Happy New Year everyone. Hope you had a great Christmas and that Santa has left you replete with his festive bounty. No doubt you’ll have indulged, imbibed and revelled. Now maybe, you feel a little guilty about your Yuletide excesses.
Don’t worry, 2018 is a fresh year and the possibilities are endless. So much to achieve. So many ideas to pursue. We call these aspirations resolutions. We make commitments to ourselves to get fitter, richer, happier. We envisage the ‘new me’: a better, more thrusting version of the person you saw in the mirror throughout 2017.
It’s time for the world to meet You 2.0. It’s exciting, isn’t it?
Of course, like anticlimactic describes the festive season, our aspirations crumble to ashes. As New Year 2018 fades in the memory, so do our resolutions. And yet, life continues as before. What was all the fuss about?
To explore this theme, without worrying about whether they’re achieved, let’s have some fun. I’ll list the most likely New Year’s resolutions only a classic car owner might have. Those little victories make 2018 the best year ever for you and your car.
Sell your classic
Let’s start with the most radical option. Sell it! Yes, you read that right. Maybe 2018 is the year you say goodbye to the rollercoaster ride that is classic car ownership. Time for someone else to take on the stresses and strains. Imagine. No more worrying about rust or reliability. No more Googling for spare parts that cost the earth. In 2018, you can tour the shows and when appropriate say: ‘I used to have one of those’. Then off you stroll with a wry smile and a pocket full of cash. Sounds good, eh?
Finally, investigate that rust
You resolve to investigate the patch of rust that turned up in 2017. Shouldn’t be too bad, you think. Then, as you give it a gentle poke it gets a little bigger. So you continue. Soon, what seemed a benign cosmetic fix becomes a full-blown oxidisation explosion. Arrrgh.
Let’s face it rust is our enemy. It loves to find its way into our beloved motors. It’ll sit there eating its way into your pride and joy laying waste to all the metal in its path. It’s the same for any seemingly minor job on an old car. Once you get started on a fix it soon balloons out of control as you find issue after issue. If you want a happy New Year, ignore it, for the time being at least.
Say goodbye to the MOT
Is 2018 the year we say goodbye to the dreaded MOT? The nail-biting event where you subject your car to an inspection by someone who hasn’t a clue what they’re looking at. From thence, a litany of trouble ensues if things have gone particularly awry. Soon, this may be just a formality. A test certificate is longer required due to the care classic owners lavish on their cars. Or so it’s assumed.
Let’s unpack that a bit. You’ll be able to drive an ancient car without the need for a test. An ageing machine that uses antediluvian technology like drum brakes and incandescent lights. A vehicle festooned with pointy chrome and tyres so thin you could use them to slice cheese. And not an airbag in sight. Whilst I’m no fan of the MOT and the costs that might follow, at least I get a heads up if my motor’s not doing so good.
Do Europe (and beyond)
Let’s live the dream. Jump in the classic and drive off to Europe whilst we still can. Take to the lovely empty French roads on the way to the sunny south. Tough it out on the hectic byways of the Italian Riviera. Try to max your car on the German autobahns as you storm towards Berlin. The whole continent awaits the intrepid few. Assuming that is you don’t have to tow your car off the ferry due to unforeseen mechanical issues.
Buy another classic
Is 2018 the year you’ll take leave of your senses and buy another classic? Yet another money pit to part you from your cash. That way madness lies one would think. It would depend on the state of your finances, of course. However, as I’ve written before, should you take the plunge remember the old maxim. How do you make a small fortune from classic cars? Start with a big one!
A full mechanical and body restoration
Is 2018 the year for the full resto’? Pamper your motor to glistening perfection. Sort it all out and make it really nice. Well, if you’re prepared, why not? In fact, make your car as good as you can. You might end up living in it. Soon mounting costs, unforeseen issues, escalating problems and overrunning work will get a grip. Unfortunately, 2018 might be the year you need to downsize the house. Restoring is a big, bold decision, so good luck with that.
Attend more shows and drive-outs
Finally, one that we can all manage. Why not make 2018 the year you go to as many events as possible. Shows, drive-outs and rallies. Don’t worry about the weather, get out there and get involved. One of the great pleasures of ownership is standing in a field talking shop with people of similar ilk. It may seem strange to others but who cares. This may be the one resolution you can achieve this year.
I hope my list has inspired you. Some may be horrified or have better plans in tow. No matter, as long as you’ve got fire in your belly and are having a go.
I’ll conclude by wishing you all the very best for 2018. And offer my best wishes for whatever you have in store for the year ahead.
