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When it comes to car insurance, insuring a classic vehicle is not at all the same as insuring a regular car. There are many differing circumstances that need to be addressed in order to accurately insure an antique car. As a classic car owner you need to have all information and facts straight regarding the insurance on a classic car. Don’t make the mistake of assuming it’s the same as any other insurance. Seriously valuable objects need to be given special consideration when it comes to protecting and maintaining their worth.

You should call around for insurance companies that specialize in insurance for classic cars. Many do not have special considerations for this and you must have a company that understands the value of your car. An insurance company that deals in antique cars will be able to give you the best protection possible while understanding your concerns as a classic car owner.

You must be sure that your classic car will always be treated as a classic and never as a regular commuter vehicle. If something were to happen to your car, you need to be certain that it will be treated as a classic so that you do not lose any of its worth. Commuter coverage will not cover classic costs and depreciation. That simply is not acceptable when it comes to a car of exceptional value.

Some insurance companies will have guidelines set for your car that you must follow such as how much mileage you can put on it per year. Have all of these guidelines laid out before you sign any insurance papers. Things like this can directly affect your premiums. If you do not use the car as a regular commuter car, then these guidelines will save you money.

Always read through all of the insurance papers before you sign anything. Like any other legal agreement you must know everything you are agreeing to before you make it official with your signature. Read all of the small print and don’t sign anything unless you are 100% satisfied with what you see.

Because a classic car is so very valuable, you need to make sure that value is protected in the event of an accident. This means that not only will you be covered for the amount the damage is worth but you will also be covered for how much value was diminished on your car due to the damage. This is one of the most important parts of insuring your antique ride. Cover all bases when it comes to maintaining your value as a classic.

Don’t use any rough figures or estimates when it comes to listing a value for your car. Find out and list the exact financial value of your car on insurance papers. By listing rough figures you could undervalue the car which is not something you want to be doing.

Some insurance companies will insist that classic cars be stored in a certain way. This could include things like locked storage when the car is not in use or being displayed. Be sure to follow all guidelines that you agree to in order to keep your car as protected as possible.

By: Levi Quinn

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You know every little detail classic car enthusiasts notice. From the shiny exterior paint to the posh interior, detailing your classic car makes it stand out from the competition. Discerning car owners know a true classic is defined by its condition. When you detail your classic car, you keep it in showroom shape for years to come.

Detailing your classic ride includes several different aspects of car care. Usually the car is washed by hand and the interior is shampooed. The exterior may be power polished or waxed by hand with carnuba wax. You may decide to have protection applied to the fabric or leather interior so it stays clean and fresh. Many classic car owners also have the engine cleaned for optimum appearance and performance.

Besides cleaning your classic car, ongoing maintenance is essential. If you own a classic car to bring to shows, you already know classic car parts can be difficult to find. By maintaining the car regularly, you are aware when parts needs to be replaced. Instead of scurrying for parts before a show, your car is ready to go when you need it.

Muscle car owners show off both the beauty and performance of their classic cars. It’s not enough for their classic car to look gorgeous. Muscle car owners also want optimum performance so they can race their classics to victory. Keeping muscle car parts updated is key if you want to be ready to win the race in style.

Detailing keeps your classic car in excellent condition. One of the reasons you are able to own a classic vehicle is thanks to the dedicated maintenance done in the past. When you properly maintain your classic car , it keeps its resale and car show value.

Your regular maintenance routine begins with washing your car regularly. Use a car wash formulated for classic vehicles to keep the exterior in top shape. Make sure to wash your car with plenty of water so the soap doesn’t dry out. After washing your ride, dry it off with a detailing cloth or chamois. Leaving water spots can cause mineral deposits to form on the paint.

When you car is washed and dry, check for any stubborn grime such as road tar, pollution or bird droppings. Lubricant and detailing clay will get rid of these potentially corrosive materials. Clean the interior windows, dashboard and seating then vacuum the floors. Make sure to use the right cleaning products for fabric, leather or vinyl interior.

After washing, polish or wax your classic car for the ultimate shine. Make sure to clean the tires, underside, boot interior and inside the engine compartment. Check your oil, fluids and tire levels every week. Have your classic car regularly maintained and updated so it always looks and runs its best. With dedicated maintenance, your classic vehicle is a timeless treasure.

By: Alice Lane

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Classic Car Prices are based on several elements. Just because a car is old does not mean it will have accelerated value. Just because an old car has low mileage does not mean it will have higher value. Cars dated 1880 to 1916 are antique. Cars dating from 1916 to 1924 are vintage. Cars built after 1924 until the current year are considered classic cars. In the US, classic cars are officially those that are at least 15 years old.

Even more important than low mileage, condition is the number one variable to affect classic car prices. Mileage can be adjusted, so without honest verification of low actual mileage, there is no real way to say that odometer is correct. Even if the odometer is left alone, there is no verification that the engine on that car holds those miles on it.

Different options will have different values, based on what the option is and where the car is located. If you have a right hand drive car in England, that will have more value than a left hand drive. In the US, the opposite would be the case. Custom features can actually reduce the classic car prices, because then someone has to restore the car back to original condition. Even a classic car that is incomplete will have the value of its parts for resale.

Overall, car condition is still the factor that will sets value on a classic car. In a car show, there are four categories of condition: Show, Excellent, Good, and Fair. A show car is the best, is not driven, is hauled around on a trailer from show to show. They are exceptional restorations or highly preserved originals. A car will only receive this classification after being judged so and certified at a national level classic car show at 96 to 100 percent.

A car classified as excellent is driven rarely. It is completely functional, and either highly preserved or completely restored. This car will score 90 to 95 percent at a regional classic car show. Cars that are in the good classification show some age but are very well maintained. Again, the car will either be a nice original or a well restored car. It can be driven and it runs very nicely.

The lowest category of condition would be fair. These cars work well, and are missing no major parts. This is the type of car you would buy for restoration to a higher category. They show a little age, maybe have some rust here and there. They might need a little body work. The car looks good and is able to be driven, but it needs brakes, or engine work or some important parts replaced.

You can find classic car prices in the NADA or Gold Book guides. Regardless of the guide price, when it comes to selling the classic car, it comes down to how badly the buyer wants it, and who owned the car previously, and whatever documentations are available.

By: Wendy Pan

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When interested in either buying or selling a classic car, what better place to look or place an add than the classic car classifieds it’s a place where you and other classic car owners or potential buyers should be.

Many sellers love the classic car classifieds because it’s place for them to get top exposure. They are there to give you top exposure to hundreds of hopeful buyers. For those looking to buy you get to see many cars that you would never expect with great prices and wide selection.

It’s better to look for classic cars in the classifieds because then you get to look at thousands of cars from lot’s of different places and compare them rather than going to a lot with just a few specific cars.You are given more of an opportunity to find something that you will be sure to like.

The best way to find the top classified sites online is to do a simple search on Google and you should get a list of the top 10 most visited classic car classifieds online. You can also look at the right hand side of the google sponsored listings that should give you some really good ones you can check out.

I tend to frequent these 3 classified sites:

1. OldCars.com

2. OldRide.com

3. Classiccarsforsale.co.uk

Different makes that you can look forward to seeing are Cadillac, AMC,Porshe,Toyota, Mercedes Benz, Mazda and many more with models such as Cadillac coup Deville, 1952 Mercedes Benz 220 four door sedan, AMC rebel, Ford Models, Pontiac GTO, Chevy classic trucks, Alfa Romeo just to name a few.

However even though you get a lot of positives there are negatives such as fraud and scams that take place. This happens especially online when people ask for ones credit card number and once gotten has access to the card and may have a free spending spree. It is best to meet all sellers in person when paying for the product no matter what the distance to make sure what is paid for is actually received.

Alternatively, you can use an escrow service to hold your money and only have it released once you receive the classic car you bought online. Classic car classifieds are really a fun place to hang out and enjoy your passion for these cars from the past.

By: Munyaradzi Chinongoza

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I thought that I’d delve in to an article about fixing rust in the body of your classic car, this is a huge problem if your buying or own a classic cars that came from a place near the sea, or a place where they use salt on the roads to melt the snow, rust in most cases will start underneath the car and work it’s way up destroying anything in it’s path along the way, nothing will stop rust or slow it down in it’s effort to destroy your classic car’s body.

There are a few ways to fix rust problems in your car, but first you must find them, you can start by looking for bubbles in the painted surface of the car, and do not take it lightly when you find it, don’t look at it and think that just because it seems to be only on the surface that it is, rust will hide in cracks, underneath seem sealer, under that carpet, or any place else that it can, believe be the rust knows that you don’t want it in your car, so look at it like a doctor would look a cancer.

To check how bad the rust is, take a body hammer with a pick on one end, and use that end to lightly tap the rusted spot that you have found, if the metal seems like it’s soft and moves easily, then you needs to fix this area now, in some cases you’ll knock a hole in the area that your tapping on wit the hammer, don’t worry about this, it won’t be there for long if you fix the rust hole the right way.

What you’ll need to do the job, is a, air compressor, a die grinder with a cutting blade on it, do yourself a favor and make sure that you have more then one cussing blade for that grinder, you’ll need sheet metal, the same gage as your car, if you don’t know what gage it is, you’ll also need a 5″ air grinder loaded with a 40 grit disc to finish the welds with, then you’ll need to buy a metal gage checking tool, and last but not least you’ll need a MIG welder with plenty of gas and wire, there are other ways to fix a rust spot without a welder, but in my opinion they are not as reliable.

Now that you have your tools all together and your courage up to the right level where you can begin the job, you’ll want to determine how big the rusted area is by tapping it with the pick end of that body hammer until you run in to areas on all sides of the rust that don’t seem soft, or like they don’t have any strength to them, once you have discovered how big the rusted area is you need to get a sharpie and draw a line around the rusted area, about 2″ in to the good metal all the way around the rusted area, so you know that the rust will be gone when you cut it out, rust is not easy to weld to, so make 100% sure that it’s all the way gone.

Now that you have your line to cut to all drawn out with the sharpie, you can plug the die grinder in to the air source, now a word of advise here, don’t try to cut it all at one time, put a light cut along the line that you drew with the sharpie, just repeat the process of running the die grinder along that line until the rusted area falls out of the car, now that the rusted metal is out of your car, pick up the rusted piece of metal and lay it on top of your new sheet metal, take that sharpie that you used to draw the first line to cut to, and using the rusted piece of metal draw a line to it with the sharpie, using the same process that you did on the rusted spot in your car, cut the piece of good metal out with the die grinder.

The die grinder has left a rough edge on the back of the good piece of metal, you’ll need to clean that up, the best way to do this is to take that 5″ grinder that you have with the 40 grit disc on it, and lightly run it over the back of the metal until all the burs are gone, now you’ll need to that 5″ grinder with the 40 grit disc on it, and clean the area on your car where you cut the rust our, make sure that you have about 2″ of bare clean metal around the area that you cut out.

Now take that good piece of metal that you cut from your sheet of repair metal, and fit it in the hole that you cut out of your car, I usually use visegrips to hold the new metal in place, now this is where things can get a little tricky, so pay close attention this section, make sure that you have a good place to put the grounding clamp for your welder, if you don’t see a place for it right close to your work area, then take that 5″ air grinder and make one, make sure that the clamp has a solid connection.

Plug you welder in, and make sure that the gas is turned on, I usually run the wire feed, and current set at about 3 or 4 on my MIG, but this could be different on your machine, so do yourself a favor and test it before putting it to your car, now that we’re all ready to go, you have the visegrips holding the metal in place and you have your welder setup right, your going to want to run about a 1″ bead on the top, bottom, and both sides, and then you can get the visegrips out of your way.

Now you have four weld beads holding the patch panel in place, now heres a bit more advise, mig welders get very hot, and it’s possible to warp the metal in your car while welding the patch panel in place, so never weld more then 1″ beads at a time, and move from the top to the bottom, do a 1″ weld on the top of the patch, and then cool it off with a little air, and the do a 1″ weld on the bottom and cool it off, and the do the same thing with the sides, until you have one solid bead all the way around the patch panel, you have now fixed your rust problem, all that’s left is the finish work on the welds.

Grab your 5″ air grinder with the 40 grit disc and grind the welds flat, in most cases you should not even be able to see the welds if you have done it right, the job is now complete, I’ll move on to the body work part in a later article.

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By: David Atkin

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Many people use the words “classis car” when they are defining a car that they believe is a classic but do they know the true definition of one? It can be in general any old car that is in good condition however the Concours d’Elegance and the Classic car club are just two groups that are a little more specific saying that 1948 is the last year for true classic cars.

However it is also a distinct automobile that was high priced and had a select number of them. People generally have a fascination for classic cars because they are quite different compared to the modern cars that we have these days. The way they look and the price for gas are just two of their many differences. Unlike driving a car from the year 2000 and on, one may enjoy the fact that they will probably be the only one on the road driving their specific brand of car.

There are many different classes of classic cars right now. We have classic muscle cars which are for the speed freaks. There’s classic model cars which are classics that were never mass produced but where only shown at a past car shows. There are antique classic cars which are the really old cars, from the early nineteenth century like the Fords.

A Volvo amazon is a good example of a car considered to be a classic. Coming out in 1956, during it’s time it was quite a quality piece of work.The Volvo had a reputation for being a solid car and offered a good safety level in case it impacted something. Coming from Sweden, this car is also noted as the first car that featured three point seat-belts. 15000 of the original 270 000 made in Sweden are said to be still in use proving that this was a very reliable car.

Said to have an appeal so strong that just there mere mention of the name evokes great memories,made in Britain the Morris Minor is one of the places favorite cars. This was the first British car to sell 1.6 million during their 25 year production. With a two door, four door, family traveler, and a few more it’s no wonder this car sold so many. First brought out to the public in 1948 this car can still be improved and still used with a good amount of safety to this day.

Classic cars were great and awed in their day with their limited quantity in their day and still create a facisnation in ours. With good research and dedication you can still find classic cars for sale and buy classic cars and it does not take much to still put them in use.

By: Munyaradzi Chinongoza

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With prices hitting the silly season about 18 months before every bubble was burst, the LAST thing you want to do is leave money on the table. You would think with all the sources of information, it would be easy. After all, if you want to sell your house now, you can get comps from the MLS from any realtor.Some sellers have not gotten reality and are trying to recoup losses by keeping prices high while others forced to fire sale their cars to cash buyers who can move fast.

There is not just one method in my opinion. In order to get the right range, you need to triangulate on a price using several data points. Go to the traditional sources to get a ball park (many are listed below). I use the NADA guidelines for starters, and then check out Manheim-Gold and Hemmings. Prepare for shock at times because the estimated prices can vary. For example, a recent search for a 1967 Pontiac GTO convertible, original, matching numbers, standard options ranged in Excellent condition from $44K to $99K!

And Excellent did not mean #1, show quality where the car is never driven, just stored in a climate controlled environment. Good condition was $28K to $54K. Again, quite a spread. When I checked some of the listings (did not drill, just read the specs), many read the same, recent (within 2 to 3 year restoration), matching numbers, many original parts, complete documentation, etc. So, you would have to inspect the cars yourself to see who was blowing smoke. At least you have a data point. Next, check as many classic auto dealers as possible to poll them for recent prices. Many list the SOLD on their website. If not, then call them and tell them what you are looking to buy. They have the pulse of the market and you will be able to zero in on a better sense of reality. Remember that a dealer will be high, maybe even 20 to 25 percent. So bank that information.

Another source is looking at recent car auction results. Sometimes hard to find, there is one site that is helpful is at sports car market dot com. It is a paid subscription site (we have no affiliate association). You can pay by the day, month or year ($99.00), so a small price to pay for great information. Using these three resources should get you pretty close to what you will pay for your car. The next step is to thoroughly understand the valuation system for classic car cars so you know where your car fits, and consequently how much you have to pay. The rating system below is standard. Excellent: The vehicle in perfect and near-mint condition, either completely restored or an original vehicle with little wear. This is NOT a #1 show quality car that is never driven. Very Good: Solid vehicle with minor scratches or engine and other wear and tear. This car is near perfect and a great driver.

Good: The vehicle has repairable damages and still needs a little effort to restore. The car is a decent driver.

Fair: A vehicle that needs a lot of restoration work. If a car is not drivable because of engine, brake, or other mechanical failures, but has a solid exterior look, it will fall in this category.

Parts car: Not restorable and bought only for its reusable parts.

You may also see ratings such as Low Retail Value, Average Retail Value and High Retail Value. These basically line up to Good, Very Good and Excellent. Lastly, do not forget the many online clubs and forums. There is one thing great about classic car lovers, we all love to talk about our cars. There is a huge collective wisdom out there to tap into. If you want someone to take the hassle out of finding the right car for the right value, then contact Your Dream Car Finder and discover how easy it is, Handy Resources: Google – Manheimgold, NADAGuides or Hemmings Motor News.

By: Timothy Leary

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If you’re a classic car owner, you’re probably quite proud of your vehicle. You’ve gone through lot’s of trouble finding, buying, repairing, and restoring your classic car to get it into tip top shape. If you have all this time and money invested into your vehicle, you’re probably thinking about how you can insure and protect it.

However, you can’t just call up your regular insurance company and get proper insurance for your classic car. Since classic cars are valued differently than newer ones, insuring them is quite different. Classic cars are one of a kind investments, which takes special expertise to value and insure. Fortunately for you, classic car insurance is offered by several niche insurance companies. You can find these companies on the internet rather quickly.

As you browse these sites and compare terms and quotes, you’ll notice a couple restrictions that come into place before you can get classic car insurance. First of all, you must have a solid driving record. If you’ve got a long history of accidents, you probably won’t be allowed to get a policy. Many policies require ten years of driving experience.

Another common requirement is that you have prove that you have another form of transportation for everyday use. Since classic cars have a poorer safety record than modern ones, it’s not expected that you’ll be driving it all the time. In fact, many policies will limit you to under 5000 miles of driving per year. This isn’t that limiting, unless you’re trying to use your classic car as a real means of transportation.

You also need to make sure that your car qualifies as a classic car. Every company has different policies for defining what qualifies as a classic car, so be sure to check with your company to makes sure that your car qualifies.

You should also understand what kind of policy you’re getting. Since many classic cars are one of kind, they can be hard to price. You can get several types of policies: actual cash value, stated value and agreed value. Actual cash value works like regular car insurance, which just pays you for the cost of the car. Stated value will pay you up to a certain stated value for the car, but there are no guarantees of this value. Agreed value policies pay you a pre-agreed upon amount in the event of an incident, typically with no deductible. As you might imagine, these policies get progressively more expensive.

This should give you a basic idea of what you’re up against in terms of getting insurance for your classic car. Be sure to get several quotes so that you can get the best deal to protect your special investment. You will have much greater piece of mind knowing that your prized vehicle is properly insured.

By: David C Wilson

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If you are a devotee of custom or classic cars, you may want to think about how to go about financing one. Not everybody who collects classic cars has the cash to pay for it in one fell swoop. Though significantly different from conventional auto financing, this specialty is still something to consider if that perfect car has caught your eye. Just try to get a handle on the process and then make your vintage car dreams come true.

As almost all of the regular sources of auto loans stay away from loans for classic vehicles, a car lender that handles specialty cars will be likely your only option. Unlike other lenders, specialty car lenders don’t use any of the traditional price guides to assess the value of the car in question. They will make their own evaluation as to the cars value.

A good practice to get into is to get a credit report prior to any vehicle shopping. The lender is sure run a credit check, so you should be aware of any problems so that you will have time to address any issues that may be fixable. Remember, all negative activity in your credit history can affect your score and ultimately your ability to secure financing. Foreclosures, bankruptcies and an excessive amount of late payments can significantly damage you scores and hurt your chances of procuring a loan. Furthermore, classic car lenders usually have more rigorous lending rules than do traditional auto lenders.

You will also find that custom car loan terms can differ from those of the common everyday auto lender. It is not unheard of to have a 10-year loan, for example, on a classic auto. New car lenders typically offer loans for a maximum of 6 years.

Classic car financing differs in the amount of down payment required as well. With a new car it is fairly easy to procure a loan that finances the full value of the vehicle – that is, no down payment. Classic car lenders, in most cases, require at least 20 percent of the value as an initial payment. Because of the more subjective manner of estimating the value of a vintage automobile, the larger down payment offers a heftier collateral, in a sense, in the event of loan default.

Classic car lenders almost invariably require some kind of physical inspection of the vehicle before approval of financing. Approval for financing of a new or used car, on the other hand, can be arranged without even viewing the car. Basic information about the car is all that is needed.

There are definitely some challenges that are unique to the buyer trying to arrange financing for a classic car. As is often is the case, title questions can arise with classic vehicles. Make sure that a title does exist before you expend time and energy trying to get a loan. Without a title you are out of luck.

Before you take the steps to financing a classic car, you need to decide if it really makes sense in the long run. Is it for fun or is it an investment or both? Many of the classic vehicles continue to increase in value. Do your research and then determine if borrowing for a classic car is for you.

By: Scot Josephson

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Nothing completes a perfect wedding than the befitting spectacle of the bride and groom taking off into the sunset. But a wedding set in Las Vegas takes more than the antediluvian ‘riding off on a horse’ exit. In this city of glitz, taking leave in a classic car rental more than suffices. Weddings, like every other special occasion, entail a sense of reverie. And a Las Vegas wedding is a great opportunity to go all out and make that dream wedding a reality. For in Las Vegas, everything and anything is possible. A classic car rental can add that extra flair and glamor to your wedding. Being a dramatic departure from the ordinary, a classic ride can accentuate that fantasy feel that you and your guests will surely have a hard time forgetting. And what a comforting fact it is to know that Las Vegas has one of the biggest classic car rental industries in the country.

Now, imagine the sight of you, on your wedding day, descending from a Rolls Royce Silver Cloud III. This is no everyday ride, mind you, for the Rolls Royce Silver Cloud was, for a time, the Hollywood emblem of the stars and the affluent lot. The name ‘Rolls Royce’ itself, already conjures up images of class and elegance, which then may have seemed out of your league. But in Las Vegas, a classic car rental of the same model can be had from select rental companies in the city.

Now, you get to ride with the stars and not to mention, make a perfect grand entrance. But if you are one to lean more on the wilder side of life, and is looking for a way to loudly express your style, don’t worry. Las Vegas classic car rental companies have a wide array of vintage car models to suit many preferences. A re-engineered 1958 top-down Corvette perfectly compliments the energetic and modish side of you. Why rent a limo and be just like everyone else? Las Vegas is a city for new experiences; and while you’re having your wedding here, why not try out an exotic car rental as you and your hubby’s official ride. Exotic cars may be too loud for a wedding, but if your tastes fall under fun and memorable, go at it with a Lamborghini Gallardo or on an all-American Corvette Convertible. It is a pleasure to note that Las Vegas exotic car rental and classic car rental companies come with special occasion packages.

They can take care of chauffeur service and leave you hassle free from having to recruit a designated driver. But do remember to book a reservation. Being the Marriage Capital of the World, Las Vegas car rentals may just have a busy schedule. Thus, it is smart to play it sure and safe and to let your exotic car rental provider know ahead of time. It is every bride’s dream to have a wedding that is different and memorable to her and her husband to be. And why not? A wedding is a special occasion that is meant to be remembered for more than a lifetime. Luckily, Las Vegas is a city grasps that understanding of the importance of making one couple’s fantasy wedding a reality. And it is good to know that classic and exotic car rental companies are there to drive you to a dream come true.

By: Paul S Fitzgerald

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