7 Rookie Mistakes to Avoid When Shopping for a Classic Car

It doesn’t matter how well informed about cars you are; the classic car market can still be difficult to navigate through. We have heard our fair share of buyers being duped, thinking they are getting great deals on classic cars for sale when really they are getting duds and we want to help prevent the same thing from happening to you (or at least stop it from happening again, if you have already fallen prey to the sharks).

We’re going to help by highlighting the 7 biggest mistakes most rookies make when buying classic cars for sale, so you can avoid them.

Failing to Conduct Thorough Research

This is without a doubt the biggest mistake you can make. Not researching everything about the car you’re interested in buying could lead to you signing off on a deal could make all the difference between getting a solid investment and getting a dud. You need to make sure you understand everything you can about the car, from its condition to the mileage, colour, design, and market pricing.

Not Focusing On Your Passion

When you buy classic cars for sale, you’re not only spending a lot of money, but also a lot of time, effort, and energy. It’s all about passion. If you don’t have passion for something from the moment you see it and inspect it, likely, you never will and then it will be like a dead weight around your neck.

Not Having It Inspected by a Professional Before Buying

Classic cars for sale are classic for a reason and have been around the block a few hundred, maybe even thousands of times. Unless you are an expert mechanic, there are various things you’ll miss when looking over a car yourself. Avoid disappointment and wasting money, by ensuring you enlist the help of a classic car mechanic who will be able to tell you about any problems and will even help with the pricing.

Expectations Are Not Realistic

People often have unreasonable and unrealistic expectations. About the level of comfort it provides, the speed and the price. This is where the aforementioned research comes into play. You need to understand the pros and cons of the manufacturer, the model, and as much as you can so that you don’t expect too much and feel disappointed with your purchase.

Accept Rust as Wear and Tear

Many first-time classic car buyers have the wrong view of rust on a car. While the odd rusted bubble here and there may be easy to repair, a car with major rust issues is not. You need to carefully examine the car bodywork and if you are not sure if it’s a sound investment, have a professional check the rust problem.

Not Calculating the Running Costs

It’s not just important to have the money to buy the car outright, you need to factor in the running costs too. Many make the same mistake of seeing classic cars as modern cars when they are not and are more prone to problems.

Not Checking the Various Numbers

It’s easy to get caught up in the process, but one thing you never want to do is forget to check the numbers. A car may look like the car you think it is, but do the identification numbers for the various parts match up, or have they been changed? Proceed with caution or walk away if you’re faced with the latter rather than the former.