What Are The Most Common Myths About Classic Cars?

One of the most common quotes in the public space these days is one credited to Mark Twain – “A lie can travel halfway around the world before the truth can get its boots on,” and how true it is.

Myths are a regular part of life. Somebody somewhere starts to spread false information based on their own limited knowledge, and somehow, it becomes a widely held belief. It is one of the wonders of the human condition. The classic car industry is not exempt from these myths.

In this article, we list 5 of the most common myths about classic cars, and we explain why they are not true.

1.   Their value is determined by how rare they are

That classic cars are worth more if they are rare is one of the biggest myths in the industry. And it makes sense; economics of supply and demand – the lower the supply relative to demand, the higher the price. But, while that might be true, as regards one of one marquee Ferraris from the early F1 races, mass-produced cars can be worth just as much.

All that needs to happen is that they are kept in top condition, running as they should, and classic cars will retain value. Why else do you think there is such a huge market for classic Mustangs, Camaros, and so on?

2.   They are worth more with lower mileage

Another myth is that they need to have low mileage to be worth anything. This myth was probably transferred over from the used-cars market, where used cars are worth more with lower mileage.

But in the classic car market, things are a little different. But it is rather the other way around. Vintage cars with higher mileage are considered more valuable because the accumulated mileage means that the car has been driven enough times and maintained quite well along the way.

Lower mileage, on the other hand, may signify a lack of road time, and thus engine parts that might have gone rusty due to inaction or bad maintenance. Unfortunately, this myth has caused a lot of damage, as we have lost many gems because their owners thought they would be worth more if kept in storage.

3.   They rust faster than regular cars

Another common myth is that classic cars are somehow more susceptible to rust compared to regular cars. Fortunately, nothing could be further from the truth. Most cars, both classic and regular, are made out of metal, so they rust just the same.

The only difference may be that regular cars usually have their factory-applied paint coatings, while the average classic car has probably gone through a few cycles of painting, sanding, and repainting. Yet, all you need to do is make sure that your car is properly covered with paint at all times and waxed regularly too.

4.   They are bad for the environment

In many states in the United States, there are laws that limit how often you can drive your classic car. This is how much damage has been done by this myth. But on the contrary, classic cars are less damaging to the environment than regular modern cars, in reality.

When calculating the environmental impact of these vehicles, most studies simply focus on the fact that modern vehicles have more efficient engines and ignore the carbon contributions of the price by which they are manufactured.

A recent study discovered that, compared to the 563Kg of CO2 generated by driving a classic car 1,200 miles, the average modern car generates 6.8 tonnes of CO2 before it is even sold.

So, all you just have to do is maintain your car’s engine properly, and it can continue working without belching out inordinate amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Also, you can install catalytic converters to make your car’s exhaust gases even cleaner.

5.   They are unreliable

Another common myth that just persists around classic cars is that they are unreliable for driving. Hollywood movies that portray classic cars as always in mechanic shops, with their hoods up, have helped spread this myth. But nothing could be further from the truth.

Life is not a Vin Diesel movie. You don’t have to be under your car’s hood every other day. As long as you keep to a maintenance schedule and take all necessary precautions, you can drive your classic car just as reliably as you would a modern car. After all, they are all pieces of machinery run by gears and pistons.

Conclusion

If we paid attention to all the myths that are, we wouldn’t enjoy anything. The classic car market generates as high as 15 Billion dollars in revenue annually in the United States. If these myths were really true, do you think that the market would be that active? Because myths are just that – myths, folklore without much substance.

If you want to join in the classic car experience, shake off the fears caused by these myths and get searching. To find the perfect classic car for you, visit the Dyler website; they have some of the best selections on the market.