Hello all!
My name's Jamal, very new to the group, but I'm glad I found you all. I'm a kid born in 81', so most of the cars that I'm familiar with when I could finally drive have been foreign. But I've got a love for the 70/71 Monte Carlo's and want make it my next car. First, I need to do my research, as I know nothing about car repairs/maintenance outside of driving like a bat out of hell and being very friendly with my neighborhood mechanic. Few things I need help with:
*Finance it? Or save up and buy it? I don't know repairs myself, so I can't build from scratch or put in the work myself(I know, cue the jokes).
*70 or 71? I've read the differences are only cosmetic and not performance -based (square lights vs round, hood attachment, etc).
*I'm at a disadvantage living in Chicago, we get what, 5 good months of great weather? Outside of that, I'm storing it in a garage, right? Don't want rust on it(and don't want to buy locally, right?)
*The 350(?) engines are not as powerful as the ever-mighty 454 option, but of course they offer higher performance. Is it worth it to pay extra for the better motor?
*In the pictures of the Monte's that I've seen, the suspension has been raised. Can anyone speak to that? I like that it sits a bit higher and that it makes the car stand out and the tires pop.
*Am I right in thinking of contacting a professional to view the car with me, to make sure the VIN matches the paperwork, original seals, etc?
*Will I get the same power buying an automatic? My stick-skills are iffy, at best
*Any suggestion on a who offers financing for classic cars and the best options for insurance?
I know I'm asking a lot, and I'm not putting in work on the car, which could be considered sacrilege. But this is THE car that I want, and I want to make sure that I go about it in the correct way. Any advice you can offer to a first-time classic car buyer would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks for you time everyone, glad to be here!
J
