Matt Harwood

Don't take this the wrong way, but is there a shortage of 1968 Chevys? I'm the kind of guy who likes my cars original, but I don't shed a tear for most of the cars that get modified simply because there are thousands of them. Sure a low-mileage "survivor" might have some minor collector interest to it, but it's still not a valuable or particularly scarce car and if you desperately want one, there are plenty to choose from that are equal to that car. But to answer your question (Why would you do this?), there are several obvious reasons why this was done: 1) Profit. How much was the car worth as it sat or if they had tuned it up and made it run perfectly? $10,000? $12,000? Certainly not much more than that. How much was it worth when it was done? Probably quite a bit more than that. I don't know what they invested in the build and it's hard to make money doing that kind of stuff but I bet the car generated some profit for someone somewhere. 2) Entertainment. Whether the guys on TV make money building cars or not is academic, it's entertainment. The TV producers are bankrolling the build and the accompanying drama. How many good, clean used late-model 1968 Chevys were driven off of cliffs in high-speed pursuits in old movies? It's entertainment, nothing more. 3) Marketability. Yes, we love original cars, that's what this club is about. But they all can't be saved. That car was surely for sale and someone other than the TV show guys knew of its existence and availability. Why didn't someone "save" the car if it was so desirable? Would someone have bought it as it sat? I watch the market and talk to buyers every day and to be honest, there are so many cars out there that some are almost impossible to sell except for pennies on the dollar, and this might be one of them. Just because it's your personal favorite car doesn't mean it should be everyone's favorite, and yes, there's a demographic shift going on where people want modified cars and expect luxuries like fuel injection, overdrive transmissions, and air conditioning. They aren't buying the cars to experience what life was like in 1968, they're buying the cars because they like how they look and how they make them feel and because they like to have something unique (relatively speaking, of course). Tastes and expectations in the old car hobby are changing, like it or not. We shed bitter tears and shake our fists at people who cut up good old cars, but unless someone steps up and puts their money on the line to rescue it, well, there isn't much to complain about if someone else does put their money on the line. It's like complaining about the government when you don't vote. Some cars are offensive if they are cut up (the guys building rods from Full Classics, for example), but a mass-produced car with a top that doesn't go down and a garden-variety powertrain? Just because it's managed to exist for 50 years doesn't make it special. I've managed to exist for 45 years with all my original parts, but I'm hardly something unique or magical. Hell, I wouldn't mind an upgrade or two...

I've had more than a few people suggest that I should go down there and acquire those "lost" Cuban cars (these are usually the same morons that suggest I call Jay Leno to buy all my cars). In truth, none of those cars are salvageable in any meaningful way. The whole point of them is the ingenuity of the Cuban people, which is quite remarkable, but none of those are perfect, unrestored survivors waiting for a lucky new owner. They're patched together using wishes and wire, not perfectly preserved cars from a warm climate. There might be a handful of remarkable finds due to the vast wealth that was there in the '50s, and those will be carefully and quietly exported, but the rest aren't really worth having. What will happen is that someone will cherry-pick the best of the cars, they'll show up at auction and bring HUGE money so the guys who need to have such a curiosity can say they have one (these are probably the same guys who buy piles of rust called barn finds and pretend they're special because despite their massive deterioration, they're "untouched"). Then a bunch more will flood the market after the feeding frenzy is over, and will be rightly recognized as trash. I bet most of those Cuban cars will eventually be on the market, but like the Trabants that came out of East Germany in the '90s, they'll be curiosities at first then forgotten except for the handful of guys who will over-pay to be first in line, who will end up with expensive trash with a pedigree.

Happens all the time. All I need to do to get people in a buying mood and to start waving money in my face is to sell the car they want. It happens frequently--a car will sit for months and months then three or four guys will show up wanting to buy it all at once.

Everyone gets all excited over low mileage, as if it's the Holy Grail of old car criteria, but any car with so few miles is going to need A LOT of reconditioning. It's probably a leaker, the brakes are shot, the fuel system is going to be questionable, the cooling system will need flushed, and anything else that has liquid in it contained by gaskets and rubber parts is going to be deteriorated. You're going to need new tires if you plan on driving it. The preservation is pretty cool, but if you think that by buying a car with extremely low miles you're getting a perfect car in new condition, well, you're going to be pretty badly surprised the first time you try to drive your "new" old car. I much prefer cars with 40-60,000 miles that have been properly maintained and lightly exercised over the decades rather than thrown in a barn and forgotten until someone thought the time was right to cash in. This Nova? I wouldn't doubt the mileage but it also doesn't make the car worth 4-5 times book value. There's probably a premium to be paid, but not orders of magnitude more.

I know Buicknewbee personally (he bought a car from me) and he's a smart buyer who knows his stuff--exactly the kind of buyer I want. He didn't waste my time, and while the weather conspired against us during the purchase process, he did everything right during our transaction. That said, a deposit will always buy you time. In most cases, deposits are refundable (by me, anyway) if the car doesn't live up to expectations and I've somehow misrepresented it. I think most other sellers, private or dealers, would find it distasteful to keep a guy's money because the car didn't measure up, but if you can afford a collector car, a $500 hit probably isn't the end of the world if the seller won't cooperate. And remember that it's just as hard as a seller to separate the tire-kickers from the genuine buyers unless there's money on the table. In high-demand situations, buyers need to make their move quickly. I had that really nice 1966 Mustang GT fastback about a month ago. I had at least six guys hemming and hawing, making excuses, asking "Can you send me a picture of the third bolt back on the left front subframe, it looks weird," checking price guides, all of them standing around afraid to pull the trigger. After being on the market for four days, one guy called, said he'd like to put a deposit on it and he'd come look at it later in the week. He showed up with his expert in tow and bought the car instantly, no questions asked, at full asking price. The other guys suddenly got busy asking me what it sold for and did I have any others coming in and would I save the next one for them and if the deal fell through, would I sell it to them? Obviously, that buyer proved to them that the car was legit and they all regretted their hesitation. Money talks, it's that simple. Deposits will usually buy you the first right of refusal. Take a chance with $500. You might have a slight chance that you'll lose the deposit (either because the car is junk or the seller won't refund it, or both), but you won't end up in this kind of situation if the car turns out to be just what you want. If a desirable car is priced attractively, it's not attractive just to you and you can't begrudge someone else--dealer or otherwise--from coming to the same realization that you did: Hey, that's a lot of awesome for not a lot of money!

*SOLD* A few months ago, I featured a 1963 Ford Thunderbird that was just drop-dead gorgeous and meticulously restored. It was priced above what all the guides said, but it sold for full asking price in two weeks, so quality obviously matters to some folks. This 1966 Mustang coupe is the same kind of vehicle, and if you're shopping price and pinching pennies, well, maybe this isn't your Mustang. But if quality matters and you're willing to pay for it, you won't find a nicer early V8 Mustang, especially not a California car with options like factory A/C, power steering, console, A-code 289, disc brakes, and an automatic transmission. We've got a photo-documented rotisserie restoration finished a few years ago and a copy of the original window sticker, verifying that all the goodies on this car were there when it left the factory. And you just can't beat Candyapple Red. You want the best Mustang coupe I've ever seen? This is unquestionably it. Is it flawless? No, but it's pretty danged close. It's 100% original sheetmetal save for the right front fender, which was replaced because it had been creased when a ladder fell on it in a garage decades ago. Otherwise, it's laser-straight and was stripped bare and rebuilt from there. There's one star-like defect on the top of the right front fender, but it's smaller than a pencil eraser and if you don't know where to look, you're not going to find it. The paint is just right, a little darker than the Signal Flare Red fastback I sold two weeks ago, but deep and lustrous, like a fire engine. The black vinyl top is new and the restoration photos show that not only was it there from new, but that everything underneath it is in excellent condition with no rust or other lurking issues. And, of course, the chrome is all newly restored or replaced, including the grille which is the best I've ever seen. And yes, it's kind of nice to see that it hasn't been faked into a GT or some kind of Shelby clone, just a clean little coupe. The interior uses the standard seat covers, which I personally prefer to the Pony interior, simply because the textured seating surfaces are a lot cooler on a hot day. That's kind of academic in this car, which includes ice cold factory A/C that still uses R12 refrigerant inside. It's got rebuilt gauges, all of which work properly, a Rally-Pac (ditto), and a beautifully restored steering wheel. The original AM/8-track stereo radio is still in the dash and includes an internal FM converter that powers speakers in the door panels. There are two 8-track tapes with the car, but I'm not going to risk testing them out, I'll leave that to you. The carpets, headliner, door panels, and dash pad are all new, there are rubber floor mats, and all the chrome and bright trim is in first-class condition. The trunk is totally rust-free and includes a correct mat and vintage redline tire on a matching styled steel wheel--is it original? I don't know, but it's pretty old yet in great shape. The engine is a correct A-code 289 cubic inch V8 with a 4-barrel carburetor, which is what this car came with originally. No way to determine matching numbers on an early Mustang, but it's correct and rebuilt to stock specs. It starts easily and idles as smoothly as a Lincoln. Detailing is show-quality, with authentic colors, finishes, and decals throughout and all the hardware is factory-issue, no Home Depot stuff here. The A/C compressor dominates the engine bay, but the big air cleaner and painted valve covers are correct for a non-GT and everything is in excellent shape. It's backed by a C4 3-speed automatic and an 8-inch rear with 3.00 gears on a Track-Lok limited slip, so this is a tenacious little car that'll surprise a lot of bigger machines. The floors are correct red oxide primer with just a hint of overspray, the dual exhaust is an accurate reproduction, and everything from the gas tank forward is new. Fresh styled steel wheels wear brand new blackwall tires with less than 100 miles on them. You can buy cheap Mustangs all day, I know that. You can't restore a car to this level for this price and Mustangs this nice don't come along very often. Loaded with options, this is a first-rate pony that runs and drives like a new car and has been fastidiously restored and maintained. The best? Pretty danged close. And honestly, $26,900 isn't a lot of money for this much quality car, regardless of the brand on the trunk. This is a seriously nice coupe!

*SOLD* A few months ago, I featured a 1963 Ford Thunderbird that was just drop-dead gorgeous and meticulously restored. It was priced above what all the guides said, but it sold for full asking price in two weeks, so quality obviously matters to some folks. This 1966 Mustang coupe is the same kind of vehicle, and if you're shopping price and pinching pennies, well, maybe this isn't your Mustang. But if quality matters and you're willing to pay for it, you won't find a nicer early V8 Mustang, especially not a California car with options like factory A/C, power steering, console, A-code 289, disc brakes, and an automatic transmission. We've got a photo-documented rotisserie restoration finished a few years ago and a copy of the original window sticker, verifying that all the goodies on this car were there when it left the factory. And you just can't beat Candyapple Red. You want the best Mustang coupe I've ever seen? This is unquestionably it. Is it flawless? No, but it's pretty danged close. It's 100% original sheetmetal save for the right front fender, which was replaced because it had been creased when a ladder fell on it in a garage decades ago. Otherwise, it's laser-straight and was stripped bare and rebuilt from there. There's one star-like defect on the top of the right front fender, but it's smaller than a pencil eraser and if you don't know where to look, you're not going to find it. The paint is just right, a little darker than the Signal Flare Red fastback I sold two weeks ago, but deep and lustrous, like a fire engine. The black vinyl top is new and the restoration photos show that not only was it there from new, but that everything underneath it is in excellent condition with no rust or other lurking issues. And, of course, the chrome is all newly restored or replaced, including the grille which is the best I've ever seen. And yes, it's kind of nice to see that it hasn't been faked into a GT or some kind of Shelby clone, just a clean little coupe. The interior uses the standard seat covers, which I personally prefer to the Pony interior, simply because the textured seating surfaces are a lot cooler on a hot day. That's kind of academic in this car, which includes ice cold factory A/C that still uses R12 refrigerant inside. It's got rebuilt gauges, all of which work properly, a Rally-Pac (ditto), and a beautifully restored steering wheel. The original AM/8-track stereo radio is still in the dash and includes an internal FM converter that powers speakers in the door panels. There are two 8-track tapes with the car, but I'm not going to risk testing them out, I'll leave that to you. The carpets, headliner, door panels, and dash pad are all new, there are rubber floor mats, and all the chrome and bright trim is in first-class condition. The trunk is totally rust-free and includes a correct mat and vintage redline tire on a matching styled steel wheel--is it original? I don't know, but it's pretty old yet in great shape. The engine is a correct A-code 289 cubic inch V8 with a 4-barrel carburetor, which is what this car came with originally. No way to determine matching numbers on an early Mustang, but it's correct and rebuilt to stock specs. It starts easily and idles as smoothly as a Lincoln. Detailing is show-quality, with authentic colors, finishes, and decals throughout and all the hardware is factory-issue, no Home Depot stuff here. The A/C compressor dominates the engine bay, but the big air cleaner and painted valve covers are correct for a non-GT and everything is in excellent shape. It's backed by a C4 3-speed automatic and an 8-inch rear with 3.00 gears on a Track-Lok limited slip, so this is a tenacious little car that'll surprise a lot of bigger machines. The floors are correct red oxide primer with just a hint of overspray, the dual exhaust is an accurate reproduction, and everything from the gas tank forward is new. Fresh styled steel wheels wear brand new blackwall tires with less than 100 miles on them. You can buy cheap Mustangs all day, I know that. You can't restore a car to this level for this price and Mustangs this nice don't come along very often. Loaded with options, this is a first-rate pony that runs and drives like a new car and has been fastidiously restored and maintained. The best? Pretty danged close. And honestly, $26,900 isn't a lot of money for this much quality car, regardless of the brand on the trunk. This is a seriously nice coupe!

Marty, it appears that your Cadillac also has the ultra-rare "Auto Pilot" option. Where is the driver?!?

Well, it didn't last long and my wife is crestfallen, but the first guy to call bought the Funky Bus. I may have to find another, she had all kinds of plans for the summer with this neat Corvair. Thanks for the advice, guys!

Nobody's asked you about your goals, your intentions, and your expectations in your new old car. The cars you've mentioned are what many of us would call modern cars, and while they qualify for the AACA's 25-year rule and would be welcome at any show, they're still going to drive pretty much like any other car you can buy today. They haven't quite crossed over from being mere used cars to being collectable, and while that's sometimes merely a function of time, in most cases, mass-produced cars like the Buick or Toyota will always be footnotes rather than the story, so to speak. I mean no offense to their owners or the sellers of those cars, but my first question to a first-time buyer is about expectations and what you hope to do with the car. And that's something I'd like to hear from you. Are you looking for a collector car or merely an interesting, affordable older car to drive every day? Do you specifically like the looks of the 1990 era cars, do they speak to you because that's when you were growing up, and as a result, that's where you'd like to go with a "special" car? If so, then you're on the right track. On the other hand, I suspect you're shopping price and with your limited experience, perhaps you're grabbing anything that floats past without really knowing what your options are. I can offer you any of the cars below for under $15,000. All of them are reliable, very presentable, fun to drive, with bona-fide collector value and awesome club support at any level. Parts are plentiful, they are easy to repair, and do not require any special service or techniques to enjoy. There's a traditional British MGB with lots of upgrades, a big Cadillac with all the toys and awesome razor-edged styling, and a Buick convertible with a V8, leather, and A/C. They're all local to you, so you won't have to ship them and you can come see and touch and try them on for size. For about $18,000, I can put you in any of these very clean, low-mileage cars (two of them with under 25,000 original miles), all with V8 power and three with features like A/C and bucket seats. The Mercedes is a convertible with service records back to Day One and only 60,000 miles. Any of the cars will take you to work every day, cruise at highway speeds, and will work pretty much like you expect a car to work, and you'll look like a rock star driving them. This is not a sales pitch, but I don't want to see a newcomer to the hobby jumping in without really knowing what's in the water. There are plenty of inexpensive older cars, but those with genuine collector appeal will make you happier when you drive them, will bring you more pride of ownership along the way, and will likely hold their values far, far better in the long run. All of these cars will always be worth about what you paid for them, but I don't think the 1990 Buick or the 1989 Toyota are quite done depreciating yet. My point is, don't settle. Look around. You can do better. To paraphrase a Supreme Court Justice: I can't define what a collector car is, but I know it when I see it.

Thanks for the extra details, guys! I'm not really an expert on these, so your insights are most welcome. I will admit that my wife loves driving the Funky Bus and it sure works well for being 55 years old!

With a photo I bet it would take mere seconds for someone here to accurately identify it, including the year and model it came off of. It's still asking a lot to figure all that out from a one-sentence description. However, just as a guess, it's likely a Plymouth, which used ships in various ways for many, many years as their logo.

John, I'll take hold-down #1. How do you prefer to be paid?

There is no spare with the car, but I bet it uses the same 15x6 wheels that most other mid-sized GM cars of the '50s used, so it shouldn't be hard to procure one. The previous owner intended on finding one but just never got around to it. The tires on the car today are Coker wide whitewall radials that were installed about two years ago, so they're still quite fresh. The seat covers are beautifully fitted, but I haven't explored how to remove them. They are not just slip-on, they required the seat cushions to be removed and the robe rail hardware on the back of the front seat has to be removed as well. Quite honestly, I've never seen plastic seat covers like these and the previous owner says he spent more than $2000 having them custom made. They're not my thing, but given the immaculate condition of the upholstery, the worthy efforts to preserve it are very much appreciated. The car comes with an owner's manual and a shop manual. Please let me know if you're seriously interested, this is a first-class car in spectacular condition and ready to enjoy and perhaps collect some awards. I've never seen a nicer original interior on any car of any kind from this period.

Attractive, unusual, entry level fun from a dealer that isn't a 1970s Ford Maverick or 1980s Oldsmobuick: http://forums.aaca.org/showthread.php?t=390532&p=1412331#post1412331 See? Not impossible.

SOLD! OK, if you can't have fun in this 1961 Corvair Greenbrier, get out of the hobby right now. Chevy's answer to the VW Microbus is bigger, faster, more powerful, more rare, and a heck of a lot of fun, and when was the last time you saw one? This one has been restored "appropriately" along the way, but I don't think it's ever been apart. The bodywork is straight, the paint is decent, the interior is clean, and it runs and drives quite well. Obviously it's always had loving owners and it's easy to see why this little van was so beloved--my wife and kids adore it, and at this price it's quite possible we'll end up keeping it. How cool is this for Hershey or hanging out at car shows or your next medium-distance road trip? Efficient, easy to repair, reliable as a hammer, and unusual enough to make people stop in traffic to gawk. I like it a lot more than I expected when I acquired it in a package deal. Anyway, the last owner spent some money touching up the paint, which was apparently two different shades of red when he acquired it. It's all uniform now and while it isn't show quality work, it's just right for this Corvair's personality. Bright Roman Red and Ermine White are apparently its original colors and they work perfectly on the cheerful early '60s shape. It doesn't look like it's ever been rusty or wrecked, and while there are plenty of bumps and bruises, there's no evidence of rust, panel replacement, or hack bondo work under the surface. There's some very minor bubbling on the lower leg of the rear side door, but I'd ignore it if it were mine, it won't be getting any worse and isn't an issue. The weatherstripping is in decent shape, some original and some new stuff, and the chrome is probably all original so there's some light pitting on the cast pieces but the bumpers and grille are very good. The interior is awesome. Bright red vinyl benches seat nine and my kids love the table in back where they could easily hang out for a few hours on a road trip. No splits or tears, just some light soiling that only shows up under the harsh flash of my camera, but looks better in person. Is it original? Maybe, although it appears that perhaps the pleated areas were replaced on the front seat, hard to say--why would someone replace just that area? The front carpet is an off-white deep pile that belongs in your living room, not your Chevy, but it's professionally done with bound edges and doesn't look too bad. The rear area is black carpet that may also be homeowner-grade, but it's a close nap and easy to maintain. And as far as I can tell, everything works: gauges, lights, AM/FM/cassette radio with '70s 8-track underneath (untested because I have no 8-track tapes), and even the little spotlights in the rear area. Windows go up and down easily, and there's a manual switch for the auxiliary fuel pump which is only needed for cold starts. Cargo area is neat with a custom tool box (jack inside) and a rubber mat over the engine bay. Someone modified the engine cover to use latches instead of the original screws, so access is easy. Underneath, there's a familiar air-cooled flat six, with this one displacing 145 cubic inches and making 90 horsepower (I think). It's not super clean, but it's not neglected, either, and given the decent paint in there, I'm guessing it was out of the truck when it was painted. It starts easily and idles smoothly, even when it's cold and never gets cranky. It takes a few revs of the engine to get the generator online, but that's the only quirk. The 2-speed PowerGlide automatic shifts properly and is probably a good choice with the modest little six. Brakes are firm, the unassisted steering feels pretty good, and the ride is surprisingly floaty and land-yacht feeling, not trucky. Nice! Sits on a set of recent 14-inch whitewall radials and those are original wheel covers with some pitting and one of the spinners is missing an ear, but I bet they're not too hard to find. You guys want entry level fun? This is it! We're only asking $15,900 for this cool little trucklet and like I said, there's a very good chance I'll simply keep it for my family, so don't delay if you're interested. Don't fret about perfection, just jump in and have some fun--you can't help but smile when you see the Corvair that my kids have named the "Funky Bus."

Nice car, but it's worth noting that the Series 61 Cadillacs are NOT Full Classics, including this fastback. Why, I don't know, they're lovely cars and drive superbly, but the fastback models are not recognized by the CCCA.

John, I don't know that price is the lone barrier to young people coming into the hobby and I'm wondering if a 10-20% mark-up on a $20,000 car is stopping anyone from buying. I actually sell to quite a few first-time buyers and they actually like the confidence that comes from dealing with an experienced hobbyist and someone who can show them the ropes, because it's a big world if you haven't grown up in it. If I can meet them face-to-face, I spend a few hours going over the car with them and tell them things about old cars that they need to know. If our only contact is by E-mail or phone, I give them detailed written instructions on the cars and I often give them memberships to the various car clubs, depending on what they've purchased. I hold their hands and they seem to have a lot more comfort in the fact that they're buying an old car from someone who knows old cars and will stand behind them. I'll offer guidance for the guy who says, "I want to get into the hobby but I don't know where to start." Rather than just throwing him a copy of Hemmings and letting him figure it out himself, I'll get a feel for his comfort levels with tinkering, his expectations for performance, and the styles that he likes, how he plans on using the car, then we'll do some match-making. In fact, that's what my wife prefers to call what we do--we aren't a car dealership, we're matchmakers. The 100% mark-ups that a lot of guys think are SOP in the industry aren't common (I rarely see more than 10% on a sale), and even if they were, those aren't the cars that first-time buyers are buying. Modestly-priced cars with a modest mark-up are still in dealer showrooms and they're still cars that first-timers can afford. You don't jump into this hobby at the Duesenberg level, you start with something affordable and get your feet wet first, and good dealers will be a partner in the adventure. I sold this 1966 Mustang coupe to a 16-year-old kid who wanted to get into the hobby somehow. Six cylinders, automatic, power steering, and pretty clean underneath. Still needs some TLC but the basics are good. I sold it to him for $8500 and everyone went home happy. He drives it every day now and stops by the shop often. He's got an AACA membership complements of Harwood Motors and will be joining us in our caravan to the big Arthritis Foundation show in Columbus in July. A new hobbyist was born and I can still pay my bills.

It is rather handsome in profile and I do like 4-door sedans for their practicality. I sat in the back of this one for a while just absorbing the atmosphere and it's a great place to spend some time. Easy to envision a road trip with the family in a car like this. I didn't expect to like this car as much as I do, but it just feels substantial. Hard to define, but everything on it has a heft, a solidity that was surely part of the luxury feel back then. It isn't an isolation chamber like today's luxury cars, but it nonetheless feels very expensive and precise (which is a word I keep coming back to when describing this car).

At the risk of alienating myself amongst friends, I'm wondering how many of you are willing to go into work tomorrow and take a pay cut, just for the common good or because your co-workers think you shouldn't make as much doing the job you do. Anyone? I don't mean for that to sound snarky, but that's what I was getting at when I said there's a lot of mistrust and animosity towards dealers. Yes, we make a profit from a hobby, but almost every business in the world does that. Lionel isn't making electric trains for charity, stamp dealers don't sell stamps at face value, etc. Why are collector cars any different? When I buy a car from a private owner, I don't beat them up on price. If it's advertised for sale and it's in the right neighborhood of what I want to pay, I open a discussion. Sometimes we reach an agreement and everyone goes home happy, sometimes we don't and the car stays on the market with the owner. I'm not swindling anyone or cheating them out of their money. I don't lowball or give insulting offers hoping that I'll catch someone at a weak moment. And on the sales side, I'm not forcing anyone to buy at my prices. Cars that are over-priced are a self-correcting problem because they don't sell until they've been marked down to a price that the market says is the right one. I'm not hypnotizing anyone into over-paying for a car. Each individual decides what the right price is for him and he pays it or he doesn't. Personal values matter and if you feel like you got a good deal, then you got a good deal regardless of how much money I made doing it. That's really all that matters. Your buddies, who have no skin in the game, by the way, telling you that you paid too much are the ones crapping in the punch bowl, not me. There's a well-known dealer who buys very obscure stuff and often has very high prices. He buys odd stuff because there are no comparables, no price guide figures, no auction records to determine market value. He buys something unusual for $30,000, marks it up to $100,000, sells it for $60,000, and everyone goes home a winner. That seems pretty darned clever, no? The guy who sold it to him is happy, he got paid. The dealer is happy, he doubled his money. The buyer is happy, he got it for 40% off. Where's the crime? Where's the dishonesty? Where's the damage to the average hobbyist? Every car I sell takes between 8 and 10 hours to get online. The photos, the editing, the write-up, the posting to the various websites, writing ad copy for print ads, corresponding with editors, etc., all adds up. That's why expensive cars are better than inexpensive cars, margin-wise. A 20% margin on a $10,000 car or a 5% margin on a $100,000 car, which would you rather have if they both took the same amount of effort to sell? And to be honest, the cheaper cars are MUCH harder to sell, mostly because the buyers are different. On a $200,000 car, that's a tiny fraction of the buyer's net worth. On a $16,000 car, that might be every penny the guy can scrape together and the sum total of his life savings. Of course he's going to be skittish about spending it. Those guys often need a lot of extra hand-holding, which takes time, which costs money. I don't mind doing it (in fact, I rather enjoy the people I meet in this job), but the fact is, inexpensive cars are harder to sell and earn less money while doing it. Does that make sense? I also stand behind the cars I sell. If a guy buys a car from you (the private hobbyist who is just in it for the fun) and calls three months later saying that the transmission puked, do you offer to help? Or do you tell him too bad, the sale was as-is, where-is, no take-backs. I will work with people to make them happy customers in the future. I don't have to do that, there's no legal obligation, and these are ancient machines, after all, so nobody expects them to be perfect. However, since I'm in business, I want repeat customers, I want people happy about their experience, and I want their friends to come see me. So I will sometimes reach into my own pocket to help that along. How many of you have done that on a private sale? What do you care if that guy thinks you're a jerk, right? I don't like putting cars out there at exorbitant prices, either, and if you see a car whose price is all out of whack on my website, that's because I have a consignor who wants a lot of money. And in 99% of those cases, that consignor is a multiple consignor, a past client, or someone with whom I do a lot of business one way or another. I won't float all his cars at above-market prices, but if he occasionally wants to reach, well, I'll let him. Sooner or later the car sells, usually after it's marked down to the price I told him was correct in the first place, but some guys don't learn that way. In most cases, I'll want a car at a market-correct price, which will include a little bit of profit for me, plus a percentage to cover the hagglers who seem to feel that paying asking price is for suckers. Wish I didn't have to do that, but I do--everyone wants to haggle. Frantz got it exactly right--don't worry about how much the dealer is making. If the price is what you want to pay, who cares about the profit someone else is making? Life's too short to count everyone else's pennies.

*SOLD* This wonderful 1956 Olds 98 Holiday hardtop sedan is a very impressive luxury cruiser, with just over 53,000 original miles and one repaint in its original colors of Alcan White over Charcoal Gray. The stunning red and gray interior is 100% original and has the most beautifully fitted set of clear plastic seat covers I've ever seen. It's also got options like power windows, power front seat, and factory A/C. The dramatic sweeping trim makes a bold statement in two-tone colors like this, and the subtle combination works quite well, particularly with the red interior. The repaint is a few years old but was done to a very high standard, even wrapping into the jambs where the masking lines are crisp and clean. From the condition of it, I'd also guess that some of the chrome has been restored and there are very faint polishing marks on the stainless, so it's been refinished, too. The effect is a very high-grade luxury car that looks absolutely fantastic. The unique taillights are in excellent condition and the only notable demerit on the exterior is the original OLDSMOBILE badge in the grille, which has some light pitting. All four doors fit well without slamming and I have no reason to believe this car was ever wrecked or rusty. The spectacular two-tone interior is what makes this car truly special. It's totally original and the last owner spent more than $2000 having those custom seat covers made. Maybe you don't like the clear plastic look, but there's no denying that they're really nicely done--note that they even wrapped the center arm rest in back and all the hardware on the back of the front seat was removed, the covers were installed, then the trim was reinstalled. This was not a quickie slip-on job. The point was clearly to preserve an immaculate original interior in gray patterned cloth and red leather, and the clear covers hide nothing. There is no notable wear, no cracking in the leather, no split seams, and I applaud the preservation efforts because this car deserves it. The door panels are equally nice and the exquisite headliner with chrome header bows looks almost new. The sparkling dash shows bright chrome details and the steering wheel isn't cracked or discolored. All four windows power up and down effortlessly, the seat moves better than the one in my new Cadillac, the dual-speaker AM radio is fully functional, and the A/C chills but the blower isn't working, so we're checking on that. The only other demerit is a wear spot in the carpet about the size of a silver dollar, just adjacent to the accelerator pedal, which is obviously where your foot would rub. The trunk is 100% original with a factory mat in decent condition and no surprises underneath. There is no spare, but a proper one shouldn't be difficult to procure--the previous owner was intending to do that but just didn't get around to it. Mechanically, the 324 cubic inch "Rocket V8" is a beautiful runner. It starts quickly with the assistance of a switchable electric fuel pump and while it's a little grumpy when it's cold, once it's up to temperature it runs superbly. I like the '50s definition of luxury, which isn't total isolation like it is today, but rather the feel of a very large machine going about its business with a very expensive, precision feel that's an absolute delight. The engine bay is clean and totally original save for the air cleaner, which was repainted to match the body for some reason. The A/C was changed to R134a refrigerant, but otherwise the engine is completely stock and has never been apart. The Jetaway 3-speed automatic transmission shifts cleanly and firmly and it cruises easily at modern highway speeds. The undercarriage is original and was probably undercoated when it was new, but it received a brand new dual exhaust system last year and a set of fresh 235/75/15 Coker wide whitewall radials that ride and handle beautifully. Original hubcaps are in good shape with a few dings, and I really like Oldsmobile's space theme with miniature Saturn emblems around the perimeter of the hubcaps. A very high quality '50s luxury car with desirable options in great colors. Not quite a survivor, but with enough authenticity to make it a great find for the fan of originality. Holiday coupes are skyrocketing in value, and while the sedan isn't as sexy, there's no denying that it's gorgeous and the accommodations are first-class all the way. We're asking $32,900 and I'm always open to reasonable offers. Where else can you get this much gorgeous sheetmetal for so little cash? Thanks for looking!

*SOLD* This wonderful 1956 Olds 98 Holiday hardtop sedan is a very impressive luxury cruiser, with just over 53,000 original miles and one repaint in its original colors of Alcan White over Charcoal Gray. The stunning red and gray interior is 100% original and has the most beautifully fitted set of clear plastic seat covers I've ever seen. It's also got options like power windows, power front seat, and factory A/C. The dramatic sweeping trim makes a bold statement in two-tone colors like this, and the subtle combination works quite well, particularly with the red interior. The repaint is a few years old but was done to a very high standard, even wrapping into the jambs where the masking lines are crisp and clean. From the condition of it, I'd also guess that some of the chrome has been restored and there are very faint polishing marks on the stainless, so it's been refinished, too. The effect is a very high-grade luxury car that looks absolutely fantastic. The unique taillights are in excellent condition and the only notable demerit on the exterior is the original OLDSMOBILE badge in the grille, which has some light pitting. All four doors fit well without slamming and I have no reason to believe this car was ever wrecked or rusty. The spectacular two-tone interior is what makes this car truly special. It's totally original and the last owner spent more than $2000 having those custom seat covers made. Maybe you don't like the clear plastic look, but there's no denying that they're really nicely done--note that they even wrapped the center arm rest in back and all the hardware on the back of the front seat was removed, the covers were installed, then the trim was reinstalled. This was not a quickie slip-on job. The point was clearly to preserve an immaculate original interior in gray patterned cloth and red leather, and the clear covers hide nothing. There is no notable wear, no cracking in the leather, no split seams, and I applaud the preservation efforts because this car deserves it. The door panels are equally nice and the exquisite headliner with chrome header bows looks almost new. The sparkling dash shows bright chrome details and the steering wheel isn't cracked or discolored. All four windows power up and down effortlessly, the seat moves better than the one in my new Cadillac, the dual-speaker AM radio is fully functional, and the A/C chills but the blower isn't working, so we're checking on that. The only other demerit is a wear spot in the carpet about the size of a silver dollar, just adjacent to the accelerator pedal, which is obviously where your foot would rub. The trunk is 100% original with a factory mat in decent condition and no surprises underneath. There is no spare, but a proper one shouldn't be difficult to procure--the previous owner was intending to do that but just didn't get around to it. Mechanically, the 324 cubic inch "Rocket V8" is a beautiful runner. It starts quickly with the assistance of a switchable electric fuel pump and while it's a little grumpy when it's cold, once it's up to temperature it runs superbly. I like the '50s definition of luxury, which isn't total isolation like it is today, but rather the feel of a very large machine going about its business with a very expensive, precision feel that's an absolute delight. The engine bay is clean and totally original save for the air cleaner, which was repainted to match the body for some reason. The A/C was changed to R134a refrigerant, but otherwise the engine is completely stock and has never been apart. The Jetaway 3-speed automatic transmission shifts cleanly and firmly and it cruises easily at modern highway speeds. The undercarriage is original and was probably undercoated when it was new, but it received a brand new dual exhaust system last year and a set of fresh 235/75/15 Coker wide whitewall radials that ride and handle beautifully. Original hubcaps are in good shape with a few dings, and I really like Oldsmobile's space theme with miniature Saturn emblems around the perimeter of the hubcaps. A very high quality '50s luxury car with desirable options in great colors. Not quite a survivor, but with enough authenticity to make it a great find for the fan of originality. Holiday coupes are skyrocketing in value, and while the sedan isn't as sexy, there's no denying that it's gorgeous and the accommodations are first-class all the way. We're asking $32,900 and I'm always open to reasonable offers. Where else can you get this much gorgeous sheetmetal for so little cash? Thanks for looking!

Wow, great car!

Well, I'll jump in and swim around here for a while. By far the hardest part of being a collector car dealer is finding good cars. However, there are A LOT of cars out there and a lot of buyers and sellers, so my personal belief is that the pie is big enough for everyone. Some dealers specialize, some generalize, some are financially shaky and some seem to have unlimited funds. In short, I believe there's a place for everyone if you can cut it in the business. And on the surface, it sure seems like fun, doesn't it? I'll admit that I love my job, but I also work 18 hours a day, 7 days a week. The phone never stops ringing, the E-mails never stop coming, and I always have to be on the hunt for more cars, because new inventory is what drives the business. I love the fact that I get to play with cool cars and there are days when I just go into the showroom and "feel" the cars; it makes me happy to just be standing among them. It also brings me a great deal of pride to look around my showroom and see what I've built in just a year of being in business for myself. It also took every penny I had in savings (banks won't floorplan collector cars, it's all on you), most of my free time, and a few clients who were willing to trust me enough to take a leap of faith when I went out on my own. I've rewarded them with almost $1 million in sales just since January 1. Hard work matters, and you need to put in the time. This ain't a hobby anymore, not for me. Now, there are plenty of dealers out there, and they're all a little different. Some are high volume and some are happy to sell a handful of cars each year. Personally, I focus on interesting cars and, more importantly, quality. That seems vague, but I don't want to sell just used cars, so something like a late-model C6 Corvette gets turned away while I'll bring in an older ZR-1, which I find interesting and perhaps has some collector merit. And to me, quality means fewer headaches. 100% of my job is avoiding headaches and crappy cars cause headaches. No old car is perfect, but there's an astounding amount of junk out there. Some dealers don't mind and will take anything that they can turn for a buck, and that's fine. Profit is profit and if the buyer is a big boy and goes in with his eyes open, well, that's just fine. Some dealers pass off the junk, cash the check, and too bad for you, and some manage to last a while doing that, but most will collapse eventually under the weight of their own dishonesty and greed. You see a lot of dealers closing and reorganizing under a different name, and this is exactly why--they finally screwed enough people that they couldn't hide anymore, so they just change the name and start over. Quality is what I want in my showroom, cars that don't need excuses and don't give me headaches and keep me up at night worrying about irate customers. And for that, I can often charge a premium, because my reputation helps sell cars and people know I don't play games. I also offer financing and painless door-to-door shipping, and I will sometimes take trades which helps many collectors, especially in the tax department. Sadly, most of the trades I get offered are along the lines of, "Hey, I have this crappy car that I can't give away, will you take it in exchange for your good car? I only want 110% of retail for it." I'm tired of flat-out junk in my E-mail IN box every day. God there's some truly horrible stuff out there. But if you see a car on my website or offered here, you know it's a good car that I've personally touched, driven, and checked, and I'll tell you everything I know about it, good, bad, and ugly. If I own the car (I own a bunch of my inventory, by the way, I'm not just consignment), then you know I was VERY careful about checking it out before putting my own money into it. Is another dealer cause for worry? Nope. Most new ones will go belly-up in a year anyway, to be honest. In both of my dealer ventures (when I was a partner with Vintage and now that I'm on my own), at about the 6 or 8-month mark, you run out of money, the cars you have are stale and not selling, and you need to somehow throw more cash in all at once to keep the thing floating while you wait for customers to find you and trust you. It's a hard decision to make because you're jumping without being able to see the other side of the chasm. This is a very hard gig. It takes smart money management, an acute view of the market, the willingness to take big risks, and enough up-front cash to make yourself a presence. You don't need a big, glorious showroom, but you need to advertise, you need to be professional in every sense of the word, and you need to make the cars show up in front of people properly. I'm always shocked by the lousy photos and bad writing that accompanies some advertising, say, on Hemmings.com. Do they really sell cars like that? Would someone trust them? Heck, there was a post just last week where a whole bunch of AACA forum members were lambasting a dealer for posting a video that had clearly not been through a final edit, with more than a few guys saying they'd never trust that dealer--or any dealer--ever again because of it. This is a VERY tough crowd with sometimes unreasonable expectations, and the expectations for dealers are orders of magnitude higher than in private party sales. There's a lot of dealer hate in this hobby, too. How often do you see a comment on a car for sale along the lines of, "I hope no dealer buys it and marks it up to make a profit." Yeah, OK, and I hope you go to work on Monday and just take less money for doing your job, too, because reasons. If you do this job, you need to be ready for people to hate you the way they hate lawyers--on an instinctive and completely irrational level, just because of what you do for a living. Do I look at other dealers as competition? No. I work with a few on a regular basis and those I have relationships with, we find ways to make money together. The pie is big enough. And if you treat people fairly, honestly, and with dignity, and don't try to pretend that your cars are something they're not, then maybe you can even sleep soundly at night. Here are some shots of my showroom, and I'm very proud of it. It builds confidence in both buyers and sellers that I know what I'm doing, and I love nothing better than being in there among all the cars. But it took me a long time and a lot of work to get here, and I'm only just getting started. It's a fun job, but it's also the hardest job I've ever had. And I wouldn't have it any other way.

You either get Top Gear or you don't. Most of the people I've turned on to it hate it until they've seen 4-5 episodes, then they become passionate fans--it's probably an acquired taste. None of it is intended to be serious. It is the most beautifully filmed car show (or any show, for that matter), it goes to exotic locations, and then does really stupid things with motorized vehicles. Their multi-part specials like the Borneo adventure or their motorcycle trip through Thailand are some of the best things ever put to film. James May driving a truck up the side of an erupting volcano is awesome. Trying to build a Caterham Super 7 in the garage in the same amount of time it took the Stig to drive from the Caterham factory to the set was howlingly funny. Turning a farm combine into a snowplow with a flamethrower on it was fantastic. Burning down a camper trailer, and the one next to it, was hysterical. Attending an Alfa-Romeo meet with clapped-out Alfas held together with duct tape and pulled in on a rope was brilliant. And if you have not seen their trip through the southern US with "NASCAR sucks" and "Hillary for President" and "Country music is rubbish" painted on the sides of their vehicles, you have not lived. Or you don't get it. Whatever. You don't have to understand it. People howl with laughter at Monty Python, but I don't. However, I don't hate Michael Palin because of it, I just realize that some people find it funny while I don't and move on with my life. It harms me naught if they find humor in things I don't. As I said earlier, firing Clarkson was the right choice and I applaud the decision to kill the golden goose to prove the point that nobody is above the rules. However, as a Top Gear fan, I can also be saddened that it is ending, because it really was the best show involving cars ever made. It won't teach you anything about cars, you won't learn how to spray paint or weld bodywork, but you'll laugh yourself silly and see some awesome cars running at their limits and watch the most amazing camera work and travel to some of the most spectacular places... ...in the world! /goodnight, my friends, you will be missed