「不論是經典車還是其他收藏品，「原汁原味」才是皇道。保存得好而又齊全的歷史文件，是沒有東西能夠取代的！。」
Published in July 2019 Classic & Sports Car Magazine | Written by Kenneth E Y Wong
KENNETH WONG 黃恩揚- Classic insider 創辦人，經營高級經典及跑車買賣。對處理高檔車種擁有豐富經驗。曾是香港首間經典車拍賣行的營運總監。經常參與高端古董及跑車的相關活動，貼近市場脈搏
我今期想跟大家講解一下，為何經典車的紀錄是這麼重要，因不論是經典車還是其他收藏品，「原汁原味」才是皇道。保存得好而又齊全的歷史文件，是沒有東西能夠取代的！
一部所有紀錄文件齊全的汽車，是最容易獲取最高價值，而在眾多經典車之中，這類車亦會相對值錢。而且大家都會認同有着齊全維修紀錄，對了解一部經典車的身份地位是否「名門正宗」絕對有利。若日後你要買賣一部汽車，它的原裝程度、保存狀態、歷史文件都會對價值有影響。而一部車的歷史文件，亦是準買家決定的因素之一，尤其是當你準備放售的車輛有齊所有維修紀錄，甚至是可追溯前任車主買車的單據。因為不少經典車的準買家都會「心情緊張」，難以肯定心儀放盤的來頭，所以若少了這些文件作支持，他們就無法了解這部車過去有否得到車主的悉心照料。若你能保存所有單據，就代表可以向買家證明你一直都有好好打理這部車，並進一步支持你所要求的叫價。
而在這些文件中，很多人往往忽略的就是車主手冊、保養小冊子、經銷商發出的單據、甚至是收音機的解碼卡。其實這些已是最基本的經典車紀錄文件，奈何很多人都沒有將它們保留下來。其實少了這些文件，對你愛車的價值都有影響，故絕不能低估這些文件的重要性。
當然，如果有人賣車給你標榜是全原裝，甚麼都沒有改裝的話，你就必須要求他出示相關紀錄，證明是怎麼原裝的呢？就算車子不是全原裝，又或是全車經過復修都好，這些關於復修的紀錄同樣重要，因為在復修過程當中，那些單據是會透露很多當中的端倪。例如這部車有沒有改裝過、有沒有發生過意外、車身顏色是否曾被改過，都能夠從相關單據中得知。其實一直以來，都有一條時間線讓你知道，眼前的心儀放盤在不同時期發生過甚麼事、換過甚麼部件。所以，其實你只要好好保存這些單據和照片，對提升車輛在市場的價值甚有幫助。
第二，正如我先前在這個專欄中提過，原裝就是皇道，而要向準買家證明眼前的放盤是原裝，更是箇中的重點，而上文提及的各類文件就是最好的證明。當決定要買一部價值連城的經典車時，首先就要看它是否原裝。很多車廠現時都有自家的經典車復修部門，有很多原廠紀錄是可以購買的，例如平治(Mercedes-Benz) 就會稱它為data card，有些公司會稱為build sheet，而要替車輛購回這些文件，收費通常都會很高，但有了這些文件，你和準買家就會對車子原本內外顏色、底盤編號、引擎編號、生產日期和產地等資料有更深入了解。所以不少汽車拍賣會都會標榜一部車擁有與車廠紀錄相符的車身號碼，同時會令車輛身價提升不少。當然，廠方只會知道離開生產線前的事情，之後的就要靠你去搜尋了。
有時，你可以找回前車主做一些資料搜集，看看他與這部車的關係，而且很多時都會為你帶來驚喜。另幸運的話，前任車主可能會有一些舊照片或是曾跟雜誌做過訪問，甚至乎是這部車去過外國某些地方，又或是曾經被那位名人擁有過。這些東西再加上本身的紀錄，對於提升車輛的價值是十分有利。
若你有參與賽車，當時如果起跑線有這部車或比賽時的照片，都是提升車輛價值的證據。不要忘記帶車輛去參加車展，也是一個尋回歷史故事的途徑，事關你未必會想到有人會走過來跟你說：「這部車我曾經擁有過！」當遇到這種情況，你會得知不少關於愛車的故事。
第三，保留紀錄文件，都是老爺車選美大賽致勝的關鍵。完整文件存檔是評判會留意的部分，所以若你有一個美觀的文件夾將所有文案收藏起來，就能向評判證明車輛是原裝正版。那麼罕有加上原裝，就是經典車之中最具價值的地方。
最後，完整的文件亦能方便自己日後替愛車進行維修保養。其實人人都知道日常保養是很重要，若忽略了一些年度檢查，就很有機會「小事化大」，最後換來的就是要花一大筆金錢去復修，也浪費了自己的時間！
In all genres of collectible and historical artifact, few things are valued more than originality. Well preserved and cared for examples of rare and relevant pieces of history have no substitute in terms of importance in the historical record. From historically significant fine art to watches, well kept original pieces sit at the top of the value food chain. Needless to say, a car with well documented ownership and maintenance records is almost always easier to appraise in terms of value and nearly without exception worth more.
#1 It Can Increase Your Car’s Value
Everyone agree that a well documented vehicle makes it more valuable by establishing the pedigree of a classic car, both for collection purposes as well as for future sale. History, originality, preservation, correctness and provenance of the vehicle's components and equipment can add to your vehicle's value, and accurate documentation of these factors is essential to assessing the value of your car.
Documentation of a classic car can be a deciding factor for the next owner, whether it is exhaustive maintenance records or the ability to trace ownership history to the original purchase. Most people are nervous about buying a classic car. They have no way of knowing if you or the previous owners took care of it or not. Having physical proof of all maintenance work done on the vehicle will prove that the car has been well cared for and the potential buyer will be more likely to pay the asking price.
Owner’s Manual, Warranty Book, Radio Code Card, and dealer invoices are some of the most common but overlooked form of classic car documentation, and not having them can have a big negative impact on the value of the car. There is no under-estimating the importance of documentation when it comes to car collecting. If you are buying a collector car, you want to have the original documents that came with the car, especially when the vehicle is reported to be original.
Restoration records often tell the story. Like the car’s accident history, modifications, change of color and so on. It is also great for the buyer to have a timeline of the work done, so you should keep all invoices for every bit of work done on the car, preferably accompanied by pictures and other evidence.
#2 A Car Is Only Original Once. Proof of Originality is Key
Documentation can confirm your classic car’s originality and one of the most important part of owning a classic car is establishing its provenance. Pay for factory records if it is available. More and more car manufacturers have created classic car departments to provide collectors with information such as Data Card or Build Sheet. They’re usually expensive, but they are a great source of basic data about original specifications, Interior & Exterior Color, VIN, Engine, Transmission Numbers, optional equipment and your car’s production/delivery dates.
Every important part on the car is usually numbered. Having the date card can help you match up the important ones such as the color, engine number, transmission number, Rear Differential number, Body number and VIN number. “Matching numbers” increase the value of your collector car.
Since the factory won’t know the history of the car after it left the production line. So it is up to you to document the “Real-life” history. Contacting/Researching your car’s old owners can unveil surprises, unearth documents and, if you are lucky, find some old pictures that feature the car in earlier times. The journeys a car has made always add glamour, especially if they were international or owned by someone famous. If the car was a racer, old magazines are precious sources, as are starting grid listing and racing programs. And never forget that actually taking a car to a show is the best way to make people aware of it; and it’s surprising how often a friend of a friend of a passer-by happens to know a thing or two about your car’s history.
#3 Keeping good record will help you win Concourse
Proper documentation is also a necessary asset for concourse competition and shows. A nice, maybe even beautiful looking, ring binder is the best approach. Arrange the file by theme, e.g. basic data, general history, restorations of body/engine/interior, journeys/races, and so on. Possibly the most important interest to consider along with originality is rarity. Rarity is always a consideration, and by nature, with a car only being original one time in its life. Obviously, the rarer the car, and still rarer the amount of original ones, the more valuable the automobile will be. Showing these documents to the judges increase your chances of winning against competition.
#4 Keeping a good Record Will Help You Keep Track
Everyone knows that maintaining a vehicle, new or old, is very important when it comes to keeping it in good running condition. Having a regular maintenance schedule can save you tens of thousands of dollars because sometimes it takes just a small problems to escalate into big ones. We all have very busy lifestyle and that makes it difficult to remember exactly when you changed the oil or changed your tires. When you have accurate maintenance records, you know what work has been done to the vehicle and when. You never have to wonder how many miles you have driven since the oil was changed or when the technician checked the hoses and belts last.
