Buy a Classic Austin Healey
Adding an Austin-Healey to your vintage car collection may be the icing on the cake to what you own and/or display, but knowing how to buy a classic Austin-Healey may be a different story. While it may seem difficult, you can locate the right vehicle for you by knowing ahead of time what features you are looking for, how much you are willing to spend, and from how far away you are willing to purchase the vehicle.
Steps
- Begin by knowing background information on the Austin-Healey before considering a purchase of this vehicle.
- Models of Austin-Healeys include the Austin-Healey 100, Austin-Healey 3000 and the Austin-Healey Sprite.
- The Austin-Healey 100 cars were built from 1953 and 1956, and they were given the name 100 because of their ability to go up to {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}}.
- The Austin-Healey 3000 cars were built from 1959 to 1967. This model of vehicle won many European rallies at the time, and it is still used in competitions today.
- The Austin-Healey Sprite is an open sports car. They were built, at the time, to be a low-cost model.
- Try looking locally for an Austin-Healey, but this vehicle is such a niche car that you will probably have to expand your search.
- Start with the local classifieds by reading the personal car ads, and then move on to the dealership advertisements.
- Hop on the website of your local car dealerships to run a search of their inventory. While most car lots put their newest inventory in their print publications, generally you can find a lot's entire stock on the website.
- Take a step out geographically, and look at regional print publications for Austin-Healeys. You can typically find these magazines in racks at gas stations or convenience stores.
- Hit the internet to expand your Austin-Healey search.
- Use the British site http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/cat//8/ to start your search. Plug in era, location and/or price range to find an initial listing.
- Keep an eye on the inventory at http://www.vintagesportscars.com/ to see if they get an Austin-Healey in. You might also consider contacting them to call you if one becomes available.
- Search the Austin-Healey listings at http://www.autotraderclassics.com to find your vehicle, or you can browse through the listings at http://classiccar.chooseyouritem.com/classics/.
- Research the valuation of the Austin-Healey(s) you are interested in by looking at the website of, or purchasing a hard copy of, the Kelley Blue Book. This valuation will help you make a starting offer on the Austin-Healey car in which you are interested.
- Contact the seller directly to make a starting offer on the Austin-Healey that you settle on.
- Discuss how the vehicle will make its way to you. Determine if the seller will deliver it to you, if he or she will have it shipped via truck or by sea to you, if you will have someone drive you to the location for you to drive it back, or if you will fly to the location and either drive the vehicle back or accompany it home.
- Settle on a payment method and finalize the transaction for your new, classic Austin-Healey.
- Finished.
Tips
- Contact your insurance agent to discuss how adding an Austin-Healey to your household will increase your premium payments. You also want to discuss under whose insurance the vehicle falls while it is in transit.
