Buying A Classic Cars … The Right Way (Part II)

14 November 2016 Redazione Roberto Marrone, Vintage

Time has come to go and see one for sale. Good thing would be to be accompanied by a true connoisseur of the vehicle in question, however, better to avoid the classic “I-know-it-all”, which could derail a possible bargain. Even on our own, after all, we can deal with it, always taking some time to decide. It is best to arrive relaxed (especially if you have to drive many Km) and as mentioned in the previous episode, before even looking at the car, consider the person and the general setting. If you immensely like the car, do not let understand it to the seller in front of you, prefer instead to ask all the questions you want, look at everything, even what appears in one way, it may not be such. Example – ask if the oil is good, but in a second moment, check the level for yourself, and also consistency and condition. You have to be aware on the critical points, check them all alternating with some others, not to look like someone who read the booklet of defects. Even all the documents should be looked carefully. The thing that you look for first is clearly the body, we start by assessing whether the color is original, if it has been repainted maintaining the same color or one expected at the time (and in this case if the work has been done completely, and I mean also for the interior panels of the bonnet, doors, frames, etc.), then you look to the quality of the paint and that there are no visible grout (there are small tools to verify the presence of stucco, but sometimes you just need a good eye and is also less obnoxious). Check any burrs near the frames and the rubber seals, jobs done bad and in a hurry should be avoided. Check the chrome, the bumpers, the rostrums and other parts about those you have to be well documented in order to understand whether they’re in good shape or not. The same thing for the headlights. Try closing the doors, then take a look in the trunk for possible presence of signs of repairs, same thing in the engine compartment, also to flush out dangerous traces of rust. Verify the sills, ideal thing would be to look under the car (maybe using a bridge and you will do if the deal will go ahead). Interior are a fundamental thing too, you can’t leave behind the verification of correct parts, their working and the matching to the proper version, leathers free from tears or excessive signs (on some cars a full interior costs more than the engine) and finally other parts like wood panels or extra profiles – even the steering wheel is important, especially that it is the correct one and in good conditions.

Now it’s time for testing and I suggest to let the owner to drive first, so you will realize how he deals with the car. Once back at the base, do not turn the engine off, check the cooling, double-check the engine compartment, smells, smoke, etc. Then, if you are happy with the product, you have to drive it a bit too, checking possible noises of the steering box, squeaks, a good feedback from the clutch, that brakes are balanced and so on. Back again and turn the engine off, wait a few seconds and turn it back on. If the seller tries to put you in a hurry, go away, but if the car (and the seller) inspires confidence, keep it in consideration. There are so many other things, but if you are a car guy, you are certainly not unaware of certain stuff. Another tip, if you have a deal, analyze the distance for your return home while driving a classic car. If the mileage is high (to be assessed taking into account the type of the vehicle), it would be better to use a tow truck, so to avoid forcing immediately a car which we know a little and also to remove the possibility to remain stuck on your first drive, it would be annoying and the worst way to start a relationship with your new classic car. Finally, it would be better, even if you have decided for the “Yes” to return the following day – sleep on it is always good and the following day, or the days immediately after, you can accomplish a more quiet purchase. If you are asked a down payment to lock it, you have to evaluate it; maybe the seller fears he had lost some time and this is also understandable, but if he tries to convince you with the classic: “Today another person come and see it … “, be aware. At that point, always evaluating the overall frame, the person, the car, the price, if you are convinced that it may be a bluff, you could also tell him that if the guy in question will not buy it, your offer will be retouched (but things will go like in a poker match and that could be dangerous). The obvious alternative is to leave a small deposit, if you do not want to risk losing it, but if you have other cars to see, everything could change.

Now you will think that after so many tips on how to annoy every seller around the globe, if I had to go buy a classic car, they will end kicking me away, right? Yes, but it is the path that I’ve done alone, committing all the mistakes that I’m trying to let you avoid. I wanted the car that as a child “struck” me at first sight, well, even before seeing one in real life though. When I grew up and after having a lot of different cars, the “monkey” returned with arrogance on my shoulder (or perhaps never fell from there): I was alone I was trying to ignore it, but since it never got tired, I was left no choice and I began searching for the ultimate car. The choice fell on a specimen to be restored, it seemed only a partial and easy job. I was enchanted by the specialist with the mega hall packed with valuable pieces, where professionalism seemed to shine from every angle of the showroom. I did not do mechanical tests since they told me that the engine was fine, well – how not to trust professionals? I went home, labored to find mechanics and coach builders able to start the work (of course they were different times, now there are someone more and very good indeed) and I ended in the hands of another “specialist” that once the car has been disassembled (with high costs) kept every week to make upwards estimates, but without finish anything at all. I tried again, from one to another and then when we finally opened the engine, not even connecting rods and pistons were recoverable. Even the body shop condemned me having to constantly follow the slow progress and shuttling to procure all the necessary spare parts. Once we finished we discovered some wrong things, because of the incompetence of those who improvise to work on cars they absolutely do not know, but nevertheless they were convinced to be able to do everything (with the book in front of him, yes, but that was closed). Everyone claims to be a professional, but who pays is the one who ends up there in the middle and I met a lot of people who have had similar vicissitudes. During this long path, many times I was tempted to give up, but things had become a matter of principle, especially towards the seller that a year later, knowing the difficulties that I encountered, tried to buy it trading a different car, but not even worth one fifth of what I paid to him previously. Many years have passed, and now the “monkey” is sleeping peaceful, although I have to say that some younger “monkeys” are troubling me for some time … You can never rest easy!

Words by Roberto Marrone