How to Buy a Woody at a Car Show

The Woodies you will see at a car show are the prize possessions of their owners. Owners can put years into recreating the beauty and originality of old time Woodies. Seeing a finely restored Woody shining in the sun or touring down a back country road can make even the most experienced buyer jump to action. Before you break out the checkbook, consider the following steps.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Realize your limitations. Bring someone with you who will recognize potential trouble areas and understand what it will take to fix these problems if you don't already possess this knowledge. You want a Woody that has been restored by someone with solid skills. How well you will maintain the car will depend largely on the capabilities of the person you are buying from.
2. Examination the woody closely, inspecting the car from panel to panel. Look for gaps and sags, mismatched lines and rust. Don't be embarrassed to lift floor mats and feel around the interior, including the backs of the seats and carpet edges.
3. Start the car. Listen for knocks, pings, squeals and whines. Look for smoke from the exhaust. Lift the hood and check out the motor. Inspect fluid levels and try to pick out any weird smells.
4. Get behind the wheel and go for a cruise! Don't let your emotions get the better of you. Pay attention to the brakes, the clutch, the feel of the transmission and how the car is handling the road. Have the person you brought with you listen for odd sounds from his side of the car.
5. Take a walk and consider all you've learned about the woody before you actually pay for the car. Decide if you are going to buy the car outright, or if you are going to put down a holding fee. One big consideration will be getting the Woody home. Is the car up to making the trip to your house? If not, you may want to just pay out a down payment and complete the transaction the day you tow the car home.