It will take time and effort to
familiarize yourself with the classic car market. While conventional
channels for car buying, such as car auctions and local car garages and
dealerships are a good start, the real gems can often be found by searching in other
places.
Much will depend on how much energy you are prepared to expend on the hunt and
if you already have your sights set on a particular make and model.
Visiting local independent garages, who are not unduly concerned about taking
in "mature" cars as part exes, can turn up the odd find. Don't expect to find
anything pre-dating the 1970's however.
One benefit of the internet is being able to view up-to-date information on
what cars are out there. This includes classic car dealers' websites,
advertising sites and auction sites, such as eBay. A word of caution, beware of
paying for a car found on-line until it has been checked over by yourself or
some other trustworthy person.
Throughout the year there are various classic and vintage car events,
many of which now have car sales sections whereby private owners parting with
their much-loved classic will be proudly displaying their set of wheels.
Classic Cars Auctions are another alternative. But here you will find
yourself rubbing shoulders with dealers. Spectating at a couple of auctions
beforehand is a wise preparation before getting down to the business of bidding
yourself. Remember, if you win the bid, the car is yours. This being the case,
it makes sense to go over the car thoroughly before the actual auction takes
place.
Read the small print and don't forget that a buyer's premium is added to the
final bid price. This is generally a percentage of the selling price. Bear this
in mind when deciding the price that you are prepared to bid up to. If you get
carried away with the bidding, at the end of the day, you may find yourself
paying over the odds for a classic car, which negates the whole point of
buying at auction anyway.
The classified ads sections in classic car magazines are another source
to exploit in the quest for a classic car. There you will find dealer
adds as well as those from private sellers. If an attractive price point is
high on your list, then the best deals are to be found with a private seller,
as dealer prices invariably reflect dealer overheads. The one downside of
trawling through ad sections in classic car publications is that by the
time the magazine has gone to print, any possible additions to your drive may
have already been snapped up via other channels, such as the internet, if the
seller happens to be advertising their classic car via multiple media.
Car club newsletters and magazines are also an excellent way of hunting out the classic
car of your dreams.
