The joy of driving a classic car
Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012Driving a classic car is the dream of many car lovers. Classic car shows have hundreds of participants and thousands of visitors each day. Many participants come to show off their priced possession, mingle with like minded people, exchange tips and tricks, and trade hard to find automobile parts.
Many visitors come because they are curious and want see how automobiles were built decades ago. For many individuals curiosity evolves into genuine interest for those cars. They return home with the plan to own one of their own. They begin to search online, look at listings in magazines, they may even call several car dealers specializing in antique and rare cars.
Classic cars are not only hard to find in general, those in fairly decent conditions are quite expensive as well. It is well worth the effort to get educated before paying thousands of dollars for a vehicle that may not satisfy the requirements put on a classic. Many cars, even though they are old, are not classic. They are simply old cars because they were mass produced. This is true for many cars that were produced in the 1970s and 1980s. In most cases these cars do not qualify under the criteria placed on a true classic car. It generally depends on the make and model of the car if it qualifies as a classic. Rare and hard to find models are the most expensive.
Another often overlooked fact is that a classic needs to be in its original condition. This means that parts have not been replaced by replicas or aftermarket parts. The better the condition of the original car, the more expensive the car will be.
It is often hard for the novice to determine if a car was restored with fabricated parts, or if has indeed the original parts. This small fact has an enormous impact on the value of the car. It also impacts the insurance premium and restrictions that the insurance company may impose on the car.
Assuming that you can use a classic car as you would any other car is another misconception. Insurance companies heavily restrict the use of classic vehicles. A classic vehicle can only be driven a certain number of days per year, a predetermined number of miles, and the owner has to provide proof of an adequate storage facility. The restrictions differ from company to company.
While driving a classic car is certainly a pleasure on a sunny Sunday afternoon, the restrictions and high cost of ownership keep many individuals from making this dream come true. The alternative is to buy a restored car that does not fall under the restrictions from insurance companies. A restored car can look just as good as a classic and has a much lower price tag.
Someone interested in owning a classic car should definitely learn as much as possible about the particular car he/she is interested in. Classic car shows are the best way to establish contacts and get information about classic cars. Some owners are even there to sell their cars.