Buying a Muscle Car Out of State

The term “muscle car” became popular in the 1960s and early 1970s, referring to special editions of American mass-production vehicles that could be used on the street and in drag racing. However, in retrospect, many car enthusiasts named the 1949 Oldsmobile Rocket 88 the first muscle car because the vehicle designers managed to put a V8 engine in a body designed for a six-cylinder engine.

Now, the term “muscle car” has grown to refer to various cars. The article “Collecting Muscle Cars – What to Know” on the Nationwide Insurance website defines muscle cars as vehicles with a light body and a big engine. MuscleCarClub.com defines a muscle car as “an intermediate-sized, high-performance oriented model, powered by a large V8 engine, at an affordable price.”

Collecting Muscle Cars

The classic car enthusiasts who love these muscle cars are crossing the line to car collectors. In addition, muscle cars are also attractive to investors who buy them in hopes of their value going up. Now is a great time to invest in something you love, like a classic American muscle car.

With the advent of the Internet connecting us instantaneously from coast to coast, there are websites dedicated to car auctions, including those for classic or muscle cars. CarsandBids.com, AutoTrader.com, and Hemmings.com are three general auto sites with classic car subcategories. HotRodHotline.com and ClassicCars.com are two sites primarily focused on classic vehicles. Auction websites like these make it possible to find your dream car anywhere in the country.

Although each website is unique, they operate on the same principles. Depending on what you are looking for, you can search for vehicles with either general or specific terms. Once you find your vehicle of choice, you can bid on it, and with a bit of determination and a touch of luck, you can be on your way to owning your American muscle dream car.

If auctions aren’t your thing, there are also fixed-price classic car dealers nationwide who offer their vehicles online. Such companies include MuscleCarForSaleInc.com and GateWayClassicCars.com, among others.

Do Your Research

When buying a car online, such as a muscle car, Cars & Bids reminds you that it is up to you as the purchaser to do your due diligence:

• Review the vehicle history report.
• Ask the seller any questions regarding the car, including known flaws and recent maintenance.
• You can schedule a time to inspect the vehicle personally or arrange for a pre-purchase inspection at a reputable shop at your cost.

According to the Nationwide Insurance article on collecting muscle cars, one reason for their popularity is that middle-aged purchasers now have the resources to pursue the cars they wanted in high school but could not afford until now. If you have the resources, there is nothing wrong with spoiling yourself now and then.

Muscle Cars as an Investment

In his article “Do American Muscle Cars Make the Best Investment?” on the Alternative Investment Coach website, author Mike Colagrossi cautions that not every classic car will rise in value. If you are pursuing buying a muscle car as an investment and not just a toy, you will want to research the market.

According to Colagrossi, one trend is that muscle cars produced between 1969 and 1971 have been highly profitable investments in recent years. If you are considering investing in a muscle car, Colagrossi recommends referencing Hagerty’s Market Trend Index, which indexes trends for different groups of classic cars.

Online auctions and classic car dealers are not the only things that make purchasing a muscle car out of state realistic and feasible. Thanks to auto transportation companies like A-1 Auto Transport, your new investment can be delivered to your door. A-1 Auto Transport is dedicated to delivering your car quickly, safely, and cheaply.

Transporting Your Car Across Country

A-1 Auto Transport uses only licensed, bonded, and insured carriers, which is important when selecting a transportation specialist to safely get your investment to you. Shipping options include:

• Open-Air
• Enclosed Transport
• Door-to-Door
• Luxury, Exotic, and High-end

If you are making your muscle car purchase as an investment, you will probably want to go with either a hard-sided enclosed carrier or a Luxury/High-end carrier. With a hard-sided enclosed carrier, the vehicle is safely protected from all travel and weather conditions. With Luxury/High-End service, additional precautions include:

• Use of air ride suspension to prevent “chucking.”
• Use of wall and floor-mounted brackets for a secure fit.
• A hydraulic lift gate is used for loading and unloading.
• Use of drip guards to prevent potential leaks.

A-1 Auto Transport provides insurance and satellite tracking with every quote. Because this isn’t just any car you’re purchasing, you’ll want to consider additional insurance for complete peace of mind. This type of insurance can be obtained through your existing auto insurance plan or a third-party carrier.

Classic American muscle cars are all the rage. On the one hand, there’s the middle-aged car fan who finally has the disposable income to pick up that dream car they’ve wanted since high school. And, on the other hand, the wise investor is picking up muscle cars on the gamble they’ll go up in value.

No matter what your motivation is for procuring a classic muscle car from an out-of-state source, go about your purchase with wisdom. Do your due diligence. And if, at the end of the day, it makes sense, take the plunge, knowing A-1 Auto Transport can get you to the finish line.