If you have always wanted to buy a collector, muscle cars or collector car, but not sure how to get started. We head to We are at LIVE Kissimmee, FL for the longest auction in America to speak with David Magers, CEO of Mecum Auctions. Mecum Auctions is the largest collector car auction in the world to getting some inside tips on investing in collector cars.

Many people have the classic car bug hit them at some point in life. Maybe they want that car they dreamed about in high school (or actually drove, and still miss). For others, it’s the idea of taking a rundown classic and restoring it to mint condition. Some just like buying investment-grade cars with hopes of profiting off them in the future. No matter what your reasoning for wanting a vintage automobile, before you buy one on a whim, check out the Mecum auctions online and NBC Sports to get a feel for you budget and lifestyle.

The key is to buy for all the right reasons for you. If your plan is to buy an investment-grade vehicle that you don’t plan to drive but will instead park in a temperature-controlled garage, waiting for demand to push the price up, do your research carefully on what car you buy. If you are looking to drive the vehicle, don’t buy a top restored car. Consider a driver that you can enjoy whenever you want.

Mecum is a powerhouse in the collector car marketplace, launched in 1988 with humble family beginnings but today hosting 14 auctions nationwide, each one at about $30 million or more in sales.

More Car Smarts tips and ways to save money are in my book, Lauren Fix’s Guide to loving your car