So you’ve bought yourself a new (to you) classic ride, brought it home, and it’s now nestled comfortably in the garage. At least for me, and I suspect a lot of you, the next question is “now what?” I’m sure lots of folks are satisfied to own and drive their classic cars, but I like to tinker with them. In my experience, unless an old car has just emerged from a high-dollar complete stem-to-stern restoration, it’s going to need some fettling. But beyond that, I like to make a car mine.

Whenever I bring a car home the first thing I do is a once-over to the best of my limited abilities. Does it start and run properly? Do all the accessories work? How is the bodywork – any rust or major flaws? Sure, you’ll have done your due diligence before plopping cash on the counter for the car (at least, you should have), but cars can keep secrets. More than once I’ve gone out the morning after bringing a car home to find a well-disguised oil drip or a super-annoying wheel vibration at 65 mph – after I’d only got up to 60 on the test drive. There is no substitute for laying eyes on a car. Period.

Functionality is key. Before pondering the things I’d like to do with a car, I want it working properly. The worst is when you get saddled with hidden structural or mechanical damage, as the expenses can rapidly rise and may very exceed your resources and/or interest: a serious reminder of the critical importance of pre-purchase inspections.

With that in mind, I will honestly share that I have been known to start buying assorted bits and baubles for a new addition before it even arrives… I don’t advise this, as it’s especially embarrassing when for some reason the car doesn’t materialize and/or the things I’ve bought are redundant with what the car already has. Most recently I inadvertently ended-up with two hard top storage carts because I didn’t know that the car came with one – so I pre-emptively bought one. Incidentally, anyone willing to pay for the shipping is welcome to the spare….

Assuming that I haven’t found some major issue and flushed the car as fast as I bought it, I consider each new member of the fleet from the standpoint of how I plan to use it. That will largely dictate how I might contemplate modifying the car. First off: has it been modified already? I’ve bought a few cars over these years that had some less-than-tasteful – in my book, anyway – mods which had to be immediately rectified BEFORE passing “Go” and collecting my $200! I personally find chrome wheel arch trims, gold badge kits, and wheels ten sizes too large for the car especially offensive. But your mileage may vary.

I tend to be a purist, and I tend to favor the way that cars look from the factory. That said, there is definitely room for consideration of “as designed” versus “as manufactured,” particularly when it comes to US-spec cars of the 1970s and 1980s. One acquisition in recent memory came with extra-large “park bench” US-spec 5mph bumpers and four round sealed-beam headlamps – the kind that barely cast off more light than a potato-powered incandescent bulb. Neither of these were as the designers originally intended, but they do represent the way the car was delivered in its home market. Honestly, I’m still on the fence here, mainly because these original bits were all in excellent condition. Still, if I had a spare five grand laying around I might just change them to European spec, as the designers intended. If only this particular car was just a little less nice – or perhaps that’s the justification to make these mods?

As I mentioned in a recent post, I will almost always swap out US-spec headlights for the proper European units, if for no other reason than they actually illuminate the road ahead – heck, it’s a SAFETY thing! At least that’s what I tell my wife. If I’m going to use the car as a daily driver or for extended highway trips, I may also consider changing-out the factory radio – working or not – for something with Bluetooth and USB capability. I’ve gotta have my tunes, Waze, and hands-free phone – I mean, I’m not a cave man! Blaupunkt, VDO, and Pioneer offer stereos for 70s-80s cars that look period correct but have these modern accoutrements and may be worth a look. I’m seriously considering one for the 1984 BMW 633CSi that recently graced the Hitchcock garage – if only the original stereo wasn’t working so well. Even the darned tape player works…

Further consideration for a daily driver involves wheels and tires. Options for common period-correct 14 inch tires are fewer by the day unless you’re willing to shell out upwards of $1200 (£900) for a set of “classic” tires. 16 inches seems to be the minimum to get a good, reasonably priced modern tire, but that means changing out the wheels as well. Companies like Maxi-lite offer some good larger OEM-style options like  “Bundt” style “Gullideckel” 15-hole, and vintage AMG “penta” wheels for Mercedes, Alpina-style for BMWs, and a host of others like Minilites for cars like Alfas and Miatas. Several other companies are jumping into the fray all the time. The key here is not to go too big such that the wheels look ridiculous – there is a delicate balance between tasteful upgrade and “what was he smoking??”……

Of course, the rules change if you’re buying a car to show at mainstream concours-type events, as originality in those venues is key. My 1983 Mercedes 500SEC was 99.9% original, but lost points in a “display” class at a regional concours because it had an aftermarket, nearly invisible console-mounted auxiliary input connected to the original Becker head unit. I kid you not. But the truth is: I don’t care. I suppose if I were “in it to win it” and spent more on my car than my house I’d feel different about it, but I want the car to be the way I want it to be – and that means I may stray from original here or there at the expense of ultimate originality. Sue me.

Sometimes, against our collective better judgment here at TTS, nostalgia plays a part in how we look at our old cars, and how we choose to “modify” them. Repeat our mantra after me: “Nostalgia is a funny thing”. It really is. My Alfa Spider was a very nice, clean car which, although repainted and retrimmed, was largely very true to the way it emerged from the factory in Arese in 1979. Not one to leave well enough alone, I sourced an Ansa muffler, Cibie headlights,  Carello headlight covers, and NOS vintage Hella 4004GT fender-mounted mirrors (all the way from down under!) to essentially make this into a 2020s version of the 1977 Spider that was my first car in 1987.  The whole process was not inexpensive, and based on reactions when I sold it on BringaTrailer earlier this year opinions were mixed, but I liked it – and so did a few bidders. Still, I probably won’t go down that rabbit hole again. Actually, I know I won’t, at risk of divorce or at a minimum severe sanctions on my automotive dalliances.

In general, for my money a set of European headlights, +1 or +2 OEM-style alloys, and vintage-style Coco floormats are just the ticket for an driver-quality classic, which is what all of my cars tend to be. I truly enjoy owning cars to drive them, and the ones that are too nice to drive never stay in the fleet for long. Anything beyond these basics really comes down to the specific car and its personality. The aforementioned 1984 6-Series may  very well get a set of H&R springs and Bilstein shocks, because I like the lowered look on a clean E24 – but we shall see.

At the end of the day, I say to each his or her own. But I implore you to keep your mods tasteful – whatever that means to you. After all, it’s YOUR car and you don’t owe anybody any explanations!