One of the most important things I tell people is that there are more cars out there looking for new owners than people looking for that car (check out our CAR STUFF! Marketplace). There is the exception to this rule when dealing with rare, low volume exotic cars, but for the most part, the average production car is what the majority of people are looking for. By the time you have spent a decade or two dreaming about owning your favorite car, most of us know what we like or don't like. Once we start looking, having the field narrowed down to 2 to 3 types of cars helps. If you want "anything" not only will you spend more time looking, but there is a good chance you will run into the wrong car. Decide on your favorite make and then choose the era of manufacture. For the sake of example during these articles, I have decided to use my 1962 MGB as the feature car. I will be able to point out the advantages and pitfalls as they happen. Although this car came to me from family, Mom bought it new in September 1962, the rules of acquisition still apply.

If I were seeking out this type of car I would have started with what sort of MG do I want. There are probably twenty different choices easily open to me, late model roadsters, GT, early ones, A series cars, several sedans, Y-Type, Magnette, Mark III, plus a good assortment of ones from 1920's through 1940's. Through a process of elimination, I can weed out the ones I don't want. I already have several cars with the roof welded on them, and have always wanted a convertible; therefore, the saloons and GT models are now gone. The antique cars have allot of character but I imagine the parts are becoming scarce (which translates into expensive) and I want something that I can drive when I want and to where without planning my route according to the limitations of the car. (I.e.: no sudden trips to California) This would leave the fifties and up. Cars produced in this time period can usually keep up with traffic, stop and handle quite well and I should be able to find most parts any place if an emergency should arise. I now know that my choices would be a MGA or MGB roadster.

I have hypothetically chosen a budget of $8,000 to include buying the car, doing any work necessary and the first year's insurance. It is not a lot, but most of my friends (and me included) don't have too much spare cash laying about and we all know people who have got a good car on the road for this.

So now, I decide to seek out magazines, newspapers and the Internet to see what I can get for my money. Even though I am looking at only two types of cars, I soon realize that they are completely different from each other and will require different approaches of ownership and repair. The magazines soon tell me that there is far more "B" cars to choose from than the "A"s. Thus the "value" rule is soon going to apply. Spending $4,000 of my money will buy me a MGB I can drive right away, or a MGA that will require everything to be done. Of course we realize that the end result is that the MGA will be worth two to three times the value of the other, but I will also have to spend more to get there. I will not give up hope of finding a good MGA at a deal but I really must stay with in my budget. We all know of too many people that didn't and were very sorry. These are the people I would hope to buy from. They have spent $20,000 on their car, which lays unfinished due to lack of money. You will never get the value out of your car when it is still in boxes and unpainted. And although it seems wrong to capitalize on their misfortune, it isn't up to you to pay for other people's mistakes and rest assured there are many out there willing to "help" you out of yours.

Having gone to the library, bought several books on these cars, and picking up a variety of magazines, we would now be termed an "informed" buyer. There are literally thousands of books on just about every car made, and armed with these we can educate ourselves on just what to look for on our "prospective purchase". At this point in time I would find a couple of repair shops or parts dealers that cater to our choice of cars and tell them what you are looking for. Be honest, tell them what your abilities are, how much money you're willing to spend and what the end goal of this project is. A show car, daily driver, concours winner or something to while away the twilight hours. If I say I want a MGA roadster concours winner and have a budget of $10 grand, the rolling on the floor with laughter should be a clue that I might have to rethink my plans. When saying the same of a MGB, and they get back up and wipe the tears from their eyes and say they might be able to help me I know I am on the right track and the possibility of successful classic car ownership is within my grasp. I would also take this time to get them to put me in touch with the local car club for my car. (Again there are more clubs than cars out there) Go to the first meeting, if you like them join up and start looking for your car. Very soon you will find out the pitfalls of the particular car. Quite often, some one in the club is selling one and usually the car is known by others so as to be a good, honest car. It is amazing how cheap I have seen a car sell from one enthusiast to another just to keep the car "in the club", I know, I've done it.

For closing thoughts to this topic I suppose what I stress most is educating yourself. One will never know everything there is about cars, but if you ask questions, read articles, quiz car owners, you will at very least have the best handle you can on buying the right car for you.

In fact, during the writing of this article I received a phone call from a stranger seeking my advice on buying an MGA as a daily driver. Although these cars are now approaching 40 years old, a good condition "A" is more than capable of providing reliable and fun transportation. Just make sure you look after I told him and be prepared for the inevitable first ding. Otherwise, just keep motoring. Classic car driving is great, remember, these cars were built to be driven and just like our own bodies, exercise keeps things operating as they should. My 1958 Jaguar Mark VIII is now a very reliable car since using it as a daily driver. In fact, it costs no more to operate than my much more conventional and newer Thunderbird or Camaro.

In the next column, I will have found 3 or 4 appropriate cars to choose from and will have decided on the next addition to the family. We will go over these cars in detail and go through the process of elimination.