My Car Heaven

So you want to be a classic car collector? It’s not a bad life if you can afford it. But before you start spending your hard-earned cash on vintage vehicles, there are a few things you should know. This blog post will give you tips for aspiring classic car collectors. Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been collecting cars for years, these tips will help you refine your process and get the most out of your collection.

Via Unsplash 

Do your research.

This is probably the most important tip for aspiring classic car collectors. You need to know what you’re looking for before you start buying cars. Read books and magazines, talk to other collectors, and join online forums to learn as much as you can about classic cars. Once you’ve done your research, you’ll be able to spot a good deal when you see one.

Set a budget.

It’s easy to get carried away when you’re buying classic cars, so it’s important to set a budget and stick to it. Determine how much money you’re willing to spend on your collection, and don’t go over that amount.

Buy what you like.

One of the best things about collecting classic cars is that you can buy the ones you love. So if you’re passionate about a certain make or model, don’t be afraid to splurge on it. You’ll enjoy your collection more if you have cars that you’re excited about.

Choose wisely.

Not all classic cars are created equal. Some are better investments than others, so it’s important to choose wisely when building your collection. If you’re not sure which cars are worth your money, consult a professional appraiser or car specialist. They’ll be able to help you find the best deals.

Don’t be afraid to negotiate.

Remember, the price isn’t set in stone. If you think a car is overpriced, don’t be afraid to negotiate. Many sellers are willing to come down on their asking price, so it’s always worth a shot.

Get a pre-purchase inspection.

Before you buy a classic car, make sure you get a pre-purchase inspection from a qualified mechanic. This will help you avoid any expensive surprises down the road.

Join a classic car club.

Joining a classic car club is a great way to meet other collectors and learn more about the hobby. There are clubs for all different makes and models of cars, so you’re sure to find one that’s right for you.

Attend classic car shows.

Classic car shows are a great way to see some of the world’s most beautiful cars up close and in person. They’re also a great place to meet other collectors and find out about upcoming events.

Store your cars properly.

If you want your classic cars to stay in good condition, you need to store them properly. Keep them in a climate-controlled garage or storage facility, and make sure they’re covered when they’re not in use.

Insure your collection.

Make sure you insure your classic car collection against theft, fire, and other damage. This will protect your investment and give you peace of mind. Work with machinery movers to get your new machines from the dealer to your business when purchasing heavy machinery.

Design your garage.

While you can store your classic cars just about anywhere, it’s best to have a designated area for them. This could be a separate garage or simply a section of your home’s garage. Keep this area clean and organized, and make sure only authorized people have access to it.

Following these tips will help you become a successful classic car collector. So if you’re thinking about starting a collection, be sure to keep these things in mind. Happy collecting!

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If you live in LA and have a classic car, you know how important it is to keep your beloved vehicle safe from thieves and other types of damage. But how do you do this if your car is an older model? The tips below will help you keep your classic car secure in Los Angeles.

Never leave your car idling

Idling can be expensive and harmful to the environment, so it’s best to avoid it whenever possible. Not only that, but leaving your car running when you step out for a minute gives theives plenty of opportunity to strike. So don’t leave your vehicle as an easy target!

You may also want to consider turning off all unnecessary accessories when parked or waiting—including lights and radios—to save battery power and prevent vandals from spotting an easy target for theft.

Never keep spare keys in the car or unsecured outside your house

We’ve all left our keys under the doormat or in a plant pot at one point or another. This is a major risk factor for theft, as the thief can use your spare key to make a copy and then break into the car, or simply drive off with it. Always keep your spare key somewhere else that’s not connected to your vehicle (e.g., at home in a secure lock box) and make sure not to tell others where you’ve hid them, unless it’s someone who needs access to your car.

Keep your car in a garage when you’re not using it

Source: https://unsplash.com/photos/lX2YG5w4_gs

A garage is the best way to keep your classic car safe from the elements, and it’s also a great way to keep it safe from thieves. Thieves might break into your home if they know you have a valuable car, so keeping it in a garage or storage space is important.

If you don’t have a garage or a secure place to leave your car at home, monthly parking in LA is relatively easy to come by.

If you must park outside, consider installing motion-detecting lights around the perimeter of where you park your vehicle. If someone breaks in while your car is parked outside at night, these lights will go on and alert neighbors who can call police for help.

Invest in steering wheel locks

If you’re looking for a cheap and easy way to keep your classic car secure, steering wheel locks are a great choice. They come in many different styles and can be purchased with or without keys. They’re usually very easy to install on your own, but if you need help finding the right one for your car or have trouble installing it, many auto repair shops will help you out for a small fee.

However, steering wheel locks aren’t the perfect solution—they can easily be defeated by thieves who have enough time on their hands. But, they’re better than nothing because they deter would-be thieves from trying to steal your vehicle in the first place – they might look elsewhere for an easier target. And since there’s no real installation required after purchase (you just slide them onto the steering wheel), you can have your car safe and secure in just a minute or two.

Always park your car in well-lit areas

Leaving your car unattended during the day is better than doing so at night, and parking in a well-lit area is better than in a dark area. Also, parking near other cars is better than in an isolated area; there’s safety in numbers and a single car is an easier target than one parked in a busy street in broad daylight.

Don’t leave valuables in your car

Your car itself might be the most valuable thing you own, but don’t forget about the things you have stored inside it too.

Don’t leave anything in your car that’s of obvious value—this includes loose change, jewelry, or even an expensive-looking phone case. Thieves know how valuable these things can be, even if they don’t know what they are. Even if you think nothing will happen to them, it’s always better to play it safe than sorry.

Be sure that all valuables are removed from inside before leaving your car; nothing ruins an afternoon spent wandering around town like finding out after returning home that everything was stolen while we were away!

Keep your registration up-to-date and on hand at all times

If you don’t have your registration on hand, then it will be difficult for the police or tow truck driver to prove that your vehicle belongs to you when they arrive at the scene of an accident or theft situation involving your vehicle.

Keep the vehicle off limits to anyone but the family members who need to drive it

You’ll want your classic car off limits to anyone but family members who need to drive it. If you have a garage, keep the vehicle locked in there when not in use. You can also consider having a hidden switch installed that turns power off when the car is not in use, ensuring that no one can start it up and drive away undetected.

If you don’t have a garage or just don’t feel comfortable keeping your classic car locked up all the time, then at least do yourself another favor by making sure only family members know where the keys are kept so they can get into the vehicle if necessary (and hopefully not for joyrides!).

Conclusion

Whether you simply drive your classic car to work throughout the week or plan on taking it out for an auto show, there are steps that you can take to make sure that your ride is secure when you’re not around. We hope these tips above have helped you find the perfect solution for keeping your classic car secure.

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This is a 1952 Chevrolet step side pickup hot rod that I saw recently at Petrolheadonism Live 2022. What an absolute stunning car, and it really hit me hard with it’s beauty. The car colour, the chrome, the restoration. The Owner and his pal have done a wonderful job on the car. Here’s some information on this car in the owners own words.

The owner (Clive Hardy) purchased this Chevy for £500. What he got was a body shell and a pile of parts and no running gear. It took him, with his good friend Rob Clarke, 12-years to achieve the result you see here today working religiously every Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning. Clive decided that with so many missing components the only sensible solution was to turn it into a hot rod. The pickup is painted in Kandy Apple Red from House of Kolor by OCS Paints at Northampton. The truck has been painted this colour in hidden places like under the hood (bonnet), under the sills and under the fenders (wings). Apart from the gorgeous colour the other striking visual difference is the lowered roof line. Rob and Clive deliberated how much metal to remove to chop the roof, 3 or 4 inches. Clive chose to go with 4 inches as this still left plenty of headroom in the cab.

As the Chevy came with no running gear they fitted a brand new 350ci Chevy engine with 4 barrel Holley carburettor and an Edlebrock intake manifold. The engine is coupled to a Jaguar IRS rear axle with a Salisbury differential. New adjustable shock absorbers and suspension complete the picture. At the front end a new Camaro front clip complete with new springs and gas shock absorbers was fitted, together with new rack & pinion power steering. In actual fact every item is brand new on this pickup with the only exception being the chassis.

Advance-Design was a pickup truck series by Chevrolet, their first major redesign after WWII. It was billed as a larger, stronger, and sleeker design in comparison to the earlier AK Series. First available on 28th June 1947 these trucks were sold with various minor changes over the years until 25th March 1955, when the Task Force Series trucks replaced the aging Advance-Design model.

The same basic design family was used for all of its trucks including the Suburban, panel trucks, canopy express and cab-overs. From 1947 until 1955, Chevrolet trucks were number one in sales in the United States, with rebranded versions sold at GMC locations. There are three main sizes of this truck: the half-ton, three-quarter- ton, and full ton capacities in short and long wheelbase. The 3100 designates this as a half ton truck.

The differences for the 1952 model year were the outer door handles were now the push button type as opposed to the previous turn downstyle. The speedometer was changed to read to 90 mph and dashboard trim was painted instead of chrome. Mid-year Chevrolet stopped using the 3100-6400 designation on the hood and changed the window and wiper knobs to a maroon colour. The original engine was a 216ci straight 6 with a 3/4 speed manual transmission.

Length 196,6”(4,990mm).

Bravo to Clive and Rob, what a wonderful car. I loved it. If you are ever down in the Berkshire region I’d love a drive out. All the best.

You can read more about Petrolheadonism Live here.

Make sure that you are subscribed to our newsletter (see below link) or following us on social media (@mycarheaven) to be updated of our competitions and more. Recent competitions have included winning tickets to Silverstone Classic to Concours of Elegance and to Petrolheadonism Live and you can be in with a chance of winning tickets to the NEC Classic Motor Show HERE.

See you around.

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Here’s another Top 10, this time we bring you our top 10 cars from the 2022 Concours of Elegance. We have put these cars in order of which cars we’d most like to own/ drive. See what you think.

1971 Lamborghini Miura SV

I just love this car. I love the shape. I love the story about Lamborghini going up against Ferrari. I love the two tone colour. This car looks like it’s been restored to a standard it’s probably better than when it was new. Read more about this actual car here, and more Miura posts here.

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1961 Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato

Has anyone who knows me, follows me, or has read any of my previous articles, will know, this car, in my opinion, is one of the most beautiful cars of all time, if not the No.1. This particular car sounds monstrous, which further appeals to me. Read more about this actual car here, and more DB4 GT Zagato posts here.

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1956 Maserati A6G Zagato

Stunning. I cannot believe anybody would think this car is not a masterpiece of automotive design. It looks lovely. It sounds lovely. With Zagato bodywork, which in my opinion is one of the most beautiful car designers of all time, this has to be one of the most beautiful cars of all time. Here’s more information on the car here.

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1933 Delage D8 S Coupe Letourneur et Marchand

Wow, just wow. What an amazing looking car. Immaculate paint work in black with chrome detailing. The car sits quite low and we love it. Sinister looking don’t you think? Here’s more information on the car here.

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1938 Delage D8-120 ‘de Villars’

Wow. Just a beautiful looking car. It’s very distinctive fenders and curves. What a beautiful looking car. Here’s more information on the car here.

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1994 Bugatti EB 110 SS

I just love this car. It’s not often you see this car. But grey with blue interior just works. I believe it’s a beautiful looking car. It is immensely loud, which we love, very rare, which we love, a rare car and we would so so so love to drive one. Here’s more information on the car here.

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1938 Hispano-Suiza H6B Dubonnet Xenia

Just amazing. Have you ever seen anything like this in your life. This is truly something out of this world. The lines the detailing the paintwork, the chrome, just looks unbelievable. Here’s more information on the car here.

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1927 Avions Voisin C14 Lumineuse

Have you ever seen a car like this. This beautiful and distinct looking car was up for sale via Gooding and company, with a without reserve price to £275,000-£350,000, and sold for £202,500. You’d probably love or hate this car, but we love it. Here’s more information on the car here.

2021 Bugatti Divo

What a menacing and beautiful looking car. I love the colour of the paint work, it’s like a matt fluorescent yellow. I had to include this car as it is a true drivers car/ hypercar and I’d so love to drive it. Here’s more information on the car here.

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1930 Cord L-29 Brougham

What an exceptional looking car. The L-29 was the first American front wheel drive car to be offered to the public. Love it. Here’s more information on the car here.

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So there you have my top 10. So hard to choose 10 when every car on display is stunning, a work of art. A little more…

A few unusual looking cars, that I’ve never seen before, that I thought you (like me) could like:

1953 Bristol 404 Coupe

What a beautiful looking car. What lovely lines. A very odd fin at the back of the car. Have you ever seen a car like this. Here’s more information on the car here.

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1963 ATS 2500 GT Coupe

I imagine this is a very rare car. Paintwork is exceptional as you would expect from any concours car. Beautiful shape. Lots of chrome. A wonderful looking rear end. We love it. Here’s more information on the car here.

And last, we had to feature this…

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1963 Ferrari 250 GTO

Of all the many legendary Ferraris, without question the most iconic is the 250 GTO.  Designed to take the fight to the AC Cobra, Jaguar E-type and Aston Martin DP214 in Group 3GT racing, the car harnessed the talents of golden era Ferrari engineers such as Giotto Bizzarrini and Mauro Forghieri. This particular car is chassis 4219GT, and you can read more about it here.

I hope you liked this article. Leave a comment below, what’s your favourite car from the above? See you around…

The post Our Top 10 desired cars from the Concours of Elegance 2022 appeared first on My Car Heaven.

Here’s a little information about the beautiful 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO which was on display at the 2022 Concours of Elegance. One of our favourite cars of all time. You can see more Concours of Elegance news, reviews, videos and galleries here.

Of all the many legendary Ferraris, without question the most iconic is the 250 GTO.  Designed to take the fight to the AC Cobra, Jaguar E-type and Aston Martin DP214 in Group 3 GT racing, the car harnessed the talents of golden era Ferrari engineers such as Giotto Bizzarrini and Mauro Forghieri.

Though the car largely used tried and tested mechanicals, Bizzarrini employed the latest research from wind tunnel testing at Pisa University to craft a shape to beat the world’s best.  Rendered in aluminium by Scaglietti, the 250 GTO weighs between 880kg and 950kg, and is powered by a mighty 3.0-litre Colombo V12 producing 296bhp, sourced from the 250 Testa Rossa Le Mans victor.

This particular car is chassis 4219GT, which was originally sold to Mamie Spears Reynolds, the daughter of former USA senator Robert Reynolds and Evalyn McLean Roberts of the McLean mining company, which once owned the Hope Diamond. Luigi Chinetti not only sold the car, but gained a daughter-in-law- his son, Luigi ‘Coco’ Chinetti Jr, married Mamie in July 1963.  The car duly won that year’s Daytona 3-hour Continental with Pedro Rodríguez behind the wheel, and finished fourth in class and 13th overall at the ’63 Sebring 12 Hours with Joakim Bonnier and John Cannon driving.

Mamie’s ownership didn’t last long (neither did the marriage to Coco, which was over by 1965), with Buick and Ferrari dealer, Beverly Spencer, purchasing it in May 1963. He changed the original Rosso Cima paintwork to white with blue centre stripes, as he campaigned the 250 GTO as part of the North American Racing Team (NART).  The car was driven by Frank Crane at Laguna Seca, Pacific Raceway and Candlestick Park Raceway, notching up a podium and a class victory along the way.

By the end of 1963 Bev Spencer put the car up for sale again, advertising it for $14,000.  George C Dyer Snr of Hillsborough, California, bought the Ferrari early the following year and hung on to it until January 1993, when the current owner, a Mr Brandon Wang took stewardship.  Since then it’s been a regular at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, Tour de France Auto and Pebble Beach Concours.

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Here’s a little information about the beautiful 1953 Bristol 404 Coupe which was on display at the 2022 Concours of Elegance. What a beautiful looking car. What lovely lines. A very odd fin at the back of the car. Have you ever seen a car like this. You can see more Concours of Elegance news, reviews, videos and galleries here.

Created in parallel with the Le Mans class-winning Bristol 450, the 404 was a showcase for the best technologies of the day and a rolling showcase of Bristol’s engineering principles.

Just 52 Bristol 404s were made and this is the first – the original prototype.  Prior to the current owner, there have been seven stewards of this fascinating car: the first, Sir George Stanley Middleton White, Chairman of Bristol Cars, who retained the car as his personal transport for over a decade.  He insisted that the fin remained in place, even though it was judged “a little too flamboyant” for Bristol’s typical clients. Indeed the current Sir George White fondly remembers being driven to and from prep school in RAE 345, with its huge rear fin, recalling that it dramatically elevated his kudos and street credibility among his schoolboy peers.

RAE 345 played a key role in testing the aero fin potential for the 450 racers and road-going 404s that followed.  The lower body mixed aluminium and steel, with a honeycomb sandwich construction for the rear floor, while the upper structure formed a canopy from a wooden framework and door pillars, with the whole encased in aluminium. The design for the nose of the car itself taken from the air intakes of the Brabazon Airliner – behind which sat eight 2650bhp engines, rather more than the 105bhp in the road car.

Aero engineering and racing nous found their way into the road cars – Bristol’s trademark installation of the spare wheel and battery in the front wings, first seen on the 404, were prompted by the desire to centralise mass, occupying the space created for the fuel tanks in the 450 racers.

This vehicle became a very familiar sight across Bristol’s huge Filton site because as well as Sir George’s daily transport, the car was used as a test bed and experimental platform.  It went to and from Bristol’s aeronautical and automotive engineering departments for engine upgrades, braking enhancements and other tweaks. All these developments were documented in the factory service records and many of the innovative parts fitted, such as the short-ratio gearbox, remain on the car to this day.

When the car eventually left the family in 1965 the fin was removed.  Fortunately the mounting brackets and internal structures remained, so with reference to many period images and drawings, and with the benefit of modern CAD technology, the fin was reinstated and constructed by hand in the traditional manner.

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