Collector Car Pre-Purchase Inspection
A pre-purchase inspection is an independent look at a car before the money moves. On a collector car it matters more than on a modern one, because the expensive problems are the ones a seller does not photograph: rust under fresh undercoating, a non-original engine, filler under good paint, a tired gearbox that behaves for a ten minute drive.
A useful inspection is done by someone who knows the model, not just cars in general. It should end with a written report and photos you can read from another state, because most collector cars are bought at a distance.
Specialists on Fully Sorted
What to ask before you book
- Have you inspected this model before, and what do you check on it that you would not on another car?
- Does the inspection include a compression or leak-down test, a paint meter reading on every panel, and the car on a lift?
- Will you confirm the chassis, engine and gearbox numbers against the title and the factory pattern?
- What does the report look like, how many photos, and how soon after the visit does it arrive?
Common questions
Is a pre-purchase inspection worth it on a collector car?
Yes, for almost any car bought unseen or from a seller you do not know. The inspection fee is small against the cost of one hidden problem such as structural rust, a replaced engine or accident repair, and the report is also leverage in the price conversation.
Who should arrange the inspection, the buyer or the seller?
The buyer. The inspector works for whoever pays, and an inspection arranged by the seller answers the seller's questions. A reasonable seller will make the car available to an inspector the buyer chooses.
Can an inspection be done if the car is in another state?
Yes. That is the normal case. The inspector travels to the car or the car goes to a nearby shop with a lift, and the buyer gets a written report with photos and usually a phone call.
Other trades
Researching a particular car first? Model histories cover what to look for and what goes wrong, model by model.