Top Places To Look For Cheap Classic Cars

If you are planning on collecting or simply owning classic cars, you might be intimidated by the huge tag price that comes with these sweet rides. Some fully-restored classics may even be more expensive than brand new luxury or sports cars. The '55 serial one Corvette is rumored to be valued at near a million dollars!

But do not worry, as the upside to collecting classic cars is that they could be bought cheap. The principle behind this is simple: since most of the classics are at least over 15 years old, some people who are not collectors will probably consider them as junk. And cars considered as junk mean a very low price. What they say is true: one man's trash is another man's treasure.

Here are some places you can check out for cheap classics.

Online Auctions

The best place to find cheap classic cars is at online auctions. Online car auctions may not have the lowest price tags, but you can surely find the greatest variety. This is because online auctions are easily accessible to all people. You can easily spot a good condition '57 T-bird with a starting price of a mere $500. That's surely a pretty good deal.

A few great tips when buying at online auctions: look for auctions that are only a few hours from ending. This is the best gauge for what the final price of that car will be. Also, if you are bidding on a fresh auction, do not overshoot the price. Bid shyly, so that the price will not go sky high.

Online Classifieds

If you can't find anything to your liking at online auctions, try your luck at online ads. Some online ads carry a wider variety of makes than auctions. However, sellers pay for these ads, so expect the prices to be more expensive than those at auctions.

Oftentimes, you could not see a seller's reputation in these online ads, unlike in auctions. So if you plan to buy via online ads, be sure to get the contact details of the seller. Try to know specific information about the vehicle, and ask for a pre-purchase inspection.

Second-hand Car Shops

Live second-hand car shops offer a limited variety of makes, since they are constrained by space and location. However, prices here may be much cheaper than at online auctions and classifieds, since some of the cars offered are several shop-years old. Another good thing about these venues is that you can easily shop for a car and inspect it at once.

Junkyards

Junkyards are probably the last place you might think of when buying great classic cars. Still, a junkyard holds some very funky treasures. Just a reminder when shopping at junkyards: do expect to find these cars in a deplorable condition. So even if you buy them at a very low price, prepare yourself for a pretty expensive restoration. And of course, do not buy cars that are just plain trash. Leave vehicles that are degraded by rust to Mother Nature.

If you don't have tens of thousands of dollars to spare for buying a classic, make sure to visit online auctions, look for online classifieds, drop by your nearest second-hand car shop, and shop at junkyards. You'll surely find a vintage car for a real bargain.