I woke up to a wonderful dream this morning. Found myself driving one of those Mercedes SL 300 Gullwing editions to glory. This one happens to be one of the first flagship sports cars of the post-war era. The machine is, after all, one of the best I can ever imagine to rope in. If you too fancy yourself driving a Classic Car, high five! Welcome to the club, my friend! You cannot take your eyes off these iconic, accessible, and museum-ready cars. It’s given that you won’t be able to resist the temptation of taking the legendary Chevrolet Corvette for a spin the moment you catch a glimpse of its breathtaking American design and build.

Oops! I believe I’m getting a bit carried away here. Coming to the primary context of the discussion, we all must have heard of the famous saying, “All’s well that ends well,” didn’t we? There is no doubting; it is an amazing feeling to own your first collector car, walking in the shoes of some of the famous owners like Chris Evans, Rowan Atkinson, and Jeremy Clarkson. What about the bigger picture?

Are you all geared up to invest in a classic car? I’ve got some news for you. Before you decide to drop some bucks on your favorite drive and be a part of those crazy bargains at the auction, here’s everything you must know.

Know the differences between an “old car” and a “classic car”

Even though classic cars are appealing in terms of their vintage looks, flagship records, trivia, and much more, you can actually end up spending more time maintaining it than driving the car. On the other hand, old cars can be literally anything. This includes classic cars as well. If you are passionate about collector’s cars, make sure you are aware of the following attributes prior to making a purchase.

• If you spot a vintage machine sporting hood ornaments, that’s a classic car for you.
• You can spot a classic car by its shiny white wall tires.
• Have you ever seen one of those cars displaying “rocket-like” tailfins? *classic car alert*
• There are collector’s cars having good old radio buttons and knobs like Cigarette machines? Tell me if you spot one.
• Ah! Those vintage projecting taillights; they may not be aerodynamics, but looks faster than the real deal.

If you ever come across cars that have any of the mentioned features in them, count it in as a collector’s car. Of course, the choice of purchase will entirely be yours.

Verify the insurance options for a collector’s car

It is strange how insuring a classic car is way costlier than getting a new one insured. So, here a few helpful tips that can assist you in getting things to fall into place.

• Find insurance companies that deal with antique cars.
• It is suggested to opt for a comprehensive insurance package so that it can protect your car from potential thefts and damages.
• Insurance premiums for classic cars are often lower than what we think; make sure you are making the right purchase.

If you want to apply for car insurance online, make sure the company is a reputable one with records of insurances of classic cars in the past.

Get your eyes on the rust on the vehicle

Do you spot rust on the classic car? If the seasoned classic machine comes all rusted, then it will take a lot of time and money in restoring them.

In addition, a rusty body is often a sign of other hidden damages, including technical glitches present in the car.

From bodywork treatment to opting for extensive replacement; you will be shelling out bucks in bulk. Is it worth it?

Have you checked the numbers?

Now, this is important. The car’s engine, transmission, and rear axle should link up to the VIN number of the vehicle. That brings us to the question, how do you know if each of the numbers adds up to the VIN?

Here’s the trick.

• Make sure if the motor has the last 6 digits of the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) stamped on it?
• The transmission and rear ends are usually stamped with date codes; look up to spot and determine if the dates are mentioned in a synchronized manner.

Apart from self-analyzing things prior to making the purchase, you can also think of roping in an expert to help you know about the nitty-gritty of the number game. Remember, investment-worthy cars ought to be number-matching vehicles. There’s no in between.

Put your money in the original big block cars

The original muscle cars with big block design and built are currently some of the hot sellers in the market. Jeff Allen, a classic car enthusiast, says … “Right now the money’s really into original big-block cars, which is cool.”

Classic muscle cars like the Mustangs, Chevelles, and Camaros of the world are bigger and more powerful in terms of cubic inches and horsepower.

Rare combinations of car paints are never out of fashion

For instance, the ultra-rare Charger R/T sunroof car comes with the iconic black and yellow paint. For example, do you remember the legendary AC Cobra? It’s black with gold stripes.
And what about the 70 Black Cherry Chevelle SS454? These are few of those iconic color combinations that can fetch big bucks at the auction. In case you are wondering why I am even putting an effort to educate you about these rare color combinations, the answer is right there.

It’s because the contrasts are “RARE.” Now, the broader picture has a different story altogether. There are car owners who would like to experiment with colors and ruin the original combination to customize the machine according to their boring choices. Beware of them.

Looking for a good long-term investment? Go for the cars of the ’80s

Have you heard of the 1980’s Camaro IROC- Zs? Or the Buick Grand Nationals collection? They are, at present the most affordable and recommenced collection cars. If you are looking forward to buying any one of them, go for it.

According to predictions by the motor car experts, the 80’s performance cars are apparently going to be the next big thing among the most sold classic cars in the next five to ten years.

Backing into the Parking Space…

Before signing off, I would love to leave a decent share of quick takeaways for you.

• Get your facts checked and know what differentiates between an old car and classic car.
• Do not fix a deal without reviewing the insurance policy associated with the car.
• If you find major rust spots on the classic car, refrain from buying it.
• Big block cars are apparently the hot sellers; you may like to invest in them.
• Educate yourself about the original and rare color combinations prior to driving the car home.
• Choose one of those classic cars from the 80’s when it comes to making a good long term investment.

Now that you know about the tricks of buying a classic car without watching your investment go for a toss make your moves wisely. Remember, the way you drive and handle a car is an expression of your inner feelings.

Author Bio

Shirley Brown is an enthusiastic car blogger and vintage car photographer from Chicago, United States. Apart from that, she is associated with the digital brand MyAssignmenthelp as an experienced CPM homework writer for the last five years.