Some people collect model trains or airplanes. Others like to garden or bake. Still, one hobby that seems to attract many people is classic car restoration. There’s something appealing about transforming a pile of junk metal or rusty scrap into a beautiful, shiny vehicle. Still, once you finish the hard stuff, it’s important to know the subsequent steps to avoid damage or mechanical issues. Here are some of the top maintenance tips to protect your classic car.
Store It in the Right Spot
Storage is one of the most important aspects of classic car restoration. Whether this is your first or tenth restoration, you must store the car in a suitable facility. Keep your classic car safe and secure in a garage or other indoor structure away from environmental conditions. This way, you can shield it from extreme weather conditions, humidity, precipitation, wind, sunlight, and so on. Furthermore, when you garage your vehicle, you also protect its exterior and interior from rust, mechanical problems, and more.
Drive it Around From Time to Time
Part of classic car restoration is seeing how you can turn rusty car parts back to their original conditions. However, once you’ve done so, don’t just keep your finished vehicle contained either. In fact, when you only garage your classic cars, you stall their engines and other parts. Therefore, it’s a good idea to take your car out and drive it around. Not only does this allow you to show off your automobile, but it also allows you to check the brakes, lights, fluids, and other basics.
Clean the Exterior and Interior
The last top maintenance tip to protect your classic car is to clean the exterior and interior. While you may not clean your everyday vehicle regularly, you must clean your classic cars to keep them in prime condition. Whether you’re scrubbing the inner upholstery or adding touch-up paint to the exterior, there’s much to do. Use gentle cleaning tactics when cleaning the outer surfaces. Unless you plan to completely repaint the vehicle, use soft, microfiber cloths to avoid scratching or further damaging the paint. Also, wash everything. Assuming the car is cool enough to touch without injuring yourself, you should clean the hood, roof, sides, wheels, and interior cabin. Don’t leave any part dirty.
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