The Basics Part 1

Those of us who have been “in the Hobby” for a long time, tend to forget how overwhelming all of this “old car stuff” can be. This article is written for those who are new to the Car Collecting Hobby. Here are some suggestions and ideas I have distilled for your consideration. They are based on my 46 years of hands-on involvement in the Hobby. I hope they are of some help:

• Donʼt buy any car unless you get yourself educated on prices first. Read Hemmings Motor News, and the Old Cars Report Price Guide, both readily available at major booksellers (Books-a-Million, D.Dalton, Barnes & Noble, Crown Books, etc.) and some grocery stores or mini-marts. Join a national organization for the “Big Picture” and a local club for the nitty-gritty information, like best paint shops or where to go to get chrome plating. Local clubs can also be a great source of new friends to steer you in the right direction.
• Have an experienced Club member or car person go with you to look at cars you are interested in. He or she will recognize the “Good Deals” in a heartbeat, and alert you quickly of the many “Lemons” you will find.
• Donʼt buy the first car you see. Donʼt inspect a car at night. Worse yet, in a rain storm. I made that mistake!
• Checkout the prices to restore before tackling any “Project Car”. Overly optimistic low-ball appraisals of the cost and time involved will quickly fade away as you start the job. It ALWAYS takes longer and costs more than one would imagine. By the way, unless you are a miracle worker, most complete restorations take about 3 years and at least $10K to $15K.It is not unheard of to spend $40K or more on a car valued at no more than $25K max. It is easy to go overboard if you are not careful!
• Beware of the “Exploded Car Factor”. A disassembled car will take at least TWO car spaces, maybe more.
• Buy the BEST car you can afford. I cannot stress this one enough. Let someone else take the loss of all the uncompensated free time it takes to put together a nice car. It is probably wise, to avoid project cars that will need all new floor metal, major bodywork or missing many parts, as your first “Collector Car”. Enthusiasm can blind you to the tremendous amount of effort that goes into putting together a presentable and reliable old car.