There are many considerations one has to take into account when buying an antique or salvaged car. Finding affordable auto insurance and understanding the actual value of the car are two that come to mind immediately, but the most important factors one must make sure they address when buying an antique car is whether or not the vehicle is safe to drive.
For starters, there is generally very little information about these vehicles in car reporting databases used to produce vehicle history reports. There are many horror stories about the kinds of fraud perpetrated by some antique car dealers in an attempt to cover up a vehicle’s history. So, without a vehicle history report what are some other ways you can make sure that the used, antique, or salvaged car you’re looking to buy has been treated well and had regular maintenance done on it over the years?
We stood on the lawn at my grandfather’s place admiring the beautiful lines of a jet black 1973 Corvette Stingray. Grandpa had been looking for this car for what seemed like forever and he had finally bought it. My Dad, ever cautious, wondered aloud about the car’s history.
“Was the paperwork all in order, Pops?”
Grandpa nodded his head and replied, “Yeah doesn’t she look great?”
Dad and I exchange a momentary look of confusion – Grandpa must’ve turned his hearing aid down right before we revved the engine earlier.
“Dad!” he yelled, jabbing a finger towards the sky and tapping his ear with his free hand, “Turn up your hearing aid!”
After a few moments we managed to get an idea of how Grandpa made sure the car was in a good, safe condition prior to buying it. He explained how, since there was no information on it in the vehicle history databases, he had to get a mechanic to look at it to determine whether it was safe to drive. It’s important to make sure you hire a mechanic that you trust, but if that’s not possible I figure I can impart some of my Grandfather’s wisdom: below is a list of inspection tips for when you go to purchase an antique or salvaged vehicle.
- Inspection Tip #1 – Inspect the car in daylight. If this isn’t possible, then place it under a yellow streetlamp. Deformities are a good indicator of previous damage but are hard to see if the car isn’t in a well lit area.
- Inspection Tip #2 – Arrive early. If the seller is doing something fishy like topping up fluids, or moving license plates – you’ll see it if you show up early.
- Inspection Tip #3 – Be methodical. Check everything inside and out. Use everything that’s useable to make sure it works properly. Look for rust on all the metal (including under the seats), get on your back underneath the car and look for structural damage too. Have a plan of attack, and make a checklist ahead of time.
- Inspection Tip #4 – Don’t be afraid to ask the hard questions. Too often a pushy car salesman can get the best of us, and not all mechanics are honest and hard-working. You’re about to spend a lot of cash: don’t be intimidated by the others involved in the purchase.
These tips are by no means exhaustive, but can go a long way towards protecting yourself and others in the absence of a vehicle history report.
- The Thin White Line – Improving Car Safety One Piece of Paper at a Time
- How to Get a Vehicle History Report
- Emissions Testing – It’s the Law
- Emissions Test – The Basics
- Demerit Points – An Effective Deterrent
- Unsafe Driving Practices
- Speed Limiters Keep Highways Safe
- How Fast Can I Drive?
- Learning to Drive
- Hang up for Safety
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Safety Inspection Tips for Antique Cars