What to do with Your Unfinished Classic Car Project

Sometimes unfinished classic car projects can sit in a barn, garage or even worse – outside in the elements – for years and even decades. During this time seals, gaskets, steel parts and rubber all begins to break down and eventually can lead to the completely ruin of your once-complete antique automobile. Save your car by considering one of these five options – assuming of course that finishing the project yourself is no longer an option.

1.) Professional Classic Car Restoration

For some car restoration projects, going professional is the only real option. This is especially true if there is significant work that needs to be done to the frame, body and drive-train components and parts are not readily available. In most cases a professional shop will be able to locate all required parts and assemble and restore the car the way it was meant to be.

One of the biggest obstacles preventing most classic car enthusiasts from going this route is the perceived cost. However, in most cases the more expensive option is to do nothing at all and simply let the car languish and rot. In fact, you may be surprised how affordable professional restoration really is.

2.) Sell Your Classic Car

Lots of individuals and even some shops will buy basketcase projects. This essentially refers to complete classic car projects that are in pieces. Depending on the amount of work involved and the condition of the car and parts, you may be able to get much more than you think for your antique car or truck. You can start by contacting restoration shops to see if they’re interested or know of anyone who is, and then proceed to traditional listings, Craigslist and even eBay if you’re feeling lucky.

3.) Trade it!

If you’ve got the right car you may be able to tempt a collector or enthusiast into a trade. Whether you’re looking for a completed project, a newer car or truck or something else entirely, chances are great that you can find the perfect trade situation by checking and interacting on classic and antique car forums and websites. Traditional newspaper ads often get fast, local results, and visiting a pro restoration shop might turn up some leads as well.

4.) Museums Might Love it

If you’ve got a great old car sleeping away in pieces somewhere on your property and you know you’re never really going to do anything with it, you may want to consider giving it to an auto museum. Often you’ll receive credit on the display and a generous tax break, and just the fact that the museum will restore and forever care for your old car is generally enough to consider this seriously as an option.

5.) Donate to Charity

Donating your basketcase classic car project to charity has a number of potential tax benefits as well as the fact that – depending on the situation – your old car may net a significant cash infusion for charities that often struggle to obtain funds to support their causes. If it’s just got to rot away anyway, you might as well help someone else out by checking around for some charities that may be interested in putting your old car or truck to good use.

If you’ve got a car in pieces somewhere and want to see it live on, call a professional classic car restorer now to find out exactly what can be done with it, and about how much time and money that will cost. However, caution should be used when finding a classic car restorations shop, as you’ll want to make sure they have the equipment and expertise to preserve your car, buy it from you or sell it for you.

Posted in Car

Modify Your Cars Exterior and Interior by Adding Decorative Car Accessories

If you have an average-looking car and youd like to transform it into something rather attractive, you can add up interior and exterior car accessories. Be confident when driving your vehicle by decorating it with appropriate accessories. With the wide selection of automotive accessories available today, you can definitely find the right accessories that suit the makes and design of your car.

If you have a tight budget, you can go for cheap but quality accessories sold by local garages and online retailers as well. Give your car a personal touch by adding selected car accessories either on the outside or the inside, or preferably both. If you have an old and worn out vehicle, why not design it with a full body kit to make it look rather new and appealing. You can also transform your average vehicle into a monster drive using the appropriate accessories. Make your car more secure and convenient by incorporating essential items or just make it look stylish by adding decorative accessories.

Car spoilers are great accessories that you can install by yourself. They come in a variety of colors and designs. You can use spoilers to get the down force plus the fashionable look you desire. If you have plans of selling your vehicle after several years, accessorizing it would help increase the resale value. Body kits are exterior modifications that add value and style to your car, albeit it takes professional skills to install these components properly. For a more stylish look, why not add car wings which are actually cheap in price.

Both a cars interior and exterior should be accessorized. Integrate essential components such as audio and video systems and air conditioner to make your car an enjoyable place to rest in. There is a wide selection of interior car accessories that you can incorporate such as seat and steering wheel covers, lights, gauges, read outs, etc. Compared to external accessories, most interior items are rather easy to install.

For car owners who are on the road frequently, there should be user-friendly tachometer and speedometer for a more convenient driving experience. Racing pedals and shift can also improve your cars handling.

Adding up the right accessories can certainly give your car a striking appearance and make it more convenient to ride on.

Posted in Car

Why You Need The Best Charlotte Car Accident Attorney

If you have been involved in a car accident, after your receive medical attention; hiring a car accident attorney should be your top priority. You need to consult with an attorney, even if you seem to be uninjured. A personal injury lawyer will be invaluable help when you need to file insurance claims.

Additionally, you will have someone to represent you that can do all the legal heavy lifting while you concentrate on recovering from any injuries you might have suffered as a result of the accident. Accident victims often fail to understand that insurance companies, even their own, are determined to pay as little as possible for every claim.

Trust the expert
Car accident attorneys understand the life-long implications if you do not receive proper compensation for any and all losses that you incur as a result of the accident. This includes:

omedical bills
ocontinuing therapy
ocar repairs
opast and future earning lost

It is psychologically and physically stressful to try and handle all of the legal details when you are up against trained professionals who are determined to save the company profits at your expense. This is why you need the services of an expert.

The best personal injury attorney in Charlotte will know the right procedure(s) when filing insurance claims. Your auto accident attorney is a skilled negotiator on your behalf. If he or she cannot get you the best deal in terms of compensation, you can be assured that they will fight for you in court.

Recognizing the best car accident lawyer
Regardless of the type of accident, you will need a firm who has extensive experience in personal injury cases. Look for a firm that has several decades of experience with a track record of winning cases for their clients.

Ask your prospective attorney about the possibility of going to trial. The best attorneys are ready and willing to fight it out in court. Be mindful that there are many less-skilled attorneys that are content to settle your case. They will most likely negotiate a lower amount even if it is not in your best interest.

Speak with one of the top accident attorneys in Charlotte, NC
Hire your personal injury attorney as soon as possible after the accident. This way, your attorney can immediately get to work filing for personal injury claims, lost wages and medical expenses. Never agree on a settlement with the insurance company without talking to your attorney. Even if you are not sure that you have a case, you have nothing to lose by seeking advice from a car accident injury attorney.

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Car Rental Charges Explained By Industry Insider…

Prevent additional credit card charges on car rental.

First of all, you must understand how the total price you pay is calculated. Everything starts with the daily base rate this is the rate you pay for the daily use of the car excluding all other charges. It doesnt mean that this is the price you pay!

Instead, you may find your total bill is double of that of the base rate. Extra mandatory charges like GST, airport location surcharges, administration fees, vehicle registration fees are all part of the total bill given to you at the rental counter. I cant stress enough the importance of getting a bill at the end of your rental, but this is another story. So, by the time all the extra charges are added onto your bill, you may find yourself paying almost double that seductive base rate.

To give you an example, a friend of mine rented a car in Australia with a base rate around $177 for four days. The final total? Including a vehicle registration fee, admin fee, airport location surcharge, a surcharge for not filling the gas tank, and a GST on top of all those other charges, my friend paid about $358 – more than a 100 percent increase over the base rate.

So how can you avoid nasty surprises? Below you can find a list of standard surcharges you’re most likely to find at most car rental locations in Australia, as well as some tips for your next trip to the car rental counter.

Airport and GST Surcharges

The majority of car rental transactions happen at the airports around the country. Airport surcharge is something that car rental supplier has no control over and it varies considerably from one airport to another. Therefore, when you pick the car up from the airport you should expect to pay between 3 and 18 percent extra on top of other charges. Unfortunately, you can’t avoid paying GST, which can will add 10 percent. However, if your car rental bill amounts to over $300 and you leave the country within 30 days after returning the car, you may claim GST component of your car rental at the airport.

However, you can avoid the airport charges – such as airport location surcharge fees by picking up and dropping off your car at an off-airport location. Be sure to weigh the possible inconvenience and the price of any additional transportation against the concession fees charged by the airport location – which can be between 3 and 18 percent of your total price.

The bottom line? If you don’t want to pay the airport location surcharge, check out your rental options downtown.

Insurance

Your rental car comes with a standard insurance liability of between $2900 and $3300 depending on a car rental supplier. This liability can be further reduced by paying an extra daily charge of between $25 and $27. However, since the price of insurance is almost half of what you pay for you car, I recommend that you check your credit card/travel/car insurance to make sure it doesnt cover you in a rental car.

Gasoline Charges

For your convenience most car rental companies provide cars with a full tank of fuel, however, be assured that if you dont return the car with a full tank you will pay a higher price for petrol used to fill up the empty tank. However, most car rental companies now offer the option of purchasing a full tank of gas when you first take the car, enabling you to return the car with as much or as little fuel as you wish.

Please note that there is no refund for unused fuel, so its likely youll be paying a little extra for the convenience of skipping the trip to the gas station.

Drop-Off Charges

An extra fee is usually charged if a car is returned to a different location than where it was picked up. This fee varies by location; in some instances there is no charge, while you could pay $300 or more for cross-country drop-offs. However, some companies do not require a charge when dropping off in-state at many Queensland and New South Wales locations.

The 24-Hour Clock

Car rental industry operates on a 24-hour clock rate. However, there is also a 59-minute grace period before hourly charges apply. To give you an example, if you rent a car at 12:00pm on Tuesday and return it by 12:59pm on Wednesday, you will be charged for one day only. However, if you return the car after 27 hours (in this case after 15:00) you’ll then be charged for the full extra day. Hourly charges apply between 25-27 hours.

Early Returns

When you rent a car for a particular number of days, you sign a sale contract for that period. So, just like with any other contracts out there, if you break your contract you must pay cancellation fees. Since, car rental companies set their rates based on the rental period, the longer you keep the car the cheaper the daily base rate. If you managed to reserve a car for 7 days using one of these hot weekly specials and then decide to bring the car two days earlier, you might get charged at a default daily rate and your total car rental charge for 5 days might end up costing you more than if you kept the car for 7 days. Therefore, please dont forget to ask a car rental agent if you pay different daily rate for earlier returns.

Mileage

Most car rental companies offer unlimited mileage in metropolitan areas, including all major capital cities (with an exception of Northern Territory) and some tourist destinations. I would suggest checking your contract prior to signing it as it clearly displays whether you get unlimited kilometres or not. Keep in mind though that smaller car rental companies usually charge mileage if you exceed a given daily km quota. In addition some “hot” special rates may not include unlimited mileage, so be sure to check before you sign a rental agreement.

Vehicle Registration Fees

Varying Rates and Peak Season Surcharges

Here is a tip that will potentially can save you hundreds of dollars. Book in advance!
Rental car companies’ rates vary a great deal from city to city, and sometimes even within the same city. Make sure to shop around. Be aware that you may pay a specific surcharge for traveling at a “peak” time, e.g. School and Public Holidays, Major events in your city, etc.

Age Penalties

Due to the insurance limitations, if you’re under 25, you may have to pay an additional fee, usually about $25 per day. Those companies who will rent to drivers under 21 often charge much steeper surcharges. Internationally, you’ll not only see penalties for underage drivers but also for older ones — those over 70 may have to pay extra (if they’re able to rent at all).

Additional Drivers

Adding more than one driver to your rental agreement often carries a surcharge, anywhere between $7 and $25 per day. Note that some companies, like Avis and Budget, will allow the renter’s spouse or life partner to drive the vehicle for no extra charge — so if both partners are planning to take the wheel, consider renting from one of these providers.

Frequent Flier Fees

Car rental companies often charge a small fee when you request frequent flier miles for your rental. The fee varies by airline, and can range anywhere from a few cents to $2 a day.

Extras

There may also be additional charges for things you had not considered, like infant and child seat rentals, roof racks and other extras. These could run you anywhere from $5 to $25 or more per day, depending on where you rent.

Car Parts The Importance Of Wheels

Weve all noted at some point or another that a particular thing is the best invention since that of the wheel. Or perhaps weve laughed as someone has tried to make a simple process unnecessarily difficult for themselves by reinventing the wheel. Though man had made and implemented a wide variety of tools before the invention of this one, the wheel has assumed an iconic place in the way we look at the world. And unlike many historic inventions which, though important at the time of their genesis, have since fallen by the wayside, the wheel continues to remain an important part of our lives today, forming an essential linchpin upon which one of the most important tools of modern life is built.

These days, it is easy to take for granted the great mobility we enjoy, choosing as we do from a multitude of ways to travel. One of the most frequently used methods of transport remains the car, from its humble beginnings as a self propelled vehicle in the eighteenth century to the vast array of shapes and makes we find today. Like several other modes of transit, the principle of the car is based upon that of the wheel, which, combined with an axle, allows for the forward motion that is such an intrinsic part of the human condition.

As has occurred with other elements of the car, a combination of technology and a preference for the finer things in life has resulted in a choice of wheels and tyres that is quite astounding. Different types of tyres have created greater diversity in the terrains upon which cars may be used, and made use of increased technological knowledge to ensure the safety of a cars passengers. Meanwhile, such accessories as hubcaps have been added to this important car part to personalize them to both car manufacturer and the driver.

While historians cannot agree entirely upon the exact point at which this important tool was invented, there is little doubt that this remains unimportant to todays modern motorist. We rarely give our wheels a second thought, but without them, our cars would be entirely useless, and we would be left sitting on the road, in a pointless metal cage.

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