Owning and maintaining a classic car can be a labour of love. For one, you don’t buy a vintage vehicle with purely practical considerations, like fuel economy on the morning commute or whether you’ll fit all the kids in on the school run front of mind. Your classic car is your passion, and you naturally put that extra amount of care and attention into it.
Secondly, older cars can be trickier to keep in good working order. Like people, age eventually catches up with the finest specimens. The older they get, the more the creaks and strains start to show. Plus, sourcing original parts for your beloved classic gets harder as the years go on.
So, what can you do to make this burden of care easier? Here are some simple tips for boosting the longevity of your pride and joy.
Store your classic car indoors
The older a vehicle gets, the more susceptible it becomes to the elements. To reduce the impact of extreme cold on delicate engine parts, and the long-term risk of corrosion from rain water, keep your car in a garage. If you don’t have any space of your own, consider a professional storage service. Another nice little tip is to always try to store your car on the flat – this means you can leave the handbrake off, reducing strain on ageing cables.
Give it a regular run around
Unlike day-to-day workhorses, classic cars are often kept as showpieces or for use on special occasions. This can mean long periods of inactivity, which actually does no car any good at all. Don’t be sucked into the ‘it’s too precious to drive’ mindset. Your prized possession will be all the better for being given a good run on a regular basis. And if it is impractical to, get it out of storage every weekend, for example. And, at least turn the engine over a minimum of once a fortnight.
Get to grips with basic maintenance
In all probability, if you do own a classic car, you probably like to get hands-on under the bonnet. The two tend to go hand-in-hand. But if you are a novice in the cult of the classic car and have little in the way of previous motor mechanic experience, now is a good time to start. The more self-sufficient you can be doing little things like changing the oil, replacing spark plugs and inspecting general wear and tear of components, the more joy you will get out of your car without it causing a hole in your wallet.
For more information about professional storage and transportation options for classic, vintage, prestige and sports cars, please visit Apex Car Transport.
If you enjoyed this article, please consider sharing it!
