Your First Classic Should be a Bit Rubbish
November 4, 2023
So you want to go out and buy your first classic. It’s a big step, so well done to you. However, before you go out and secure the best version of whatever classic car you have decided to get, hear us out. Don’t. Get one that’s a bit rough around the edges. Not a full-on project, just something that has a bit of life to it. Something that’s good, but not perfect. Trust us, it’s the way forward. You’ll have a richer experience, you’ll learn more and while it will be frustrating at times, it will also be tremendous fun.
Buying a minty fresh, impeccable, almost as new classic would be lovely, but where’s the fun? Where’s the adventure? Where’s the learning? A classic that’s a bit rubbish will test you, it will force you to learn, it will probably leave you stranded on the side of the A14, but that’s fine. It’s all part of the adventure. And that’s what classic cars are, they’re an adventure. They’re a journey. They’re not meant to get you where you’re going without issue or complaint. They’re meant to test you. By being tested, it creates an even stronger bond between owner and machine.
Of course, this isn’t for everyone. You need to have the correct, open mindset going in, but if you do the rewards are plentiful. You’ll not only, as mentioned earlier, learn lots, but you’ll also increase your abilities. You’ll start looking back at that first classic with a unique fondness because it will be better than it was when you bought it, and that’ll be all because of you.
Is buying a classic that’s a bit rough around the edges always going to be a positive? No, you will hate that car. You’ll want to throw things at it. You’ll want to set it on fire. But, like any good relationship, you need those lows to better appreciate the highs. And while you’ll be pulling your hair out at times, you’ll also be improving the car and ultimately, yourself. Classic cars are more akin to people than machines. They have souls, they have personalities and they have heart. And by making sure your first classic is a bit rubbish, you’ll experience all of that undiluted. Trust us, it’s the way to do it,
