From the ArcaMax Publishing, Automotive Newsletter:
http://www.arcamax.com/news/automotive/s-559684-744996
Lots of people like the idea of owning a vintage/classic car - but the
reality is often not what they expected. Kind of like buying a Great
Dane puppy. Six months later, you discover you may just have bitten
off more than you can chew. Here's why:
Old cars are maintenance intensive - Since the appearance of
computer-controlled electronic fuel injection in the late 1980s, cars
have become much more reliable than they used to be. They don't
require major tune-ups every 6-12 months - and frequent minor
adjustments more often than that. Little things are constantly going
wrong - and needing attention. That's just the way these things are.
And: If you can't do the work yourself, you'll need to find someone
who can - and that is sometimes no easy thing. Many shops won't work
on cars older than 25 years or so. And even if they're willing, their
mechanics may have no clue how to properly service and maintain
obsolete systems that they were never taught about in technical
school. You may have to find an old timer who remembers how to adjust
a carburetor - something many of the guys in their 20s and 30s will
have no clue how to do correctly.
Parts for old cars are often hard to find (and expensive) - If
you own a modern car, finding parts is usually as easy as heading over
to your local NAPA store or dealership. But with older cars -
especially those that have been out of production for decades -
finding even basic things such as air and oil filters can be
challenging - as well as expensive.
You may have to search online, or attend swap meets that are hours
away from where you live. And when you do find the part you need, it
may cost a whole lot more than you expected.
It's simple economics: When items are no longer mass-produced and
supplies have dwindled to "new old stock" (or high dollar
reproductions) the cost goes up. It's especially tricky if the old car
in question is an "orphan" - the child of a long-gone manufacturer
such as AMC. You may not be able to find an essential part - at any
price. Or it may take you months of searching. This can really kill
the joy of owning an old car. What fun is it if you can't drive it? Or
the parts are so expensive you can't afford them?
Old cars are incredibly rust prone - Today's cars rarely rust
out before they are more than 10 years old and well into the sunset of
their useful lives. This is because of much better rust-proofing at
the factory as well as better quality steel, high quality primers and
paints and body designs that are less prone to leaks and water
penetration. Cars built before the 1980s were the exact opposite. Many
would suffer from major structural rot long before the drivetrain wore
out. It was routine to see bubbled paint and openly cancerous fenders
and quarter panels on cars only four or five years old. Unless the car
was kept absolutely dry - and you never drove it in winter and
subjected it to road salt - major rust problems were inevitable.
Why mention this? Because rust is massively expensive to repair - and
easy to hide from the inexperienced old car buyer. That shiny paint
job may be hiding buckets of body filler - and a dangerously
swiss-cheesed frame. Even if the car is pristine or has been restored,
keeping the rust at bay is a real challenge with these older cars.
They just weren't designed to endure the ages. They were in fact built
to be disposable. So, be careful. And think twice.
Old cars are often difficult to drive - At least when compared
to modern cars. We take so many things for granted today, from power
steering to adequate brakes (usually, with ABS).
In contrast, most cars built prior to the mid-'80s did not have good
brakes - let alone ABS. It was very easy to wreck one of these cars by
having to brake suddenly - and finding out the hard way that you
didn't have enough room to stop. Or that the rear end just swapped
places with the front - because the wheels locked up (which doesn't
happen with ABS). People who did not grow up with these cars may be in
for a rude surprise when they go and drive one for the first time.
Older cars also require babying at start-up, sometimes stall out - and
are much more likely to overheat. Are you ready for this?
If you're not ready - and even more importantly, able to deal with
these problems yourself - owning an old car may not be for you. It
might be better to get your classic car fix by visiting an antique car
museum or attending summer cruise nights at your local fast food
joint.
There, you can ogle the old cars without being responsible for them
come tomorrow morning.
========
www.ericpetersautos.com or EPeters952@aol.com for
comments.