Buying something special for the classic car enthusiast.

It’s that time of year again, the time when you need to think about buying your presents for friends and family. If you have a relative or friend who is interested in classic cars then it would be worth considering looking at Classic car gifts.

There are a whole range of ideas so it really is a good option. You could consider classic car portraits and limited editions; photos; personalised calendars, mugs, leather gloves, classic car books and magazine subscriptions, and die cast models. There is something for every budget. If you are looking at buying something really special though you may want to buy a gift that they’ll never forget. You could buy that special someone the classic car that they have always dreamed of, but a slightly more reasonable option is to hire that same car for a day or a weekend instead.

Classic car hire is a way of getting a really memorable experience for your loved one. For people who seem to have everything, buying an experience for them rather than a present is much more likely to be remembered. Hiring a classic car means different things to different people. For some it is an opportunity to relive their youth, driving a car similar to one they had in the past, or the cars they used to see. For others it’s an opportunity to make a statement, to make a day really special, and share it with good friends or loved ones.

Others, who like to watch nostalgia programmes on the television, can use their gift to recreate the time period with a classic car and a classic journey. There are lots of really picturesque journeys in the UK, and many books to tell you about them. In the Midlands we have many great areas to visit and drive around. So, it isn’t that hard to buy something really special for someone who loves classic cars, and for those who don’t have a special interest in them, it is still a great idea for a memorable experience.

How Self Drive Hire Can Occasionally Lead To The Purchase of a Classic Car

For many people, having the opportunity to hire a classic car for the day is a dream come true. There are a number of self drive hire companies up and down the country where people can hire the car of their choice for either a day or a weekend. All they need is a clean driving licence (those people with points on their licence may find they incur an extra charge) and a passion for classic cars. Being able to hire a classic care can make a great gift for a loved one, particularly when they already seem to have everything! All sorts of cars are available for self drive hire, from the legendary Aston Martin to a Triumph Vitesse. Of course, there are plenty of other makes and models of cars available, and most people have their own personal reasons as to why they wish to hire that particular model of car. For example, James Bond fans may dream of hiring the Aston Martin, whereas someone else may wish to hire a Morris Minor to evoke memories of childhood family holidays to the coast. Of course, once the customer has a taster of hiring a classic car for the day, they may decide to take the plunge and purchase their own classic car. There are a number of classic cars for sale at any one time, but it is often worth talking to an expert before making the purchase in order to ensure the customer knows exactly what they are buying. Although many classic cars for sale may look gleaming and in great condition, when it comes to looking under the bonnet it could be a very different situation. The gearbox could be full of rust and the suspension could be shattered. Although the bodywork may have been well cared for, the actual mechanics of the car could well be dangerous. It is worth taking the time to vet the new potential car very carefully to ensure the seller is being completely honest with the condition of the car. Of course, many diehard car fans simply can’t wait to get their hands on a rusty car in need of some hard work and restore it to its former glory. After some hard work and dedication, they can soon be whizzing along in their classic car! To find out more about Self Drive Hire why not visit our website.

How Classic Triumph Hire Can Make A Gift With A Difference

Hiring a classic car can make an ideal gift for a loved one, particularly for those people who already seem to have everything! Whether it is for a birthday or an anniversary; presenting a partner or parent with a classic car gift voucher can really make their day. There are plenty of classic cars which are available to hire, how about a stunning Aston Martin to give that 007 feel, or the ever stylish E-type Jaguar? Of course, there is also the sporty classic Triumph hire, which usually comes with the option of taking the roof down on a dry day. Hiring a classic car allows drivers to feel of sense of nostalgia, as they drive these magnificent cars which were built before the days of power steering and plastic dashboards. A self drive hire gift voucher can make an ideal present for a special anniversary, a milestone birthday or perhaps a Christmas present with a difference. Businesses may purchase them to use them as unique corporate prizes for employees who have performed outstandingly well. The recipient can utilise the voucher to cruise around the countryside in style, maybe just for one day or perhaps as part of a touring holiday. Self drive hire can allow drivers to experience the thrill of driving a classic car for themselves. Bride and grooms often take up the opportunity of hiring classic cars to drive themselves from their wedding ceremony to their reception, or perhaps to take themselves off on honeymoon in style once the wedding celebrations have come to an end. Classic Triumph hire can make their wedding day even more of a day to remember, and will provide fantastic photographic opportunities for both the official photographer as well as the guests. When purchasing a gift voucher for a friend or relative, you will need to be aware that there may be age restrictions in place due to insurance reasons. The recipient should ideally have a clean drivers licence as they may be charged a higher rate of insurance if they have points on their licence.

Vintage Staffordshire

Blythe House Farm Open Day.

It’s all going on down at the farm this weekend! Blythe House Farm is a hive of activity and this Sunday (23^rd September) we will all be showing our talents. I will be displaying the hire cars as well as some of the current restoration project. I will be there swapping anecdotes about classic cars and I will be happy to show you the hire fleet or discuss your classic car requirements. There will also be a few cars for sale just in case you want to catch the promised late summer. Apart from Self Drive Classics there will displays from other businesses on site including Java VW – the classic VW specialist, S Smith engineers for your more modern car needs, Retro Refinishers for bodywork and paint there will also be the local brewer and a host of local crafts. There will be plenty of food and drink so it’s a great day out for the whole family.

See you there!

Vintage Lichfield

Saturday the 27^th October is the day to visit Lichfield. The George Hotel Darwin house and Bird Street will be packed with stalls and shows for all things nostalgic with displays from the 20’s to the 60’s. Step back in time with the clothing, accessories, food and drink and – of course – the classic cars.

So you want to make money with your classic?...

Almost weekly I get a call from someone who is looking to put their classic cars to work. When I set up Self Drive Classics in 2004 there were only a handful of classic car hire companies out there and there was no help available. So I ploughed on regardless and must have fallen into – and pulled myself out of – every bear pit going. In 8 years I would like to say I have seen it all, but there are still surprises to be had. Whilst I am always happy to chat generally about classic car hire I would not give away this hard won experience for free so I have decided to offer anyone who is looking for advice the chance to come on a 1 day course. The course is based in Lichfield, Staffordshire in an informal setting and is intended for small groups (3 to 6 maximum). I will be covering every aspect of classic car hire, the good, the bad and (be warned) the ugly, sharing the experiences that have made me laugh and cry over the past 8 years. The day will be both informative and fun and is intended to give you a very realistic account of the classic car hire business and help you decide if it is for you.

The day costs £250 and includes VAT  tea/coffee and lunch.

I am currently looking for a date mid November so if you are interested then please give me (Steve) a call on  07918715039.

Car Hire Sagas

Talking of ‘the ugly’ I have to ‘thank’ hirer Michael Boylan for driving my little Frogeye hard down the M6, not noticing a drop in oil pressure and carrying on until the engine seized. I even gave him a full refund as he told me he was on his way to his wedding (in fact he had got married and was on the way to the reception). The rescue company were on the scene quickly and little time was lost but the car was wrecked. Same goes for the BBC who had 3 of my cars via an outfit called wheel2reel for the TV series Antiques Road Trip – now showing on BBC2. They managed to damage all 3 but the little Beetle convertible you see was badly abused – if you have a classic then beware!

Updates on our Classic Cars

Volvo P1800

Work is progressing with the P1800 as we cut more of the rusty stuff away and replace it with new metal. The O/S front wing, inner, middle and outer sill are all now in place. There was also quite a bit of fabrication required for the A post and inner front wings. The drivers door has a new skin and a new bottom repair panel both hand made by Gordon at Hunter classics. Currently we are working on the O/S rear wheel arch and rear wing. Again we have to fabricate much of the new panels as replacements are not available. This is a much bigger task than I imagined but we will end up with a great car that – if looked after – will last for many years to come.

‘Frogeye’

The Frogeye conversion has taken a big jump forward as the back end is now fitted and bonded to the original car. It looks great and now we are working on fitting the lights. Next up is the new bonnet, then its time for the paint job before fitting out the interior.

Green Super Midget

A few months ago we bought an unusual Midget. It’s a 1974 round wheel arch Midget that has been subject to a comprehensive restoration a few years ago with a few ‘custom’ additions. The engine is the later 1500, the seats have been replaced with ½ leather seats, we think they are from a rover as is the centre console and handbrake. The car has been finished in metallic green and looks amazing in the sun. It’s quick, a bit quirky and great fun. The car had been off the road for a couple of years and we have sorted out a couple of paintwork issue, fixed the brakes, replace some of the carpets, cleaned and serviced the engine, carbs, new exhaust and many more jobs to get this little car ready to go. This will be up for sale in the next couple of weeks.

MGB Roadster

We have just acquired a very nice 1978 MGB in blaze red. The previous owner had stared a chrome bumper conversion so we will be finishing this, changing the car to wire wheels, a complete respray and sorting out the mechanicals. This one will be ready in September.

Classic Curves!

This week we have been having fun working on our 2013 calendar. We are working with local model and classic car enthusiast Marie. We have decided to call the calendar ‘Classic Curves’ celebrating the lines of beautiful classic cars enhanced with a the lines of our beautiful model. It’s all a bit of fun and definitely very different from traditional calendars. Keep and eye on our website for more information.

Super Frogeye

Having decided to turn the MK3 Sprite into a Frogeye the Self Drive Classics restorationteam are now moving on with the work. The engine bay has been repainted white and the engine work now completed. The Frogeye rear end is ready to fit as is the Frogeye style dash. We have ordered the bonnet which should be here this week so we expect to have all of the panels and dash fitted by the end of next week. Next job is to paint the car then on to trim and finished so we sill be ready for the summer – should it ever arrive!

Volvo P1800

Last week we started work on the bodyshell for the P1800. It is in a worst state than we first thought but these old cars are well worth saving so we will move on with the restoration. We have remove the drivers side sills and floor and cut away all of the rust. We are fabricating new chassis legs ready to attach the new floor and sills.

Classic Car Hire

The dreadful weather has not helped the classic car hire business but at least it looks like this week could be a bit more settled. Despite the weather people still get married, have School proms and – being British – still go for a drive even in the rain so don’t let the weather put you off. Anyone with a discount voucher should use them now before they expire.