Nearly 9 million vintage cars circulate in France. Budget, research, here are our tips when buying your first collectible model.
A million. This is the number of old vehicles circulating in France, according to the French Federation of Vintage Vehicles (FFVE). By adding the “young timers”, these vehicles whose age oscillates between 21 and 29 years – a vehicle must reach the age of 30 to officially obtain a collection registration document – there are nearly 9 million cars that appeal to vehicle enthusiasts of time.
While the 47th edition of the Retromobile show dedicated to these vintage cars is being held from February 1 to 5 in Paris, here are some tips when choosing this car that makes you dream.
A car in good condition
For a first purchase, Matthieu Lamoure, director of Artcurial Motorcars, advises choosing a ready-to-run model in impeccable condition, rather than opting for restoration work. “In an old car, you have to remember that it’s not the engine but the bodywork that costs the most, continues Matthieu Lamoure. An engine is mechanics, it can be repaired, corrosion on the other hand… “. The real criterion for a car in very good condition is a reliable history with “the invoices, the maintenance book, the manual”.
Beyond the technical history, having many details on the life of the vehicle is essential, such as the number of owners, for example. Because everyone has their own way of driving, of maintaining the vehicle and therefore of using it. “What will make the difference between two vehicles in the same condition is also its history, the impression of knowing it, where it lived, with which owners”, explains Benjamin Arnaud, sales director of RM Sotheby’s France.
Contact collectors
For example, buying a car from an auction collection can be a solution for finding a vehicle with a known history. Otherwise, “do not hesitate to turn to the clubs”, advises us Pascal Rousselle of the French Federation of Vintage Vehicles (FFVE).
“When you have found the model of your choice, you can contact a collectors club, to get information on the history of this model, the known defects”, continues Pascal Rousselle, who also advises to ask to take a short tour. in a similar car. To ensure that once behind the wheel, you do not regret your purchase. “You can also ask members to accompany you to see the vehicle you are considering buying,” continues Pascal Rousselle.
And the catering?
Some still fit into the collection and the vintage vehicle through restoration, especially if they are fans of mechanics. Benjamin Arnaud therefore advises to properly assess (or have assessed) the cost of such a project. “If the price of the car is quite low – below 20 to 30,000 euros – it may be difficult to find a balance on the project”, warns the specialist.
Another crucial issue is the availability of parts. “On mass-produced models, such as Minis and 2CVs, the parts are easily accessible, so maintenance is easy, explains Pascal Rousselle. On rarer models, it’s more complicated, it’s better to inquire beforehand. purchase on these kinds of details”.
For what budget?
Maintenance, club: a classic car costs an average of 3938 euros per year
It all depends of course on the value of the vehicle and its age, but on average according to the FFVE, a vintage car owner spends 3938 euros per year on his car. Expenses which are broken down as follows: “3085 euros per year for maintenance and routine upkeep, 525 euros for participation in events related to vintage vehicles (registration, accommodation, meals, etc.) and an additional 328 euros for to other items of expenditure inherent in this passion, such as club membership or the specialized press”, specifies the FFVE.
The budget for a classic car project goes beyond the simple purchase price. If the car is acquired at an auction, the costs must be taken into account, which is added to the amount of the last bid. Thus, at Artcurial, for a car whose price can reach 900,000 euros, 16% of the price excluding tax must be added in miscellaneous expenses.
If it comes from abroad, in addition to the shipping costs, you have to think about the cost of the gray card, which can be high on a powerful model. It is then necessary to take into account the cost of a possible garage and maintenance, which can be quite expensive on certain brands (Ferrari, Porsche). There is also the question of insurance, which can also represent a small budget if it is all-risk insurance (1 to 1.5% of the value of the vehicle after expertise).
But beyond all these positions to keep in mind, only one really counts according to all our interlocutors. “To buy a car, you have to love it, because you have to maintain it, make it run, it’s not a picture, there are constraints, says Matthieu Lamoure. If it’s just a investment, we risk being disgusted by it”.
What about mileage?
Are you taking a risk buying a car with high mileage? All our experts agree that this is not really a problem because rebuilding an engine is always a possibility. On more recent models, such as youngtimers, “they are designed to do much more”, explains Pascal Rousselle.
