Page 13 - Wayne Carini's Guide to Affordable Classics

Is the Price Right?
Not surprisingly, coming to a final price is more art than science given that you and the owner are working at cross purposes: one wants the highest possible price, the other the lowest. Here again, online references are helpful, especially those from Hagerty and Sports Car Market magazine. But they are not infallible and may not take into consideration the presence (or absence) of ownership history, special features or needed repair work.
Using these price guides as a starting point, turn to the inspection information. Anything that doesn’t work and needs repair is a
Home at Last
With the inspection complete and the sale made, it’s time to get your car home. Here again, as with inspections, beware of false economies. If you do a quick internet search on “car transport,” you’ll find dozens of delivery offers for seemingly affordable prices. Unfortunately, the surprise may be what happens to your car on its way to you. These offers are typically made by brokers, who don’t actually do the shipping, but rather put your car onto online sites like Central Dispatch where independent transport companies bid on them.
If you choose to go this route (I’ve found www.uship.com to be a reliable source), make sure you do your homework – these services sometimes string together multiple trucking companies and can lead to surprises in terms of hidden costs and unexplained delays as cars get shifted from one truck to another on their way to their destination. Beware of pre-paying for transport, especially to an independent broker. It’s far safer to pay for transport upon receipt after inspection for damage. Professional, enclosed transport services like Intercity may cost a bit more, but they will deliver your car on time and for an agreed price with lower risk of damage versus the open trailers that cheaper services use.
Introduction
THIS PAGE: Rust never sleeps – and the rust on this Mini (top) means that far worse damage lurks beneath the surface. A paint meter (above) can be helpful in locating paint and body repairs that may not be visible. “Barn Finds,” like this Alfa Romeo 2600 (above right), can be fascinating time capsules, but need careful recommissioning before being driven.
negotiation point – and make sure you’ve done your homework on the potential costs. Then consult other individuals that own same type of vehicle and scan auction sales to get some idea of typical price ranges. In the end, no matter how much research you’ve done, you have to go with your gut. Do you really love the car? Can you picture yourself in it? If it doesn’t feel like the right deal and something doesn’t seem right, be prepared to walk away.
Wayne Carini  Affordable Classics  11