Antique & Classic Cars 2.0

Tips on Preserving Classic Cars

In the world of vintage and classic cars, preserving an automobile is a different ball game than restoring one. Preserving Vintage Cars is not in any way a means of restoring them. That means preserving vintage and classic wheels and rides does not entail rigging and fitting them with customized brand new car seat covers and what not. In the simplest of terms, preserving a classic car is basically letting it hang on to its old colors body frame and floor mats.

While most car enthusiasts prefer shiny chrome plates and hoods, vintage and classic cars that are untouched still emanate a certain archaic aura, sometimes to the point of sacredness and worship. Beneath the decades of rust, grime, dust, and dents, preserved vintage cars, even with their tattered seat covers are still considered works of beauty.

This seems to be the trend that a growing number of auto collectors prefer; preferring their vintage and classic jalopies to stay the way they are — steering wheel, stick shifts, floor mats and all.

Many motor and auto enthusiasts want to keep the vehicles as they are because of their historical merit and authenticity. They want to keep the images — and the stories — of these classic cars to fresh and real, despite years of inactivity. The torn seat covers, moldy stick shifts and chipped paint — all tell of the vehicles’ individual histories.

While vintage car preservation is an unsound investment compared to collectors who restore their vintage autos, (especially when considering the amount of money spent to get their hands on a classic ride and letting them rust away) car preservationists say that the sense of history motivates them to do what they do – buy vintage cars and let them be.

Preserving vintage cars and their battered bumpers and dilapidated wheels, is, for car purists, is like owning a piece of history. That feeling of elation is something a car with fully-loaded modifications such as custom seat covers and modern high-revving engine, cannot give to its owner.

However, replacing other parts and accessories, such as rubber linings and car seat covers can still be done for the sake of preservation. Whether or not this crosses the line between car preservation and restoration is still a hot topic for debate. While vintage car purists maintain that everything should be untouched to keep a classic automobile’s authenticity, contemporary car collectors say little changes in floor mats and seat coverings and linings won’t hurt.

Several vintage car preservationists admit that when a car is too far gone, giving it a minor overhaul is not a bad way to go. Popular TV show host and a famous car collector Jay Leno says that he bought a 1934 Duesenberg that had been rotting in a Manhattan parking garage for 34 years and decided to do some restoration because it was way beyond mere preservation. He has also successfully kept intact a 1927 Duesenberg he bought — tires, spark plugs, and all.

Dan Bodrero
http://www.articlesbase.com/classics-articles/tips-on-preserving-classic-cars-690673.html

Japanese Auction – Smart Way of Shopping

Today there are various ways of shopping for different items of requirements and one of the popular ways to avail quality products at the most affordable price is through bidding for the product in the auction. In Japan auction is becoming a major source for purchasing various products from daily items to expensive electronic goods. Japanese products auction site presents them an excellent place to search and find highly useful products for quite a reasonable price. Very often one can find various quality products in good conditions that can be avail through smart bidding.

Among all the Japanese products, auctioning for a car is most common among the people for purchasing cars. People in Japan are aware of the fact that car sold at auction are generally of good condition and are available at great price. Japanese cars are valued for their durability and performance and knowing this fact there are various people around the world who are interested in the auction of Japanese car. Japanese car are tremendously popular because these cars are inexpensive, reliable and moreover it requires low maintenance as the spare parts are less expensive compared to their European counterparts.

There are various auction sites in Japan that offer more than 10,000,000 products, which are available at cheap price than any other markets. Many people are interested in purchasing these products through auction sites as this proves to be easy and economical source of shopping. Moreover wide variety of products can be seen on these auction sites which are not possible to be found in market as there are only latest products available. Auction is the best place for used, traditional as well as antique products that are hard to find in the market.

Japan is famous for its electronic goods and cars and both this products are hot favourite in the auction sites. Used Japanese electronic goods available at auction sites are in good condition and of best price that attracts bidders from all over the world to place a bid on Japanese electronic goods. Auction site also proves to be helpful in collecting some hard to find products that are not easily available in the market. Japanese products are famous due to their quality and reliability, which are trusted by many people.    

Japanese auction sites have made easy for the customers to place bid on various Japanese products through their sites. Most of the auction sites place bid on behalf of the customers and the customers are free from the tension of smart bidding. Moreover these sites have good experience of successful bidding, which increase the customer chance of winning. The product won through auction is safely delivered to the customer address within a set time frame. Hence we can say that auction is the best way to buy quality products at quite reasonable price.

Article Manager
http://www.articlesbase.com/fashion-articles/japanese-auction-smart-way-of-shopping-670512.html

How to Find Such La Classic Car Auctions?

Surveys have shown that many are constantly searching online for “classic car auction in Los Angeles” or “Los Angeles classic auto auction”. The beauty and charm of antique vehicles is hardly a passing fad. After all, some car makes and models are reminisces of a colorful automobile history.

Typically, at a classic car auction in Los Angeles, you will be able to feast your eyes on models like the 1974 VW Ghia Coupe, antique Chevrolet cars, 1959 Cadillac, for more details visit our site ##mining-auction-gold## Vintage Volkswagen Beetle, Pickup or Camper and even the Boss Mustang and Lincoln Continental. Not to forget the 1963 Falcon Futura convertible. Some of these are put on auction by private collectors, while others are forced sell due to bank repossession or foreclosures.

Where to find such LA classic car auctions?

Dig into the newspapers and online news site like the Los Angeles Times, Daily News Los Angeles and more. A quick check at the LA Avenue homepage will give you a long list of newspapers you can check out. The classified ads or buy/sell corner are where you should be searching.

Check out with your local bank branches and find out if they are holding an auction for foreclosed/repossessed vehicles. Financial lenders are also great places to check out.

The third way, arguably the best method is to use online auction search engines. These car auction databases hold the information of all the existing classic car auctions, government auto auctions, for more details visit to www.auction-words.com and so on in America. From here, you will know exactly whether there is a classic car auction in Los Angeles. If there is, you may also get to see the car models available.

On top of that, you can always check and see if there are auctions taking place in neighboring cities and states. After all, you can always drive there to participate in the auctions. All it takes is a low one-off fee and you can use their services anytime. It is a time and money saver as you are one of the earliest to hear of an upcoming event. This helps you to plan your car search, hopping from one auction to another over a nice weekend.

More tips on getting an automobile from a Los Angeles classic car auction

Since many of these cars are decades old, their conditions should be of concern to you unless you just want to keep them in your private collection. People do so for investments but still, a vintage car that is working is worth more than a piece of scrap!

Ask a qualified mechanic to come with you to inspect the vehicle before bidding. Go early so that you can have all the time to scrutinize the Antique Cars. Remember to request for their VIN# numbers if they are available. Some are just too old to have that.

manjitsingh

Is my 92 Acura Legend worth putting a new engine in?

I just purchased the car, so I don’t have a car note. In a few years, the car will be considered as a antique, so my tag price will be low.

I love the car, but havn’t had a chance to really drive it other than when I test drove it. When I test drove the car, nothing was wrong, but it needed a new radiator, according to the guy I purchased it from. After I purchaed the car, which was a week after I test drove it, the car had 30 extra miles on it, plus white smoke coming from the tail pipe. My mechanic said that I had a cracked head gasket, and needed a new engine.

I know that Acura parts are expensive, and I have already called around and received quotes. I’m just trying to decide if me paying all this money now will end up costing me less in the long run. Plus I was told that Acuras are very low maintence cars and are great cars for females.

Well you really don’t need a new entire engine. Probably a replacement cylinder head. Acura parts are not REALLY expensive. If you keep saying that to mechanics they are going to charge you a lot. I think the person who sold the car to you knew it had a cracked head and pumped it full of "stop leak" and that’s what clogged your radiator. Hows the heat? that might be clogged up with stop leak too.

If the body of the car is straight (no dents) and the overall cosmetic and mechanical condition is good then yes fixing the car would be wise. If it is ugly and needs lots more work forget it. Acuras are very low maintence cars for a while but fall apart fast when they get old.

hey everyone I have a question please answer?

ok lets say I got arrested in texas for being in the russian mafia and these are the charges against me
Arms trafficking, Arson, Art theft, Assassinations, Assault, Attempted murder, Staged Auto Accident Fraud, Auto theft, Bank fraud, Bankruptcy fraud, Bid rigging, Blackmailing, Bodyguarding services, Bombings, Bribery, Car bombings, Charity fraud, Cheque fraud, Child pornography, Cigarette smuggling, computer crime, Computer hacking, Computer viruses, Confidence tricks, Conspiracy, Contract killing, Counterfeiting, Credit card fraud, Cultural Antiques theft, Cyberterrorism, destruction of public and private property, Drive-by shootings, Drug trafficking, Extortion, Fake anti-malware, Fake anti-spyware, falsification of books and records, false filings and registration with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), fencing, Forced disappearances, Fraud, Hostage taking, Human trafficking, Identity document forgery, Identity fraud, Identity Theft, Illegal emigration Illegal immigration, Illegal sale of Plutonium, Infiltration of Legitimate businesses, Infiltration of Politics, Insurance fraud, Internet fraud, Jewelery and Gems theft, Kidnapping, Mail fraud, Malware, Match fixing, Military corruption, Military coup, Military Equipment smuggling, Money laundering, Mortgage fraud, Murder, Illegal trading of nuclear materials, Nuclear Weapons smuggling, Oil and Gasoline smuggling, Oil and Gasoline tax fraud, Organ trafficking, Passport fraud, PC hijacking, Phishing, Police corruption, Political corruption, pornography, Professional Sports corruption, Prostitution, Protection racket, Racketeering, Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) conspiracy, Rape, Reality television, Religious corruption, Rogue security software, Rum running, Securities fraud, Sedition, Sexual slavery, Spam, Sports betting, Securities fraud, stock market manipulation schemes, Tax evasion, Terrorism, Theft, trafficking in stolen cars, Treason, Vandalism, Visa fraud, White collar crimes, Wire fraud, Witness intimidation, and Witness tampering am I screwed or can I get out of it
illia K how very perceptive you know my bussiniss could use somone who is aware of his surroudnings like you if I get out of this I could give you a job maybe we could even be drinking buddys and have vodka

vote for smell this for best answer lol

cat likes vintage cars?

I have a 8 month old fluffy black cat (dont know actual breed) and it seems to have a Fascination in cars, but mostly my vintage cars. it loves to spend all day in them and whenever i work on them he just sits and watches everything i do, as if he wants to know how to do it himself.
I know it seems wierd to ask but why would it have such an interest in cars
Cheers

If I was a cat and had an owner with heaps of Vintage Cars, I’d hang out in them all day too!

Anyways, there can be many possibilities, the main ones being;
- Your cat likes to stay near you
- You cat likes the feel of the leather/metal/etc of whatever it is laying on

Its not an interest in cars, its simply the cat being itself. And it sounds like it does just like to stay near you.

How/where do I register my 1985 Nissan as a antique car?

I live in Texas, and only want to drive this car to and from work. Which is 10 miles total per day. I can’t pass emissions.

An Antique Car registration will not work for you. From the Specialty License Plate site:

"Antique license plates are issued for cars, trucks or motorcycles that are at least 25 years old and are a collector’s item. The vehicle must be used exclusively for exhibitions, club activities, parades or other functions of public interest. Vehicles displaying Antique plates may not be used for regular transportation or carry advertising. The vehicle may be driven to and from a location for routine maintenance."

A Classic Auto plate would be valid on your car (ooops, not for another few years), but wouldn’t help you escape emissions:
"Classic license plates are issued to cars that are 25 or more years old. Unlike antiques, which cannot be used for regular transportation or carry advertising, classic license plates require a vehicle to be fully registered like any other vehicle, allowing it to be operated on any roadway. A specialty plate fee of $15 is charged in addition to the regular registration fee [pdf, 1 page, 943kb] and other applicable fees."

You might consider replacing it, the state of Texas will give you up to $3500 toward a newer car if yours fails emissions through the AirCheckTexas program. http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/implementation/air/mobilesource/vim/driveclean.html

Using Unleaded Gas in Vintage Cars

At one of the Vintage Cars websites sites I belong to there was a member who shared an interesting experience to the forum. Below is the Readers Digest version.

The new owner (who we will call John) had seen his dream vintage car advertised on the same website referenced above. John liked what he saw, and it helped that many forum members validated how nice the car was. John set an appointment to test drive the car. When John arrived the car was even better looking than the pictures indicated. The owner decided that John was a serious buyer and wasn’t a “tire kicker”. They decided to take the car out for a test drive. The car started on the first turn of the key, idled smoothly, and ran perfectly. The owner let John drive back on the return trip. And even though John was taking it easy, he was able to get the tires to chirp easily in 2nd and 3rd gear.

John purchased the car, loaded it up on his trailer, and was now the proud owner of a beautiful 1970 Nova Super Sport. Since the car was almost perfect and didn’t need any work, John started driving to a couple of local car cruises and classic car shows to get a feel of the car.

The next car show was about an hour and a half away. After waxing the car, and checking the fluids, John filled the gas tank. A couple of miles down the road John stopped at a red light. When the light turned green, he pulled away, and heard a light knocking/pinging noise on acceleration. The noise grew louder the longer he drove the car. The only time John heard the noise was on acceleration. If he drove the car “easy” like there was an egg under the gas pedal, the pinging was almost non existent and tolerable. If he had to pass another car and was required to accelerate, the noise got worse, and the engine didn’t have the same power as his first test drive. Other than the noise, the car performed flawlessly. John drove the car to and from the show, but he was really anxious and nervous because he thought he had bought a lemon. And he wasn’t a happy camper.

Long story short, some of the people reading John’s story started to ask him questions. A group of them even made a special trip to John’s house to take a test drive with John to see if they could determine what was happening. During the discussion one of the bystanders asked John what changes he made to the car since buying it. John replied “I didn’t touch a thing, except to wash it, wax it, and I filled the gas tank”. The bystander said, “I am going to take a leap here” then he asked “what kind of gas did you put in it”?

Let me jump ahead here in the story, and explain why this is so important.

High performance cars from the 60’s and early 70’s require high performance gasoline. Unless the engine has already been modified, pre-1971 cars require leaded high octane gasoline to run correctly. Because leaded gasoline is no longer sold in the United States, owners of these types of vehicles need to buy lead substitute additives (around $2-$5 per bottle). A bottle is generally good for one tank of gas. Lead is critical because it acts as a lubricant for the internal engine parts and stops them from wearing out prematurely. Engines built in 1971 and later are built to run on unleaded gas so adding lead substitute is not needed. In fact, lead damages Catalytic Converters, which are required on cars built after 1977, and is more harmful to the environment. Adding a lead additive to a pre-1971 engine will literally prevent the engine from beating itself to death.

John’s experience was something that happens to many vintage car owners. The reason the Nova ran great with the previous owner was because he used a 92 octane gasoline and added a bottle of lead substitute with every fill-up. When John filled the gas tank he used the same 87 octane gasoline he uses for his everyday driver. He never gave any thought to what type of gas he was running. Most people don’t buy vintage cars for gas mileage and economy reasons. Therefore it only took a couple of weekends of local driving before John needed to fill up his gas tank again. Now the engine was off of its “design point”, meaning it was never intended to run on low octane, unleaded fuel. The engine started to ping and knock under a load, as soon as the new gas was being burned.

When John shared his story on the forum, there was about a quarter of a tank of economy gas left. He added a bottle of octane booster, a bottle of lead substitute, and filled the rest of the tank with 92 octane premium gas. Since then, John’s car has been running perfectly.

An original pre 70’s engine which has not been modified for unleaded fuel will need a little help in the gas department. Always use the highest octane possible. A bottle of good octane booster and a lead substitute will help maximize performance and the engine’s longevity. You should be purchasing the highest octane gas possible because a high octane rating prevents knocking and pinging. Supreme unleaded (92 octane) is fine and should be used for most engines and everyday driving.

Owners of truly high performance engines, meaning a compression ratio greater than 10.0:1, must use an octane booster to keep their engines running smoothly. Octane boosters will also help if you plan to race your car occasionally or whenever you want a little more power. Remember, racing fuel in the 104 octane category and higher is expensive and sometimes hard to find.

Racing fuel should only be used if you truly have an engine built for racing and is overkill for a street car.

Tim Leary

Buying Auto Parts From Online Suppliers

For those who are lucky enough to have the skill to fix their own cars and trucks, the obstacle becomes finding the best and cheapest auto parts available. While junkyards and auto dealers are sources for finding the required car and truck parts, the best way to find these items is online.

There are several reasons for purchasing truck and car parts online.

Convenience

The mechanic, searching for a particular part, does not have to drive from store to store or junkyard to junkyard searching. Going online saves valuable time as well as gas from driving around the city. In addition car and truck parts are delivered right to your door saving a trip to the auto parts store.

Price Comparison

Shopping online allows the Internet surfer to look at several online stores at once. Prices can be compared and the on-line store offering the cheapest price can be used. However, be sure to compare shipping charges as well as some companies will make up in shipping and handling what they do not charge in price.

Finding a Rare Part or Accessory

For the car enthusiast, restoring and rebuilding older and Antique Cars can be a headache when it comes to finding the appropriate car parts as they are rare and hard to find. On-line truck and auto parts are easier to find using the Internet search.

Finding the Right Auto Parts Store On-line

When looking on-line for an auto parts store you want to make sure of a few factors. First make sure the store is secure, as you will be providing your credit card information. You want a store that has toll free customer service with a fair return policy (many will charge a restocking fee and this is to be expected). Check to see if there is a warranty on parts sold as this should be expected.

Amit Kothiyal
http://www.articlesbase.com/cars-articles/buying-auto-parts-from-online-suppliers-676251.html

Your Car Will Love Houston Self Storage Facilities

Many people in Houston-and many cities, for that matter-face a similar dilemma. It happens to everyone. All it takes is a little bit of time and before you know it, you’re up to your ears in stuff. We’ve all been there.

Between birthday parties, weddings, Saturday morning garage sale excursions, trips to the antique fair, and window shopping, it’s easy to accumulate a lot of things in a short amount of time. Even if we don’t really need the stuff, it’s still so very hard to get rid of it.

Here’s where the real dilemma comes in. If you aren’t going to get rid of it, you have to find a place to put it, right? No matter how big a home is, many of us still manage to accumulate more things than the house can hold. Before long, the garage becomes a storage warehouse. The cars end up sleeping on the proverbial couch, otherwise known as the driveway.

Then, the time comes to reminisce about the days when you could park your cars in that three car garage like ‘normal’ people. It’s a common tale.

Luckily, in a city the size of Houston, Texas, there’s a solution for everything. People in Houston with a stuff overflow situation are in dire need of a self storage facility. All those things that are taking over your home-and your life-can find their very own home at a second location.

Many people in Houston disregard self storage for a number of reasons. First of all, they think it’s too expensive. Contrary to popular believe, Houston self storage is actually quite affordable. For just a few extra dollars a month, you can get a storage unit for that extra stuff that’s displaced your car and spilling out of your hall closet.

Second, they worry about having limited access to their stuff. True, your stuff isn’t as available to you in the self storage unit as it is in your garage. But many Houston self storage facilities allow 24-hour access to your storage unit! And if they don’t, it’s probably just as well. Who really needs their Class of ‘89 letterman jacket in the middle of the night?

Third, they keep thinking, “Why do I need Houston self storage when I’m getting ready to have a garage sale?” Garage sales are great and they do solve the I-have-too-much-stuff problem. Garage sales, or donating the stuff to charity, giving it away, or throwing it all in a bonfire will help clear some much needed space in your home. But then you must decide what to get rid of and what to keep. Most people would rather walk on hot coals than endure such agony.

In Houston, self storage facilities create a win-win scenario for those suffering from too much stuff. You can find a safe, secure place for your things that won’t bombard you closets, garage, and under your bed. Also, you can enjoy a more spacious, organized home until you’re ready to get rid of some of your stuff once and for all. Best of all, your cars can enjoy being tucked into the garage every night. With Houston self storage, everybody’s happy.

Jason Kay
http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/your-car-will-love-houston-self-storage-facilities-699542.html