TO BUY YOUR FIRST CLASSIC

CLASSIC CAR DEALER This is generally considered to be the ‘safe’ option, in so much as you can reasonably expect the car in question to be in the advertised condition and with an accurate maintenance record. However, cars are likely to be more expensive than they would be if they were being sold privately for that very reason.

TRADITIONAL AUCTION Buying a classic car at auction is actually an exhilarating way to make a purchase. It can also lead to unexpected bargains. But do remember that what you think is a bargain may not necessarily be so in reality. Keep your own limitations in mind and know your cars – don’t be afraid to bring along a friendly second pair of eyes!

PRIVATE SELLER Whether it’s a sign in a window at a car show or a piece of paper on a bulletin board, if the seller is the owner then there’s an opportunity to get the full picture, warts and all. Not everyone makes the effort to present their car’s history coherently or even necessarily clean it, so the car can make the best first impression. Be thorough and quiz the vendor as much as possible.

ONLINE AUCTION Exercise a degree of caution when it comes to online auctions – do as much research as you can to make sure that the seller is genuine. Also, bizarre as it sounds, try searching using misspellings and typos. There may not be many buyers looking for a ‘Tiumph’, a ‘Damler’ or an ‘Autin’, but one of these could turn out to be a hidden gem!

CCW’S CLASSIFIEDS! Finally, there is of course your favourite weekly read, Classic Car Weekly, and website Classic Cars for Sale – classiccarsforsale. co.uk – where there’s always a great selection of tempting tin.