Pampering Your Classic Car, Even When She’s Sleeping
The owners of classic cars know how to treat their babies right, and this includes how and where they store their cars for the winter. Unless you are one of those lucky few that happen to reside in the Eden-like comfort of the Southern California climate, where long-term vehicle storage is not only unnecessary but almost criminal, you’ll need to take almost as good care of your ’68 Pontiac GTO or ’70 Bonneville during the winter as you do when you polish her up to show her off when the sun is warm and shinning.
Storing your classic vehicle requires more than simply driving it into the garage and locking the doors until the spring thaw. You’ll need to prep your car before tucking her in and it wouldn’t hurt to look in on her from time to time to make sure that all of the vital systems are in good working order while she’s hibernating.
The first few items to address when storing your vehicle should be obvious and require little mechanical know-how. The fluids that flow through the car should all be changed and the filters used on these systems also changed before storing. This includes changing the oil and oil filters, filling the tank with fresh, premium gasoline, and making sure that your coolant levels are adequate. You’ll also want to make sure that your tires are filled properly as the change in temperature can effect air pressure. It wouldn’t hurt to wash and wax your old muscle car before putting it away for the winter either. A few items on the check list that might not be as obvious are to put a vapor barrier of plastic under the car if being stored indoors as well as a piece of plastic wrap under the wiper blades to prevent them from sticking to the windshield. Leave a window open ever so slightly for ventilation but not enough for a small animal to get inside, otherwise you might find that your precious classic vehicle became a new home to a family of varmints over the winter.
Many classic car owners choose to leave their vehicles in a storage facility during the winter months and this is also a very good idea, especially if you don’t have the proper facilities to store the vehicle at your home. Many of these facilities offer a monthly car starting option, which for a small fee has a property manager turn over the engine on a monthly basis. These facilities are also secure and monitored so you can be assured that your car will be safe while stored in one of these spaces.
A storage facility also has the added benefit of assuring you of a clean, dry, and climate controlled environment for your classic car. Nothing is worse than finding out in April that a leak in your garage roof has allowed water to drip onto the hood of your 1960 candy apple red Corvette all winter long. The stable, moderate temperature in these facilities is also another bonus of choosing a storage facility for your classic car.
You’ll have enough to do to get your vehicle ready for the spring and summer shows so you’ll want to make sure that in storing your classic car for the winter you took some care to prevent any and all preventable mishaps. Simple items like the car fluids, gas, and air pressure are easy enough to address. Choosing the exact spot for your classic vehicle to nestle-down for the winter can be a bit more complicated. The right storage area, such a storage locker from self-storage facility is often the best and the smart choice for classic car owners that really love their cars.
To know more about Suffolk County Self Storage please browse Suffolk County Self Storage
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