According to the Classic Cars Club of America (CCCA), a car is classified as a “classic” if it is built between 1915 and 1948. There are several reasons why classic cars can be considered better than modern machines. For starters, they’re much more straightforward and not as complicated. If you’re looking to own one of these prized possessions, buying one from a classic car auction such as AutoBidMaster.com is a great way to bring one home at an affordable price. Before you bid on and win a wrecked repairable classic car, however, here are some things you need to know that could save you a ton of money and time. To help you make an informed decision, in this blog we present five tips. Read on.
Understand What You are Buying
A car is rendered salvage when the total cost of repairs exceeds its actual value. When a vehicle gets extensive damage and is purchased, repaired and brought back to the road, it gets branded with a ‘salvage title’. When these cars hit the market with their rightful titles, it automatically speaks volumes to their long histories. Typically, salvage vehicles must have had a major accident with its value dipping to as much 40% of its original worth. Note that a salvage title is permanent and may affect future resale efforts.
Run a Vehicle History Check
Most auto auctions include reports on the vehicles they sell, making it easy for you to learn about the history of a used car. Be sure to check whether the vehicle has past reports of flood damage, fire accidents, or other related issues. Don’t be too quick to trust the lender’s statements; carry out your own research using the vehicle identification number – known as its VIN.
Consider the Extent of Damage
Some, if not most of the salvage-title cars have damage that is not deemed economically viable to repair. Most damage results from accidents or other incidents that made insurers believe the cost of repairs would exceed the value of the car once the damage fixed. It is advisable to have a trusted mechanic do a thorough assessment of a car’s damage, especially on critical components like the transmission and the engine – which often involve costly repairs.
Conduct a Pre-purchase Inspection
Before taking steps to make a purchase, you’d want to send an independent mechanic to the identified vehicle. They’re better suited to identify poorly repaired structures and detect things that aren’t operating correctly. The ideal mechanic should be able to pick out a fault by simply listening to the sound of a vehicle. Mechanics can even help you find out if parts of different cars were forged in your vehicle. The pre-inspection process should be heavily focused on understanding the vehicle’s mechanical issues rather than the outer parts of the car.
Follow up with a Post-purchase Inspection
A post-purchase inspection is equally as important as the pre-purchase inspection. Once you have completed the rebuilding or repairing process, a post-purchase review is imperative to ensure that everything is corrected before you hit the road. It is almost a guarantee that a salvage-title car that has had a major accident might have compromised its safety; therefore, be sure to check every safety feature.
Wrap Up
Purchasing salvage-title classics, whether for use or resale, requires a more methodological approach compared to purchasing a salvage-title that was slightly used. Salvage-titles aren’t always diamonds in the rough; if you want to take on a car restoration project, consider getting a salvage title car from AutoBidMaster.com, a leading online classic car auction website. If you need any assistance or wish to learn more about any of the classic cars for sale listed with us, call +1 (503) 298-4300 or fill out our contact form.
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