10 INSPECT THE BODY THOROUGHLY

Always see the car in the cold light of day. Stand back and see if it looks right: does it sit squarely? Are the panel gaps as they should be? Do the panels’ colours match or has it been resprayed? Do the hinged panels open and shut nicely? And is it as rotten as a pear? Take a magnet and check that the infrastructure is magnetic, implying the presence of steel, not pudding. If you do this make sure you slip the magnet in a sock so you don’t scratch the car’s paintwork when inspecting, even if the paint does hide a

‘Use anything flaky, crunchy or bird-pooey as a bargaining point’

multitude of sins. Don’t be afraid to get down and dirty either. Probe those areas you read about in the buyers’ guides. Dig for rot, grot and bodgery; jack up the car and grovel underneath; jam yourself or your camera under wings and in the footwells. Use anything crunchy, flaky or bird-pooey as a bargaining point. If you find a nasty area and don’t want to dig into it tell the seller and ask them to have a go or seek permission to reveal the filth contained within.