In general, buying and maintaining a classic car is a fun hobby for middle-aged people. The old-timer is more of a collector’s item next to the normal ‘utility car’. It could be an old car that still needs a lot of refurbishment, or it could already be a well-maintained car that often requires more money.
Buying an old-timer, what to look out for?
What is an old-timer and when is an old car an old-timer? A car that is 40 years or older is exempt from road tax, because it is considered a classic car. Different standards apply to insurance. There, a car of 20 or 25 years old is already a classic. But what should be considered when buying a classic car?
- Will it be a refurbished or a refurbished car?
- What is the available budget?
- Will there be an LPG tank in it? This is often the cheapest, especially with large cars.
- Will it be the everyday car or a pleasure car for occasional rides?
- Is the car bought or imported in the US?
Buy a classic car
Of course, there are classic cars for sale that arouse so many emotions that the idea of buying one yourself sometimes comes into play for a while. For example, because they are beautiful in style or because the parents used to have one. The asking price is often the stumbling block, especially when it concerns a refurbished classic. To prevent the purchase of a classic car from becoming a pig in the bag, there are a few rules that can help.
- Rust is a major culprit. An appraisal helps to discover any rust spots. The old-timer may, for example, be repainted to cover up the rust present. That can therefore become a very expensive purchase.
- Oil consumption can also be a problem. By looking at the colour of the exhaust, it quickly becomes clear whether this is the case. A black, dirty exhaust can indicate oil consumption.
- How does the engine roar? The noise or noises the car makes say a lot about its condition.
- During an APK inspection, any defects will quickly surface. Investing in an inspection therefore always pays off. After all, buying an old car is also an investment.
Buying a classic car tips
If you only look at the car and then are completely lost, with some bad luck you can spend a lot of money on a dream. Realism and professionalism can prevent this. After all, buying a classic is no different from ‘just’ buying a car. The question ‘buy a classic car, what to look out for?’ can thus provide answers that may hinder the purchase or at least require a solution. Some more tips that can help you make right decision:
- It can be useful to surf the net to see how much a particular old-timer costs on average. That provides a first price indication.
- It can help to also look for old-timers to be refurbished and to ask for a price indication at the garage. Maybe this is a cheaper solution.
- What are the costs involved in addition to the purchase? For example, insurers offer special classic car insurance. To be able to use this, the car must meet certain requirements and the old-timer may often not be driven more than a maximum of 7000 kilometres on an annual basis.
- What about insurance at all? Suppose that classic car insurance is not possible, can the car be insured and how much will that cost?
- How often is the car used? What does this mean for the possible temporary suspension of the registration certificate?
- Environmental zones, such as those in many cities, can create obstacles for certain classics, such as diesels. For someone who lives in the centre, this can mean that the car is not allowed to drive there.
Which classic car to buy?
Finally comes the choice of the old-timer. Are there any classics that are better to avoid? For example, the 1974 Jaguar XK-E V12 Series III is known that even the company does not know too much about it. Another example is the world-famous Lorena because of the film. A beautiful car that seems to entail a lot of costs. A lot of things come into play when considering buying a classic car.
First of all, the emotion is likely to be most important. Those who went on holiday with their parents in a 2CV, are more inclined to buy a duck than those who rode in a Beetle. The question ‘which classic car to buy?’ is therefore something personal. In addition, buying a classic car has to do with a small budget. Sometimes classic cars are available for little money. In general, no matter which old-timer it is, an APK inspection is always required. If it is issued, the car is in any case safe. The condition for selling and buying a classic car is therefore the minimum MOT approval.
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