Classic car market adapts to online world

Peter Vosper, who writes in these pages, has previously touched on the subject of online purchasing for new cars and how this will impact the new car buyer.
The world of classic car buying has also moved on to a mix of on line purchasing as well as traditional person to person appointments with selling dealers.
High Street showrooms are now few and far between due to overheads and the low turnover associated with the classic car business. However, the dealers are still out there, but working from storage facilities, converted barns, or even home garaging and you will be assured of a very personal service, but always by prior appointment. Try the classic car shows as well.
On line sales carry all the usual risks which Peter has alluded to and there is no substitute for examining your investment close up and in person.
One significant participant with substantial on-line presence is Car and Classic (carandclassic.com) who until recently were simply an advertising forum.
They run continuous on-line auctions with around 40 cars ending each day, usually around 8pm to attract best interest as buyers settle down for a comfortable evening and watch the auction sale conclude. An interesting difference to Ebay is that the sale automatically extends by three minutes every time a bid is made in the last three minutes, thereby giving everyone a fair chance.
These sales generally run for five days so there is no excuse not to physically go and view your potential purchase. The option exists and you just have to ask.
This enables full understanding of the vendor’s reason for selling and an examination of the car. Auctions have no returns policy so read descriptions scrupulously and take time to understand the process.
One word of caution on these evening sales however. Do not make yourself too comfortable with a bottle of Jack Daniels (other drinks are available) as you might make a purchase you later regret (or even forget you made) the following morning!
You have to register your details and submit binding card payments before being able to bid.