Random and rare car collectors

"mcseanerson" (mcseanerson) 09/16/2014 at 16:54 • Filed to: None

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How do you do it and make it work? Is it a matter of collecting a bunch of similar cars that share parts that makes it possible or is it a matter of amassing a large enough collection that each car gets very few miles on it?

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Textured Soy Protein > mcseanerson 09/16/2014 at 17:00

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Just do this.

mcseanerson > Textured Soy Protein 09/16/2014 at 17:01

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I understand that but I want to minimize it so I can do it as often as possible.

Jonee > mcseanerson 09/16/2014 at 17:04

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What exactly is your question? How do you keep rare cars running?

mcseanerson > Jonee 09/16/2014 at 17:14

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How do you keep them running? How do you not lose your shirt? Where do you keep them? What tools do you own? Do you fix them yourself or pay someone else? Which cars do you select to purchase and how do you make that decision?

Jonee > mcseanerson 09/16/2014 at 17:25

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Well, I collect microcars, some of which are quite rare. I actually don't have too many at one time since I'm not rich, but I figure if I can't have a bunch at once, I can have them one at a time. I fix them myself, mostly. Since they're small, I don't need a huge garage space. That's one way I choose what to buy. What will fit? Mostly, I buy what strikes my fancy. Normal tools. You need both metric and not metric. Sometimes you have to make parts, or have them made. For me, total originality comes second to just getting the thing running. If you're interested in concourse, of course, you need to get or make the right thing and make it accurately. The rich I know who collect rare stuff always build their own building. I use the garage, living room, back yard, wherever something will fit. As far as not losing your shirt, that part's a crapshoot. Tastes change, so what might be worth a mint today, no one wants tomorrow. Again, buy what strikes your fancy and don't think about it. I know the ultra rich guys do take appreciation into account, but if it's something that needs restoration, you're not getting your money back anyway.

mcseanerson > Jonee 09/16/2014 at 17:35

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That's perfect, exactly the kind of stuff I was looking for! I'm not worried about concours but I do want a car to be at least in the same spirit it was originally. I'm getting really interested in old Volvos and I think I want at least 2. I want a nice (still has an interior) 142 for driving whenever and on good backroads and I want one with a cage for rallies and hillclimbs. I figure if I get two maybe I should grow a collect of various 140s around it.

Jonee > mcseanerson 09/16/2014 at 17:50

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Awesome. Go for it. That car's not all that rare and Volvos have great club/online support. There's plenty of people with lots of knowledge that'll help you out. I'm restoring a Renault Le Car (don't laugh) right now, and the Renault forums are my best friends for both parts and wrenching advice. There's always someone somewhere that has that part you need. Never give up. Look around, there's probably a metal fabricator somewhere in or near your town that can build a roll cage or some other thing you may need. I also have a very rare Fuldamobil and the metal shop near me is almost as much an expert in those things now as I am with all the shit I've had him make for me. Sound enthusiastic and nice and people will give you a good deal.

mcseanerson > Jonee 09/16/2014 at 17:54

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Yeah I used to own a 740 turbo wagon and spent a lot of time on turbobricks and I loved it. I scrapped that car because it was just too far gone (paid $475 for it and it came with a full tank of gas) and afterwards I got a basket case Honda CRX and the I was spoiled by the Volvo forums going into the Honda forums.

On turbobricks the shop manual was considered casual reading and Haynes was referred to as the book of lies. On the Honda forums I looked up all they could talk about was clutches and engine mounts.

I'm hoping to buy cheaper old cars and focus mainly on putting sweat equity into them.

TheVancen- In Pursuit of a Greater Payday and Car Parts > Jonee 09/16/2014 at 18:35

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I know a guy with a '58 Berkeley. Has an Excelsior 2 cylinder.

BZiel > mcseanerson 09/16/2014 at 18:54

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I need to rearrange your questions in order of priority for my answers:

First...I buy what I know. I know the price trends, the mechanical issues, and the cost pits of any car I consider owning. I know what I'm getting into before I spend a dime of my own money. I keep them running because they are running when I buy them.

Second...I I buy what I know will increase in value because of rarity/wrecks/parts consumption/and social trends. If I am in a buying mood, I look for the best example of the entire lot of available cars. Period. Never buy the pig of the bunch and then try to put lipstick on it, you will lose money.

Third...tools are something that are a fixed expense in owing cars. You're gong to need them. Any tool can be used on any car you own or work on. Tools are an investment in the present, future, and way, way in the future...buy them...and buy the best you can afford.

Fourth...fixing problems myself or paying for repairs isn't a big deal for me...I have access to all the resources I need, either self-repair or paid out. However, there is a great world of information on the Internet that covers about every car, part, and modification in existence that will probably cut your labor and repair costs in half.

Fifth...I have the luxury of keeping a number of cars on my own property, however, those that can't stay here get relegated to my paid storage facility. It's a fact of life.

Hope this helps.

mcseanerson > BZiel 09/16/2014 at 20:20

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This is great! I am loving this advice. I expected the original comments I got of kind of mocking this and basically saying you have to be rich but I've known lots of blue collar guys who buy cars that are basically runners that interest them. That's kind of what I want to do but maybe just some slightly obscure cars like a Volvo 142, a Triumph TR6, an Alfa GTV, A Chevy C10, an AMC Eagle, and what I would consider my supercar that I'd save up a ton for, a Lancia Delta Integrale Evo II when they're legal to import.