Typically this column reviews one of the latest and greatest automotive masterpieces, but this month, it’s about another worthy automotive topic: antique and classic cars. The summer I was born, my father bought a pre-war Buick that has been a member of the family ever since. Growing up riding in and working on that old car has given me an appreciation for classic cars that has only grown over the years. Just as life was simpler back then, so were cars, and when you open the hood of an antique, you usually can identify all parts of the engine and understand how they work, unlike with today’s autos.
From an historical viewpoint, I also appreciate how cars are a reflection of the technology and design of their time; they offer a glimpse of a bygone era. Old cars have style too, like rolling pieces of sculpture. You can look at one and tell immediately what decade it belonged to.
You should, however, know that when you buy an antique or classic car, you’re not just buying a car, you’re buying a hobby. Older cars were a lot less reliable than modern vehicles; they often require mechanical and/or cosmetic repairs, maintenance or restoration. You probably don’t think about breaking down in a modern car, but in an antique, every ride is an adventure.
There’s a vintage car gem right under our noses here in St. Louis, Hyman Ltd. in Maryland Heights. The brainchild of Mark Hyman, a Ladue High School grad, the successful enterprise deals with buyers and sellers all over the world. In fact, Hyman’s international sales range from 40 to 60 percent of his business and include clients in Europe, Russia, the Middle East and South America.
Hyman caters primarily to the high end of the market, and his reputation has been built over 25 years of buying and selling exceptional motorcars, including early 20th-century steam, electric and brass era vehicles. If cars need repair or refurbishment, he has the staff and facility to accomplish it. He and I like the same types of cars: pre-war American and European and post-war European, with a focus on sports cars. He rarely has a car in his inventory I wouldn’t love to own, if I had the budget and garage space!
With something as important in common as the love of exquisite old cars, Mark often befriends his clients, and more often than not, they turn to Hyman Ltd. again when looking for their next purchase. Or when selling a treasured classic car. Incredibly, Hyman says 97 percent of the cars he sells are sold sight unseen. He attends automotive events and auctions all over the country and around the world, and could be a buyer or seller at any one of them.
Far from a typical car dealer, Hyman Ltd. is a great source for a high-end car hobby, or for the serious collector looking for a special or unique antique or classic car. We’re lucky to have it in our St. Louis automotive community.
Robert Paster (robertpaster.com) is also an attorney in private practice, concentrating in estate planning and probate.