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Ordinary car insurance companies really don’t understand what people in the antique classic car field actually want. They are blinkered by the needs of the day to day car use of Joe public. Everything has to fit into a standard category and car value goes down relentlessly as the years pass by. If you change anything on the car they start licking their lips with the anticipation of a nice fat bonus check.

So what are you to do if you suddenly have the urge to buy an historic motor vehicle, a hot rod or simply want to ‘pimp your ride’ and make it look the talk of the town. Well fortunately there are companies out there that specialize in this kind of thing. They know what the car collector wants and make it their passion to keep them happy with the products that they provide.

One of the main aspects of classic car collecting is that your motor vehicle is likely to increase in value as the years go by. This is the exact opposite of the ordinary car market. To this end Classic car insurers have a system of agreed valuation. This means that you can set your own value on the car that you own. Its value may be higher because it is an historic vehicle or possibly because you have spent a lot of money changing the body design or the engine specification. Of course this has to be agreed with the insurer and so you just can’t simply make things up or exaggerate the car’s condition or features. You may have to provide photos of the car as part of the process of valuation.

This doesn’t necessarily mean that antique classic car insurance is going to be expensive. This is because the insurers recognize that the people who own such cars are serious about their investment and will be driving with the utmost care and generally trying to keep their car safe. People who own such vehicles are generally not using then for the usual day to day commute to work. A lot of the time they are garaged just waiting for that special event to take place and then with loving care they are displayed in all their glory.

There are a number of other factors that are important in the selection of cover in this particular area. If you intend showing your car at events then there is coverage aimed at this particular field. Cover can also be provided for foreign travel and touring. This may also include the shipping to the foreign country, spare parts, labor and trip interruption.

Some insurers have restrictions on the annual mileage that you can do with such a vehicle. This is probably an attempt to stop you using it as your family car. There are others that have no restrictions what so ever. If you know that you are only going to do a limited number of miles in a year then this can also be a bargaining point in keeping the insurance costs down.

If you suddenly have the desire to buy a particular car and have to get it there and then there is also instant cover available for a short amount of time on a new acquisition. This enables you to buy it, get it home and worry about the final insurance cost at your leisure. This is a very useful feature as I am sure that a lot of vehicles are bought in that moment of clarity which occurs when you are presented with an offer you just can’t refuse!

It is never too late to start your own collection of classic cars. I had 2 Landrovers at one stage. I always wanted a car that was older than me and I found a 1956 series 1 Landrover which just fitted the bill. I also had a 1964 safari long wheel base model as well. I actually used this one as my main vehicle because in the end the insurance for limitless mileage was cheaper than the ordinary insurance on a modern car. The main message is that you should not let the fear of antique classic car insurance cost put you off starting your own classic car collection.

There are several classic car museums in South Carolina that cater to very different genres of the classic car enthusiast. The Darlington Raceway Stock Car Museum in Darlington, SC pays tribute to historic NASCAR race cars and drivers. The BMW Zentrum near Spartanburg SC features BMW vehicles from the past and gives a glimpse into the future. The Wheels Of Yesteryear Museum in Myrtle Beach showcases classic American muscle cars.

The Darlington Raceway Stock Car Museum started life as the Joe Weatherly Stock Car Museum in memory of the famous driver that won there in 1960 and 1963, and was killed in an accident at Riverside speedway in 1964. The museum was dedicated in May of 1965, and the name was changed following a major renovation and expansion in 2003. The museum of course features many cars with NASCAR historical significance, including the “winningest car in stock car history”, a 1956 Ford Convertible that won a total of twenty-five races that year, Richard Petty’s 1967 Plymouth that won ten races in the 1967 season, and the 1991 Lumina that Darrell Waltrip rolled eight times in one of the worst crashes in NASCAR history. The museum has a number of engines on display, including an example of the famous Chrysler Hemi that dominated many races in the late 1960s and early 1970s. There are many interactive displays, and even an impression of Dale Earnhardt’s hands in concrete. The Darlington Raceway Stock Car Museum is a must-see for any NASCAR fan. (843) 395 – 8821

The BMW Zentrum has a very different focus. It is a snapshot of BMW history, from the very beginning of the company to where they are today. Located beside the only BMW manufacturing plant in the United States, the museum is 20,000 square feet of historic cars and motorcycles, aircraft engines, and interactive displays. It features the BMW Isetta “Bubble Car”, BMW race cars, a James Bond movie car, a virtual plant tour in the state-of-the-art video-production theater with surround sound, and a caf. You can view an example of one of the first BMW automobiles ever produced, the BMW Dixie, as well as a display of the company’s work with hydrogen fueled cars. Guided tours of the manufacturing plant are normally available by reservation, but as of this writing the plant tours have been temporarily suspended. (864) 989-5297

The Wheels Of Yesteryear Museum just opened in September 2009 and features over 45 fully restored automobiles from the collection of Paul Cummings. The cars are displayed on a rotating basis from his 100-plus car collection of primarily Mopar muscle cars, with a few classic GM, Ford and AMC vehicles thrown in to the mix just for fun. The museum displays examples of the famous Mopar winged cars and nostalgia drag racers, too. (843) 903 – 4774

No matter what type of classic automobiles you are interested in, South Carolina has a museum for you. Be sure to call ahead for operating hours and holiday schedules before making the trip.

Do you want to buy classic cars? Whether you already have a vast collection of these beautiful vehicles or if you want to start yours, Craigslist.org is a great place to get started. How can you improve your chances of purchasing a quality, yet well-priced classic car?

Experiment with different search phrases. To get many results for classic cars on Craigslist, you should mix up the search phrases used. If you are looking for any classic car at an affordable price, search with “classic cars.” On the other hand, if you are looking for a particular make, model, and year, search with that. You will get more results and are likely to find more deals when you try different search phrases.

Ask to see lots of pictures. Most classic car owners take great pride in their collection, but some car owners just happened upon one by accident. They didn’t intend to start a collection and have no interest in doing so. That is likely why they are trying to sell the car. Although you may get a good price, you may also get a vehicle that wasn’t well cared for. This is okay, but it does mean that you may have to put in extra money for restoration. Pictures can give you a good idea of the vehicle’s overall condition, which can impact its value.

Ask many questions. Classic cars are usually costly. To ensure you don’t spend more money than you need to, ask lots of questions. As with pictures, questions can give you great insight into a vehicle’s value. What type of questions should you ask? Ask about the overall condition of the classic car, what it was doing for the past few years, where the owner bought the vehicle, how much they paid, and so forth.

Ever wondered why antiques are so expensive and valuable? This is because they are commonly known as the representation of a specific era with its distinguishing style and design. It is not surprising why antiques are important to anxious collectors who of different antiques from across the globe. Among the several antique home equipment available, furnitures are mostly sought. However, a farm equipment can also become a classic and an antique. You might be surprised to know that a used farm equipment such as used tractors can gain value as that of vintage cars.

By valuing the antique product, people also value the importance of its era. For, antiques are things created during a certain era — making it more or less a hundred years old. Of course, it is not necessary for an object to reach a hundred years before it gains reverence and value. The furniture or product just needs a simple touch of a certain character from a certain era. Then, it can be considered a classic. What is a classic? It goes beyond time. Antiques are classic; they are priceless. But antiques are more on the context of style and design, while a classic focuses more on the aspect of time only. Let’s take the case of a classic car. You see, a vintage car is the most famous collection of most affluent people. What is more important in vintage cars is their design and style than their engines. People usually change the car engines and retain its outside and interior design. However, the case is different with that of a farm equipment.

A farmer needs to ensure the efficiency of a used farm equipment in order to secure his living. Once the equipment becomes dysfunctional, his source of income will immediately be affected. Thus, the design of a farm equipment is not as important as its efficiency unlike other antique products. For, other antiques are good only for display. If the equipment has already given up with its work, then it must rest eternally. So, the farmer needs a new one to sustain his living.

However, there are used tractors that can become a farmer’s vintage car. A used farm equipment such as a used tractor needs maintenance in order to survive the obstacles of time. A used tractor is helpful, and at the same time a pride for the owner if it is a classic farm equipment. Today, a classic is only revered as good for display. Therefore, in farms there is no room for a dysfunctional equipment because functionality is more important than design.

If you think that children are the only people who collect toy cars, better think again. Most adult men have been known to be lovers and collectors of die cast model cars. These model cars are also known as matchbox cars (from the known die cast model cars manufacturer) and these mini-replicas of actual cars have not only held the attention of most gentlemen in the previous decades but have also continued to amaze men of the current high-tech generation.

What most people do not realize is that these car collection can be of high value with the passage of time. There have been models that have been on the market for sometime while those that have been released as limited editions. If you want your collection to be as valuable as other collectors’, then you need to keep your die cast model miniature cars in mint condition, with the original box. Of course, the price tags and other “special features” should be in tip-top condition as well. Simply put, your miniature car collection should always look like it’s been purchased off the shelf.

When you purchase these model miniature cars, it will often come in its own box which will state the model and make of the car. From the box, you will also learn from what car line the particular model is from and often, a short history of the car. If you take care of these boxes enough, they can be as valuable as the car itself. Now, when you start your collection, you can opt to purchase cars individually or purchase them by set. Of course, sets are known to be cheaper than buying individual cars however, if you are not fond of collecting car lines, then it’s probably not a very good idea to purchase die cast car sets.

Storing your cars may also require careful attention and detail. Your cars should not be kept in places that receive direct sunlight as this may damage your car’s color. Moisture, heat and dirt are also threats to the preservation of your car which means that before you start your collection, you should have a special case that will display all your cars while protecting it from the elements. Any form of damage can lower the value of your car, especially if its case (often made of thin cardboard and plastic) is damaged beyond repair. There are display cases that are available online while you can also opt to have your own customized display case. Of course, you can always repair damaged cars but you also have to be very careful when you do so. Touch ups that are not done properly can lead to further damage and lower value.

This does not mean however, that only mint condition of such model cars are of value. If you happen to save a couple of models when you were little, they can still be valuable depending on its model and the rarity of your model car. You can always check out collector’s magazines, catalogs and other die cast collectors on which models and makes are rare and which are highly priced.