Page 10 - Wayne Carini's Guide to Affordable Classics

Another source is online auctions, some of which have very with the added possibility of finding bargains in a “no reserve” (no
detailed commentary that’s useful to the extent that the commenters know what they are talking about. If you’re following a specific car, you’ll start to see which commenters are more knowledgeable and experienced. A similar source are online classifieds, which can vary from very basic sources like Craigslist to more detailed sites like www.classiccars.com or www.hemmings.com – though these lack the sometimes-helpful running commentary. Some search engines, such as www. autotempest.com or www.searchtempest.com aggregate Craigslist ads (and listings on other sales sites) nationally.
More traditional sources are classic car dealers and physical auctions. There are good dealers and not so good dealers and an otherwise reliable dealer can find himself tarnished by one unsuccessful sale. Again, this is where club involvement and word of mouth comes in handy, especially if the dealer specializes in a given marque or brand.
Auctions can be an entertaining and enjoyable way to buy a car,
fixed minimum price) auction. But the same caveats apply here – you need to do a thorough inspection before the sale, perhaps enlisting the help of a marque specialist. If you can’t be physically present at the auction, contact the relevant club and see if someone else is attending. Ahead of the auction itself, develop a relationship with a specialist at the auction house. You might not buy a car the first time around, but if he or she knows you are serious, they are likely to guide you and advise you of upcoming sales.
Trust, but Verify
If there’s one principle that’s never failed me when buying cars, it’s to buy the best car you can, even if it means spending a bit more than you originally budgeted. I’ve always found it helpful to buy someone else’s depreciation – in other words, buying a car that’s been well maintained and restored by a previous owner will typically be less expensive than buying an inferior car and doing the work yourself. That’s not to say that there’s anything wrong with buying a car that needs work, but you need to make sure that
There’s just no substitute for thorough documentation – it can tell you the entire history of the car.
8Wayne CariniAffordable Classics