Buying a Classic Car? Watch Out for These Red Flags

Most people know not to buy food with an expired “Best Before” date stamped on the side of the carton. But when it comes to buying a classic car some of us don’t recognize potential signs of automotive e. Coli.

Here are five red flags to watch out for.

1) Unusually Low Miles

Most of us consider low mileage to be a good thing — and most of the time, it is. Lower mileage means you may not need to rebuild the engine or other driveline parts; that can save you both hassle and expense. Plus, originality is always a good thing when it comes to a classic car.

However, be wary of any vehicle with advertised mileage that’s abnormally low for its age. It could be fraud; or just as bad, it could be a mess from years of just “sitting there” — which can be as hard on a car as going to the dragstrip every weekend.

For example, if you happen on a 25 year old Camaro with less than 10,000 miles on it, there could be all kinds of mechanical problems resulting from lack of use — including brittle/dried out seals in the engine and