Here at the shop, we’ve recently had a wave of stunning classic cars roll through, many of which were recently purchased at major auctions for serious money. These vehicles often turn heads with immaculate paintwork, flawless interiors, and show-ready engine bays, and modern drive-train swaps, But once we put them on the lift, a different story begins to unfold.
These aren’t barn finds or unfinished projects. They’re high-dollar builds, some trading hands for well into six figures that should, in theory, represent the best of the best. And while they may look incredible at a glance, many are hiding shortcuts and questionable workmanship underneath the surface.
We’re not here to throw stones at auctions or dealers many of whom are also our customers and take pride in what they sell, which is why the come here for post sale, or pre purchase inspections. But we think it’s important to shine a light on what can sometimes go unnoticed in the rush to restore and flip, and seems to be a growing issue on the classic car auction circuit. Because beneath the glossy finishes, we’ve found issues that range from careless to downright dangerous.
Here are just a few examples we’ve seen firsthand:
- Suspension geometry that’s way off, with loose components resulting in unsafe handling, terrible noises, and uneven tire wear.
- Tek screws drilled through the floorboards—into fuel lines, electrical wiring, and even drivelines.
- Body mount bolts left finger-tight, meaning the entire body could shift under load.
- Steering boxes held on by a single bolt, compromising control and safety.
- And perhaps the most head scratching, a transmission cooler line routed using a spark plug boot as a 90-degree elbow, with no hose clamps, something you’d expect on a Gambler 500 car, as a trail fix, not a quarter million dollar classic.
Fortunately, we’ve been able to correct all of these issues for our customers, and classic car dealers before anything catastrophic occurred. But these experiences highlight why it’s so important to have any newly purchased classic inspected by a qualified performance and restoration shop, even if it looks like a showpiece.
At Fast Specialties, we believe that great cars should not only look the part, they should be built to perform safely and reliably. If you’ve recently purchased a classic, especially at auction or from a third-party seller, we’re here to make sure what’s under the surface matches what you see on the outside.