The time has come for you to put your classic up for sale. Maybe you have finished restoring it or you are moving on to something new. What do sellers need to know before listing their classic cars for sale in South Africa?

Cleanliness is godliness

As a lover of classics you already know this – nothing beats a thoroughly cleaned and polished vehicle. Begin with the exterior. Wash, degrease and polish every little thing, even the hard-to-see places. Use only high quality products to preserve your car’s condition.

Next tackle the interior. Try getting stains off the seats or carpentry without damaging it. Pay special attention to the dashboard – classic cars for sale in South Africa often have a little sun damage.

Make sure the trunk is free from junk and grease. Don’t forget to remove the dirt and leaves from under the hood as well – hose the engine down to get rid of it.

Don’t hastily replace parts

Remember, the closer the car is to its original condition, the more it’s worth. Buyers of classics know they aren’t getting a brand spanking new car – they expect a little wear and tear here and there. Even if your intentions are good, replacing parts (especially in the engine) might look suspicious to a potential buyer.

Find out what your vehicle is really worth

Do research and find out what your car’s true market value is. You can look at publications like the Old Car Buyers Guide, Hemmings or NADA's Classic, Collectible and Special Interest Car Appraisal Guide & Directory. Even though these publications weren’t specifically written for classic cars for sale in South Africa, it will give you a good idea what your car is worth on the market.

As hard as it is, you must sell your car with your head and not your heart. The vehicle might be worth a few million rand to you, but nobody will pay such a ridiculous price for it. Be reasonable.

Be honest

You can’t expect a potential buyer to just smile and believe everything you tell them about the car. You need to back your claims up.

If you have done extensive maintenance and restoration on the car, gather all your receipts and put them in a file. Be honest about how you treated and drove the vehicle. Providing a potential buyer with maintenance records will go a far way in winning his trust and securing the sale.

Whenever you are ready to sell your classic, give Wheels365 a try. You can even search our site for existing classic cars for sale in South Africa – you never know what gems you might discover.