Contrary to the fact that cars depreciate as they get older, vintage cars grow in value with each passing year. Every car enthusiast wishes to add these classics to their collection. No wonder, the vintage car market in 2020 holds an outstanding value of over $1760 million. However, keeping vintage cars in their best shape is a challenge. While it is easy to keep them clean from the outside, preserving the internal auto parts like engine, brakes, suspensions, radiator, etc, demands effort. To make sure your classic holds and compounds its value through time, use these easy and effective vintage car maintenance tips.
- Keep Your Car Clean
Dirt and dust build-up on the car leads to several problems. Therefore, you must keep your car clean.
Regular car washes keep the exterior surface clean and rust-free. After washing the car, clean it with a microfibre cloth as this removes water marks and residual soap scum. A coat of wax over the surface provides extra protection and makes your car shine. Wax your car twice a year.
- Don’t neglect the interiors
Regular cleaning should not be limited to the exterior; take your cleaning equipment to your car’s interior as well. Clean the leather upholstery with natural, mild soap and lukewarm water. Do not vigorously clean the covers to remove a stain. Lather the detergent onto a cloth and then gently wipe over the stain. Finally, wipe it with a dry cloth. Similarly, clean the soft-top fabric roof if you have a convertible classic.
If your car has fabric upholstery, do not use a lot of water as it can lead to mold growth and odor.
- Refrain from making modifications
The true value of a vintage car lies in its originality. Making modifications in a vintage car snatches its true value as a classic. Even if you have many cool modification ideas, reserve them for other rides. Let your classic’s originality speak.
Also, if you have to replace any auto parts, try to replace them with the originals instead of aftermarket parts. Though it is hard to find OEM parts for vintage builds, it will be worth the effort. Look at partsgeek.com for hard-to-find auto parts.
- Take it out for rides
Several vintage car collectors shy away from taking their classics out for rides. But, half the fun of owning a vintage car is in taking it out for rides and making heads turn. Besides, it is crucial to keep the engine and other parts running.
- Maintenance is important
Regular maintenance is important to keep an automobile in its best condition and more so if you have a vintage car.
Regular maintenance will help you gauge the problems before they damage your prized possession. Make sure you take your car to a qualified and experienced mechanic.
- Storage
Very hot, cold, or humid weather can harm your vintage car. Make sure your car is protected from the ordeals of extreme weather. Scorching sun can hamper the paint and cause it to fade; extremely cold weather can lead to several mechanical problems, and very humid weather can cause rust. Also, strong wind can cause dents and scratches to your car.
Make sure you cover your car properly and park it safely in a garage.
- Recharge the batteries
In cold weather or when they are not used regularly, car batteries lose their power. To avoid this problem, recharge the batteries of your vintage car with a 12V battery charger.
If you live in a cold climate, recharge the batteries before spring so that you don’t have to deal with the problems that occur due to dead batteries.
Final Thoughts
With great vintage cars comes great responsibility. However, using the above-listed tips can help you protect your most prized possession for several years. We hope these tips will help you maintain and preserve the value of your vintage car.