New Marlin Classic Car Owner FAQ
I. Introduction
Owning a Classic car is an epic story of trial and
tribulation. Very few ownership stories end with profits being
made monetarily, but rich rewards come from the experiences working and
driving these great cars. While I was purchasing my first classic
car, there were no websites available or anyone in my circle of friends
that knew much about buying these 35 plus year old cars. Because
of this I found unexpected problems that could have been easily caught
if I knew what basic problems to look for.
This New Classic Car Owner FAQ is here to help mainly Marlin
owners, but can be extended in scope to help everyone looking to buy a
classic car (with "classic" being defined as a 35 plus year old
car). A lot of people get wrapped up in the idea of having a
classic car, or see one that they NEED to own, and make the mistake of
throwing caution to the wind.
This FAQ should also help answer many of the repeated questions.
Also
check my Question and Answer pages. I receive via email. As much
as I enjoy helping fellow car enthusiasts, encapsulating some common
answers to common questions should help us all, and surprisingly much
of this information isn't located in one spot on the internet where it
can be easily found.
However, the main point of this FAQ is to help calm the desires,
and delicately crash those of us who have fallen head over heels in
love with a classic car.
II. Availability
First things first - let us start at the beginning, you
are in the market for a classic car or are about to acquire one.
Either a classic car has fallen into your lap, or you were SOMEWHERE
and up drove this "I don't know what it was but it was a/the (choice of
adjectives) car". It was love at first sight, and now you have
figured out what it is and you want one... bad. If you have
inherited your Marlin or acquiring it was what I'd like to call 'an act
of God', please continue onto section 3. If not, READ BELOW!!!
Lesson 1: If you find the car you want, do NOT be afraid to WALK
AWAY. There will ALWAYS be another car! Your mission, your
goal, is to get the car of your dreams in the best condition you can
afford. I know it's hard, and you might have to search further
than you planned, but you will THANK me later. Remember, time is
on the buyer's side.
Lesson 2: Education is key! Use the internet and Classic
Car magazines to get a feel for how much the car you want costs.
Look for trends; what are popular options that drive the prices
up? What options are available for your car? What year do
you want? What are the differences between the models of your
car? Maybe you'll find the previous year of the car you saw is
more your style....
III. Car Examining Checklist
When you find the car you want, you need to check a number of
important factors before laying down the cash for it. Remember,
these cars are over
25 years old! Even with 'ground up restorations' and 'everything
replaced' ads, there are always things that won't be the same as when
the car was new.
Word of advice, mechanical problems are 80%
easier to fix than body problems. If you have previous experience
doing automotive bodywork, of course this changes the percentage, but
for most of us starting out bodywork and painting takes space,
expensive equipment, extensive amounts of time, and patience.
Bodywork also requires aftermarket, NOS (New Obsolete Stock), and
replacement parts from other original cars in order to fix your
car. Picking up the magazines from the numerous parts suppliers
available to our hobby pale in comparison to endless swap meet hunting,
eBay searches, and phone calls to unknown junkyards asking if they have
your car with the rare part you need.
Another word of advice, in your heart of hearts, you REALLY want
this car, don't you - the sooner you get it the better? Be honest
with yourself here. If you feel this way, and yes it's fine to,
bring along an impartial friend. A friend with automotive or
classic car background is ideal. Use him/her as an anchor to
reality. Make sure to buy him/her their favorite beverage if you
do or don't get the car. Either way your friend will save
you money in the long run by helping you buy the right car.
Here are a few pointers when looking at a classic car:
1.) Start by taking a look around the car, ask the owner about the
car's history while you look. Look at the paint - is it
shiny? Wavy? All the same color? Do you see bubbles?
Rust? Cracks? Peeling?
2.) Ask if the owner has any receipts of work completed.
3.) How does the glass look? Any cracks?
4.) Look at the chrome and stainless. Are there pits, scrapes, or
dull spots? Especially pay attention to large Chrome and
stainless pieces without logos. These parts are usually the ones
that aren't reproduced by companies yet, especially if the car being
viewed is not a "household name" car.
5.) Look at the body lines of the car - are the straight? Do they
get bigger or smaller as you trace along them? In convertibles,
MAKE SURE the body line where the door meets the rear quarter panel is
continually the same thickness. If the doors stick, or this body
line is not totally of equal measure throughout, DO NOT BUY THE
CAR! This body line is showing you the car is literally BENDING
IN HALF!
6.) Check the tires for wear. Uneven tire wear - balding on the sides
or in the middle - could indicate the need for a front-end alignment or
a more costly repair to a suspension component.
7.) Look under the car - what do the floorboards look like? Is there
rust? Are there holes? If the car is a unibody car, pay
special attention to the sub frame rails. The sub frame,
especially around the spring perches, can be a costly repair.
8.) Check the front floorboards by the pedals - is the floor wet? How
about the passenger side? This can be caused by a leaky cowl, or
a leaky heater core.
9.) Check the trunk - don't be afraid to lift the floor mat - there can
be VERY nasty things being hidden under there.
10.) Bring along a small refrigerator magnet and place it gently (as
not to scratch the paint) along various body panels (lower door, front
fender, etc.). If there is any plastic body filler the magnet will not
stay in place, indicating the vehicle has been involved in an accident
11.) Check the radiator fluid. If it is foamy or has oil droplets in
it, there is a good chance the car has a defective head gasket (coolant
and oil are mixing together) / or worse, a cracked block or head
12.) Before driving, LOOK for soot, water, and oil in the tailpipe, Oil
and antifreeze on the engine, spots of fluid under the car, and with
the engine running, loose parts or moving parts not moving
correctly (read loose belts and pulleys)
Now take it for a spin! While driving:
1.) LISTEN for squeaks, groans, and rug-rug noises.
2.) FEEL for loose steering, bad/worn suspension, strange road behavior.
3.) Make sure to steer hard into some corners. Brake hard and
accelerate quickly to get a feel of the car under emergency conditions.
4.) When you accelerate hard, using your rear view mirror, look for
blue or white smoke, or look for blue smoke when coasting down a hill,
then hit the accelerator and see if a plume of smoke appears.
IV. Car Delivery
For cars that are located far from your home, or
cars that cannot reach your home under their own power, there are
several companies that transport classic and unrestored cars.
Several transport companies contact information can be found on-line,
in car magazines, or through local classic car clubs. Make sure
to shop around for the best deals you can, and balance the cheapest
price with convenience and transporter's reputation (if
available). A few points:
1.) Covered transportation is supplied by several companies, but it
will cost more than uncovered.
2.) Vehicles that cannot be moved under their own power can be
transported, but are more expensive to transport.
3.) Be prepared for a wait of up to several weeks to get your car
transported. Transporters have to plan a circuit to pick up as
many cars as possible. Your car has to fit in the route.
Just be patient and check with the transporters on arrival times.
V. Must Have Literature
1.) A SHOP MANUAL FOR YOUR CAR!!!!! This is a collection of the
original instructions on working on your car that dealer mechanics
used. This manual will allow you to disassemble and reassemble
your car. It also holds diagrams and part numbers to compare with
what is on your car.
2.) Check local book stores and online book stores like
Amazon.com. From performance to inspirational pictures of
your car, check out these sources for literature.
VI. Buying Parts
Best bet is if you're classic car is a "household name"
(Corvette, Camaro, Mustang, Thunderbird) parts are readily
available. However, for those of us who are proud owners of less
conspicuous cars (Marlin, Edsel, Tucker, Lark) parts availability can
be found in several places:
1.) Try Magazines such as Hemmings
Motor News, and Collector
Car Trader Online. Try eBay
Look under Rambler Marlin or AMC Marlin
2.) Swap Meets are another great source for parts and contacts.
Visits can be hit and miss, and buyer beware! However, do your
homework and amazing deals can be found!
3.) With the .com boom, many 'brick and mortar' businesses now have web
sites to sell directly to car enthusiasts. Use Internet search
engines like
Google to search for parts
suppliers.
VII. Online Literature
On the subject of the internet, use the search engines like Google to find great information on your car. A lot of car enthusiasts and companies have set up websites passing on valuable information to help you in your restoration.
VIII. Online Support
Many sites also have contact information to reach the
authors. Email is a great tool - USE IT!
The next great source of information is Newsgroups.
Newsgroups are email addresses that many people can send mail to, and
the accumulated mail is released to all members, allowing a virtual
discussion between all members.
THE AMX Files is AMX FILES,
and I suggest all Marlin owners join a Club.
There are several newsgroups for several different types of
cars. Search online to find ones to help you.
IX. Local Support
For most types of cars there is a car club or hobbyists that
can help you if you purchase, maintenance, and restoration of your
car. Networking is key for classic car folks. When you buy
the car, ask the owner if they have any magazines, catalogs, or leads
to local clubs of people who have dealt with the car.
With the advent of the internet, people thousands of miles away
are just a click away. Don't underestimate the power of the
internet - most of us are out here to help!
Disclaimer: This site is not intended to instruct or teach anyone in proper or safe methods of working on or maintaining a car and the author takes no responsibility for the use of the information contained herein.
