Being familiar with antique car values is extremely important if you are on the hunt for an old car to restore, or if you're in the market to purchase a collectible car which is fully restored. Not only do you have to be familiar with the resources which are at your disposal to determine the value of an antique car, there are additional factors about the car you're considering which will also have to be evaluated as well.
The following is a list of publications which will serve you well for determining antique car values:
1. Kelly Blue Book: Early Model Guide 1946 to 1986. It's important note that Kelly Blue Book does not publish its results online for these particular car as it does for later model automobiles.
2. The Old Car Buyer's Guide
3. The Gold Book - This is a free website which is considered by many to be the best authority for antique car values.
4. NADA which is the abbreviation for the National Automobile Dealers Association.
5. Kruse International Auctioneers
Each of these publications uses a numerical system to rate the condition of a particular car which ranges from one to six. One being the best possible condition and six obviously being the worst.
In order to rate the car you're considering to be able to compare its condition to the criteria which is presented in these publications you'll have to do a "bumper to bumper" inspection of the car in question.
Your inspection should begin with the body of the car. The most important issue you should be looking for are signs of rust, and your inspection should include looking in unlikely places such as the trunk and rear wheel wells. By standing in front of the car you'll be able to look down both sides of the car which will allow you to see surface irregularities which are a sure sign of previous body work.
Of equal importance is the need to inspect the trim, glass, and condition of the existing paint. What condition is the bright metal trim in? For any restoration project this is a part of the process which you'll want to address early on because any parts that are in need of re-plating should be sent out as early as possible. Re-plating can take many months to accomplish. Also, finding replacement trim for antique cars can be extremely challenging and time-consuming at the very least.
Checking the glass has three points of importance and they include looking for factory markings which authenticates the originality of the car. Imperfections in the glass such as chips or discoloration which will have to be corrected. Lastly, it is important to evaluate how well the window seals have held up over the years to evaluate if there is water leakage.
What you should be most interested when checking the paint is in determining if the paint is original, or if in fact the body has been painted over at some point in the past history of the car.
The next step in your inspection should be the interior, and this involves looking at the condition of the headliner, door panels, seats, and dashboard.
Finally, no "bumper to bumper inspection is complete until the mechanics of the car have been evaluated. In order to get a feel for how the drive train is functioning, it would be highly advisable to take the car out for a test drive. During the drive, you'll get a feel for how the engine is working and what condition the clutch is in if the car has a manual transmission. Most older cars do, so the drive is important in that respect. Furthermore, during the drive it would be a good idea to stop occasionally, and write down a few notes about your observations. Also, check the oil pressure, which will give you a good idea about the state of the engine. If the car will not start, this is a strong indication of worse things to come especially in regard to your budget.
By following the above mentioned suggestions, the process of selecting the right car for your restoration process should go much smoother.
John Burgess I has been involved in vintage car restoration for over two decades, and enjoys sharing the knowledge he has acquired about this amazing pastime with others. For more information about antique car values you can visit his newest website at http://www.vintagecarrestorationinfo.com/.
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