4 Things you need to know when buying a classic car for sale in Cape Town

 

1. When is the best time to buy or invest in a classic car?

Clinton - “That's a difficult one. I would say when the markets are up and down is a pretty good time to be investing in a classic because they remain very, very stable, it's one of the few investments where your money is pretty safe.

And then secondly, it's one of those investments that puts a smile on your face instead of the broker's face while you're having it. If the markets remain in your favour well, it's like any investment, it can go up and go down but at least you have the beneficial use of the assets.

It's not lying in a bank somewhere, so it puts a smile on your face and, if you've purchased correctly from the right people, you should be getting a return on your investment.”

 

2. How much mileage is too high when purchasing a classic car? 

“It’s all about the condition of the vehicle - not mileage. A vehicle is only as good as its mechanical condition. So very often people will go “That's a very pretty car.” and we've very often said to them, “Do you have the technical ability to maintain the vehicle?” if the answer's no, well then we will generally highlight the issues that need attention.

The beauty with old classic cars is there is nothing on them that cannot be rebuilt. The older cars, everything can be rebuilt, remanufactured and for numerous occasions can actually be taken back to the original specific condition again.

To answer your question, no. Mileage is irrelevant, because it depends on your capability, it depends on what you're looking for. If you're looking for a car to restore yourself, well then nothing is impossible, if you're looking for a car to get into and drive, well then it is important that you buy something that's maybe got a lower mileage on it.”

 

3. Is mileage more important than age, or is age more important than mileage when purchasing a used car? 

“No it's neither. I mean I've got a 1929 Rolls Royce that you get in, you turn the key and it drives, it's an 90 year old motorcar. And it still goes and it's done hundreds of thousands of kilometers. I think the important component here is, and I'm going to be stepping out of the sphere of your question:

It's quite important to actually purchase a vehicle from people that have a technical connection to the cars because a person is capable of looking at a car and they'll go, “well, that's a very pretty car” and they'll buy it and it will give them years of trouble, because it was all pretty on the outside and at the bottom it was rotten. That's why we specialize, because it's the way I mitigate my risk and I mitigate my client's risk. I don't want the car to come back to me. Our primary focus is always the mechanical condition of the car because there is nothing worse than being stuck with a pretty car on the side of the road. So our primary focus is mechanical condition"

 

4. What are your final tips for anyone looking to buy a classic car in Cape Town?

“Buy a classic car from somebody who understands the car. So British cars have got specific noises, some of them are good, some of them not so good. German cars have got specific noises, some of them are good, some of them not so good. So buy a car from somebody that understands, knows, and has a mechanical connection to the vehicle, because he will listen to it.”

You can learn more about Clinton's dealership as well as check out his stock by visiting used cars for sale.