Buying Your Dream Muscle Car

by Malcolm Zack

It is always easier to purchase a car locally, however, limiting your search to your local area will make it challenging to find “the car”.  The best way to buy a car is from someone you know. Since this is not always plausible, the classic car directories are your next best choice.  Your regional Auto Trader is a good place to start.  The cars are all local and it will permit you to go and see many cars in a short period of time. Other directories exist in your local newspaper or Internet. I do not recommend buying a car off an auction website unless you are a seasoned automotive buyer.  The more cars you see the more you will learn about them and the more informed you will become.   

Once you find a car that interests you contact the seller buy telephone and ask a few questions BEFORE you venture out to see the car.  Here are some key questions that will provide you with some important information regarding the car:

 

  1. 1 - Does the car run and can it be operated safely?

If the car will not run or cannot be operated safely the price should be reduced considerably

  1. 2 - Can you give me the specifics/specs of the car such as engine size, transmission type and original options?

 Options such as manual transmission, big block, rare model designation (SS, RT, HO, GT) will increase the selling price considerably.

  1. 3 - Tell me about the body of the car, does it have any body filler?

Body filler is a common repair method used to eliminate holes in the body of a car caused by excessive rust

  1. 4 -Ask for original documentation bill of sale, owners manual, build sheet?

Example Build Sheet from a 1968 Pontiac Firebird

Fig #1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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