Page 12 - Wayne Carini's Guide to Affordable Classics

“Matching numbers” sounds persuasive in an advertisement, but doesn’t always guarantee authenticity.
chronic electrical issues after it was delivered. As we dug into Then start the car and make sure there are no warning lights.
the car, it turned out it was actually made up of two cars and the electrical issues were caused by the two halves of the car flexing in the middle! A thorough inspection by a marque specialist would have spotted this fault immediately.
It turns out that one of the giveaways to this problem was different serial numbers on the front and rear of the car. Buying a car that promises so-called “matching numbers” sounds persuasive, but what does it really mean? In a typical case, the car’s documentation (or even a data plate on the car) shows its serial number (or vehicle identification number for newer cars) and its engine number. But on some vintage British cars, for example, the engine number was on a tag and not engraved on the block – and these tags are easily faked. Even when numbers are stamped on the frame and engine block, these can be recreated during a restoration (classic Corvettes seem to be the most egregious example of these). Here, a marque expert who knows what to look for is worth their weight in gold.
If you feel like you have enough experience to do an inspection yourself, make sure you focus on the basics. My advice – do it on your own if possible to avoid distraction from an over-enthusiastic owner. Start from the outside in: check for consistent panel fit and color match. A paint thickness meter is a great investment as it will quickly show you areas where filler has been added, indicating potential accident damage. Then open the door and look for a tape edge that might reveal that the car was repainted (if that’s not already disclosed). Look for tires that match – and how old the tires are (date codes are typically found on all modern tires and should be less than five years old).
10Wayne CariniAffordable Classics
What is the oil pressure? Does the water temperature hold steady once the car is warmed up? Make sure there are no vibrations, no odd noises, no leaks. Turn the wheels left and right, looking for noises or resistance. Does the transmission shift appropriately, do the brakes work smoothly? Make sure all the windows go up and down; if it’s a convertible, make sure the top functions correctly. Check the weatherstripping – is it dried up and cracking? What about accessories like the tool kit – is everything there? In short, make sure everything works as it should. An experienced marque specialist can highlight known weaknesses and also give you tips on tests to highlight them, such as doing a brake pump test on a Rolls-Royce to check condition of the accumulators
If you’ve ever watched my TV show, you know how excited I get about true “barn finds,” cars that have been sitting hidden for years. These time capsules are fascinating, but they are also full of risk if they haven’t been started and driven for years as many of the car’s critical systems (i.e., fuel supply, brakes) rely on perishable rubber or plastic components that typically deteriorate over time. Never, ever, drive a car that’s been in long-term storage without a careful inspection and recommissioning. One of our customers learned a painful lesson after trying to start a long- dormant Mercedes 560 SL without checking to see if the engine rotated freely. Unfortunately, the previous owner added some fuel conditioner right before he put the car into long-term storage that wound up gumming up the valve train, causing the valves to hit the pistons when the engine was started, incurring a $6,000 engine rebuild that could have been avoided with just a little patience.