| A vintage or classic car can bring you great joy, but it | | | | demand, can be readily repaired, has parts that are |
| may also be painfully expensive. The truth is vintage | | | | easy to find. Along with a driver who can afford the |
| car ownership can sometimes be an illusion because | | | | price of breakdowns. |
| not everyone is suited to the hobby, financially or | | | | If you are planning to drive your vintage beauty on |
| otherwise. The good news is that by using these tips | | | | public roads keep in mind that it was built for a |
| with caution you could soon be at the wheel of the car | | | | different time; slower traffic, less highway congestion, |
| of your dreams. Some of which may be as old as the | | | | more tolerant drivers. Those old drum brakes may not |
| car you're about to buy. | | | | be adequate for a panic stop in modern traffic so |
| Ask yourself if you can really afford a vintage or | | | | learn to adapt. Non-power steering will require muscle. |
| classic, remembering that if something breaks it could | | | | Earlier power steering systems are slow and sloppy. |
| end up costing a small fortune in repairs. This is | | | | Turn signals, if they exist, might be invisible to traffic |
| especially true of rare or exotic vehicles. Parts may be | | | | accustomed to big, bright blinkers. |
| hard to find, thus the car could be out of service for a | | | | It may be necessary to arrange special insurance for |
| lengthy period. Can you handle repairs on your own? | | | | a collectible. Be aware that older cars do not have the |
| Got the talent and experience for restoration? Great... | | | | anti-theft devices or the serial number database of |
| but if not, be prepared to dig deep. | | | | newer cars. Hot-wiring an older car is child's play. |
| Always have a "reserve" set aside for unexpected | | | | And finally, though this may seem repetitive, get your |
| repair costs. A friend who restores and sells collector | | | | financial ducks in order before you begin. Falling in love |
| cars suggests a minimum of at least $3000. More if | | | | with a car and making a commitment without sufficient |
| the car is a rare exotic. But then, if you're buying a | | | | planning is, if you'll forgive a cliché, a recipe for |
| Bugatti or a Deusenberg, you probably don't need our | | | | disaster. |
| advice. | | | | If you've done it right, as suggested above, you can |
| Will your vintage or classic be an "everyday driver?" | | | | have the fun of searching for that dream car. And |
| Daily use puts a strain on old parts and systems. Not | | | | that, indeed, can be a lot of fun. Just be cautious, be |
| that a collector car can't be driven regularly but it had | | | | prepared to pull back and wait if necessary, perhaps |
| better be dependable; something that starts on | | | | even accept a little less than what you'd planned. |