When you are deciding on which of the many country classic cars to purchase, you have various things to consider. If you don’t have a family, it will be easier to justify purchasing a car with very little seating room. And you might want to have garage space for your new classic, so it doesn’t have to sit in the driveway of your home. If you’re married and have a family, keep their needs in mind when you are looking at classic cars, because they probably won’t share your keen interest. If you already own a classic car or two, you might want to put off adding another car, in lieu of buying a suitable family car next. You can also explain to your spouse that there is something about classic cars that makes them different than buying any other car. He or she won’t see your potential purchase in the same way as you do, since you’re the one with the addiction to classic cars.
Assuming that you have the monetary means to feed that pleasant addiction, take into account what condition the car needs to be in for you to enjoy it. If you’re a body welder or a mechanic, you can spend a lot less on the initial purchase, and gain a lot of satisfaction out of restoring the car to its original pristine condition. If you don’t know a lug nut from a wing bolt, you’ll have to look at a car that is mechanically sound, unless you have a mechanic that specializes in restorations.
You may be tempted to play the savior when you see a rusty bucket of bolts on the side of the road. Unless you can have it hauled away for free, your dreams of country classic cars might die in the driveway with the unmanageable wreck. Select a car that has had at least some care taken with it, and make sure before you buy that you can do the work that needs done, or that you have someone lined up who can do the work, without emptying your wallet. What can you realistically take on, financially and time-wise? An Mk2 Jaguar project car being sold for restoration might be worth the small amount they are asking for it now, but look forward to all the money you’ll have to put into it, whether that is in parts and your time, or your mechanic and body man’s bills.
Be careful about the car you choose to save, too. If you spend $1000 on an old vehicle and spend hours of time and tons of money finding parts for it, you might have been better off to spend the money on a car whose spare parts are easier to find, or a car that does not need as much extensive work. If you have a particular model that you just must have, find one in as good a condition as you can afford to buy, and have the work done as your time and budget allow. You can find many country classic cars that have been left to sit, that you can make your own and restore with love.