There are several challenges to maintaining antique cars even if, in their day, they were cars for the masses like the early Fords and Volkswagens. 1) Parts and labour. One of the major problems will relate to parts for the cars. If you are fortunate, you may be able to find parts or your treasured car by contacting antique car clubs, or by surving the net on sites such as Ebay. There are several specialist car clubs around who will be more than willing to help. However, in a lot of instances it will simply not possible to locate the part, resulting in it having to be handmade. This applies to bodywork as well as mechanical parts. Assuming that you are not a trained engineer, this will necessitate the services of a specialist. Thus, in addition to the cost of manufacturing the part, there will be the added cost of the labour. 1) Maintaining the appearance. Paints, trimming material, wooden facias and motifs are all aspects of cars that are created in a totally different manner today. Even the constituent parts of them are of a different nature completely. This will add to the problem of maintenance, both in terms of matching to original specs, and cost. 3)Since the early development of the car, the demand for them have resulted in mass production. We are all aware of the environmental problems that this has caused. A problem occurs here with older cars. There were not produced with the level of environmental protection that modern vehicles have. Also, they are not used to actions such as road gritting in winter, or the damage that today’s rain can do. This means that they are prone to enviromental damage such as rust and metal fatigue. You will need to ensure that they are well covered when not in use and, after use the car will need to be thoroughly cleaned, especially if it has been used in inclement weather. 4) Security. Your car is a valuable asset. Therefore it remains in mint condition you will need to ensure that it is housed in a secure place. In addition to this it will need to be properly insured. A note of caution, do not exceed the terms of the insurance, for example with the mileage. It could cost you dearly if you do not. An antique car is a huge investment, both in terms of the original price, maintenance and security costs. However if you can overcome these hurdles, the pleasure of a drive in somthing like a model T ford or an early Rolls, will be worth it. Taking your dreams back to yesteryear is not cheap, but we can all dream, can’t we? Category:Home › Autos • Will the trend toward economy-size car models lead Americans back to buying smaller-sized cars? — part 2 • You should never use after-market auto parts when maintaining or fixing your car • Should a new car be rust-proofed? • Will the trend toward economy-size car models lead Americans back to buying smaller-sized cars? — part 1 • Five safest cars in North America • How to ensure your teen drives safely after getting a license • Pros and cons of using an hydrogen generator for your car • DIY automotive maintenance: How to change the oil