How to Buy a Vintage Car

Whether through an auction or a speciality vehicle importer dealer, there are many reasons to invest in a vintage car. Some want to take on the hobby of restoring rundown classic cars, while others want to fulfil their dream of driving an old classic. Buying vintage cars requires research and planning to ensure you get the most out of your investment. Here are the necessary steps to buying your first vintage car.

Know your reason for purchase

Whether buying a classic car to restore or a ready-to-drive piece, you need to make your classic car purchase work for you. The key is to buy for all the right reasons; you don't want to waste time and money on an impractical purchase.

Research the model

It's easy to pick a vintage car you like but know nothing about; bright and shiny paint jobs are alluring. However, you need to know the specifics of your chosen model. For example, you may want to purchase a 1965 Mustang Convertible; little do you know, it takes a long time and hard work to become roadworthy.

If you're eyeing a classic car as an investment, research what models are most to appreciate over time. For example, cars from the 1950s and 1960s have had no price appreciation for years. Take time to research to ensure you make a worthy investment.

Establish your budget

Once you familiarise yourself with the makes and models, give yourself a budget to narrow your options. If you're treating your purchase as a restoration project, know that you will spend more money on the repairs. However, it's important to note that most classic cars entail additional costs to store, restore, and maintain.

Decide where to buy

There are a few options on where to buy your classic car. Here are some of them:

Auction

Auctions house a variety of high-end classic cars that you may have never seen in a consignment dealer's showroom. Auctions allow you to purchase classic cars from the other side. International vehicle shipping companies specialise in importing cars to NZ, so you don't have to worry about getting the vintage car to you.

Dealer

Classic car dealers run a consignment shop, where private car sellers leave their cars on the lot for sale. The dealers will run an inspection before putting the vehicle up for sale. They will then receive a percentage when someone purchases the car.

Private party

With a private party, you deal directly with the seller who knows the car and can give clear details about it—history, market value, for example. Most of them are collectors who can give you raw prices without additional fees from dealers or auction houses.

Online

You can bid on classic cars online. They work the same way as most auctions do. You only need to register on the site and give your credit card information just in case you win a bid. Ensure you have verified the legitimacy before sharing any credit card details.

Research car importers

Now that you have won the bid, made the purchase, and sealed the deal, it's time to plan moving logistics. No worries if your dream vintage car is on the other side of the world! Car importers like McCullough can bring your vintage car to wherever you are in NZ.

Let McCullough ship your vintage car to NZ!

For professional vehicle shipping to New Zealand, contact us. We have over 20 years of international car shipping experience. Trust that we can get your vintage car safely here in NZ for you to bring home.

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