Tips for Storing Your
Classic Vehicle This Winter
(ARA) - Winter will be here before you know it, so now is a
good time to start getting ready. That means raking leaves, digging up bulbs,
bringing in patio furniture, and figuring out where your collectible car will
spend the winter.
All kinds of vehicles get stored for the winter, ranging from that collectible
car that's only driven a few miles a year to the car or truck that's left behind
when snowbirds head south. Because cars and trucks were made to be driven
regularly, winter storage -- or any prolonged period of storage -- can really
take its toll, unless people take a few precautions to protect their vehicle
while it's in hibernation.
The Muscle Car Club, an organization dedicated to the preservation, restoration,
and enjoyment of all American muscle cars, offers these tips for the owners of
collector cars and other vehicles that will be up on blocks this winter:
1. Protect your fuel system. To keep the gas fresh
and the system safe, add a container of fuel stabilizer to the gas tank, and
fill the tank to the top right before putting the vehicle into storage. Take the
car for a brief drive before putting it in the garage so the stabilized fuel
will circulate throughout the system.
2. Drain the cooling system (including the
radiator) and refill it with a rust-inhibiting antifreeze.
3. Change the oil and filter. Make sure the oil
contains corrosion protection.
4. Hook up a battery charger/maintainer to keep the
battery alive.
5. Protect your tires. If you can't store the
vehicle up on jack stands and don't want to remove the wheels and tires, let
some air out of the tires to reduce strain on the shocks and other suspension
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6. Protect the paint. Give the vehicle a good
end-of-season washing, dry it thoroughly and apply a protective coat of
wax. Cover the car with a breathable cloth cover (plastic covers will trap
condensation and provide a fertile breeding ground for rust).
7. Protect vinyl, leather and rubber. If the
vehicle will be stored in a dry climate, it's wise to apply a preservative
to prevent seats, armrests and dash pads from cracking. Likewise, a good
coat of rust inhibitor applied to unpainted metal surfaces will prevent
rust.
8. Provide critter protection. All kinds of
small animals find vehicle wiring, seats and carpet delectable, and they
think cars and trucks make a nice den, too. To keep critters out, place
mothballs inside a vehicle, including under the dash, and cover the
tailpipe. Or, for total protection, store the vehicle inside a cocoon that
seals it completely from the elements.
9. Store convertibles with the top up.
Convertible tops can actually shrink if they are left in the down position
for an extended period of time.
10. Check your insurance and be sure your car
is covered. "If the car is at least 15 years old and is driven less than
2,500 miles per year, it may be eligible for a collector's policy, which
can save you a significant amount of money," says Jill Bookman of American
Collectors Insurance, one of the nation's leading providers of collector
car insurance.
All the traditional coverage that regular car insurance provides --
liability, physical damage, underinsured/uninsured motorist, and personal
injury protection – can be obtained through a collector vehicle insurer,
usually at a fraction of the cost. Rates are lower, explains Bookman,
because collector vehicles are used gently and for the most part
experience fewer claims.
"The great thing about these policies is they are offered on an agreed
value basis rather than actual cash value," explains Bookman. "So if you
have a total loss on a car you've put a lot of work into, you won't lose
your investment."
Collector vehicle value may be established in a number of ways: 1)
Purchase price (if recently purchased); 2) Reference manuals (e.g.
collector car pricing guides); or 3) Professional appraisal.
The information needed for the application is much the same as for a
standard auto policy: name and address of the insured; number of drivers
in the household; year, make, model and VIN; and whether the driver has
been involved in any accidents.
The insurer also needs to know the value of the car and the number of
miles on it. If the car is kept at a separate storage facility, the
garage's address is also needed. So are pictures of the vehicle.
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