Tag: Classic Car Inspections

This Car is a Money Pit

Slightly burned HEI Distributor Cap

Whatever old car you own, no matter what brand, it will always take your wallet or purse for a spin. It doesn’t matter if you’ve inherited the car from your grandfather, father, or another relative. It doesn’t matter if you searched and searched for your Dream Car, High School Car, or the one you sold when marriage and kids came along. Read my lips – “they will all cost you money” and sometimes money you don’t have.

So what’s a car enthusiast to do? Answer: Spend time researching the correct shop for the repairs. Not all repair shops are created equal; kinda goes without saying, but it’s true. As I mentioned on the “Inside Story” of our Website, it’s like picking a Dentist for the first time. It couldn’t be any clearer than that statement. Talk to the shop owners; see if they have time to drink a cup of coffee and discuss your project; talk with the technician (often shop owners won’t allow that); walk around the shop space; look at their current projects; get references of past customers; look at their past work in person; read their reviews (with a skeptics eye); talk with the local car club members. After you’ve done all your homework, bounce it ALL off your significant other, and then go with your gut feelings.

Lastly – “Drive the Car!” or “Drive the Truck!” I can’t overemphasize this enough. Your Classic Car won’t last longer by sitting in the garage. If you don’t believe me, come see us and we’ll show you some pictures to prove it. And if you like, I’ll show you the invoice (name blanked) of the customer who thought the same thing – but was wrong.

Body mount bushing

Pre-purchase Inspections

Transmission cooler lines

I’m not sure I’ve mentioned pre-purchase inspections before, but it needs to be mentioned now.

Often we get calls or emails from owners of newly acquired classic cars, and are asked about our services. The common theme of the conversation stems from an oil leak or running issue. We schedule a date, and the vehicle is either driven in or delivered by a flatbed truck…the later being the norm.

The discovery of mechanical issues then begins to unfold, and it isn’t always positive. It’s a very disconcerting event for the owner and us. The only comparison I have is: it’s similar to a visit to the Doctor for an aliment, only to find out it’s much worse than you had thought. Your heart sinks well below your chest; you become flush in the face; your spouse gives you the look of despair; you envision a much lighter bank account; your prized stallion is a mere plug; anger engulfs your thoughts; and like John Wick 2 you’ll hear these words from Winston: “What have you done?”

Missing Parts

So how do we prevent those feelings I mentioned above? Well, it begins with a pre-purchase inspection. It can occur at our facility, the seller’s facility, or another location that can be agreed upon. It isn’t a drawn-out process, and it isn’t expensive in comparison to after-the-fact repairs. A typical inspection will take roughly and hour, along with a short test drive and some paperwork documentation.

The good thing for you is, it’s all transparent. You can stand, watch, listen, take pictures (we also take pictures), and ask questions. Knowledge is power as they say. While it won’t make the sale any less painful, it will make the purchase the wiser. You can Pass, Run or Punt the ball. It will be strictly up to you. By the way, if the seller refuses to allow the pre-purchase inspection, you might want to run-away from the purchase…just saying.