazione Roberto Marrone, Vintage

Buying guide, or if you prefer, obvious and a little less obvious advices to think at together, avoiding the most common mistakes often dictated by emotion.
How many times have we thought about how to choose a classic car: sedan, coupe, convertible, a sports one or a comfy cruiser – but what are the features that trigger the spring that turns our inner voice on? As said before one of the factors that unconsciously leads us to prefer a specific car is just in our memories, often it comes under the shape of wanting to own the car with which our father or grandfather took us for a ride – yes, emotions – but often they row against logic and passion, as far as a pure car argument. So maybe memories represent a bit of a problem – the strange thing is that we believe we have everything under control but often this situation causes a signal distortion. It’s easy to think of exceptional performances that are far from reality and when these are based on the words of other people, it’s worse than ever; there are a lot of people able to give advices, but not always handed out in good faith and often topped by malice and it also happens at random, because the more strange their words are, the more are perceived as “highly meditated”. How can we deal with that? Certainly I don’t hold the ultimate truth in my hands, but the best solution is trying to choose in the most rational way possible, starting with resetting our memories, impressions, things read or heard, etc. and start from scratch, as if you were to buy a boat without ever seeing a river or the sea. You have to experience first-hand, maybe visiting some meeting, lingering alongside those that represent your first choice, the ones that you would like to have, but try to observe them from the right angle: basically you have to bring down the excitement and be very careful. Talk to the owners, listen to their impressions, more than anything else as for the problems they have had and also their satisfactions, but when you meet the typical maniacal owner, move on quickly. Wait until they leave, listen carefully to the sounds, the noises, the smells and do not dwell on a couple of cars, get close to all those you can. If you have changed only slightly opinion about a brand, or a model, it is already a success. Your choice is still far away, you will have to work longer. Avoid single-brand gatherings or those with a low quality, it is essential that there is a variety of brands, models, and a wide range of prices.

First thing to consider is obviously the budget and here I give you some advices. If you can spend a little, wait for better times, it is useless to look for a gold deal, or settle for little. Then you can pretend to be fully satisfied in front of the others, but you will never be at peace with yourself and your sleep would be better without a car at all rather than with the wrong car in the garage. I understand that it’s not always possible to invest crazy amounts of money, but if the cash is not enough, try to avoid the purchasing and postpone.
So it’s time to think about the type of car: sedan, coupe, convertible, and also about the construction period: veteran, pre-war, post-war, 50s-60s, 70s and sorry if I do not take into account the 80s, because although it is a classic cars period, I see them as antiquated modern cars; many have abandoned carburetors and are filled with plastic, even if we can make a bunch of exceptions for some good sports cars. However talking about less exotic models, leave the eighties alone. For convenience, even if their appeal is undeniable, I would not talk about veterans, poorly adapted to the vast majority of people – while for all the others types everything goes up to the layout you prefer and the projects you have in mind. You may have noticed that I have not mentioned any sort of conditions, not even the restore argument and that’s a reason for that, I lived that thing and I strongly advise not to embark in a difficult restoration, unless you are a mechanic, a coach builder or an expert, and with the word “expert” I still underline that classic cars are represented by a huge variety of models, and so if you know well an Italian brand, it could be a whole different story to put your hands on an American or an English one. So let’s consider a “preserved” vehicle, really decent and perfectly functioning, with no modifications or adjustments, or maybe even a car restored as it should be, but where everything had followed the original project of the time, also the color of the body, the interior, the engine, in short, everything. You should look for some real expert of the model in question, for a reliable opinion. Avoid those friends who know everything about every car, the do more damage than an Egyptian plague. Better to pay a stranger, but a really responsible one.

The targeted search
Prices, as you know, do not follow any order, not even displacement or year, and they do not even follow a precise logic based on the type of the car itself, then freedom is wide. Now we must also think of the performance that we want to have on our car. With the small ones, the more we go back in time the more are increasingly distant from the cars of today – think also to possible short and medium trips that you could want to take, maybe going on vacation for a 400 km drive towards the mountains or the sea and let’s delete something else. A coupe or a convertible, a two-seater or a 2+2, children, luggage, yes or no, well there still is always the modern car in the garage. Vintage cars should not be chosen according to the needs of everyday life, they should represent fun, so let us not to be influenced by our daily routine. A sedan can sometimes be a good solution, as compared to the other versions you buy at a lower price and it is also more comfortable to use, but your final choice should delight and should never be a compromise because at the moment we do not have enough money for the coupe version. Then prepare yourself to hear this annoying sentence: “What about fuel consumption“ Of course even a small car of the 50s-60s drinks more than a modern 2.0cc hatchback, but you won’t use it every day going to the office right?

You have now identified its age and type, but make and model still leave an open door open, even if now you know very well that certain names are gaining positions than others; it is possible that if the attraction towards a brand has been made stronger, there is also the chance to jump at the last moment from a convertible or a coupe to a sedan, especially when it comes to models that have common points. It’s time to go and see one on sale and another problem arises: dealer or private? Here I would not exclude one in favor of the other, in each case it depends on the person that you will be facing and before you even look at the car, take a look at the individual and the environment around the same. You also have to be informed about the asking price, if aligned with average prices, which can certainly vary, and which in any case are not written in some magazine that only has the purpose to showcase a certain brand, damaging some others. The price is made by the market – supply and demand, you can just visit some websites, always widening the search to the rest of Europe. Another parameter: is the car that we want to buy in high demand at the moment? Does it have a good market, and is therefore easy to sell or what? If we ask the dealer, it is obvious that for a “sheer coincidence” the car we’re looking for is rare, etc etc. So we just have to make a rebuttal, contacting an authorized dealer (or more than one) saying that we will have to sell the car in question. From his words, his reactions and any approximate figures mentioned, we will have a better idea. Certainly if our target is unpopular, the deal will be better and much easier, but in that case we should think twice if we really want that car or not.

I forgot the most important thing, before you take for granted a choice, test it. If you’ve not already driven this very car, you should definitely find a way to have a very precise idea of ​​how it really drives and no way you should rely on impressions or stories that many times are poor urban legends. Many times I heard: “It goes like a rocket”. Then there is the drivability, the roominess, especially if you are tall or robust – some coupe could end being comfortable like a straitjacket. Steering, brakes and so on, especially if you’re used to a good modern car, driving might seem like a punishment and make you change your mind about everything. The drive is absolutely necessary and indeed you should drive an identical one before you even go to see the one you want.
Given that by now you are convinced of your assessments, it is also possible that you have two or more options. It is obvious that very different cars can attract your emotions, albeit for different reasons; this condition might lead you to a better deal, but also to make a second choice purchase. If so move on and head on your primary reference point.

Do not miss the following episode, coming with some important things to keep in mind when you are in front of the car that you’ve finally chosen.

Words by Roberto Marrone