I've just been reading up on buying my own car. I never realised how many pitfalls there are for one to trip into. 
With older classic cars this will be especially important, since they have been on the road so long and may have undergone many restorations and the
like.
So I wanted to know if there's a good guide out there that leads you through the safe purchase of a classic car. I've always preferred them
over a newer car, they're cheaper and you get a much more interesting vehicle.
I want my first car purchase to be a good classic, like a frogeye.
So, how about this guide? History checks and all that? 
The biggest problem with most older cars, particularly of Frogeye vintage, is RUST. Even restored examples suffer to one degree or another. After looking at bodywork, consider trim both exterior & interior. If you want a complete car, missing trim on rarer cars can be a complete pain. Mechanically speaking, most older cars from the period you mention are a breeze to work on, no troublesome fuel injection, no ABS, no 'leccy windows etc. Bearing in mind this forum, my suggestion to any newcommer would be to consider a glassfibre car. I've got a SE5A Scimitar, Gilbern Invader, Peerless GT & had a Rochdale GT, all of them were considerably more usable than any of the metal classics I've had & their's added kudos from most of them being rarer. Consider an ELVA, CLAN, Berkely, Rochdale and many of the other evcellent glassfibre options. (including a Lotus 7 or Elan)
I think it was a guy called Lyndsay Porter who did a restoration guide for Midgets and Sprites , may be worth looking at as it points out all of the parts of the car that are likely to need attention. HTH
Yeah, rust... it's something all cars (ok, ok, metal ones!) have to fear. Where should one check on such a car?
Betwwen the front and the rear of the car, in short everywhere!
The bigest problems is the load of twaddle talked by the guys who write for some of the classic car mags.
Fogeyes fetch silly money for what really wasn't that good a car, of the post war British volume sports cars the only two that are fairly safe
bets are the MG T types (particularly the TD and TF) or the MGB.
Yes, but the fact is I like the car for what it is. It's something unique that I find aesthetically pleasing.
Feel free to point me to any cars that would be good cheap, first-car classics.
Mini
Magnets; wonderful things.
Paul G
Would that be the MG Magnette Paul?
quote:
Originally posted by Vixus
Yes, but the fact is I like the car for what it is. It's something unique that I find aesthetically pleasing.
Feel free to point me to any cars that would be good cheap, first-car classics.