JUST CLASSICS MOTOR CLUB

Once you have decided, which classic you want to buy, it's a good idea to research the model, find out what the cars weaknesses are, how easy are they to get parts for, can you get someone to work on it etc etc. If you don't know what you're looking at, it's always a good idea to take someone along with you who does, whether this be a friend who knows their stuff, or for a fee, an RAC INSPECTION or such like, it will be worth it in the long run! The most important thing to remember is never let your excitement get in the way of a sound decision, there will always be another car to buy!

The first thing to look at is the exterior of the car, check all the panel gaps between the doors, wings etc match reasonably, (I say reasonably as some older classics weren't perfect from the factory!) If the gaps are noticeably different, this could indicate badly repaired accident damage or a bad restoration, with worse lurking underneath. Paint work is another obvious give away to a cars condition, look for any bad matching paint that could indicate repairs, fresh paint which may be hiding a quick rust repair that will soon resurface, and signs that the car may have had a respray by looking for overspray on the window rubbers etc. This isn't to say that a car that has had paint work and panel repairs is a bad thing, as most classics have at some point, the important thing is if it's been done properly!

Next have a good look underneath the car to check for any obvious signs of bodged repairs and to see if the floor and sills look solid in general, any repairs need to have been done properly. Be wary of anything that's covered in black tar undercoat, black waxoil etc, this could be innocent rust prevention but could also be hiding rot, and lots of it!! Seeing as you're already on the floor, now would also be a good chance to have a look around the suspension, the condition of exhaust and any rubber bushes and so on. It's also important to check as much of the floor on the inside of the car as possible, lift up boot carpets, check inside door jomes, door hinges etc, serious rot in all these places can be expensive to put right.

If by now you haven't walked away, the next obvious thing is the engine, again researching into the particular car you're looking ats weak spots is an advantage, but to generalise: ask for the car to be started from cold as this is when most engine wear occurs, listen for any excessive tapping noises that don't die down, look for smoke on start up, also smoke when the engine is being revved.

Blue smoke usually indicates engine wear, lots of white smoke could indicate head gasket failure! Check around gaskets for any leaks, oil or otherwise and check in the oil filler cap for creamy residue, which could also indicate head gasket failure, another expensive fix!

Once inside the car, check everything works if it has electrics, (windows etc) and check for wear on the trim that would maybe indicate the car has done more mileage than on the odometer!

 Old leather seats can be particularly prone to signs of wear but there are a lot of products on the market now which can be used by the enthusiast themselves to bring the seats back to their former glory. However be wary of seats that are just "too far gone" as re-trimming can be very costly.

Finally after all this, if you're ready for a test drive, the generalization of things to watch out for  is as follows: Ensure there are no knocking noises from the suspension etc, the car drives straight on the road without pulling to either side, check the car pulls up straight under braking and that the car changes smoothly through the gears.

The basics of buying any car are common sense, but it always helps to go armed with a little knowledge, if you are really serious about buying a classic of any kind, you can expect it to have been repaired or restored at some point, as said, this isn't a problem providing it has been repaired properly. There are also however, cars out there for sale that need work to make them right, which also isn't a problem if your pockets are deep and you are looking for a project!

The main thing to remember is, if for any reason the car just doesn't "feel" right, walk away, there will always be another.

 And finally, if you do buy....................... ENJOY!!