Issue 12 Dear Classic Car Owner, This month has seen some very interesting cars on show, not just in the UK but across the globe. Indeed, the US market remains very active with shows at Monterey and Pebble Beech continuing to be popular. But the market is also still very strong in the UK and Europe with classic cars holding there own in the market place; so do keep a close eye out, there could be a good investment just around the corner. On a recent journey to France a fellow passenger commented on my note taking while absorbed in a Classic Car magazine, he wanted to know more about the appeal of classic cars. Well he probably regretted asking me in the end given my long standing obsession with motor vehicles. I explained, at length, about the emotional response I get from classics, from the smell when I walk into the garage to the increase in heart rate at the mere sound of an exhaust note; and the feeling of being in a world of your own when you are behind the wheel on an open road. Just before we landed, we agreed to meet up the following week to discuss how I could help him fulfil a childhood dream of his: to get the very best out of a classic Aston Martin he had recently purchased and was very proud to own. I did wonder whether it really was his childhood dream to own and run this Aston or whether it was just a method of relaxation or a very good investment opportunity, given it is exempt from road tax exempt and offers low cost insurance. But I went ahead and met him and gave him a few tips about how he should go about protecting his investment whilst also enjoying it at the same time. A week or so after the meeting I called him to find out how he was getting on with the car and whether he was getting as much enjoyment out of it as he expected. Well that was the longest follow up call I have ever had! He loves the car and thanks to my advice is getting the very best out of it, which just goes to show that once you have been bitten by the classic car bug it is very difficult to shake it off again. With the market on the up more and more “barn finds” are being uncovered and brought to market. Obviously some of these are very dishevelled, unloved shadows of their former selves. So if you are planning to buy to restore please be careful you don’t bite off more than you can handle. Finding yourself with a dismantled shell of a car on your hands, and paying a fortune to have it re-assembled, is not always a wise move. Having uncovered a couple of restoration cars of varying conditions, making sure the parental purchaser is aware of the project they are undertaking is of paramount importance. A giveaway sign that someone hasn’t done their research and could be in for a shock is when they ask me “what do you think it will cost to finish?” after they have bought it. So please get some good advice before taking on that unknown classic. Sit down and work out exactly how much it will cost in every aspect, from big expenditure like full body restoration to small outlays like topping up the oil. To see a selection of restoration projects and a wide range of classic cars I recommend you take a look on Classicmobilia. Happy motoring
Keith
keith@classicmobilia.co.uk
www.Classicmobilia.co.uk ++ 44 (0) 7889 805432 |