Straighten up and BUY RIGHT!
If you have decided to realise your dream of owning your first classic American car, I am sure it will be an extremely enjoyable experience... from huge land yachts that make you feel like you’re floating on air as you cruise down the road in total silence to the incredible muscle cars that are still unmatched for style and performance, all featuring an incredible V8 soundtrack. Not forgetting the cars from the fabulous Fifties with their acres of chrome and massive tail fins – there’ll never be anything like them ever again.
If you are looking for your first American car, there really is something for everyone. They’re all great cars (well, most of them!), with their own distinct personalities, and are totally addictive. Once you’ve had one, you will be hooked for life - in a good way, of course!
American cars tend to be very reliable and easy to work on; even if parts are required, prices are usually very reasonable. The American car hobby has lots of specialists to help, whether it’s for a basic service or a full-blown restoration, and this magazine is a great starting point in which to find them.
American car values have been rising steadily over the last few years, so if you are purchasing one for the first time it’s probably going to represent a pretty big investment. This buyer’s guide will help you avoid some of the potential pitfalls and make the whole experience as enjoyable as possible.
When it comes to American cars, bigger is usually better – which can be a bit of a challenge when it comes to finding a home for a 20ft land yacht. My interest has always been in the massive cars of the 1970s, and their sheer size has often caused me the biggest headaches. Here’s a true story that happened to me. One of my all-time favourites, the Lincoln Continental Mark V is probably as big as American cars get, and after months of searching I found my dream car. I measured the garage where I was going to store it, checked the dimensions of the Lincoln, checked the garage, and checked again.
According to my trusty tape measure, the Lincoln would fit – if only just. I set off to fetch the Lincoln, got home and then proceeded to dock the beast. After congratulating myself on how it fitted inside the garage with just inches to spare, I went to close the garage door and… you know what’s coming next. The Lincoln was too long for the door to close. Perhaps my
