What should you look for when searching for a restoration car?

If you are a car guy (or gal), most of us have the one special make and model that we want to bring back to life. If you haven't bought a lot of cars in your time, or specifically older models, there are some things that you need to be careful of before

you hand over your cash. A lot can happen to a car since the year of its birth and you want to be sure that you are not inheriting someone else's problem or a nightmare in disguise.

Walk around the entire car, check it from top to bottom from left to right. How does the car smell - a strong odor of gasoline can mean the gas tank or fuel line is leaking. Stand back and look at the car's stance, does it lean to the left or right? Do the doors fit and close properly? Does the trunk and hood open and close? Are there any signs of water damage in the trunk? Get on the ground and look underneath the car - is there rust? Check the tires, are there different size tires on the back and front and side to side.

A little investigation can tell you a lot. Check the cars vehicle numbers, look under the hood, on the engine, and on the dash - do the numbers match? How many parts on the car are original? How many parts are working? Are all the parts there? Are there any signs of rodent nests in the engine compartment? Rodents can do serious damage to the wiring and electrical system. Check to see that the brake lights, head lights, and turn signals. Is there oil in the coolant or coolant in the oil? Any mixed fluids could signal engine damage or leaking.

Did you bring a magnet? A simple trick is to run a magnet around the body - any place that the magnet does not attract to the car may be a place where bondo was used to repair damage.

It never hurts to bring a friend. There are things that someone else can notice that you might not. For example, have them stand behind the car and tell you if here is smoke out of the exhaust when you turn the car on or check for leaks from the engine. Your friend may help by noticing something, asking questions, or talking you out of an impulse that could save you thousands of dollars.

Check the tailpipe. Any excessive amounts of black soot may indicate burning oil.

Why not take it to your mechanic? Most reasonable sellers will let you take it to your local fix-it guy to have the car looked over. You may need to leave a small deposit while you are making the arrangements (so the guy won't sell it out from under you), but it is worth wondering if you will get a couple hundred dollars back instead of sinking thousands into a problem you didn't think to look for. If you can't take it to a mechanic, you must test drive the car. Start the car and shift in the Neutral, Reverse, and Drive and repeat. Pay attention and listen to how the car shifts from gear to gear - any loud noises or delays could signal transmission problems.

Turn the radio off so that you can listen to the sounds the car is making. Pay special attention to sounds you hear while turning, accelerating or braking. Have your friend drive behind you and have them check for smoke and to make sure the car tracks ok.

The most important tool you have is your gut - if you feel like something is wrong, don't be afraid to walk away. Your car is still out there.

So, you've looked over the car and you think everything is ok.Now what is the right price to offer?

Return to the Article List