HOW TO BUY AN OLD CAR | PART 1
story and photos by Dan Hankin
When your casual enthusiast buddies recognize you as the go-to-guy for car advice you field a lot of questions. I’ve recently had a few friends interested in buying an old car ask for pointers, and it got me thinking about simple things anyone can look for to avoid purchasing a money pit. Here are a few easy tips.
- Common sense goes a long way, trust your instincts. If something doesn’t seem right, don’t shrug it off. Have a knowledgable friend look at it, or hire a mechanic to take a look. It could save you a lot of money and heartache in the long run.
- Don’t buy the first car you see. Look at a few similar cars before you commit to one, and avoid obscure vehicles if you don’t have a lot of experience working on cars. Popular models are far easier to find parts and information for.
- Rust never sleeps. If you’re looking at a specific make/model vehicle, find out where they tend to rust and check those areas thoroughly. A simple web search should turn up this information. Common trouble areas include lower fenders and quarter panels, rocker panels, underneath trim, floorboards and trunk floors, window and windshield frames, and cowl areas. Place a refrigerator magnet wrapped in a paper towel (to prevent scratching paint) on any suspect areas. Test to make sure the magnet is strong enough to pull through the thickness of the paper towel. If it does, anywhere the magnet sticks likely indicates good metal under the paint. If it doesn’t, an old repair may be hiding underneath.
- Plan on rebuilding the suspension. This is a given on a ground-up restoration, but I’m amazed by how many people will buy a 30 or 40 year old driver and think nothing of a 50 mph blast up the interstate off ramp with worn ball joints and tie rods hanging by a thread. Old cars didn’t generally handle great when they were new – add a few decades of wear, tear, and dry rot to the equation and you’re flirting with disaster. If the suspension is original or worn, plan on replacing it immediately. This goes for tires too.
- Check the fluids. Oil should be a sort of honey brown. Black, sooty, or thick oil indicates neglect or possible problems. Oil that looks ‘milky’ could have coolant in it, which can have expensive consequences. Oil mixed with the coolant is also bad. Coolant should be clean and green (some modern coolants can be used and may be orange). Straight water as coolant can freeze and cause engine damage, and does not protect the inside of the engine from corrosion.
- Listen. Old cars don’t run as quietly as your new Corolla, but the sounds they make can tell you a lot about their condition. A loud knocking could indicate worn bearings – an expensive repair. Ticking could be a sticky lifter, or an exhaust leak. A clunk when you put the car in gear could be worn universal joints or a transmission problem. Some of these problems are easy and inexpensive to repair – but any unusual noise should be investigated. The last thing you want is to blow your budget on unexpected repairs as soon as you take the car home.
Here in Virginia we’re fortunate to have a good selection of old steel. Rust is always a concern, but since winters tend to be mild and roads aren’t salted rust tends to be less of an issue than in the Northern states. Most muscle car mechanical systems can be repaired or replaced over time in a well equipped home garage, but severe rust is difficult for the average – and even above average enthusiast to properly repair. Buy a solid foundation and learn as you go.
We’re also fortunate to live in a motorsports friendly state, and Hampton Roads in particular boasts a good number of businesses catering to speed and performance. Local gearheads have several traditional brick-and-mortar speed shops to purchase parts from, and a selection of local shops ready to build a performance drivetrain for your project, wire your hot rod, restore your classic, or put together a turn-key custom ride. Use these resources in your back yard.
I hope you find these tips helpful. None of the issues laid out here are necessarily deal breakers if you find that perfect project. Ultimately you need to figure out your budget and comfort level with repairs and find the ride that fits you. Now go find an old car and have some fun!
Have questions? Want more tips? Email me your feedback and let me know what you’d like to see in this column!