A Guide To Owning A Classic Car
While we still love to keep up with the latest industry news, there’s certainly something special about owning a true classic.
This is a dream for many drivers, but all too often their enthusiasm gets the better of them and they end up with a vehicle that they didn’t realize would be so difficult to keep in optimum condition.
If you’re looking to finally take the plunge, here’s what you need to know.
Maintenance
The first thing any classic car owner needs to consider is the level of regular maintenance their vehicle will require. Many cars have a history of specific problems so try and educate yourself on the most common issues before you commit to a purchase.
Failing to do this can quickly turn your dream car into a nightmare.
Similarly, if you have no mechanical experience whatsoever, you might want to consider enrolling in some kind of basic car maintenance course.
Having to see a specialist every time something goes wrong will not only be time-consuming, but it will also become costly.
Storage
Storage should be another primary concern. Not only should it be secure, to stop any potential criminals from stealing your vehicle, but it also needs to protect your car against one of its other biggest enemies: damp.
Start by insulating the garage as much as you can. You want it to be as airtight as possible and have a humidity reading of between 50-60%.
If the building is quite old—more than thirty years—it’s possible that the damp proof plastic membrane that sits underneath the concrete has degraded.
If this is the case, groundwater from below the concrete can begin to rise and potentially damage your vehicle.
Insurance
Finally, like any vehicle intended for road use, you’ll have to think about the additional costs of insurance. Classic car ownership is a popular enough hobby that it’s possible to find companies that offer specialist policies like A-Plan.
Fortunately, you’ll be glad to know that insurance on these kinds of vehicles is often cheaper than standard car cover.
This is because the insurance providers often assume that drivers of these kinds of vehicles will look after them much better than your typical driver.
However, they also work on the assumption that you will use them less often than you would a modern car, and may look into impose a stricter annual mileage limit than you initially anticipated. (photocredit: d333ko)
