admin - Part 36

Classic Cars of the Future – The Time To Buy Is Now!

Classic cars provide a unique investment opportunity for the long-term investor, but to really make the best of it, a bit of trend-watching can help increase the return on investment. It’s an old saying that everything in life goes in cycles, and it is no different with the classic car market, though the cycles may be longer than the average investor is expecting.

A Special Type of Investment

First though, one thing that makes buying old cars a unique investment opportunity is, these stand-out vehicles are eye-catching and fun to drive. Owning one is more than just owning a valuable car, it is – or can be – a statement, and often part of a fond memory of a time that has passed in one’s life.

Bought It Because You Loved It…

If purchased as part of a fond memory or because of a special affinity for a certain car, it may be hard to let go of when it’s time to turn it over for sale. This is not an ideal situation when buying these machines for investment value, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t work. It just makes it a bit harder to let go, but at least owning it for a time is enjoyable.

Buying Purely as Investment

This is where trend-watching comes into play as a valuable tool for an investor. Classic cars are only going to increase in value as they become more and more scarce, but there are still going to be ups and downs in the prices. Adding seasonal trends and long-term trends to your understanding of this market will let you earn the highest return on your investment dollars.

Seasonal Trends

Watching seasonal trends will give you an idea of the best time to buy or sell for short-term investing, and it’s fairly basic. Warm weather means summer vacation, car shows, and road trips for many people, so warm months are when demand is the highest – and prices are highest then, too.

While there are always exceptions to every rule, you are most likely to get the lowest prices during cold months. So, typically, you would want to buy when it’s cold and unpleasant outside and sell when demand is high in summer months.

Long-Term Trends

Long-term trends are harder to identify when it comes to cars, but you can use a web tool, like Google Trends, or another analytic tool to use Internet searches as a guideline. If you set the tool to show searches for a specific type of classic car, for example, you can see if it is presenting as a downtrend, an uptrend, or if it has flatlined.

Nothing Is Written in Stone, but…

Ideally, if you see a downtrend of about fifteen or twenty years when you look at the long-term history for a specific type of vehicle, it should be due to begin an upward trend, so buying at a low point in the trend gives you the greatest likelihood of making a profit when you are ready to turn over your long-term investment in a piece of vintage iron.

How to Care for Your Natural Chamois Leather Drying Cloth

A quality natural chamois leather drying cloth is one of the best options for drying a vehicle completely and safely. Natural chamois leather cloths have been used for drying cars and trucks for decades and although many new products have been introduced in recent years, the chamois remains one of the safest and most effective options. Many of the newer products are less expensive, primarily due to the fact that they are synthetic and made from petroleum by-products, but the chamois cloth remains one of the most durable and absorbent products available. A chamois is soft, has lots of nap, releases dirt and grit better when rinsed and will last years when properly maintained.

Preparing a Natural Chamois Drying Cloth for its First Use

Before using a chamois the first time, wash the cloth in lukewarm water with a mild soap. Do not use harsh chemicals like bleach, degreasers like Dawn or any laundry

detergents. Modern chamois cloths are made from sheepskin and tanned with fish oil to make them soft. Washing a chamois with a degreasing soap will strip the natural oils that keep the cloth supple and cause it to breakdown and shed.

Using Chamois Leather to Dry a Vehicle

The vehicle should be thoroughly washed with an appropriate car wash soap and thoroughly rinsed prior to drying. Removing all of the dirt and grit during the wash process is essential to protecting the paint during the drying phase. Before using a chamois to dry a vehicle, it should first be rinsed in clean water and wrung out. Rewetting and ringing out a dry chamois will restore the original softness and absorbency. The natural nap will trap and pull any remaining fine dirt or grit into the cloth and away from the paint. A chamois should be rinsed and rung out frequently to release any particles removed from the finish into the rinse water. Unlike many other products, a chamois is extremely soft, absorbent, contains lots of nap and releases dirt and grit completely when rinsed. Care should be taken to avoid contaminating a chamois cloth with grease or oil and should never be used with strong chemicals.

Cleaning a Chamois Cloth the right way

After each use a natural chamois should be rinsed completely with clean soapy water and repeatedly wrung out gently until clean. Leaving a little soap or water in a chamois will not damage the leather, provided that the soap is mild and does not contain any degreasing agents. Do not machine wash or tumble dry. Many detergents used for washing clothing can also strip away the natural oils used in the tanning process and significantly shorten the effective life of the chamois cloth.

Drying and Storing a Leather Chamois

After washing, rinse thoroughly in clean water, ring out gently and pull on the edges to gently stretch the cloth back into its natural shape. Hang up to dry in an area away from direct sunlight. Do not fold or wad up and do not place in a bag. A chamois, like any leather, will stiffen as it dries. To soften the chamois without rewetting, rub the chamois against itself or grip opposite ends of the cloth and draw it back and forth across the edge of a clean surface until the desired softness is reached. Once the chamois cloth has completely dried, it should be stored in a dry place away from chemicals and direct sunlight.

Chamois Leather Exposed to Harsh Chemicals

A chamois that has been “cleaned” with a degreaser, exposed to harsh chemicals or dried and/or stored improperly will quickly break down and, like any leather product, will rot, shed and eventually fall apart. But with proper care and maintenance, a genuine natural leather chamois cloth is durable, soft and will last for years with normal use.

Other Uses for Natural Chamois Cloths

The softness and nap of a chamois leather makes it ideal for dusting, removing dust and oils from the screens of electronic devices such as smart phones, tablets and computer screens, as well as kitchen fixtures and appliances. Smaller chamois cloths are also used to polish and shine jewelry and shoes.

5 Best Emergency Window Breakers for Cars 2016

With good fortune, you may never need to use one of these emergency window breakers in an accident situation, but that does not mean that you should not buy one.

On the contrary, it is best to make sure that you always have one of these life-saving emergency escape tools close at hand, just in case the worst does happen and you need to break out of a vehicle window following a road accident.

As well as having a hammer, many glass breakers also incorporate other survival tools, which can prove to be equally as crucial in the event of an emergency. A seat-belt cutter, for example, will enable you free yourself and others quickly. A flashlight will aid vision in the dark, or provide you with the means to signal for help.

Fatalities and injuries caused by vehicle entrapment are very often completely unnecessary. I cannot recommend these tools strongly enough. I hope that you find my list of the 5 best emergency window breakers for cars useful.

#1 : The Original Best Emergency Window Breaker: The LifeHammer Original: Classic Design!

With its classic and award-winning design, the LifeHammer Original Emergency Hammer will do the job admirable if and when you need to shatter a car widow to escape.

Possessing a double-sided head and hardened steel points, this tool definitely remains one of the best emergency window breakers in my opinion. You can also use it to cut open a seat belt too, if you need to free yourself or others in the event of an accident.

The LifeHammer Original also has a fluorescent button, enabling you find this life-saving tool in the dark, if you need to, potentially saving lives in the process.

A mounting bracket to hold the LifeHammer in place within your vehicle is included for free when you buy from Amazon, making installation easy.

As well as being an excellent window breaker, the Accutire MS-4520B functions effectively as a digital tire gauge, a seat belt cutter, and has a built-in LED flashlight so that the driver and passengers can find themselves to safety in the darkness

With good fortune, you may never need to use one of these emergency window breakers in an accident situation, but that does not mean that you should not buy one.

LifeHammer The Original Emergency Hammer (Orange). This escape tool set the standard for all the others. Its affordable, neat design incorporates a seat belt cutter, as well as a window breaker. A classic design at a very affordable price

Car Window Breaker Installation

Once you’ve purchased your emergency window breaker, you will need to install it, of course. Many models come with a bracket for easy installation.

It needs to be somewhere handy, where you can put your hands on it quickly, should you be unlucky enough to need it in the aftermath of a car crash and need to make an emergency escape.

I personally would recommend putting your emergency window breaker tool either in the middle console or above the driver’s seat, the two easiest places to access quickly in a confused or frightening situation.

Carrying your emergency window breaker in your bag, or on your person, risks the possibility that you won’t have access to it, should the unthinkable happen and you are involved in a crash.

That said, many people keep their breaker on their key ring, and some punches are specifically designed for that. If you always keep your keys in your pocket, or close at hand, this may be a suitable solution for you.

Multi-Function Safety Tool: The Swiss+Tech ST81010 BodyGard!

This rugged but affordable Swiss+Tech ST81010 BodyGard PTX KeyChain Window-Punch is constructed using high-carbon steel components and offers excellent value for money.

Its spring loaded emergency hammer will automatically deploy when pressed against a glass window. There is also a cutter in case the seat belts do not unlatch.

This emergency tool can be attached to a key ring, the rear-view mirror post, or sun visor arm to enable fast and easy access, should it be needed in an emergency.

Always Within Reach With a Keychain: The Resqme!

These attractive and functional products combine the Original LifeHammer with keychains.

The resqme is very lightweight and there is a razor sharp stainless steel blade that can cut through seatbelts too, if needed in an emergency.

What better way to make sure that you always have your emergency window breaker close at hand?

Available in packs of two, as well as singly, they also come in a variety of different colors, including: black, royal blue, red, yellow, orange, fuscia, pink, and green.

The Accutire MS-4520B: More Than Just a Window Breaker!

The great thing about the Accutire MS-4520B is that as well as functioning as a very effective emergency hammer, you get get all sorts of extra features built-in.

There is a digital tire gauge, for instance, with a range of range from 5 to 150 PSI. A cutter (with a recessed blade so you don’t accidentally cut yourself when you use the hammer) which gives you the means to cut through your seat belt, if trapped in the vehicle after an accident.

A white LED flashlight helps you to see in dark, should you need to.

Lightweight and Portable: The ADC Window Punch!

This emergency window breaker has extra punch power in order to allow an escape by shattering any typical vehicle window.

It is portable too, with a special lightweight design.

The aluminum barrel gives you a good grip and has been designed to be corrosion resistant.

The ADC window punch also has a pen-type clip for convenience.

More Top-Rated Emergency Window Breakers to Consider!

This Triple LED Flashlight Car Auto Emergency Escape Tool combines a range of safety tool features along with its main role as a window breaker, including a built in LED flashlight, which as well as being handy for emergencies, can come in handy if you need to change a tire in the dark. It also comes with a mounting bracket, so that you can mount it somewhere convenient to reach in an emergency.
Another tool worthy of consideration is the Master Cutlery CS-044 Emergency Rescue Hammer, which functions well as a window breaker and seat belt cutter, and comes with an easy to install holder. This double tip window breaker measures 7.25-Inch in length. The breaker is bright orange, making it easier to see in low lighting.

You Should Also Consider Investing in a Roadside Assistance Kit and First Aid Kit

This Top Gear Premium Roadside Assistance Kit has everything that you might need in a vehicle-related emergency.

The kit includes:

A Top Gear carrying case to keep all your kit together in one handy bag.
A reflective safety vest to make you visible to other drivers.
A hand charged LED flashlight to help with visibility in low light or darkness (note that this design of flashlight does not require batteries).
Battery booster cable.
A warning triangle to warn other road users.
Electrical tape
Cotton work gloves