For most classic owners, winter means laying the car up until the roads are clean and dry again. Done properly, your car comes out in spring ready to enjoy. Done badly, you can come back to flat batteries, seized brakes, perished rubber and corrosion. Here’s how to store a classic well.
Clean and dry it first. Wash and thoroughly dry the car before it goes away — dirt and moisture left on paint and chrome over months is how problems start. A coat of wax adds a layer of protection.
Sort the fluids. Fresh oil, topped-up coolant with the right antifreeze, and a full tank of fuel (a full tank reduces condensation inside it). Old, acidic oil sitting in an engine all winter does no favours.
Look after the battery. A battery left connected will slowly drain and can be ruined by a winter of neglect. A trickle charger or conditioner keeps it healthy and ready.
Protect the tyres. Tyres can develop flat spots if a car sits in one position for months. Correct pressures help, and moving the car occasionally — or proper storage practice — prevents it.
Keep the damp out. Somewhere dry and well-ventilated is essential. A damp garage is worse than no garage. A breathable cover keeps dust off without trapping moisture against the paint.
Don’t fully forget it. An occasional check over the winter catches problems early.
Or let us look after it
Doing all of this properly takes the right space and a bit of know-how, which is why many owners simply store their classic with us. We offer secure, appropriate storage for classic cars, so yours is kept in the right conditions and ready when you are — and because we’re a full workshop, we can have it serviced and checked over ready for spring while it’s with us.
If you’d rather your classic spent the winter in safe hands, get in touch about storage at our Bidford-on-Avon workshop.