Buying Your Holy Grail Car Is Something You Never Regret
Almost everyone likes to give advice, myself included.
So here’s my simple advice, informed by personal experience: Always buy the best car that fits your needs, desires, budget, and garage. And by “best” I don’t just mean condition. I’m talking about a car that, by your definition, has the perfect combination of colors, equipment, options, history, and condition. In the watch world people refer to Holy Grail watches, or “grail watches.” I’m telling you to buy your grail car.
Only you can define what your grail car is. Not your co-workers, your buddies, the guy who runs the shop where your current car is serviced, or a “Ten Best” list.
I have made more than my share of bad automotive decisions over the years, but I’ve also made good ones, and have discovered a few things. One of them is this: If you buy with as few compromises as possible, your chances of being happy increase immeasurably.
Without going into the gory details, a couple of years ago I bought a car that was always, for one reason or the other, unobtanium my entire adult life. It was a perfect combination of all the factors I was looking for. Purchasing this one, single car put to end my pursuit of lesser versions of what is basically the same car, but without one super-important (and expensive) option. To me, this defines a grail car. It’s the best example of the best version of an automobile I’ve loved, bought and sold for years, and there’s a sense of achievement in that ownership.
This is actually the second time this has happened to me, so I just might be proof positive of my hypothesis. Back in 2015 I fell in love with what was then a brand-new, special version of a high-performance import. Only 99 were built for the U.S. market. I wanted one with low-ish miles, “No Stories”, up to date maintenance, and in one of two choices of colors.
I had to wait until it became more affordable. Then, when it was three years old and I decided to buy, it took me close to two more years to find the best example (again, as defined by me). Now I am the owner of two collector cars that completely cured me of any itch to buy a “better” example. The feeling is actually quite liberating, knowing that, should all other factors remain equal, I can enjoy these cars until I am (shudder) unfit to drive, or, well, have left the (metaphorical) building, in Elvis-like terms.
With regards to what your grail car is, let’s start by talking brand. Ford or Chevrolet? Porsche or Ferrari? Cadillac or Packard? MG or Triumph? Stanley (steam) or Detroit Electric (electric, obciously)? With brand vs. brand, you are the only one who can define what will make you happy. Will driving BMW when you always wanted a Mercedes-Benz, or an Oldsmobile when you’d really prefer the Buick, eventually compel you to question your choice? In the appraisal business, we talk about something called the principle of substitution. Briefly, that is “If Mr./Ms. Buyer can’t find/afford/wait for a Model Z, what others will satisfy their wishes?” While it often works in real life, for some buyers of collector cars, it might not. We are talking that one, that Holy Grail, after all.
If colors and options factor into your Holy Grail, then holding off until the right combination comes along can be a nearly impossible task. This is particularly true of classic muscle cars and Corvettes, where the color range is wide and the list of original options long. If you have a very specific combination in mind, this is where patience, and maybe a small compromise or two, start to come in.
Condition can and should be a factor as well, of course, and again this depends on the person. I’m not a skilled mechanic. My wrenching skills are legendary, as in legendarily bad. That knocks me out of the market for a good number of cars that I will see in my search for a grail car, but the same need not be true for you. If you are able to make a car better with your own hands and tools, then your choices have expanded. Like that house-hunting couple on TV, if you are looking for a fixer-upper, you can save money by doing it yourself. Do not, however, follow in my well-tread footsteps and buy a car thinking it’s a bargain because it “only” needs (fill in the blank). I have spent thousands on such mistakes, and have come to the conclusion that restorations are expensive for a reason.
There are all sorts of considerations outside of the car world to weigh, too. For example, I’m 6’4, so that is a factor, as is the fact that getting in an out of some cars is a strain on my high-miles body. There may be some small, low-slung cars that I love, but if I can’t really enjoy them then they’re not perfect for me. Your results, as they say, may vary. Your spouse, your bank account, or even your credit rating could all be a limiting factor. Buying wrong while pissing off a significant other or draining a bank account will bring a different kind of feeling, the opposite of happiness.
The quotable Sir Henry Royce (one half of Rolls-Royce) had a few things to say on this subject. The first: “The quality will remain when the price is forgotten” and finally “Accept nothing nearly right or good enough.” Dude might know something, as the company that he and Rolls started is now 120 years old.
I bought the car I wanted 22 years ago. Still loving it.
Back in the early ’90’s, I first laid my eyes on a pearl white Lexus SC and I was in love. I could not afford a new one but did buy a gently used one for.my 50th day. I enjoyed it.so much, I bought an even nicer one 10 years later. It brings me joy every time I drive it.
My Holy Grail cars seem to get replaced by what I see as Holier Grail cars. Modified more to my tastes as I’ve never found “the one” and probably never will. The best have been made even Holier, then somebody comes and offers me silly amounts of money for it. This allows me to start all over again with an excess of dollars that I spend on psychoanalysis.
The result of which is that the car is actually “a moving target”, according to my analyst. She bought one of these vehicles and has since suggested that she would like to change a few things. Where was she back when this condition took over my life?
Since the age of 12, my dream car has been an MGB. My first car was a 1980 Toyota Tercel with a 4-speed manual transmission passed on to me by Mom and Dad. I was able to change the oil, the brakes, and rotate the tires. Those are my limits on car repair abilities. Fast forward my current age of 59, and my heart still desires the MGB. However, knowing my limitations, a brand new Mazda Miata (with a manual transmission) sitting next to my 2013 Toyota Camry SE (the first car I’ve ever owned with an automatic transmission) seems like the best option.
When I was around 8-10 I built several 23 T Bucket models and one in particular was always my favorite and was always my dream car. I still have that model @ 74 BTW.
After 50 + years of going to car shows seeing some amazing T buckets and staring at that model I finally said ,,what to heck I’m going to look around some and see what’s around just for kicks .
As fate would have it while looking through the Hemming’s listings I found a 23 T turtle deck that matched almost perfectly the model I’d dreamed about all my life other than the wheels and air intake were the only differences compared to my model .
Fast forward 2 1/2 weeks , I now have a brand new fresh built 23 T in bright yellow with a black and dark maroon interior that match’s my model almost to the tee, now sitting in my garage next to my 71 Rivi & 83 C-10 step side low rider , motor cycles and ATV’s .
Ya Ya , I know, over the top a bit ,,well maybe ,,but I LIKE MY TOYS !!
So I guess dreams can come true at any age . Even though my x , half the family and some of my friends think I’m totally out of my cotton picking mind !! LOL
But what do they know anyways ?
But you know what ,,,after the first leaf peeping tour /shake down cruise, it is confirmed , it was well worth the 64 year wait and my new baby “T Lisous” is everything I’d ever dreamed of , and more ! So if you have a hankering for that special ride , don’t wait as long as I have and peruse what you want .
Just don’t be a dummy like me and wait so long.
Something tells me , it will be a long cold Winter in VT though , having just found it this so late in late Fall , even though we’ll likely have a few good days left still.
But with only 3 very short 10- 15 mile leaf peeping tours under my belt getting everything dialed in ,my Bucket List complete.
Well,,,other than owning a WW11 P -38 Lightning ,which is just totally unobtainable for me , much as I’d like one . So I guess I’ll just have to continue to cruise at lower altitudes in my hot rods instead till that day comes .
Found my Holy Grail at 60. Not a car, but a 50 Vincent Rapide. Figured I’d better just get one while I had enough leg to kick start a 1000cc British V-Twin. Many many Triumphs, Nortons and BSAs have led to this. The Vincent has been a lust item since I was very young. As far as cars, I’ve lusted after an Aston Martin DB5 through DBS since I was a kid. Many Jaguars and Little British Roadsters have somewhat scratched the itch for years. They will probably have to do, but what a way to make do!
I was in my early 20’s when the car I held as my ultimate ride started to form in my mind. Mid 30’s convertible with an in-line 8, wide whites, cream paint with red interior. Fully restored by me.
I have had 3 cars I rebuilt over 40+ years, one 3x to get it right as well as to have sufficient funds to do so.
After all this development of skills and vendor sourcing I was ready for the ultimate purchase. I found the exact car, in the exact ‘barn find’ condition and spent 766 days creating my dream. I still cannot get enough of the car. Just seeing it in the garage makes me feel so good. What more can one ask for?
I’m another believer. When your grail item of any type becomes available, do whatever it takes to possess it. After five years of occasional browsing mine came across my screen. Eight days and a concerning percentage of my retirement account later it was mine. Money will have to be replenished but in the meantime all the itches are scratched. I wish this level of contentment for everyone.
OK in the last 50 years i have owned a 56 chev 150 2dr, 210 4dr, Nomad, BelAir Sport sedan, Sedan Delivery and Belair Sport coupe. I still own the last two.
I owned 50+ great cars but I wanted since I was in single digits a Ferrari. When a friend of mine wanted to sell me his 1997 Ferrari F355 Spider because in his 80’s couldn’t drive it anymore. It had only 9K miles. Price was very good. Owned it for 3 years and put 1K miles and 10K smiles. I still love to say I had a Ferrari till my dying days 😃
I can’t agree more with this excerpt: “… I bought a car that was …. unobtanium my entire adult life. It was a perfect combination of all the factors I was looking for. Purchasing this one, single car put to end my pursuit of lesser versions of what is basically the same car, but without one super-important (and expensive) option.”
My dream car, from when I was 8 years old, took me 55 years to get. Then another two to get running. I have owned a series of ‘lesser versions’ before this purchase, but they were each lacking that ‘super-important’ option. That option was so rare that I never expected to have the opportunity to find one.
Best of all? It’s a driver, not a museum quality trailer queen.
My dream car was an MG TC. I can afford one now, but with my 76th birthday coming up in a few weeks, I’ve decided I will never own one.
I’ve bought two other classics, but didn’t follow the advice to get the best one I could find. They’re rusting away in my driveway.
My grail car became a reality a year ago. In the last 50 or so years, it changed from various Benzes and Porsches (owned a 1500cc Speedster once) but had in the back of my mind, the Mark 1 Audi TT. I asked my wife what she really wanted for her birthday last year and she said another “Roadster”. Not very specific at all, so I started looking around at what might be available within our modest budget.By happenstance, serendipity appears in the form of an article entitled “10 iconic sports cars for less than $20,000.00. At he bottom of the list was the MK1 TT. I remembered how I had drooled over them when they were first announced, but way over my car budget. I ran all the search engines I had and found two close enough to home to go look. One was a high mile run-out and the other was in near showroom condition with very low miles and a mostly acceptable maintenance history. Barely in our budget range with figuring in a hefty chunk of “make ready cash”. It used up all of the cash set aside remedying aged rubber and plastic bits and pieces. It’s my wife’s car and I do get to drive it from time to time. It took her no time at all to dial in the 6 speed manual box and she loves it. A pleasure to look at and a joy to drive. We’re in our 80’s so we really appreciate what a civilized ride it is (no, we’re not hair dressers, but we do know one who had a string of Porsches). Dreams do come true, sometimes.