How do I find a classic car for sale?
Vintage and classic car enthusiasts abound in Quebec, and it's always a pleasure to attend the various gatherings and exhibitions held across the province every year. By the way, long live the end of the pandemic!
In response to a visitor to the recent Montreal Auto Show who happened to ask us how to go about finding a classic car for sale, we thought it would be a good idea to list a few possible options here.
Ad sites
A starting point for your search is the various car classifieds sites such as Otogo. Inventories of older cars (say, pre-1990) are obviously much more limited, but it is possible to find examples that go back quite a long way. All you have to do is select the years and models in the list of criteria.
And let's not forget Facebook's Marketplace, which can always hold a few surprises in store too.
Auction sites
Another option is auction sites. These include Bring a Trailer, Cars & Bids, Openlane, Copart and Classic.com. Most have Canadian inventories that are updated fairly regularly.
Otherwise, sites like IAA Canada might be of interest to you... provided you're prepared to repair or restore a vehicle in poor condition!
Associations and clubs
After that, you can turn to various associations, such as Voitures Anciennes du Québec, which is definitely a must. At the time of writing, its website featured some forty vehicles for sale, ranging from classic restorations to sparkling gems. In a similar vein, Les Belles Autos d'hier also features classified ads.
If you've got a specific model in mind, perhaps you can test the waters with a club? There are many clubs across the province, of varying sizes, and these enthusiasts will be happy to share their passion and point you in the right direction.
Exhibitions
Finally, word-of-mouth and the encounters you can make at car rallies are certainly another avenue to consider to find a vintage model you like.
The Granby International, the Concours d'élégance de Fort-Chambly or the Exposition internationale d'autos de Lévis come to mind, but there are many others in Quebec and elsewhere. In any case, it's well worth the trip!
