Some of us love the winter months, although understandably most of us prefer sunnier and warmer climes. Classic and antique cars aren’t great fans of cold temperatures either with ice and salt being a chief cause of irrevocable damage to rare parts. In order that you not only retain the value of your car as well as its functionality you will need to take the proper precautions, which means performing a thorough maintenance check.
Winter maintenance steps
By storing your car securely during the winter it will ensure its preservation. Simply follow these top 5 tips to safeguard your classic or antique car throughout the cold months, enabling you to maintain its value.
- Make sure your vehicle is fully serviced, which should really include:
- Getting a coat of underseal applied
- Oil and filter change
- Ensure air is added to the tyres
- Cooling system drained, cleaned and refilled
- Ensure your car is washed and waxed. Make sure to include an application of grease to any chrome, it should then be stored it in a well-ventilated garage with a dehumidifier. This will stop your car from developing rust, and ensure the wiring, seals and other rubber parts will not deteriorate.
- Remove the car’s battery and store off the floor. It might be wise to use a trickle charger in order that the battery remains charged.
- Cover the air cleaner, air inlet and exhaust pipe(s), this will prevent insects and rodents getting into the car.
- In order to prevent flat spots on the tyres and preserve the car’s suspension, put the car on jack stands.
If you still feel like taking your classic car out for a little spin, experts recommend an average of around once a month, but try to restrict this to dry days, on salt free roads for around 15-20 minutes to prevent mechanical deterioration. It’s essential that you avoid potentially introducing damaging moisture, salt and dirt to your car’s every nook and cranny.
Insurance considerations
The most effective method to preserve the value of your classic car is with a robust insurance policy. More importantly it’s about choosing a policy that is specifically tailored for classic and antique cars. If you would like to find out how Jelf could assist then please get in touch.
Source: Zywave High Net Worth storing your Antique or Classic Car in winter
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