Practically Classics Forum

Wheeler dealer in real life?

Hi guys just wondering, Do you think being a real life wheeler dealer (like the TV program) could work?

So to clarify, buying a classic doing it up and selling it on. Either from the Uk or USA.

I have the space, a big garage, most the tools and I enjoy working on old cars. I fully accept I would not make as much money as my corporate office job, which I hate, but I think I would be happy to cut my cloth less, to live the dream. Be my own boss and try to be a success!

These are my specific worries
-Is there money in it, As my knowledge and spares is Jaguar (Mk2 / S-type/ E-type/ DS420/ XJ6) I am worried there is no money in the Jaguar side of it. Is there money in the Beatle, Mini or MM side?
-Loneliness, working in the garage all day on my own, could send me insane!
-There is big money in restoring cars for people, but I am not sure I fancy picky owners and having to meet very high expectations. Disputes etc….
-in the summer it seems nice, but in the winter it could be rather unpleasant.
-where to source the cars, ebay is obvious, but i'm not sure there are many bargains to be had as people seem to bid as a joke and then pull out, so the prices are over inflated.

-then there is the obvious lack of pension, sick pay etc… (I am 35)

Anyone?

I think this was covered here:

http://www.practicallyclassics.co.uk/vi ... f=3&t=3384

However, in the current climate, I suspect finding the right car at the right price to make a profit is difficult. I know the tractor market has fallen off in the last couple of years - I sold a Ferguson last year for £1500, I could have got that a year earlier and not spent another three or four hundred on it. They seem to be fetching around the £1000 mark for similar machines now! However, there are still a lot of optimists about - my friend eventually sold his TVR for £5K last month, He'd tried for £6K but didn't get any interest - he''d tried £7K last year and was supposed to have sold it for around the mark, but the buyer never turned up!

Factor in time, spares and fixed costs (gas rental, rates, electric etc) and you may find that making £1000 on the Mini you've spent two or three months repairing isn't worth the effort.

Remember, to many, the classic car is a luxury, not an essential (sorry but it's true!) and that few can afford them at the moment. It's a similar thing with the classic tractors - working moderns sell well (if not at full "value"), older ones have a limited market - too small and unreliable for working machines and restored ones are "too expensive" for scraper tractors (where an old tractor is worked to death pushing cow/pig/hen muck out of sheds).

I would suspect you'd do better following Arceye's example - repair a few older cars and build on that until you can get enough trade to allow you time to restore a car in the "quiet times". Mind you, our local garage never have long "quiet times" - they repair anything and seem to get a few classics through the doors. Don't forget though - most classic owners seem to enjoy doing their own repairs and maintenance!

Many thanks for the link and reply.