Cheap Old Cars Blog

Buying a new car, or even a late model used car, is a relatively simple process. You go to the car dealer or lot knowing that you’re buying a vehicle for daily use, and armed with a list of financing options, and features you cannot (or will not) live without. You might haggle a bit with the salesperson, just to be sure you’re getting the best deal available, but in the end you’ll walk out – or drive away – with pretty much exactly what you planned.

Purchasing a classic car is not quite as simple. Oh, there’s still the list of features, and there are still financing options to consider (generally cash, check or charge), and there may even be some haggling, but before you do that, there are certain key factors that must be decided in advance. Let’s discuss them.

Purpose
Before you look at any cars, make a list of why you’re buying a classic vehicle. Are you going to drive it every day, or only once in a while? Will this be an investment, or mere transportation? Do you want something you can restore yourself, or do you want a car that has already been fixed up and tricked out? Do you plan to enter competition? If you do, bear in mind that you’ll have to find a vehicle that is completely original, and you’ll be spending more money for it, than for something you just want to drive on Sunday afternoons. It’s important to address all these issues before you even narrow down your choices, because they may impact what you spend and where you look. If you have a specific model you’re dying to have, great – try to focus on a specific year for that model (for example, the 1978 MG B). This will not only help your search for vehicles but it will also help you in your research.

Research
Once you’ve chosen your dream car (that 1978 MG B again), research it to death. Learn if there are any known issues, or recalls associated with the model in general. Were they resolved? If so, how? Many classic European cars had problems with their electrical systems, for example, so when you find one, be sure everything is in working order. You might also want to find a classic car club or owners group for the model you’re in search of, and seek their advice. People who actually have experience with the same car you are looking for can be invaluable assets when shopping for an antique vehicle or vintage car.

Check it Out
You’ve determined the purpose of your classic car, and you’ve researched the model you really want, and finally you’ve identified a car you’re willing to buy. Now what? Well, you should definitely run a vehicle history report on it, to assure yourself that it is not a stolen vehicle, and to find out how many owners it has had. You can do this online, for anywhere from $29 to $75 dollars, depending on the services you choose, and the depth of the search. You will need the VIN number for this. You should ALSO have a vehicle appraiser look at the car, not just to certify that you are paying a fair price, but to determine if there is evidence of an accident, or if the transmission or engine (or any number of other important components) are original or not. Replacement parts greatly affect the value of the car, but knowing the condition and having it gone over by an expert is equally important, and may save you money down the line.

Owning a classic car can be both fun and lucrative (if you resell, or enter competitions), so please keep this advice in mind whether you are looking for your first antique auto or if you have a garage full of vintage vehicles. One final piece of advice, though? Trust your gut. If at any time something feels wrong, stop any negotiations, and step away. No car is worth more than your own peace of mind.

Most classic car collectors (me included) have always maintained that a 4-door sedan wasn’t really a classic car. Usually the argument was about the styling and desirablility. A popular argument has alway been “just because it’s old

doesn’t make it a classic”. This is likely still true but all older cars that have been restored may be viewed as a classic car to some degree. It’s true that a coupe or convertible is

going to be more desirable than a 4-door in most cases, but later will give you some reasons why a 4-door might be the way to go.

Here is a brief trip through history to try and explain how the 4-door kind of got shoved aside as a classic car. If someone is restoring or making a street rod from the twenties, thirties or forties car a 4-door is sometimes more desirable than a roadster or a coupe. This is due to utility being very important as a lot of owners like to cruise with their family and friends.

In 1949 there was a big change as most cars now came with rear seats and could carry four or more people in comfort, so there wasn’t much reason to choose the utility of a sedan car over a coupe or convertible. With the utility factor gone buyers started buying classic cars based on desirability. This really kicked into high gear when the hardtops became the hot ticket in the early fifties.

When the muscle car era began in 1964 almost no one looking for a muscle car ordered a 4-door because muscle cars were built on the premise of low weight and high horsepower. Today most buyers would prefer a car from 1964 to 1972 to be a muscle car or at least have the appearance of one which of course excludes the 4-doors.a convertible there are a number of reasons why they are a good deal. Here they are:

1. First of all, the price is going to be much less than a hardtop, sometimes as much as 50% less, mainly because they are less desirable.

2.Secondly many 4-doors are still original. A lot of them will be one or two owner cars and likely be low milage. Many will be passed down from parents and will be in very good condition. This is a plus as there will be less expense for restoration and you can put your own touches on it.

3. Third the utility is greater in a 4-door because of the back doors letting people get in and out easier plus there will be more leg room. Kids, wives and older people will appreciate this.

4. Sixth and probably most important is the fact that the wife will be much more receptive to your buying a classic car if you can explain how the whole family can go cruising instead of just you and your buddy. I speak from experience.

Those who own classic cars know the love, care and attention that go into taking care of these cars. Whether you drive it around or not, it is still a good idea to get classic car insurance that is made special for those who own classic cars. One of the reasons to get classic car insurance is because the classic cars are quite expensive some of them are cadillac CTS car, Honda accord car thus it is more prone to thief compared to other types of cars. Since classic cars are more expensive and are exposed to higher risk of thief, getting a regular insurance coverage may not really be enough to protect your classic car.

To make sure that your classic car is fully protected, you should always buy adequate classic car insurance for your car. The good thing about a classic car insurance is that it allows to you ensure your vehicle based on its true value rather than stated value. Yes, getting classic car insurance may be a bit costly but if you really want to safeguard your car against theft, accidents and the likes, getting classic car insurance is a must.

Finding the Very Best Classic Car Insurance

Before you start hunting for a classic car insurance company for your car, you need to find out first how much the true value of your car is. Getting the true value can sometime be tricky. Bear in mind that an insurance company will want to know how much insurance you want on your car so you need to know the true value of your car.

The value of classic cars can vary and it can be greatly increase based on its uniqueness, its model, its present condition, its age and its history. If your car has some really great history attached to it which can be verified, you can fetch a handsome price on that car. To determine how much is the true value of your classic car, bring your car to an appraiser who works with classic cars in your locality. The classic car appraiser should be able to give you the true value of your classic car.

After determining the market value which is the true value of your classic car, you may now start hunting for a classic car insurance company. First you should call those well known classic car insurance companies. Ask these classic car insurance companies for insurance quotes depending upon the true value of your classic car. When comparing insurance quotes from all these classic car insurance companies, pay close attention to the features of the policy and the cost. Make sure that the cost of the insurance is well justified. You do not really want to pay more money than you should on your car insurance.

Often the cost of replacing an antique car is difficult to put into figures but nevertheless, it will still need to be insured. Although you might think it hard to obtain, it is surprising how many companies can actually supply classic car insurance. Of course, with so many classic car insurers available, an owner should not have a problem insuring their prized possession and probably won’t have to pay over the odds for the service.

Not to be outdone, your everyday commercial auto insurers have designed policies to meet the needs of antique car owners. Although the policies may seem the same as regular auto cover provides, they are not and the agent will require exact details of the car to be insured before a full quotation can be supplied. Of course just what level of protection you will decide upon will be down to your budget and how much they set the deductible at.

Large insurers may not specialize in antique car cover but they are usually old and trusted with a large customer base which is important when you are insuring your precious possession. If you purchase a car policy through one of these large commercial insurers then the chances are you will also be able to insure your regular car with them, sometimes on the same policy. Antique car insurance with larger companies that do not specialize in this type of policy may be more expensive but this is often worth the extra as they are well established.

While cost is an issue you may find the specialist auto insurers that exist may be less expensive and be able to provide a superior service as they know more about these types of car, but they are not likely to insure any other car you own. There are even companies that will only insure a particular type of classic car which might make it difficult finding an insurer for your own vehicle.

When choosing an independent insurance company to provide car insurance for an antique car, be sure that the company is a reputable one. The fear for people using a small independent car insurer is when they may need them to pay out for a claim and get a rejection or find they are filing for bankruptcy.

Locating an antique car insurance company is not as straightforward as finding a regular auto insurance provider but if you want to know your precious car is protected, it must be done. Even lowly classic cars from times gone by are worth many thousands of dollars which means that protecting them is not an option.

Myth 1: Classic cars are expensive.
The honest response here is that they do not need to be expensive - and classic car ownership is all about how much you can afford to spend.

No-one can expect to pick up a classic Aston Martin for small change, but at the same time some great examples of much less rare cars can be picked up, literally, for just hundreds of pounds. In the same vein, a decrepit old wreck of a Ford Anglia will be much cheaper than a fully-restored, roadworthy version.

As a general rule of thumb though, classic saloon cars (ie family motors) are priced much more competitively than sports versions. Classic Triumph ownership is a great example - a neat and tidy Herald saloon could be bought for well under £1,000 but its sports equivalent, the Spitfire, could easily be double the price.

To be honest, it’s much like buying a new modern car - where top quality sports models cost much less than affordable family cars. But with classic cars you get much more fun and definitely more admiring glances. New Daewoo car or old MGB? Hmmm, let me see now…

Myth 3: The insurance premiums are high.
There is no reason to believe that classic car insurance is any more expensive than normal car insurance, although you do have a better chance of getting competitive quotes if you use a specialist classic car insurer like Sureterm Direct.

Rather than add your classic to existing insurance policies, or sell something that doesn’t quite suit your vehicle, specialists understand all about classic car ownership and are able to tailor unique insurance packages to match your vehicle and needs exactly.

The very best thing to do is make sure you speak to a classic car insurance specialist operator, rather than relying purely on online application forms. This way, you can cover every single aspect of what you need your policy to cover.

And if you are a member of a classic car club, companies like Sureterm Direct offer you extra discount in your classic car insurance premium.

Volvo’s ‘king of safety’ reputation started in the 1950’s and it took a while for other manufacturers to catch up, but a good quality classic is still a safe motor so long as it’s in good condition. Generally speaking, older cars are made more substantially (ie heavier and stronger) than more modern vehicles. And while they don’t fold and absorb crash impact energy like modern cars, the bodywork is certainly a lot tougher.

The sensible classic car owner has, in the forefront of their mind, the fact that while the car may be tougher - the stress and strain on the driver/passenger in a heavy shunt is a lot more uncomfortable than with a car of today. So, to compensate, they drive much more safely - leaving appropriate stopping distances, appreciating weather conditions, and respecting speed limits and road signs.

For many people, classic cars top the list of desirable transportation due to the styling and character that you just don’t find in today’s vehicles. Classic cars for sale are often a huge object of pride for the owner, and a huge object of desire for would-be car thieves. Maintaining a classic car is no easy task and with the world turning more unpredictable by the day, it makes good sense indeed to protect your much-loved car with classic car insurance. These insurance plans provide an umbrella of coverage for your classic car and aid you in proper hassle-free running of your much-loved classic car.

Before explore classic car insurance in depth, let us understand what exactly constitutes a classic car and how it is different from a vintage car. A classic automobile is usually defined by its age with the minimum cap of 15 years. However, the accepted age for a classic car varies from twenty to forty years while vintage cars are those cars which are at least 60 years old at the time of insurance.

Maintaining a classic car is no piece of cake and often requires a lot of repairs and money before it can strut its stuff out on the roads. With so much put on the line, investing in a classic car insurance policy is a must. Regardless of the age of your classic vehicle, most car insurance companies require certain prerequisites to be fulfilled before you can avail a cheap classic car insurance quote.

One of the major requirements is that the vehicle should be in good or at least restored condition and should be kept in a fully enclosed facility. Furthermore, the driver should not be younger than 19 years old and the vehicle itself should be used primarily for exhibitions and club activities. Although an occasional drive here and there is permitted, most car insurance companies make sure that the car is not used primary means of transport.

Collector auto insurance is generally inexpensive owing to the fact that the car is to be used sparingly. However, the coverage offered is very car-specific and is highly dependent on the company and state policies. Some of the primary options available include garaging location, spare part replacement, comprehensive classic car insurance, and value coverage which reimburses the amount equivalent to the vehicle’s true market value.

One aspect that should be kept in mind when purchasing a classic car insurance policy is that most companies keep tabs on the total number of miles that you travel. This may vary from state to state but generally ranges from 1000 to about 5000 miles per year.

Keeping in mind the time and expense associated with having a collector car, a classic car insurance policy is probably just as important as any other aspect of owning such a vehicle. Since most classic car insurance coverage is relatively cheap and is highly specific, special care should be taken to obtain insurance quotes that fit your unique situation and classic car.

New or old Vintage Car Values depends upon the type of car you are about to purchase. Though most of these vintage cars are used, even then the price of these cars is generally higher to any recent introduced car of a popular brand. You can have a vintage car in your collection if you are interested to the old vintage articles in your collection.

The vintage cars like some antique furniture in your home actually speak for your taste as well as impose an air of aristocracy upon you. But there is a basic difference that you should ponder over before you want to opt for a vintage car. The Vintage Car Values are more than the antique furniture that you bring for your sitting room as unlike furniture, the vintage cars demand for regular maintenance.

The Vintage Car Values depends upon the mileage as well as the care of the vehicle. The high value can be paid to a vintage car only after it is in good condition. If you do not maintain caution before you buy them, you can have a risk of purchasing an old and wonderful box of metal. You should remember one thing that you buy the classic cars in order to use them.

The Vintage Car Values pays for itself as when you buy a classic car in good condition as well as excellent mileage, you can take it to vintage car rallies. You can also use the car for outing with your family as well as friends. So you must check certain facts before you go to have a classic car of your own. You can have the news of classic cars ready to be purchased via advertisement published in newspapers as well as internet.

Always check the time of manufacture before you buy the vintage car as it has an important role to pay in Vintage Car Values. The cars manufactured right after Second World War costs most as it was the time when people had time as well as money enough in order to use bigger vehicles. However, at first check the reliability of the dealer from whom you buy it. Avoid purchasing a vintage car on the basis of personal relationship.

Vintage Car Values should be paid after you check for the machinery used in this car is still available or not. Being old, your car requires regular maintenance and therefore be sure that good quality machinery is available. Always opt for one test drive before you buy it as it would give you a clear idea about the mileage.