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While you recall that '69 GTO you had after high school, remember that these cars were impressive by the standards of their day, and may seem a bit quaint by the standards of today. Remember that this is called "The Old Car Hobby", so you can expect to be more engaged with the driving and maintenance experience. 

 

Cars today are often thought of as investments, and as an asset class you will find that collector cars have done well. But your purchasing decision must involve both your heart and your head. For your heart, buy what you love, what excites you. Vintage cars historically appreciate. But the markets can be cyclical. Buying with your head means choosing a car that will fit with how you intend to use it, and with a level of maintenance intensitivity that you can tolerate. There are also resources where you can research trends in value. Aside from being among the leaders in insuring collector cars, Hagerty has one of the best valuation tools and Historic Auto Group has created market baskets of collectible cars that they track against more traditional asset classes. View my VALUE GUIDE page for links and more.

 

Cars over 15 years of age traditionally qualify for collector car coverage at very low premiums with a value that you agree upon in advance. By purchasing wisely a car with a reasonable expectation of appreciation, the old car hobby can be very low in cost. Historically the appreciation on many classes of cars has negated the cost of upkeep in such a way as to have a hobby that pays rather than costs!

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Lastly, when buying the very best examples of particular cars, forget the price guides. You may end up paying ten, twenty, or more percent over the guides for the absolute best example of a car you want. But you won't regret it. The adage is, "find another one like it". But put another way, when you gather at a show or with your car-loving friends, the bragging rights accrue to the best cars, not the ones purchased cheapest!

 

Happy Hunting. We are here to help.

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Some people come to us with a clear knowledge of the car they want. Few people come because they need a car. ​But for most the first contact is based on seeing a car they remember from years ago, or a car their father had, or they come purely as a result of the great and traditional American love for the automobile. Owning a car like these you see in our selection is a dream for many, and we are here to help make dreams come true.

A few basic rules to keep in mind.

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Set a budget for your fun car and buy what you can afford. When you read about cars selling at auction for hundreds of thousands, or even millions of dollars, you are not shut out of the market. There are a lot of domestic and foreign cars you can buy for ten or twenty thousand dollars, that are great fun to drive. 

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Buy the best example of whatever car you fancy.

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If you are looking at two cars, one a condition #3 "driver" and the other a #2 "near show" condition, don't think you can turn the former into the latter for less than the difference in the prices. If you want a "driver" to keep at your summer home, it can be better to buy one. Buy the car in the condition you want. 

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Remember that these are old cars.

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And when you buy one, it may have not been actively on the road for months or years. So allow a little in your budget and expect that there may be some recommissioning issues when you start driving your dream. My advice is to start using the car and becoming aware of what, if anything, offends your eyes, or your ears, or your driving pleasure, and address any issues that arise over time as you become better acquainted with your car. 

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Don't be afraid to look beyond your own neighborhood.

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Cars trade in an international marketplace. If you want a concours example of a '67 big-block Corvette coupe, in Goodwood Green with Tan interior, You must cast at least a nationwide net. There are well-qualified inspectors everywhere, and freight is rarely more than $2,000 anywhere in the lower 48.