More and more often, ads appear on aggregators in the style of "I will sell a time capsule", where the owner puts up an old car at the price of a new one from AvtoVAZ. We explain what it is and whether the "six" of your grandfather, which has been gathering dust in the garage for a long time, can be a "time capsule"
First of all, it is worth taking out of the equation cars from conservation. They are ideally suited to the definition, however, as a rule, military or semi-military equipment is put into conservation and is later adapted for civilian use.
How do you know that the car you found in the garage may have a high value? First, you need to assess the appearance. The integrity of the paintwork (LCP), the presence of damage, secondary painting of the body, etc. Soviet cars did not undergo a galvanizing procedure, so the LCP is preserved in perfect condition only in exceptional cases. It is also important to have all the nameplates and moldings installed from the factory, which in themselves can be of great value.
The next point is to check the operability of the car's units. Time and inactivity are very merciless to rubber gaskets, seals, oil seals, etc. All these parts dry out, harden and lose their properties, and if you do not pay attention to this, you can kill an initially working unit due to leaks. Accordingly, in the process of checking, you can also identify simply deceased parts that need to be replaced.
The next step is to check the electrics and the interior of the car. The first could be of interest to rodents, and the second to other living creatures, including mold, if the car was stored in a non-dry place. And if the wiring can still be restored without much trouble, then non-original interior elements will greatly reduce the cost.
Last but not least, is checking the documents. The preservation of the PTS and STS, entry into inheritance, if the car belonged to a deceased relative - all these points are extremely important when selling a car.
So, if you suddenly find a car inherited by you with perfect paintwork, interior and documents in perfect working order and, ideally, with low mileage - then you have really found a "time capsule".
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