Buying Tips- our top three

So, you have decided you want to take the plunge and buy your dream classic. Here are my top three tips for successfully buying your classic car.

1. Decide what you want. Not just the make or model of car- you may not really mind- but what you want to get out of a car. Do you want something that arrives on a trailer and will need years of loving restoration before it can be driven? Or do you want something shiny, fun and reliable that you can drive to the pub in the summer. If you fall into the latter category, be careful that you don't automatically go for the cheapest car on the market- cheap cars are cheap for a reason, and your car could spend more time being fixed than in the pub car park.

2. Research. You just can't do enough of this. Find out what car you want, and try to find out as much as you can about it. I have bought cars on gut reaction before, but the consequences have usually been painful and expensive. The big classic car for sale websites all have easy search facilities which mean you can quickly judge prices. Most marque websites are free to join and an absolute gold mine of information, much of which can be useful to the prospective buyer. Compare a number of cars, and if possible go to see a few (and don't buy the first one you look at!). Ask current owners about their experiences with the car.

3. Get it inspected! I suppose you would expect us to say this, but it is absolutely necessary. Even if it is just a friend who used to own one of the cars, get someone with experience to go and have a look, or if you are doing it yourself use our helpful guide below. Our reports cover 175 different points, and when I conducted one on my own car, I uncovered 13 problems even I had missed. And if any seller prevents you from giving the car a full inspection, I would urge extreme caution. 

 To book one today just fill out the search box at the top left of this page!

Doing your own inspection

While you may not have the tools, experience or knowledge to complete an inspection as thorough as a CSR check, we urge every buyer of a classic car to have some sort of check completed. Many classic cars on the market are shiny, but underneath are flawed and could be a money pit or unreliable. So, if you can't get a CSR done, the follow this guide and hopefully stop yourself making an expensive mistake.

Do your research first. Find out where your type of car is prone to failure or rot- every car will have an Achilles heel, and a search of your marque's motoring forum will usual identify some of them.

Be methodical. Our report is divided into 5 areas (coachwork, running gear, electrical, aesthetic/interior and mechanical) and is methodical- ensure you check in the same manner so you don't miss anything. Make a list before you attend, to ensure you cover everything.

Take a long look first. Stand back from the car, and look at it. Does it droop or sag on one side? How are the panel and door gaps? Are there lumpy areas on the paintwork? Try to view a car outside on a dry day if possible- flourescent lights and rain can hide a great deal of problems with paintwork.

Look everywhere! Take some overalls, a kneeling pad, a torch and a magnet at the very least. Look under carpets and in the spare wheel well, and under the wheel arches. Feel the width of metal where possible- this is often a great way to find filler.

Concentrate on the Important Things. These will vary according to the car, but in general the two areas which will cost you most to restore are the bodywork and engine. Also, certain items may be very hard to find or expensive to buy, especially bumpers and small external trim parts which are prone to damage. Also, work out what you think is important and try to see beyond the shiny!

Look for the signs... of good maintenance. A nicely maintained car usually marks out an owner who looks after their pride and joy. Are the oil and air filters clean or dirty? Do the grease nipples show signs of being used? Talk to the owner if possible- ask him how often he has the car serviced and what lubricants he uses. Finally, check the tyres- old, cracked or mismatched tyres show someone who doesn't look after their car.

Inspect the paperwork. Have a good look through what is available, especialy old MOTs. If they are not there, find out why. This can be very useful, can identify potential faults, and show if the car has been off the road.

Get some help. Even if it is not us, get someone who knows your type of car to go with you. 

John Mayhead is the owner of CSR (UK) Ltd and has been collecting and restoring classic cars for nearly 20 years. All information on this page is the author's experience only and readers should buy at their own risk. CSR Classic car inspections, classic car assessments, classic car checks, pre-purchase checks vintage car inspections, classic car auctions, classic car uk.