Buying a car should not end with disappointment.

You spent hours, if not days searching for the car you want. Maybe it’s a hot rod, a classic, a sports car, or just a daily driver to take you to work every day. Why do you want to spend time and money only to get cheated? I know I would be upset if someone sold me a pile of shit. The car is a 1956 Ford Fairlane. In its day, it was a very good car. The Fairlane Victoria sold for 2,249 in 1956, but by todays inflation % it would be like buying a car for 19,844 Finding a classic that is in good condition takes lots of work. When you find the one you like, you need to get it inspected before buy it. The rule is, once you buy it, it’s your problem now. Sellers do not have to tell you a thing, they are not lying to you, they just don’t tell you what they know about the car they are selling. Holding back information is not a crime, but it should be. An inspection is the only way to protect you and your hard-earned money.
An inspection at Tony’s is around $150.00 for a modern car and $300.00 for a classic. It always takes longer to check out an older car because most classics have been rebuilt several times and may have hidden damage. Just because it looks fabulous on the outside does not indicate it’s in good shape underneath the sheet metal. Rust, mechanical wear, electrical faults and body repairs that did not get the attention they needed during the restoration are very common, Flawless paint is a red flag, it may be pretty on the outside, but what is underneath all that paint? This 56 Fairlane was in distress years ago, now it’s a mess of body filler and crap repairs on top of more crap repairs. The body is dead, all the mounting points on the right side are rotten. The engine runs OK but the transmission makes noise and the gear shift linkage is worn out to the point it is hard to get from one gear to the next. The doors and hood don’t close correctly and you have to slam the driver’s door to get it to latch. The brakes are a mess too, it’s unsafe to drive. The car needs so much work that it’s hard to find a starting point. Getting your car inspected by a certified mechanic with a written evaluation gives you power to negotiate a lower price or pass on the buy all together and keep looking for a good car to spend your money on. So it’s shiny with pretty paint and tons of chrome, but if you can’t drive it, what is the point of buying it in the first place. It does not matter who you buy from, get it inspected…