Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Rick]

Has the 'net proved useful in buying or running your classic? from my own point of view, its been majorly useful in sourcing some of the rare parts I've needed to find. Plus it has allowed me to get in touch with people I'd probably never have otherwise encountered.

In the olden days, people needing a rare part or advice about their car would write a letter to a magazine, then hopefully the letter would appear in the next month or so's issue, and people could reply, again by letter to the original enquirer, if they were lucky. Whereas good advice (and some not so good..) is available at the click of the mouse now.

What aspect of the internet has helped the most then? access to spares? or to advice? the ability to find rarer cars in markets you'd otherwise never have tapped into??? I think for me its a mix of all these. Has the internet had any negative effect on your classic'ing interest???

Thoughts welcomed

Rick
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[47Jag]

Rick,

I for one think the internet is a Godsend. From the simple point of re-inventing the wheel. Somebody out 'there' has done it before and when you ask a question it's good to realise that you are not alone with your problem. For example I bought my 1947 Jaguar over 25 years ago. It was in realy rough condition having lain outside unprotected for 10 years before I got it. I didn't even have a garage when I got it so progress was slow to say the least. I had rebuilt the engine and gearbox and had them stored in our spare bedroom. To this day the room is known as the 'engine room'. When I was finally able to make a start on the body I asked the Jaguar Drivers Club for information on the shape and design of the sills. I kept getting told there were drawings but no one could identify the 'keeper of said drawings'. I put a question on the Jag-Lovers forum and got 4 replies. One from Denmark with pictures of the bodyshell in primer. Another from California with that guys own design. The best one was from a guy who is now a great friend in Australia with a simpler way of making the sills including dimensions. The fourth person was a guy who lives 20 miles away who put me in contact with Ken Page and thru' him I met Peter Scott. Oh yes! The internet a wonderful tool.

Art

[peter scott]

All totally positive. Ability to search for parts, other owners experiences and advice. Ability to trace previous owners. Ability to buy and sell parts and cars
from and to a vast audience. Ability to easily exchange photos and videos with friends. Ability to easily share old publications.

Peter
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https://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon

[Uncle Joe]

Generally speaking, I agree with you others, it has been a major help. With it, I've made some new friends, and a lot of contacts.

There is a downside though, especially as regards spares. There are quite a lot of people out there that dont know what car they are selling spares for! As an example. Ever since I bought my Lincoln, I've been looking for a particular moulding for it. Every time I see someone with spares for a 1970 Lincoln Continental, I look at the ad. Without exception, its a 1970 Lincoln Mark III...a totally different car...

The first car that I ever restored was an Austin 12. When I dicovered that I needed some particular spare, without the net, my brother had found a complete one for spares. Same year, same model, withing 3 days or so...

[Greeney in France]

I am in agreement with every one so far, having been into cars since I was 10 and having to find the odd little supplier for parts and very few specialists, I have always got into the habit of joining the club I have been a member of the JDC for 20yrs as it was the only way of gleaning specific, sometimes considered 'nerdy' information to get something right, now the internet fulfils this to the nth degree, sometimes the nth degree answers are different to the nth degree but at least the information is there. Negatively it has created the greed factor too though where, as there is more accessible demand there are more suppliers supplying, the quality of the product is falling and often people are so happy finding the part they dont consider its usability, The Citroen DS is a prime example, with all it hydraulics there are a lot of rubber seals and covering boots I have used some that disintegrate after a year when the originals lasted 20.
I do like using the internet but do tend now to find a company and talk to them directly
If you can sort out the wheat from the chaff then for information it is fantastic
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www.OldFrenchCars.com

We do these things not to escape life but to prevent life escaping us

[Dirty Habit]

I just don't know how I bought and imported my New York Checker in 1993. Everything took so long without the Internet.
_________________
1964 International Harvester

[Roverron]

Well, yes I suppose it has made ife easier, but then I didn't find it too difficult before. I can only assume I was doing things wrong so no change there then
_________________
To Hell with ambition, it drives a man mad, I can scarcely wake up to be fed.

[bubbles]

I'm new to all this and wouldn't have had the opportunity to access the kind of information and expertise available on forums like this even just a few years ago. I think it's getting even better with sites like youtube and www.classiccartv.co.uk I'm pretty sure that before the internet I would have idly mused about the idea of wning a classic but noow I can really get enthused and feel more confident about making the leap into buying one.

[Rick]

Hi bubbles, welcome to the forum - what type of classic have you got your eye on at the mo??

Rick
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[ukdave2002]

The internet has been a great source of parts, only yesterday I received some Morris 8 gearbox innards (which you just can't get anywhere) all they way from Australia, would never of found them with out the interweb!.

The only downside that I have seen is that folk can set up websites proclaiming to be a trading firm that offers services or parts, and you then find that there is actually little else apart from a website !

[wrinx]

Don't know how I'd be able to run my cars without the internet...or perhaps it's just that I didn't run a classic prior to having the internet...the two have gone hand in hand for me.

I'm sure parts sourcing would be harder and much slower without it.

wrinx
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www.alfaromeo155.co.uk | www.alfamatta.co.uk

[Rick]

Without the 'net I'd never have ended up acquiring many of the old jalopies I've had in recent years either - maybe that isn't such a good thing now I think about it

R
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Rick - Admin
Home:https://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk
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[old gto]

Another vote for all positive. And, my collection of radiator mascots has gone global. Without the internet, I`d be limited to local swap meets and auctions.
Best of all, though, is the chatting with other auto enthusiasts. It`s amazing to discover we can live so far apart, yet think and feel very much the same! It`s nice to know I`m not alone in this insanity!
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"The only thing I`m sure of.....is that I`m not sure of anything!"

[Scotty]

The major difference for me is how accessable everything is using the net.

When we had the 1952 Anglia in the early 1990's it was a case of find a part at autojumbles, through contacts and the "one make" club. Sometimes I had to wait for years for some essential part to be re-manufactured by the SVOC.

Now, with the Chevy absolutely everything is only a 'phone call and credit card away!

I'd put the car into my friends garage for a full suspension and brake rebuild, all the parts had been previously bought on the internet except for the springs as Trevor was going to get them re-tempered locally. As it turned out the spring company had closed its doors the previous Friday, but Trevor didn't discover that until he had dismantled the Chevy on the Monday and gone over, so there it sat on his ramp with its throat cut!



A quick panic 'phone call to Late Great Chevy's in Orlando who had originally supplied all the parts via their web site and on Wednesday morning FedEx delivered a set of brand new springs all the way from the US - now that's what I call service!

Scotty.

[Heralomite]

Withouth the internet I wuold not have bought my first Dolomite (ebay)

but seriously it is fantastic - A useful means to search for parts. But even more useful are the forums where you can chat about your problems and get advice from fellow club members. For example, I put a post on the Dolomite club forum this week prior to changing my starter motor, and had planty of helpful replies that made the job so much easier.

Another huge advantage of the internet came in September this year when the Dolomite club had to change the venue of their annual rally with 6 days to go, and get this information out to people. Website changes, forum posts, email. The word got around very quickly.

Finally there is my own software project, which without the internet I would never be able to tell the world about at zero cost. (www.mygarage.org.uk !!)