So you think you have found the car of your dreams on the internet? In a national publication? At an auction? I just can’t tell you how many times I have had the same feeling! But the only way you are really going to know that this is the right car or truck for you is for you to see it, touch it, drive it and get to know it. We discourage all of our potential buyers from buying “sight unseen”: it’s just good business….and good common sense to see what you are buying in person. We see at least one car enthusiast a week who bought a car or truck sight-unseen off the internet, from a national print publication, or from an auction that just was not remotely close to what it was advertised to be. These days, you not only need to see it, but in the case of auction cars, you better have an expert with you too! It is sad to see the current economic situation has created such a group of people whose primary goal is to extract every possible dollar from potential buyers through mis-representation, shoddy work and sensationalism. You need to be aware there are unscrupulous people out there ready to take advantage of you. I don’t want to scare you, or make you believe everyone in the old car business is like this, because they are NOT….but you owe it to yourself to be armed with knowledge not only about the car you hope to buy, but also about the person you are buying it from! Today’s technology allows you to quickly Google just about anyone….and the results can be very telling! There are referral websites in almost every city so you can check on body shops, restoration shops, trim shops and mechanical shops to know just what kind of people have been working on your dream car. Its hard to please everyone all the time, but if there are multiple complaints or shaky backgrounds….you will be in a much better position to gage the quality of your car.

It is possible to fly and drive almost anywhere in the US in a few hours and for $500 or less. A $500 investment could save you thousands of dollars and help you avoid buying an incorrect or inaccurately represented vehicle. You can become an “instant expert” in your particular vehicle by buying a “by the numbers” book or other reference book to help you know more about your dream car, its options, colors, engine, transmission and other interesting details. We always suggest our customers learn as much as they can about their dream car…and look at as many as you can so you can compare and recognize a good value when you find it.

If it just isn’t possible for you to take the time to visit the car yourself, there are many reputable professionals available to inspect and appraise your dream car for you. The cost varies from individual to individual, and travel is always extra. If you are able to find a qualified appraiser in the local area of the vehicle, the fee should be a few hundred dollars or less…..again a great way to protect yourself from a bad investment. Always ask for club affiliations and references, most appraisers are in business because the truly love old cars…not because of the money.

All vehicles purchased from California Car Company are provided with a complementary, objective 3rd party appraisal for insurance purposes. This is provided after the purchase and can be very helpful in acquiring insurance.

So now you have found your dream car….how are you going to pay for it? California Car Company accepts all major credit cards for deposits. All deposits are non-refundable and are good for seven (7) days. A deposit will enable you to tie up your desired vehicle for seven (7) days while you seek financing or move funds around. We don’t encourage you to give us a deposit unless you are absolutely sure you have financing available. We don’t want to take our cars off the market, and we don’t want to keep your deposit. For vehicle purchases we accept wire transfers, cashiers checks, personal checks, money orders, and cash. Cashiers checks and personal checks must clear the bank before a vehicle can be released. Cashier checks and personal checks must be in the exact amount of the purchase. We cannot accept checks for more than the amount required and provide a refund to you. Contrary to common belief, cashier checks are not the same as cash, they can be cancelled and there are fakes being made. Our bank will process any checks we receive to be sure funds are verified. As soon as the funds are confirmed, your vehicle will be ready to pick up or be transported. If you are not a local buyer, your title and/or bill of sale and complementary appraisal will be sent to you via UPS overnight. Once you receive your paperwork, we suggest you insure your vehicle immediately.

Many first time collector car purchasers are unaware of the low cost of antique car insurance. Traditional new vehicle insurance firms cannot begin to match the low cost premiums of antique auto insurance companies. Firms offering this coverage have been in business many years and have excellent reputations. Most antique cars and trucks if driven 5000 miles or less and stored in a garage can be insured for $200 or less per year. We always suggest you obtain coverage for a stated value slightly more than your purchase price. The complementary appraisal (which includes photographs) provided with our vehicles will list potential improvements that could enhance the value of your vehicle. This appraisal will effectively indicate to your insurance company that you might want to increase your coverage at a future date. We always review coverage on our own cars every year…as they appreciate we increase the stated value for each on our policy. We will provide a list of several reputable antique auto insurance firms upon your request. You should always purchase coverage for your vehicle as soon as you have the title or bill of sale in your possession. It is rare but possible for your vehicle to be damaged or lost in transport….although all reputable transport companies are bonded and have their own insurance coverage for the vehicles they transport….it is much better to be safe than sorry.

California Car Company has developed relationships with a number of reliable and affordable transport firms. We bring many of our car and trucks in from California and the West and can easily ship anywhere in the US and Canada. We have limited experience shipping overseas, but have shipped to Europe and Southeast Asia.. Most transport firms will insist upon COD or prepayment. You may elect to prepay shipping with the purchase of your vehicle and we can arrange transport for you. Drivers will provide an inspection sheet detailing any flaws the vehicle may have upon pick up. It will be your responsibility to carefully inspect your vehicle upon delivery to you and check it against his initial inspection report. Any transport damage will need to be reported immediately to the carrier and photos taken. I can honestly say we have only had two (2) vehicles have minor damage in the hundreds we have had shipped. We can arrange affordable shipment for any vehicle purchased from California Car Company upon request. However, since we are not transport expeditors, should you need transport assistance for another vehicle, please call firms listed in Hemmings Motor News or other publications.

California Car Company is always looking for high quality, original, low mileage, affordable GM, Ford and Chrysler 2 door vehicles from 1932 to 1972. We pay a $250 finders fee for any vehicle we purchase as a direct result of a lead you provide to us. The fee is payable upon the purchase of the vehicle. We cannot afford to take on a project car needing full mechanical, interior and exterior restoration, so please look for estate cars and other low mileage vehicles needing no more than interior and exterior; mechanical and exterior; or mechanical and interior work. We need to find the kind of vehicles you think would be a good match for those shown on our website inventory. Please bear in mind we are a dealer and since we will be restoring the vehicles we purchase, we cannot pay retail prices. We have a reputation of paying more for our vehicles than most of our competitors so we will pay a fair price….we know a good car is worth every penny. Happy hunting!

California Car Company always tries to find and match the right buyer for each of its collector vehicles. You may know of someone looking for that special car or truck we may have for sale. We pay a $250 referral fee for anyone you send to us that purchases a vehicle from us. The referral fee is paid upon the completion of the purchase and with confirmation by the buyer that he or she was referred to us by you.