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 RESTORING YOUR CLASSIC CAR FOR RESALE

People from all walks of life have a love for Classic Muscle Cars. While there are

those that do it as a hobby, others make a career out of their passion. Even

though certain people will never care to find classic muscle cars for sale, you’ll

find that they are still happy to see them in car shows. Then there are those stuck

in the middle, the people who do

seek out classic muscle cars for

sale, and have had a few of them,

but still enjoy other pastimes as

well.

Selling a classic car can be a

good decision. However, putting a

classic car up for sale is a hectic decision despite the fact that one may have

bought it years earlier and packed it.

Hence, selling classic cars can be a demanding business. The section below

discusses useful tips for selling classic cars.

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 1. Valuing Classic Cars

For cars that are a popular model, the owner should flip through recent classic

and vintage magazines to see what other people are listing similar models. If you

have a rubber bumper MGBGT, then there's no point in comparing your car with

a chrome bumpered MGBGTs for

instance since the chrome bumper car

will be worth more.

Another solution is to have a car

specialist for the particular model give

you a professional valuation. While this

alternative may cost you a few dollars, getting confirmation of a car’s value from

a respected person in the trade could make the car more appealing. However,

one should not put too much lean on the valuations given by classic car

insurance policies. For instance, some classic cars could be advertised along the

lines of: “Insurance valuation $10,700, bargain at $7,200.

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 2. Places to advertise a car for sale

So you’ve decided to sell and have a price in mind, the next and biggest hurdle to

cross is where to advertise your car. Traditionally, the best way is to list the car in

a photo-advertisement in one of the many classic car magazines that are around

nowadays, although the lead time from submitting the advert to it actually getting

printed could be a month or two, so be sure to plan ahead.

Another great way to sell your car is to put it up for sale at a car auction. This is

ideal if you want to shift the car on in a hurry although not the best place to get

the best price necessarily, as many people (including traders), attend the

auctions to get a bit of a bargain themselves.

It is important to remember that with auction sales, you have the auction house

commission to cover. Though it should be noted that sometimes it could be a

buyers’ commission, whereby the successful bidder for your car will pay an

additional sum to the auction house, but other companies operate a sellers

commission, whereby it is down to you to pay a set percentage, assuming your

car sells and meets its reserve (i.e. the minimum price you would be willing to sell

the car for) if you have set one.

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Percentages vary anything between 7%-17%. It is recommended that you should

check the going rate first as a 15% sellers fee will eat a big chunk out of the

hammer price of the $70 you got for your rusty old wreck!

Internet auctions are a fairly recent phenomenon. When listing the car on an

internet auction site, such as eBay for instance (probably the leading online

auction site at the moment), be sure to explain the car and its good and bad

points in great detail—remember, the more comprehensive and honest the

description is, the better chance you have of giving someone the confidence to

bid on your car unseen. Same goes for images, always make sure that you have

a good selection of clear digital photos at hand that you can upload and show

potential buyers.

The beauty of an internet auction on such a popular site such as eBay is that the

potential audience is vast. You can choose whether or not you’d like to accept

bidders outside your country, and if you do—what the payment methods you are

willing to handle are. All you have to do is register on eBay, which in itself is a

fairly painless process, and off you go!

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Another popular option, especially during summer months and the show season,

is to book your car in a show, take it along, and pop a for sale notice in the

window. This can be a very effective way of selling your car quickly to someone

local, without the hassle of going through an auction or hanging around for a

magazine advert to appear.

3. Preparing Your Car

The amount of preparation that your car will require prior to a sale attempt will

vary from one car to another, depending mostly on how well it has been

maintained to date, and the market to

whom its being pitched at.

There are those people trying to part out

a Citroen DS (for US people!) that has

recently been exhumed from the bottom

of a canal, there is not much point in slapping on a bit of tire black onto the tires

hoping for a better price. But if you’re selling something that is, for instance,

renowned for having a sumptuous interior, like a P5 Rover or old Humber, the

sale may be eased by giving the trim a good scrub and a good dose of leather

food, so make the best of the car’s potentially best feature.

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It is important to make the best of whatever you’ve got. It may sound obvious, but

many people do not make the effort when it comes to presentation and it can

impact the successful sale of their classic. At the very least, give the car a good

clean inside and out, including the boot area and under the bonnet--attention to

all these points makes the car all the more appealing to a potential purchaser.

Moreover, give the wheels a good clean too, and if they are at all dowdy or have

flaky paint, a quick rub down and lick of fresh paint works wonders in improving

the look of the whole car! It is recommended to polish the glass too (not the

windscreen as it could smear) inside and out using proper glass cleaner. The

windows may have seemed clean originally, but a quick dose of Windolene will

have a sparkling treat!

Furthermore, give the tires a good scrub too, and don’t forget the mudflaps either

as this attention to detail can make all the difference. The paint on tire blackening

paints should be avoided since they usually look way too tacky and smack of

someone who is getting desperate to sell their motor. They should be given a

quick brush up with some black boot polish and a light buff, which tidies the tires

up a treat without going over-the-top.

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For those who have been smoking in their car, ensure that all the ashtrays are

spotless, and that the dingy pong of nicotine addiction isn't the first thing that a

potential buyer is hit by when they open the door as this can put off a lot of

potential buyers.

Along with cosmetics, there are a number of other little jobs you can do to entice

a buyer into thinking that your car is the one for them. Give it a service, change

the oil and give it a greasing (if applicable). It should be noted that people will be

a little more encouraged if they think that they do not have to dive in straightaway

to servicing it.

For someone planning to take some photographs for an internet auction for

example, they should give some thought as to where they photograph it. You

might think that your driveway will do, but is that really the best image to present

your car against? You might be fond of the Y fronts and other assorted items on

the washing line behind the car, but you could make a little extra effort and drive

down to a nearby park or woodland area for example, and photograph the car in

a nice setting, on a nice day that shows the color of the paintwork at its best.

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 4. Determining the Market Value of a Classic Car

Whether you are buying or selling a classic car, you want to determine its fair

market value. Publications such as the Old Car Buyers Guide, Hemmings or

NADA's Classic, Collectible and Special Interest Car Appraisal Guide & Directory

are a good place to start. Their price guides rate a car's value using 6 categories

according to their conditions that range from “pristine” to “basket case”.

To appraise your car and determine what category it fits into, the rating below

can be used for each of the following items on a scale of one to five, using five as

the maximum value. Then total your points for all 20 categories. Compare the

points you have given the car to the 100 point maximum. Use this six category

valuation to determine the car's market value.

Category 1 would be a 90+ point car

Category 2 would be a 80-89 point car

Category 3 would be a 70-79 point car

Category 4 would be a 60-69 point car

Category 5 is would be a 40 - 59 point car

Category 6 is any car under a 40 point car

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 5. Inspect and Rate the Exterior

 Body

• Stand 2 to 3 feet in front of each headlight and taillight individually so that

you can view the side panels at an angle to inspect for waves or bulges or

any signs of poorly done body repair.

• Check for paint blisters for signs of rust, especially over wheel wells, along

rocker panels and around headlights.

• Use a magnet over various parts of the body to check for body filler, signs

of previous damage and those typically known for rust.

• Check for uniform gaps between the body and the doors, trunk and hood.

Points: ________

 Doors

• Check to see if the doors sag when they are open, particularly the driver-

side, as this will be a sign of worn hinges.

• Look for signs of aging and cracking in the weather seals around the

doors and windows.

• Check for paint blisters that would indicate rust, especially along the

bottom edges.

Points: ________

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  Hood and Trunk

• Inspect the hood for any rippling, denting and underlying rust.

• Check under the carpeting in the trunk and around the wheel housings for

rust.

• Are the hood and trunk aligned properly so they close and latch easily?

Points: ________

 Top

• Originally convertibles built prior to 1950 had canvas tops, vinyl tops

appeared in the 1950s. Is the top made from original-type material?

• Is the material worn or discolored, is the stitching coming apart?

• Convertibles built from 1965 into the 70s usually had glass rear windows.

Is the rear window of the convertible top of the original type?

• Check the condition of the convertible top mechanism, does it lower and

raise easily and does it fit snugly in place.

• Check for dents on vehicles with metal tops.

• On vinyl covered metal-topped cars, inspect its condition and assure it's

sealed tightly without rips or other damage.

Points: ________

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6. Inspect and Rate the Paint, Glass and Trim

 Paint

• Does the finish reflect a high gloss or is it dull? Is the finish smooth or

does it have an orange-peel texture?

• Can you spot any runs, cracking or drips in the paint that would indicate

an unprofessional finish?

• When possible you should ascertain if the car is painted in its original

color?

• Look for indications that the car has been repainted by checking

doorjambs, inside the hood and trunk. If it has, how well does the re-paint

color match the original?

Points: ________

 Trim

• Inspect all chrome plated trim pieces. Is the chrome bright and shiny or is

the base metal starting to show through.

• Are the headlight and taillight housings or any other plated die cast parts

badly pitted?

• Pitting on die cast parts is not easily repaired.

• Inspect the grill for damage and broken parts.

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 • Check for missing or dented stainless steel trim on body side moldings.

Points: ________

 Glass

• Check for factory markings on the glass which would indicate originality.

• Inspect the weather seal around the glass for cracking that would allow

water to leak in around the seal.

• If it has cracks, then look for signs of water leakage on the dash or around

the inside of the rear window.

• Inspect the glass itself for chips, cracks or discoloration.

Points: ________

7. Inspect and Rate the Interior

 Dashboard and Instrument Panel

• Inspect the general condition of the instrument panel and dashboard. Look

for wear and aging on plating, knobs and switches.

• Are there knobs missing?

• Do all the knobs and switches work, for example the lights, horn, wipers,

etc.?

• Is the lettering around the knob plate worn or have letters missing?

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 • Are the gauges original, intact and working? Or do they have non-original

gauges or aftermarket radios that have been installed and cut into the

dashboard?

• Is the material covering the dash shelf cracked or splitting?

Points: ________

 Upholstery

• Inspect the condition of the door panels, seat coverings and headliner.

• Do the interior coverings appear to be the originals? Even if they are in

good condition, if they are not according to the original specifications of

the car, it will affect the value.

• If the seat coverings have been replaced, check to make sure a good

foam foundation is underneath.

Points: ________

 Floor Coverings

• Are the carpets worn, soiled or torn? Do they seem to be the original color

or pattern?

• Look at the step plate along the bottom of the door coverings; are they

deteriorated or missing?

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 • If possible, always pull back the carpet to inspect for rust on the metal

flooring underneath.

Points: ________

8. Interior Trim

• Is the interior trim complete and to original specification?

• Check for missing door handles and window cranks.

• Are the door handles and window cranks in good working order?

• Make sure all power accessories are working, such as windows, locks,

seat mechanisms, antenna and side mirror adjustors.

• What is the condition of the window moldings? Are they chrome plated or

painted as original?

9. Inspect and Rate the Mechanics

 The Odometers Recorded Mileage

• Does the car’s recorded mileage appear to be accurate and do the

owner’s service records provide confirmation.

• Check the brake and clutch pedal pads; if they are heavily worn it would

be a good sign of a high mileage vehicle. Another indicator would be a

well-worn driver’s seat.

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 • The signs of wear and tear on the vehicle should be indicative of the miles

recorded on the odometer.

Points: ________

 Engine Operation

• Does the car start and the engine run? If not, there is no way to appraise

the engine or most of the cars other mechanical components. In this case

always assume the worst and that the engine and possibly other

mechanical parts will need to be rebuilt or replaced.

• If the car starts and the engine is running, listen for expensive sounding

noises.

• Stand behind the car at the first start up and look for any smoke coming

from the tailpipe. Blue smoke would indicate the engine is burning oil.

• While the engine is running, check the oil pressure; it should be at

midrange.

• When checking the engine’s oil, is it fairly clean or is it black and thick

which would indicate long intervals between oil changes and possibly poor

maintenance and care.

Points: ________

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  Engine Compartment

• Inspect the general condition and cleanliness of the engine compartment.

• Are the engine and the accessories painted in authentic colors?

• Does the wiring appear to be in original and good condition?

• Is there frayed insulation and obviously un-original wiring patched in?

Points: ________

 Breaks and Steering

• If you drove the car out on the highway would you feel safe in doing so?

• Do the brakes stop the car within a reasonable distance without pulling to

the side or making grinding or screeching noises?

• Is the steering tight? Does it keep the car in a straight line with minimal

correction, or is there an excessive play which would mean some or all of

the steering components need rebuilding.

Points: ________

 Transmission

• If a car is equipped with a standard transmission, check the condition of

the clutch; does it engage smoothly and fully disengage the transmission.

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 • If the car is an automatic, are the shifting points smooth or does the

transmission seem to slip, especially under acceleration?

• Check the automatic transmission fluid. The color should be bright red and

not brown with a burned smell. This would indicate the transmission has

internal damage and will need an overhaul.

Points: ________

 Undercarriage

• If it was a recent restoration the chassis should be clean and painted.

• Does the engine, transmission or rear axle appear to leak oil?

• Check for rust around the shocks and suspension.

Points: ________

10. Rating the Authenticity, Special Features and Desirability

 Authenticity

• In addition to the originality of the paint, interior and engine, evaluate the

cars overall authenticity.

• Take into consideration the accessories that are included with the car

such as special wheels, fancy wheel covers and other dress-up items.

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 • Do these extras match what was originally offered on the car? They may

be attractive but if they're not authentic, it will subtract from the car's value.

Points: ________

 Special Options

• Examples of special options that will enhance the car's value would be a

higher horsepower engine, upgraded trim or interior package, sliding

sunroof or an overdrive transmission.

• Price guides may assign a premium of 10% to 30% to these features,

individually or in combination.

Points: ________

 Desirability

• Although desirability may not be a factor used by Price Guide publications,

it should be a factor to you before writing the check or applying for

financing.

• What do you really like or dislike about the car?

• Is it the car you've always wanted, the convertible you never had or is it

the car your ex-wife never let you buy?

• If the car resonates deeply in your soul, add points reflecting its appeal.

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Points: ________

Classic cars are always sought after by collectors and enthusiasts alike. Some

people like to find as many classic cars as they can find, and as many as they

can afford. Others simply like to have that one classic car that they always

dreamed about having. Either way, classic cars can be hard to find for those who

are picky about what car they buy!

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