When you think of an antique car, the first thing that probably pops into your head are those beautiful classic cars you might pass on the highway going 40 mph or maybe even the ones you've seen at classic car shows. The fact is that there is actually a big difference between a classic, and an antique car. 

According to the Antique Automobile Club of America, for a car to be an antique, the basic criteria is 25 years or older. That of course, would classify cars made in 1984 as antique.  Whether or not they have seen better days, or maybe not even a single good day, they are still antiques and could also still be very valuable.

Collecting antique cars is like a hobby for many people. It can also be a very profitable.  The fact that an antique car has to be 25 years or older, makes them very rare and most likely unable to run properly.  This is why having an antique car that runs well and looks good can turn out to be very valuable.

For mechanics, buying antique cars, restoring them, and selling them can not only be an enjoyable hobby, it can also include a nice profit.  However, the fact is, not everybody who enjoys collecting and selling antique cars is a mechanic.  Don't be discouraged! There is a solution to that problem--that is a long term investment of both time and money. 

The way the system works is that you purchase the car's about 5 years before becoming antiques.  Car's that are still running well at the age of 20 for the most part probably won't make it to 25 without at least some work.  Since most of these cars are usually at the lowest price of their life, this is really an important time for your antique car. It will determine whether it can be transformed and maintained as a collectable item with greater antique car value or a useless piece of junk. 

Also, you may need to purchase a good amount of them because there is still a chance that after the 5 years of storage some of the cars may have croaked. For example, buying 20 cars at about $500 would cost $10,000, but once they become antiques, just one car could make all of your money back! Depending on the market, the value when you purchase the cars to when they become antiques could really jump.

For starters, the key to keeping these cars in good condition is good storage.  Not everyone has a garage that fits 20 cars or a large parking lot in their backyard. So, there will be some expenses regarding the storage.  For outdoor storage, it is also important to keep them in dry areas in order to reduce rust. Keeping them covered will also prevent any damage to the glass or paint job.  You also need to start the cars at least once every three months.  There is no limit to how long you store the cars either. In fact, the longer you can store them, the rarer they will become and in turn the more valuable. 

The truth is not everybody has $500 to throw around for every piece of junk they see on the side of the road.  Having knowledge about the market for antique cars could turn out to be very useful. In other words; do your research!  Every year there is a new wave of cars that reclaim their fame and increasing their value. If you plan on making money off of your antique cars, these trends are important to pay attention to, especially in a market that doesn't seem to be going anywhere anytime fast.

 

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