Classic Car Shopping Journey

The car hobby has so many enjoyable aspects that it’s easy to overlook the funnest part – buying a car. Lately, I’ve been focused on sharing ways to personalize cars, learning about interesting car enthusiasts, and attending car shows. However, this week, I got back into the process of shopping for and buying a car.

Fortunately, the car I was shopping for was for my friend, so I was able to enjoy the process as an advisor and supporter, which means my bank account remains intact!

Classic Car Roots

I’ve known my friend, Hans Kaiser, since the late 1970s. When I was dating my wife, I kept running into him at school parties (we went to rival high schools). Once we realized that we were both car guys, the friendship took off and has improved with time, like a fine wine.

At least 20 years ago, Hans bought a 1968 Mustang in North Carolina. Much like I was at the time, he was on a tight budget and bought the best car he could find for the money. It had solid bones but needed some refreshing. He had it painted, did some engine, transmission, and axle work, and then enjoyed it until about two years ago. It was sold through Hagerty Marketplace to someone who will keep appreciating it for years to come.

Like many of us, Hans focused on other things in life (hunting, fishing, camping, etc.), so old cars were not high on his list. Neither was working on old cars, so the car hobby was put on hold. 

Passion Reignited

Two weeks ago, I invited Hans to join me at a local car show hosted by Bring A Trailer. As we strolled through the display of vintage and collector cars, we talked about our future car plans. Hans mentioned he wasn’t interested in getting another project car, but if a well sorted one came along, he might consider it.

Related article: Bring A Trailer Detroit Meet-up

The idea seemed to stick with him, as he started looking for cars within the next week. There are many good sources for car listings like Hemmings, Bring A Trailer, and Hagerty Marketplace, but it seems that Hans used Autotrader Classics as his starting point.

Last week, I received a text from Hans. It went something like this:

Hans: “I found a sweet 1969 Nova SS in Ohio. Check it out (he shared a link)”

Me: “Wow, that is really clean! Are you considering getting something like that?”

Hans: “Not something like this…I am going to buy this car.  I blame you for this!”

My job here was done…or so I thought.

The Search Begins

Hans called the dealer about the Nova, but it had already been sold. He was disappointed but determined. Hans doesn’t give up easily when he sets his mind on something.

A few days later, he informed me that he had found a 1967 Pontiac Firebird at a classic car dealer in Chicago. The car looked great on the website and was described as being in “concours-level condition” with a “recent restoration.” Hans spoke with the dealer, who provided strong assurances about the car’s history.

Road Trip!

Hans wasted no time and asked if I was up for a road trip to Chicago, which is about 5 hours away from our homes in metro Detroit. I agreed, and we left my house at 3:45 am the next morning.

When we arrived at the Chicago dealership, we met the owner and took a tour of the place. It was a large shop known for vehicle detailing and restoration, with an eclectic collection of cars for sale.

Finally, we were able to see the Firebird. It looked really good, especially with the blue paint. Hans tried to contain his excitement but remained focused on the mission. We both inspected the car.

Hans and I have different perspectives when it comes to cars, which turned out to be helpful. He spent his career at General Motors managing vehicle launches and knows how a car is put together.  My GM experience was in service and sales, so I focus on cosmetics, specs and presentation. We make a good team.

Details Uncovered

The Firebird was no project car and was priced at the higher end of collectibles. As we looked closer, it became clear that the engine in the car was not the high output 326 V8 as advertised. The Ram Air Hood was an add-on, and the paint was unusually thick (as measured by my trusty paint depth gauge).  This was not a bad car.  In fact, it was a pretty nice restoration.  It just did not live up to the price tag.

Due to  the dealer’s lack of documentation from previous owners, restoration work details, or any report from the Pontiac Historical Society, Hans decided to walk away. He thanked the dealer for his time, and we left.

Regroup

After the disappointing end to the Chicago dealer visit, we drove to a nearby McDonald’s to regroup. Hans was aware of a 1968 Firebird in Elkhart, Indiana, which was roughly on the way home. He called the seller, who told him that it was just sold. Another bummer!

The next hour on the road was quiet and full of introspection. Was this journey worth it? Maybe it wasn’t meant to be. These are all emotions you feel when on the hunt for the right car, but it doesn’t materialize. I went through a similar experience last year and ended up buying a new Camaro instead of an older classic car. I even asked Hans if he would consider getting a fun new car instead. I was thinking Toyota GR86/Subaru BRZ or Toyota GR Corolla.

Related article:  Car Shopping: Time For Plan B

Hans was very clear in his response to me: he wanted a late 1960s V8 with a manual transmission. No Mustangs or Corvettes. Got it!

Detour/Change of Plans

We had been driving for about an hour when we received a call from the seller in Elkhart, informing us that the 1968 Firebird was again available for sale. It turned out that the buyer was actually a scammer.  Fortunately, the seller’s bank caught it before the car was released.

The timing couldn’t have been better. Elkhart was just an hour away and not far off our route. We decided to head to Elkhart, even though we didn’t know much about the seller (who was a one-man classic car dealer) or the car.

Hans took the wheel while I looked up information about the car online. The dealer had provided a very detailed description, including the engine code, 155 photos, and a list of available documentation. As we neared the remote location, we spotted a well-maintained garage. It was small, but we could see four cars behind the glass garage door. Feeling hopeful, we went inside.

Precious Metal Classic Car Sales

We were greeted at the door by Tris Gour, the owner of Precious Metal Classic Car Sales. Tris, who is about our age, is a true car enthusiast. The atmosphere at this place was completely different from the Chicago dealer.

Tris, a semi-retired Environmental Scientist, is a full-time car guy. Every year, he locates and sells around 20 high-end classic cars. The green 1968 Vedoro Green Firebird displayed at the shop was found in the Pacific Northwest from a private collector by Tris. It had undergone a thorough restoration about 15 years ago but had only been driven 700 miles since then.

Hans and I started our separate inspection of the car. I checked the paint depth, which was about 4 mil on every panel, and concluded that the car must have been stripped to bare metal and repainted during the restoration. The engine code on the paperwork confirmed that this was a genuine 400 cubic inch high output V8 (engine code WQ). This Firebird was everything Tris had advertised and more. It was truly beautiful.

The Vibe Matters

The key difference between Tris and the Chicago dealer was clear: Tris knows every detail of his cars and treats them as if they were his own, rather than just flipping other people’s creations. It seemed like he was assessing us just as we were assessing the car. He must have liked what he saw in Hans, as they made a fair deal on the spot.

Once the deal was settled, Tris agreed to deliver the car to Hans in an enclosed trailer. The delivery is scheduled to take place in about a week, and I believe Tris is personally delivering the car to ensure that Hans will give it a good home.

The experience at Precious Metal should be the standard for all collector car purchases. In Hans’ case, everything fell into place, making it a perfect decision to buy this car.

Final Thoughts & Questions

The experience with Hans was enjoyable to witness, and I felt privileged to be a part of it. Whether you are purchasing a car from a dealer like Tris or a private seller, trust your instincts. After inspecting the vehicle, if the deal feels right, then it probably is. If not, it’s best to walk away. There will always be another car.

Feel free to share any unique car shopping experiences you’ve had. You can leave your thoughts or questions in the comment section below.

Want to learn more about me?  Check out Who’s Your Nanny?