Classic cars – where to start?
Posted by Joe Lopez | Posted in local | Posted on 09-03-2011
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Looking to get started in the classic car hobby?
Depending on your budget (yes, some of us actually have one), the quickest way to get in is to buy a vehicle that is turn-key, or ready to roll. This can require an investment as little as a few thousand dollars to much more than most of us spend on our homes. Even the turn-key car will not likely be 100% what you are looking for, making it that way is what the hobby is all about. Personalizing it to your taste, making it unique in your own way.
For the more budget minded enthusiast with some mechanical or technical skills, there are plenty of choices out there. There are so many vehicles out there to choose from, from 100% original run down cars to the ‘partially restored’ projects that require work to complete them or to even make them road worthy. You will need to first choose a year, make, even model that you like best, this might be anything from a few different years or models to a specific year or model you or someone close to you had once before.
What about being able to afford the work required to get the project ready for the season? This might be minor items like replacing broken or worn parts to body panel repair/replacement and paint work. This is where you take advantage of your own skills and do what you can yourself. Sure it may take longer, but you will be more proud of the finished result and learn so much more than if you bought a turn-key car. Don’t have a lot of money to pay someone else to do the work? Consider trading services. Say you are good with motor, transmission or other power train related work and need some body repair or paint work done, try to find someone good in the body department and maybe offer to trade some services to get the end result you are looking for.
Hope this gets you in the right direction. Please feel free to comment about your projects below.
