Beginner's guide to buying a classic car

[Ben Lowden]

I've long contemplated buying a classic car as a project, such as a Triumph GT6 or an old Mini. I'd love to strip something right back to a bare shell and build it again from the ground up but have found the concept a little daunting without knowing where to start on identifying the right car to start with.

Note: It doesn't have to be a ground up rebuild to start with – ideally I would like to buy a car that runs that I can enjoy but inevitably I want to be prepared for an overhaul and major maintenance work.

Any tips or good resources to use on where to even start putting such a plan together? And things to consider such as tax, insurance, rust, parts availability, how to build a budget, etc?

Edited by Ben Lowden on Wednesday 26th August 14:50

[Ben Lowden]

Thanks for all of the input so far! I should have also added, it doesn't necessarily have to be a strip down rebuild to start with. More a case of how to find a decent example of something that ideally runs but I won't be scared of maintenance or a potential rebuild in the future.

I've built a kit car from scratch without a manual and a Caterham too (may as well have binned the manual for that!) so I'm fairly competent although I've never stripped down anything oily or attempted welding before. Not to say I couldn't learn, but that would be outside of my comfort zone for now.

Ultimately I think whatever I buy, rust or a rotten chassis is my biggest fear and I'm guessing the former is almost inevitable for something that hasn't been rebuilt at some stage. Hence the expectation to have to strip down and rebuild at some point

9xxNick said:

Have you looked at the option of starting with a smaller and more manageable project such as an inexpensive stationary engine or a lawnmower and seeing how you get on with that? If you don't finish the smaller project then a car's probably not for you. If you do finish it to a decent standard it will give you some feel for what you're taking on.

That's a good shout – I've toyed with the idea of building a cafe racer for a few years, not that I even have a bike licence but it feels like a more manageable project to start with initially.

[Ben Lowden]

Rolling restoration – I like that term and that sounds exactly what I'll be looking for. Thank you for the continued comments and input!

Lotobear said:

I've restored a few cars on a nut and bolt basis including a Caterham, an Elan + 2 and a few Minis (current work in progress shown).

You need to break it down into a series of sub projects - engine, heater, sub frames, dash etc. otherwise you can get overwhelmed. It's great fun though and helps you get through the drudgery of regular work.

That looks fantastic and is what I'm dreaming of doing! Need to get a house with a garage first though; hopefully only a year or two away.