Prepare Your Classic Car for Spring
With Spring right around the corner, classic car owners are itching to roll their vehicles out from storage after a long, cold Winter. The air is thick with enthusiasm and anticipation as they long to once again find themselves seated at the steering wheel of their car, envisioning every hugged curve and every mile ticked away.
That day is almost here.
Don’t let your Springtime joyrides turn disastrous. Just as you would prepare your classic or collector car for Winter, it’s just as important, or more so, to prepare it for the Spring after it’s been sitting in storage for several months.
Before taking your prized possession out for its inaugural spin of the season, there are some important issues you must tend to first.
According to Nancy Dunham’s article on The Hartford’s Extra Mile blog, there are four tasks you need to complete as a responsible classic car owner before taking the car out: inspection, clean and wax, safety check, and ensuring your paperwork is up-to-date.
Giving your car a full inspection is the first and most obvious task you must perform. After your car has been sitting in storage for months, it’s not only important to check everything under the hood, but also that everything inside the car is in good working order. While the engine and other parts under the hood may need the most attention, don’t forget to check other vital components of the car, such as the windshield wipers, headlights, mirrors, and other parts. Before taking it on a long journey, it’s a good idea to take it for a quick trip around the block or down the street to make sure it drives okay and that there aren’t any unusual sounds or vibrations.
Once the car is good to go, check it for aesthetic blemishes. Does it have any dents or scratches that need to be addressed? Get these fixed and then wash and wax your classic car. Dunham suggests to “only use sheepskin or chenille cloths or gloves to prevent marks.”
In regards to safety, it’s one thing to make sure the car is in good running order and safe to be driven, but it’s another thing altogether to make sure the driver and passengers are safe. Although some older cars didn’t come equipped with seat belts, always make sure your car has them and that they work.
Finally, it’s always a good idea to make sure your paperwork is up-to-date and in an easily accessible location. If you’re in an accident, you don’t want to realize then as you’re exchanging insurance information that you forgot to update your insurance or registration.
If you’re looking for a classic or collector car in time for Spring, be sure to stop by one of Streetside Classics’ six locations nationwide today.
Source: The Hartford Extra Mile