Contributed by JP Emerson, Automotive Freelance Journalist
So your in the market for a classic car. Like any major purchase, doing your homework is imperative, but just in case your buddy with a killer set of tools gives you a hot tip about a cool car sitting on a lot or just waiting to be scooped up on line, here's a short list to help you understand exactly what you'll likely hear.
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Barn find = Needs more money thrown at it than it’s worth to us.
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Matching numbers = The vin matches the title. Does it match the car?
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100% Original and restored= huh?
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Great floors = ridiculously applied amount of undercoat.
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Investment grade = If you buy it for this price, your grade is “F”.
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1 of (insert single digit here) = OK, so there were thousands of these made, but this is the only brown mustard colored, bench seat and radio delete car we have.
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Completely documented = Reproduction owner’s manual included.
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Stored in a private display for years = someone’s garage.
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Less than XXXX miles on the odometer = since it seized up the last time.
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Exceptionally original = we threw dirt on it.
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Refreshed = power washed engine bay and added new pine tree air freshener.
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Completely gone through = We couldn’t find the leak.
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Factory correct = Every body panel has been replaced at least once but the paint color looks like something from the era.
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The mileage on the clock is believed to be original = Probably not, but that’s what we’re saying.
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Meticulously maintained by previous owner = They changed the oil once before listing for sale, never in the five years prior though.
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Comes with service history = We found a receipt.
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Undoubtedly = we don’t know. Trust us.
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Two owner car = None of the previous brokers titled it over the last six years.
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Original patina = as opposed to new patina?
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Believed original = See “undoubtedly”.
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Complete concours restoration last year by a famous restorer. = Don’t ask us who, we have no idea.
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Frame off = quite an accomplishment with unibody cars.
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Long history = We found more than one receipt.
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NO RESERVE = What they meant was reservoir.. The car rolls but won’t stop.
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Priced to move. It’s been on our lot for years and still no interest.
